OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY 
Of    ILLINOIS 

977v335 
P838 


I  .H.S. 


ALBU 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS, 


CONTAINING 


Full-page  portrait?  aqd  Biogifaphical     etche^  of 

fiitizeq^  of  tlje  Countij. 


and 


TOGETHER   WITH 

PORTRAITS  AND    BIOGRAPHIES    OP   ALL    THE    GOVERNORS    OP   ILLINOIS, 
AND    OP    THE    PRESIDENTS    OP    THE    UNITED   STATES. 


ALSO  CONTAINING   A   HISTORY   OF  THE   COUNTY,  FROM  ITS  EARLIEST  SETTLEMENT 

TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 


CHICAGO: 
CHAPMAN    BROTHERS. 

1883. 


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E  HAVE  completed  our  labors  in  writing  and  compiling  the  PORTRAIT  ANDBIOGRAPH' 
ALBUM  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY,  and  wish,  in  presenting  it  to  our  patrons,  to  speak 
briefly  of  the  importance  of  local  works  of  this  nature.  It  is  certainly  the  duty 
of  the  present  to  commemorate  the  past,  to  perpetuatethe  names  of  the  pioneers, 
to  furnish  a  record  of  their  early  settlement,  and  to  relate  the  story  of  their  progress. 
The  civilization  of  our  day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age,  and  this  solemn  duty  which 
men  of  the  present  time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to  themselves  and  to  their  posterity 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives  and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  local  history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to  enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and  to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a  safe 
vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the  people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  region  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly  the  noble  men,  who  in  their  vigor  and  prime 
came  to  Whiteside  County  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their  heritage,  are  passing  to 
their  graves.  The  number  remaining  who  can  relate  the  history  of  the  first  days  of  settlement  is 
becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an  actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preservation  of  his- 
torical matter  without  delay,  before  the  settlers  of  the  wilderness  are  cut  down  by  time.  Not  only 
is  it  of  the  greatest  importance  to  render  history  of  pioneer  times  full  and  accurate,  but  it  is  also  essen- 
tial that  the  history  of  the  county,  from  its  settlement  to  the  present  day,  should  be  treated  through  its  various 
phases,  so  that  a  record,  complete  and  impartial,  may  be  handed  down  to  the  future.  The  present  the  age 
of  progress,  is  reviewed,  standing  out  in  bold  relief  over  the  quiet,  unostentatious  olden  times;  it  is  abrilliant 
record,  which  is  destined  to  live  in  the  future;  the  good  works  of  men,  their  magnificent  enterprises,  theii 
lives,  whether  commercial  or  military,  do  not  sink  into  oblivion,  but,  on  the  contrary,  grow  brighter  with  age, 
and  contribute  to  build  up  a  record  which  carries  with  it  precedents  and  principles  that  will  be  advanced  and 
observed  when  the  acts  of  soulless  men  will  be  forgotten,  and  their  very  names  hidden  in  obscurity. 

In  the  preparation  of  the  personal  sketches  contained  in  this  volume,  unusual  care  and  pains  were 
taken  to  have  them  accurate,  even  in  the  smallest  detail.  Indeed,  nothing  was  passed  lightly  over  or  treated 
indifferently,  and  we  flatter  ourselves  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  accurate  works  of  its  nature  ever  published. 
As  one  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  this  work,  we  present  the  portraits  of  numerous  representa- 
tive citizens.  It  has  been  our  aim  to  have  the  prominent  men  of  to-day,  as  well  as  the  pioneers,  represented 
in  this  department ;  and  we  congratulate  Ourselves  on  the  uniformly  high  character  of  the  gentlemen  whose 
portraits  we  present.  They  are  in  the  strictest  sense  representative  men,  and  are  selected  from  all  the  call- 
ings and  professions  worthy  to  be  represented.  There  are  others,  it  is  true,  who  claim  equal  prominence  with 
those  presented,  but  of  course  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  give  portraits  of  all  the  leading  men  and  pioneers 
of  the  county.  We  are  under  great  obligation  to  many  of  the  noble  and  generous  people  of  Whiteside 
County  for  kindly  and  material  assistance  in  the  preparation  of  this  ALBUM. 

CHAPMAN  BROTHERS. 
CHICAGO,  August,  1885. 


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HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
Feb.    22,   1732.     His  parents 
were     Augustine    and     Mary 
(Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
been    satisfactorily  traced   'in 
England.       His    great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and    became     a     prosperous 
planter.      He  had    two    sons, 
Lawrence    and     John.      The 
former   married    Mildred    Warner 
and    had    three    children,    John, 
Augustine  and  Mildred.      Augus- 
tine,  the   father  of   George,  first 
married    Jane   Butler,    who    bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.     Of  six  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,   the    others    being    Betty, 
Samuel,  John   Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 

Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  instruction  in 
mathematics.  His  spelling  was  rather  defective. 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physical 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  was 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  1 4  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  In  1751,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health.  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddie,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.  The 


'x'Hf^V, 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 


>  * 


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trip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  times  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
were  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says :  "  I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  leveling  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
look  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
to  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
of  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia.Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  member  of  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  1o  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  ever)-  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  1783,  Washington,  in 
a  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  resigned  his 


•x  •:•• 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  to 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  life. 

In  February, 1 789,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  new 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country ; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judgment  could  discern  the  golden  mean  ;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  years  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France. 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  12,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  his  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  with  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  unit:ng  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  been  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tall,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  of 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  being  dull. 


' 

V§) 


' 


SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


I 


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It 
K 


OHN  ADAMS,  the  second 
President  and  the  first  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Braintree  ( now 
Quincy),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
miles  from  Boston,  Oct.  19, 
1735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,  emigrated  from  England 
about  1640,  with  a  family  of  eight 
sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents  of  John  were  John  and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  of  limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.  He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion at '  Harvard  College.  John 
graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in  Worcester,  Mass.  This  he  found  but  a 
"school  of  affliction,"  from  which  he  endeavored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting '  himself,  in  addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.  For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He 
had  thought  seriously  of  the  clerical  profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
cils, of  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'' 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness  in 
his  native  town.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  legal 
'profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.  He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (1765),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  from  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holding  a  town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  popular 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocates  of  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himself 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  the 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  five 
appointed  June  n,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  the 
glow  of  excited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wile, 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says,  "the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  will 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent states."  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty 
God,  It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with  pomp,  shows> 


~~  v:  K- 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


•i  * 


games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  You  will  think  me  transported 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  light  and  glory.  1  can  see  that  the  end  is 
worth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
delegate  to  France,  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  pvoposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  where  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  1783.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  goto  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  While  in  England,  still  drooping  and  despond- 
ing, he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,hemade  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785,  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he.  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
his  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
Adams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President.  Again 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President.though  not  without  much  opiwsition. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years,he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

While  Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the  great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  with 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
classof  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  IN- 
DEPENDENCE FOREVER."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  or  the  day  he  said,  "  It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spitit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  jx>rtrait  manifests.was  intellectual  ard  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncourteous. 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson. 


t    >r»r*,»  ,,v 

OF  ILLINOIS 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


THOMAS 


v 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
born  April  2,   1743,  at  Shad- 
"well,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 

His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Jane  (  Randolph)  Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When  14  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,  hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.  In  1760  he  entered  William 
and  Mary  College.  Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obodeof  fashion 
a.id  splendor^!  Young  Jefferson,  who  was  then  17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,  yet  he 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
able  in  his  morals.  It  is  strange,  however,  under 
such  influences, that  he  was  not  ruined.  In  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded  his  horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.  He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  haid  study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  very 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility.  A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls;  and 


there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses.  In 
1772  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young  widow. 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  there 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  yet 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon, 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Colonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776.  What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


•   • 


<a> 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  was  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
soverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  as  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Monticello,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  yeirs  later  he  was  api>ointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  i,  1794.  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Union ;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracyof  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
southwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
forty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
lic, and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
fathers  aTid  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


THOMAS JEFFERSON. 


— 


sary  of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of  the 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer, 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  no 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  next 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  that 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  air  of  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life !  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,-  - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life. 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countrymen;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  the  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery ;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore- 
head broad,  and  his  whole  countenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage ;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He' 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 

— *&* •** 


•• 


UNIVERSITY  01-  11 
UKfcAM* 


FOURTH  PRESIDENT. 


BIDES  IDIDISOD. 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  March  16,  1757,  and 
died  at  his   home  in  Virginia, 
June  28,  1836.     The  name  of 
James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  important 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of  this  great   republic  were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to   be   called   to   his   eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
[xjlitical  attachment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
1 8  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  he  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


Blue  Ridge. 


prudent  zeal ;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24;  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  1771,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subse- 
quent career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(1777),  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-loving  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the  Executive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;  and  their  appreciation  of  his 


IS) 


<&&£&&<*- 

-^-ysvs-vs 


v-. 


'.  • 


(21 


1 

sj* 


•    • 


intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  lie  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
In  the  year  1784,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  another  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
was  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention ;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  81  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  power  at  home  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  the  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  power  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
queenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
which  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


British  orders  in  council  destioyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiring 
in  his  disposition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American  ship  brought 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects  ;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat ;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  1812,  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1813,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infant 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling with  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  Februaiy, 
1813,  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
dilator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  population  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  door  to 
await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  being 
captured.  Bui  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  1815, the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  atGhent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  his  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


\ 

\ 


•  >- 

.^/^V^-T 


UBRfUft 
WWVERSITY  of  iLUIWtt 

U88AHM 


FIFTH  PRESIDENT. 


AMES  MONROE,  the  fifth 
President  of  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in  ;  and  the  tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tending with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
political  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry,  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy- 
wine,  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-camp;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  a  volun- 
teer, during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  public  good, 


*  to 


Of* 


-   ..     - 


JAMES  MONROE. 


r 


he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen    a  member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

Deeply  as  Mr.  Monroe  felt  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
thinking,  with  many  others  of  the  Republican  party, 
that  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Republican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  power,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  power  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
bination of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
right  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  National  Convention 
in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations. 


-/•>    VX; 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  country,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  yeais.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  to 
co-operate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Their  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  our 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  But  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  under 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Department 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Upon  the  return  of 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec- 
tion held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1817,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the  "  Monroe  doctrine."' 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At  that 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  independ- 
ence of  the  South  American  states,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempting  to  sub- 
due portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  European 
powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  United 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  ? econd  term  Mr.  Monroe  retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until  18-50, 
when  he  went  to  New  York  to  live  with  his  son-in- 
law.  In  that  city  he  died,on  the  4th  of  July,  1831. 


^S.l 


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•^TSkT'V 


UNIVERSITY  OF  IIUNO(S 


J,     oL. 


SIXTH  PRESIDENT. 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
sixth  President  of  the  United 
States,  was   born  in  the   rural 
home  of  his   honored   father, 
John  Adams, in  Quincy,  Mass., 
T||!,    on  the  i  i th  cf  July,  1767.   His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during   the  almost   constant   ab- 
sence of  his  father.      When    but 
eight  years  of  age,  he  stood  with 
his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames  billow- 
ing up  from    the   conflagration   of 
Charlestdwn. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  father  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  of  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  father  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  this 
country,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
John  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  six  months, 
to  study;  then  accompained  his  father  to  Holland, 
where  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  Amsterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  i78r,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
years  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  .enobling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed 
his  studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague,  Thence, 


in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompanied  his  father  to 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent; 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings, 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  After 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  and 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  extremely  attractive; 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Great  Britian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  in 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Berlin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  While  waiting  he  was  married  to  an 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged,— Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  in  London; 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  the 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  was  destined. 

: ««v? 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


• 
(f 

I 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  purposes  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations  ;  while  he 
kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  important 
part  of  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  appointed  Mr. 
Adams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  1819,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
i8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr.  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  the  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety. nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty -one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
seven.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
combined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
the  past  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  home  in 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
portentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle'  for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  The 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  its  moral  dating  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination ; 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  player  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2istof  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  paraly- 
sis, and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of  earth  /'then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  "I  am  content"  These  were  the 
last  words  of  the  grand  "Old  Man  Eloquent." 

B *&* 


SEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


tg) 


NDREW  JACKSON,  the 
seventh  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
VVaxhaw  settlement,  N.  C., 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.  His 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from  Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.  His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  character,  made  visible,  which  was  at- 
tractive. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
blow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
diiabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful  in  obtaining  their  exchange, 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illness 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,  such  as 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmish 
with  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes- 
sion, and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  eleven 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates. 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andrew  Jack- 
son was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress  then  held  its 


I 


' 


• 


sessions, — a  distance  of  about  eight  hundred   miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expi-.ing,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  for  six  years. 

Wheu  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred upon  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hurdred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez ;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev 
eral  weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions ;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "  Old  Hickory." 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Beriton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  upon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bends  of  the  Tallapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men,  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
days.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1814.  The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  breast- 
work of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suplyof  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
[xjwer  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  its  terriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  caiiie  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola,  landed 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up  and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  w  hich  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six  hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  applauded  by  one  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's life  were  that  of  a  devoted  Christian  man. 


I  »r»r-r '  -v 

UNIVERSITY  ik  ILLINOIS 


'  7/1? 06 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July   24,    1862.      His 
body  rests  in  the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a  plain  granite   shaft  fifteen  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  half  way  up  on   one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  is  but  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  romantic  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

He  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  him 
before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
a  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  After 
spending  six  years  in  an  office  in  his  native  village, 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights ;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him, 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  the 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years, 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  the 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mr. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump- 
tion, leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  over 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  1812,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1815,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

While  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most 
prominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  had 


. 


i 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that  "  universal  suffrage"  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  1821  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
conspicuous  position  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
the  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
termined opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
"State  Rights"  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
deemed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded throughout  the  United  States  as  'one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
to  touch  the  secret  springs  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion  ;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secretly  and 
stealthily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outwitted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

When  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
ratify  the  nomination,  and  he  returned 


to 


home,  apparently  untroubled ;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson ;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  that 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite; and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Execu- 
tive. On  the  2oth  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in  • 
volve  this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1848, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  ihe  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald, 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying  in  a  healthy  old 
'  age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


;"•-.--.  -^ 


-^^ — 6ve«Go>>^- 

NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


®J4@^-<^ 

KfTS33<ViS' 


HENRY    HARRISON. 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth   President  of 
the   United  States,  was  born 
at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,    Benjamin    Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and   John    Hancock   were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice    re-elected.       His   son, 
i  William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 

in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
then  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
Robert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
having  obtained  a  commission  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


dent Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old. 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  sgring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  "  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  Wil- 
liam Henry  Harrison;  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap- 
pointed by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrison 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  About 


«  to 

1' 


r          -. 
'' 


<jnns» 


S2 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


• 


'  the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "  The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
an  orator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
they  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator :  he  was, 
in  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
)  canoe  the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  1812,  his  army  began  its  march.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 


& 


U) 


their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations. Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side, and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompanied  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
ous yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned :  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
f  them,  and  completely  routing  the  foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  the  Can  - 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances,  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re- 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle.  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  1816,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re-nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  for  the  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen.  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
joyous  prospects,  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisy-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April ;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States. 


X  - 


^T/VSJC; 


f  .-  ., 

UNIVERSITY  w 


,uinuw 


TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


OHN    TYLER,     the    tenth 
Presidentof  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.  He 
was  the  favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high   social    po- 
sition.    At  the   early  age   of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and  Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted  him- 
self with    great   assiduity  to   the 
study    of    law,    partly   with    his 
father   and   partly  with   Edmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  lie 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
et of  the  court  in  which  he  was 
not  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  with  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
bank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General  Govern- 


ment,  a  protective  tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.  His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.  Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  There  was  a  split  in  the  Democratic 


V§) 


«•• 


*& 


^OU 


JOHN 


&PD»>T 

TYLER. 


"?&. 


party.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
fersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder ;  and  it  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  remov  ed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children ;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
1839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  Noith :  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time,  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus  found  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  'that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  long  life  he  had  been 
opposed  to  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, honest  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own?  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Harrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccomm  ended  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.  He  suggested,  however,  that  he  would 

^^^ &*m 


^ 

A 

•  +• 

E=X 

ii 


V 

y 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  was  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  relief.  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  1844,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments.' 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State- 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn  had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  destroy,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,  he  was  taken  sick  and  soon  died. 


• 


ur 
UNIVERSITY  OF 


<2/tx^-**-f£i 


ELEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


AMES  IK-   PDIK" 


AMES  K.  POLK,  the  eleventh 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  bom  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
N.  C.,  Nov.  2,  1795.  His  par- 

ents  were  ^amue'  and  Jane 
(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 

of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 
at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 
first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1006,  with  his  wife 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the   members   of 
the   Polk  farnly,  Samuel   Polk   emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck   River.      Here    in   the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry  Co.,  they  reared   their  log   huts, 
and  established  their  homes.    In  the 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James^  K.  Polk   spent   the 
early  years  of  his   childhood   and 
youth.     His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong   common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
him  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;  and  his 
father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


sedentary  life,  got  a  situation  for  him  behind  the 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  be- 
ing deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Folk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Folk's  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
he  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished  morals,  genial  and 

86&l@>^(5) 

^•yrejc'XV^i 


r       1 


JAMBS  K.  POLK. 


xmrteous  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  jo>s  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinued in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  that  lie  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous  ;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  141)1  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message,  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
other  States.  In  the  meantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 

K-'-x-^- 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  war 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "  observation,"  then  of  "  occupation," 
then  of  "  invasion,  "was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  was  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right  :  there  were 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen'.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera  —  -that  fearful  scourge—  was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  isth  of  June,  1849,111  the  fifty-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen. 


U»  -»-r  »"• 
•-I  . 

UHiVERsirv  or- 


*& 


TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


,~r^  ^T^, 
few  ~>. '-  -5X 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  on  the  241)1  of  Nov., 
1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.     His 
father,   Colonel    Taylor,    was 
a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.     When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,    a    few 
miles  from  Louisville.     In  this  front- 
ier home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its  refinements,   young  Zachary 
y   could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages.   When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
)    school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter     He  was  strong,  fearless  and  self-reliant,   and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
the  Indians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.     There 
is  little  to  be  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  on  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in    the   United  States 
army  ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.     Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a   young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
v  land,  in  1812,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison, on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
led  by  Tecumseh.  Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering   fifty  men,   many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down ;  the  savages  disappeared ,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war  whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no.  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  Major  Taylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
best  could.  There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


»•  • 


64 


s_^     V  .V-  H  H  <L»  H  H  •  y    V 

ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 


1 


' 


tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black-Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty-four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1836,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
had  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
here  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
after,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  such  wearisome  employment 
amidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula,  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
and  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
at  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
Here  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
from  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
imposed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
being  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
by  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Mexico 
was  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mexicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
the  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Buena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
forces  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
simplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
the  sobriquet  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready." 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
spread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
Whig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
ful popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 
lettered, honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nouncement, and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it;  de- 
claring that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
who  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  service  found 
their  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose  name 


Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'  touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  short, 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortable,  labor- 
saving  contempt  for  learning  of  every  kind." 


had  never  been  heard  of,  s-ave  in  connection  with  Palo  ^ 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena  /$ 
Vista.  It  Is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re-  2  *_ 
marked,  "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared  such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  gth  of  July,  1850. 
His  last  words  were,  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending  man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people ;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 


LIBI 
UNIVthi>!!>  -<»  ,L 


'i  ><> 


THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


^ 

FILLMDRE.^ 


NIMHN**5IIM^ 


** 


& 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y  .,  on 
the  yth  of  January,  1800.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances. Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  AbiatharMillard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it  has  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and  ex- 
quisite sensibilities.  She  died  in 
1831 ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
young  man  of  distinguished  prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  which  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
and  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy ; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
Near  the  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where  some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate; 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history, 
biography,  oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  he  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  that 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
Wood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own, 
r.o  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  about 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  to 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  halls 
and  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  means  as 


& 


*.  *. 


**• 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1823,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degn  e  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected,  and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  him  strength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he  was  elected  Comptroller  of  the  State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  trumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
namesof  Zachary  Taylor.and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1849, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  gth  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura- 
tion, was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution, Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 

Mr.  Fillniore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  conciliate 
the  South ;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacy  of  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  com  promise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Fill- 
more,  having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  '  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  that 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,  1874. 


UNIVERSITY  ft  ii.Liw.iiii 
l/Kr 


I 


'" 


&X&&g/G\\  J'i^l 
f*®^®  YVtSfctf  .1 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


RANKLIN     PIERCE,   the 
fourteenth    President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,   N.   H.,   Nov. 
23,  1864.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,   who, 
with    his   own    strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a    home   in    the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though   uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The   mother  of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate,  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1820,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me  He  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  of  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,  and 

^^^ — ^A^O  n 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied :  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  yeais.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty, 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoied.  Of  the 


= 


'  _ 


FRANKLIN  PIERCE. 


t 


three  sons  who  were  bom  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce 's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1847. 
He  took  an  important  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval ;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "  Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  1 2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
and  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States— Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  — cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States  on  the  4th  of  March,  1853. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  experienced.  The  controversy  be- 
tween slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  It  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "  irrepressible  conflict  "  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years'  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ;  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 
people were  often  gladened  by  his  material  bounty. 


<  •  tvy 


; v  ;  i1 ;  i'  .• ,' .--,' ;  ,' ;  i1 ; v ; v ; .' ;  ><:,<:  i'.;j:-:.  •. v..v.,v..v.,'i ••.  •.•..'.  -..'.  •..|i--..1.".  v.-vvv..,' 


AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridge  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  on 
the  23d  of  April,  1791.  The  place 
where  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
father  stood  was  called  Stony 
Batter.  It  was  a  wild  and  ro- 
mantic spot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
a  poor  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantages.  When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native  powers  en- 

V2cSsi8™ •^nJMkar' 


I 
own  strong  arms. 


abled  him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  with 
facility. 

In  the  year  1809,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  ore  of  the 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  of 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar;  and 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  for 
ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House. 
Daring  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  ac- 
quired an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
ap]x>inted  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  in 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster, 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  the  meas- 
ures proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  making  repri. 


*& 

f  •• 


§£ 

s\ 


"V    ^^ 


JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


• 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country ;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removal  from  office  of  those  who  were  not  the  sup- 
porters of  his  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
was  brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  expunging 
from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  the  vote  of  censure 
against  Gen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deposits. 
Earnestly  he  opposed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 
circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received ;  and 
that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had 
no  power  to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  "  Congress," 
said  he,  "  might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  the 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

Upon  Mr.  Folk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and 'as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  Grande  into  that  territory  was  a  declaration 
of  war.  No  candid  man  cap  read  with  pleasure  the 
account  of  the  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
movement. 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  against  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1050, 
which  included  the  fugitive-slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  forthe  Presidency.  The- 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
slavery  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
ceived 1 14  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular  vote  stood 
1,340,618,  for  Fremont,  1,224,750  for  Buchanan.  On 
March  4th,  1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  inaugurated. 
Mr.  Buuhanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
years  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
allied  in  political  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered. He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


ciples,  consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws, 
he  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic. He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slavery 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  (he  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Washington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  offer  them 
far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention  upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveholders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow- 
ing that  Congress  had  no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of  governmental  im- 
becility was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  enforce  its 
laws  in  any  State  which  had  withdrawn,  or  which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  This 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with 
his  hand  upon  his  sword  hilt,  he  exclaimed,  "The 
Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  1860;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston:  Fort  Sumpter 
was  besieged ;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marvelous.  The  Nation  looked 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  away, 
and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our  country's 
banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellion. 
He  died  at  his  Wheatland  retreat,  June  i,  1868. 


L."  •:;.-.?'; 
yf  ,LUIWj(S 


SIXTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


&  <  LINCOLN.  > 


BRAHAM  LINCOLN,  the 
sixteenth  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  12, 
1809.  About  the  year  1780,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  left  Virginia  with  his 
family  and  moved  into  the  then 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  This  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  States 
whose  name  must  henceforth  forever  be  enrolled 
with  the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log-cabin ;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
less, wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
laborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

'  When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  built  a  log- 
cabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"All  that  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "  I  owe  to  my  angel-mother. 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana.  Where 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  have  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few ;  but  these  he  read 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committed  to 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  family 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  There  were  joys  and 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sister 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mar- 
ried when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr. 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  in  1830, 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  their 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  of 
education  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "  Thou  shall  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  vain ;"  and  a  profane  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborer 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield, 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat. 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  down 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham  Lin- 
coln undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  give 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.  In  this  adven- 


' 
. 


•    • 

; 

XX 

<?s 


•    ' 


(2; 


•    * 


;    ' 


ture  his  employers  were  so  well  pleased,  that   upon 
his  return  they  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Jackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
Mr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1856,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1858  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher  prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  i6th  of  June,  1860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "  The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
prominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him : 
and  as  little  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
only,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  was  poured  upon  this  good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  fraught 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to  "get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  Harrisburg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ol  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  had 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people. 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr.  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  both  personal  and  national.  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination, and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  Le  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, with  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a.  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  will 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  its  father;  his  country- 
men being  unable  to  decide  which  is  the  greater. 


[  ••  ••',... 

(/ILLINOIS 


^  V 


SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


•~- 


NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States.  The  early  life  of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
,_^  the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
|fy  tion  and  friendlessness.  He 
v  was  born  December  29,  1808, 
in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  confer  even  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  his  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow- workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches.  The  owner, 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  book, 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  on- 
ward laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pos- 
sessed some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs ;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In"  1835,  ne  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature, 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "  stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  those 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  responsible  posi- 
tions, he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abil- 


ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


*    » 

ra 


r 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1857,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
and  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the.  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
•would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  free  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
South  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  pride  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir," 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston-Baltimore  convention  of  1860,  he 
was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
Presidency.  In  1861,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
ern Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.  In 

1864,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the    United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April  15, 

1865,  became  President.     In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must  be   taught,   if 
they  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  punished ;  that   the     Government  will    not 
always  bear  with  its  enemies ;  that  it   is   strong   not 
only  to  protect,  but  to   punish.     *    *    The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."    Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  inconsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opposition  to,  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress ;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginning  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the  trial  began  March  23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  im potently, 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  ex-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  A.M.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect. 


or 


"**, 


EIGHTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


LYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the 
eighteenth  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  on 
the  29111  of  April,  1822,  of 
Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
solid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut. 'Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
of  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
he  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  .skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  animal,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, 111.  This  was  in  the  year  1860.  As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army;  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.  On  the  1 5th  of 


• 


V§) 


• 


-      •  - 


"". 


ULYSSES  S.  GRANT. 


June,  1 86 1,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 
district  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
pushed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  .New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  to  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  tactical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  army  in  fighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
and  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his  new  office. 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  of 
the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago, 
May  21,  1868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being  cast  for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term,  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States.  It 
is  not  too  much  to  say  that  his  modest,  courteous,  and 
dignified  demeanor  in  the  presence  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men  in  the  different  nations  in  the  world, 
reflected  honor  upon  the  Republic  which  he  so  long 
and  so  faithfully  served.  The  country  felt  a  great 
pride  in  his  reception.  Upon  his  arrival  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, Sept.  20,  1879,  the  city  authorities  gave  him  a 
fine  reception.  After  lingering  in  the  Golden  State 
for  a  while,  he  began  his  tour  through  the  States, 
which  extended  North  and  South,  everywhere  mark- 
ed by  great  acclamation  and  splendid  ovations. 

>^9 :*€^ 


Lias 

UNlVERSlfr  yjf  ILLINOIS 


VVr.  H  H  «2>  H  H  •'  •S\^^' 

NINETEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteenth  President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  farbackas  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, righting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
and  had  a.  large  following.  Misfor- 
tune overtaking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  1680,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  was  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  and  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in  Brattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes,  the  father  of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1813,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious, 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me- 
chanical turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to  Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day, 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter- 
mined to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son,  of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  .Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 

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subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  "  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
last  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
him,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  "  That's  right !  Stick  to 
him.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "  You 
wait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  went  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his  character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  but  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,31  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in  1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1845,  after  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  1849  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  upon  his  subse- 
quent life.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
members  such  men  as  Chief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman- 
hood. The  Literary  Club  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulness  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas ;  but  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  of 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Council 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  at 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  life.  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  up 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious.  In 
October,  1861,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  ygth  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  and  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevetted 
Major-General,  "for gallant  and  distinguished  services 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times. 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  1  >em- 
ocratic.  He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army ;  but  he  finally  declared,  "  I 
shall  never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  popular  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in  1875. 

In  1876  he  was  the  standard  bearer  of  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
auguratcd  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  however,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  one 


s-\   <v. 


UNIVERS/IY  *  . 
URBMM 


TWENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


i  A.  (JAR  FIELD. 


AMES  A.  GARFIELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born   Nov.    19, 
1831,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His   par- 
ents were  Abram  and    Eliza 
(Ballou)   Garfield,   both   of  New 
England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was  not  unlike  the  houses  of 
\  poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.  It 
was  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
tween the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His  father  was  a 
hard  working  farmer,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
The  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
their  four  children — Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
James.  In  May,  1823,  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
tracted in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
this  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
Thomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  perhaps,  can 
tell  how  much  James  was  indebted  to  his  biother's 
toil  and  self-sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
ters live  in  Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  her  struggles  to  keep  the  little  family  to- 


gether. Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor, 
the  humblest  fiiend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sureof  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  plain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  he 
was  about  sixteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.  She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,'that  he  should  try  to  obtain 
some  other  kind  of  employment.  He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city. 
After  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get  aboard  a  lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.  He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  went 
home,  and  attended  the  seminary  at  Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.  This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.  He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  way. 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.  He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  highest  hon- 
ors of  his  class.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.  As  above  stated,  he  early 
united  with  the  Christian  or  Diciples  Church  at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and  places  where 
he  happened  to  be.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  religion  : 


® 

crt 

S 

^ 


s 


: 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  m6re  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgment  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called"  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  communions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
tarian  charity  for  all  'who  loveour  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  1 1,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1 85  6 , 
in  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  1861  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  i86r.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
(Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Ligcoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  ro,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  ef  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  history  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 

rvV-Pra^Aft—    


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Gen.  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  sixty  years 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshua 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  There  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  which 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  a 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  which 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argu- 
ment on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  Jan.  14,  r88o,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention. 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  1881,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Elaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  in.1i<  '.ing  no  further 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  people 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  power  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J.,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
world  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed. 


<*  lum 


/ 

r 


TWEAITY-FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 
twenty-first    President   of  the 
United   States,   was    born    in 
F  ranklin  County,  Vermont,  on 
the  fifthof  October,  1830,  and  is 
the  oldest   of  a   family    of  two 
sons  and   five   daughters.     His 
father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 
Arthur,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  who 
emigrated  to  this  country'  from 
the  county  Antrim,  Ireland,   in 
his  1 8th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  in 
Newton  ville,   near  Albany,   after  a 
long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  Schenectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
h  in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
J»  the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket, 
and  entered  the  office  of  ex-Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success- 
ful career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  married  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nomination  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
jn  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon- 
athan Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  General 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickK 


<& 


— , 


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• 


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) 


100 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  York,  was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
politics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1 878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  1 880.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  thecontinent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  leading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  Domination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
was  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
March  4,  1881,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering,— those  moments  of 
anxious  suspense,  when  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 

• ^^^ — ^XMim: 


I 


tions  were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re- 
covery of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours  <R 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was  iSf 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr. 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  ]X>sition  in  the  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field  from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as    never 
before  in   its   history  over  the  death  of    any  other 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.     Then  it  became   the  duty  of  ( 
the  Vice  President  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in    New  York, 
Sept.  20,  1881.     The  position  was  an    embarrassing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.    The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him ;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  own 
hands ;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of  V 
affairs,  he  happily  surprised  the   nation,  acting  so  § 
wisely   that   but   few   criticised    his  administration,   f 
He  served    the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1885,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his   party  for  a  second 
term.     His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention   at   Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity   f 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been   selected   as  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party   ,A,  \ 
for  another  campaign.     He  retired  to  private  life  car-    ( 
rying  with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo-    < 
pie,  whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory    ( 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself.  */ 

m 


LIBRARY 

OF  ILLINOIS 

UKfcftNA 


- 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND, the  twenty- second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  ].,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
half-story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con- 
trast with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "good,  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supporting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in  Fayetteville  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
influence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $100  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette- 
ville, he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  his 

• ..J&i^ 


V§) 


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104 


GROVER   CLEVELAND. 


® 

• 


T 

(o 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 
he  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going 
to  a  city.  He  first  thought  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
ask  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock-breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
speak  enthusiastically.  "  What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?"  he  asked.  "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 
law,"  was  the  reply.  "  Good  gracious !  "  remarked 
the  old  gentleman;  "do  you,  indeed  ?  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head?  How  much  money  have  you 
got?"  "Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 
any." 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  while  he  could  "look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  them  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Graver's  persistency  won,  and 
he  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
have  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
none — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  erii- 
ployer  threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
but  in  due  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
it,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
elected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  punishment  upon  two 
criminals.  In  1881  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
performance  of  duty  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  from  one  vetoing  an  iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning  contract :  "  This  is  a  time  for 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  most  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  people  and  to  worse 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there- 
upon recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in  1882, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made,  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
n,  1884,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.;  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Elaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1885,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1885.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
the  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware ;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York  ;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusetts ; 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  William  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi;  Postmaster-General,  William  F.  Vilas, 
of  Wisconsin ;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
Arkansas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


' 

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.:-    — . 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


''' 


HADRACH  BOND,  the  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  ns  a  State,  serving 
from  1818  to  1822,  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  1773,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the.  "Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "  New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1812-14  ne  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  seat  Dec.  3, 
1812,  and  serving  until  Oct.  3,  1814.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain. 
The  year  1812  is  also  noted  in  the  history  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-emp- 
tion on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  at  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  the 
Territory.  In  company  with  John  G.  Comyges, 


Thomas  H.  Harris,  Charles  Slade,  Michael  Jones, 
Warren  Brown,  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W. 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  which  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  at  the  junction  of  the  two  great 
rivers  near  the  center  of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  the  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  the  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  1818  Mr.  Bond  was  elected  the  first  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  inaugurated  Oct.  6, 
that  year,  which  was  several  weeks  before  Illinois 
was  actually  admitted.  The  facts  are  these:  In 
January,  1818,  the  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,  Nathaniel  Pope  being  then  Delegate.  The 
petition  was  granted,  fixing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  latitude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.  In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  to 
the  people.  By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros- 
ecuting attorneys,  county  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.  This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.  At 
that  time  Illinois  comprised  but  eleven  counties, 
namely,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  )x>rtion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in  Madison  County.  Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Bond  was  honored  by  the  naming  of  a 


\ 

$ 
"       f 


x . 


112 


SHADRACH  BOND. 


I 


county  before  he  was  elected  Governor.  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  limitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
the  people  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
their  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the  State,  even 
before  the  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or.." internal  improvements,"  as  they  were  called, 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "  Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Ke.it  Kane,  his  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1820,  when  the  f.im:>us  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  36°  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  measure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  1824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  1818  was  a 
compromise  one,  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  first  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  that  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  the  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor ;  but  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  power  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 
provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,  and  de- 


clared that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  "  officers  of  the  State  " 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  The  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wubash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1820  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
to  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur- 
veys and  estimates,  preparatory  to  its  execution ; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
until  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  whole,  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1824,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  out  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  John  P. 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  the 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  'made 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicious  bestowment  of  his 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  the  Leg- 
islature, with  Wm.  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  Gershom 
Jayne,  as  Commissioners  to  locate  a  site  for  a  peni- 
tentiary on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
position, a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap- 
preciation of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height,  and  after  middle  life  became 
portly,  weighing  200  pounds.  His  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complexion  dark,  hair  jet  and 
eyes  hazel ;  was  a  favorite  with  the  ladies.  He  died 
April  1 1,  1830,  in  peace  and  contentment. 


. 

/»V®T^ 


^xS 


UNIVERSITY  Oi-  iLL(NOfi> 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


DWARD  COLES,  second 
Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
6,  was  born  Dec.  15,  1786, 
in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
"Enniscorthy,"  on  the 
Green  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  removed  to  William  and 
Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
This  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
1807,  a  short  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
examination.  Among  his  classmates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Wm.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  from  Virginia,  and  Justice 
Baldwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The 
President  of  the  latter  college,  Bishop  Madison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  prominent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  notables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs,  Tazewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  found  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  number  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  question  of  slavery.  He  read  every- 


thing on  the  subject  that  came  in  his  way,  and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.  The  more 
he  reflected  upon  the  subject,  the  more  impossible 
was  it  for  hi;n  to  reconcile  the  immortal  declaration 
"that  all  men  are  bom  free  and  equal"  with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State.  One  reason  which  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  appointment  as  private 
secretary  to  Mr.  M  idison  was  because  he  believed 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could  make  at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what  part 
of  the  non-slaveho'ding  portion  of  the  Union  he  would 
prefer  to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue. 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the  Emperor  (Alex- 

' -^V!»>l 


t 


!jp? 


116 


EDWARD  COLES. 


•& 

(& 


ander)  of  the  error  committed  by  his  min-ister  at 
Washington,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  the  post.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  other  parts  of  Europe,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  them  his  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio 
River.  He  lashed  all  the  boats  together  and  called 
all  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashore  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  description  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  described  in  his  own  language  : 

"  The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  me  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  what  they  heard.  In  breathless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
but  with  countenances  beaming  with  expression  which 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe.  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  bathed 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
on  me." 

Before  landing  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
larly with  the  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Coles,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  df  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  1819,  President  Monroe  appointed  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  Edwardsville, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  this  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  politeness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  that  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  the  slavery  question  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  In  the  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
Bond,  the  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
putting  forward  for  the  executive  office  Joseph 
Phillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
Browne  and  Gen.  James  B.  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
itia. The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
succeeded  in  electing  him  as  Governor.  His  plural- 
ity over  Judge  Phillips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropriate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But 
he  compromised  not  with  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  then 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  which  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  time  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  large 
majority  in  favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  of 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "  shiveree  "  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yelled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  permitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  politicians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution;  and  the  dominant  politics 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  the  people, 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  the  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  revealed 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner. It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  those  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  were  too  near  to  see 
and  recognize  the  greatness  that  overshadowed  them. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bishop 
De  Lancey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestry, 
who  cama  to  this  country  with  Wm.  Penn  in  1682. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  fond 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  first  agft- 
cultural  society  in  the  State.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  and  having  no  family  to  tie  him 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  died  July  7,  1868,  and  is  buried  at 
Woodland,  near  that  city. 

>\s     ^c^ — 


f. 


f  »•  -'  •  "  •  "*r 

DIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 
URBAM 


'«— '     1   'V.  H  H  *JJ>  H  H  •  ^  V 

GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS 


i  ni  a  n  EdA\ 


INIAN  EDWARDS,  Governor 
from  1827  to  1830,  was  a  son 
of  Benjamin  Edwards,  and 
was  born  in  Montgomery 
^ County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
1775.  "His  domestic  train- 
ing was  well  fitted  to  give 
his  mind  strength,  firmness  and 
honorable  principles,  an3  a  good 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  elevated 
character  to  which  he  afterwards 
attained.  His  parents  were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
principles.  His  education  in  early 
youth  was  in  company  with  and 
partly  under  the  tuition  of  Hon.  Wm. 
Wirt,  whom  his  father  patronized 
and  who  was  more  than  two  years 
older.  An  intimacy  was  thus 
formed  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.  He 
was  further  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.  He  next  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before  completing  his  course  he  moved  to  Nelson 
County,  Ky.,  to  open  a  farm  for  his  father  and  to 
purchase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  Here  he  fell  in  the  company  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
spendthrift.  He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
County  before  he  was  2  r  years  of  age,  and  was  re- 
elected  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 


In  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  this  time  he  left  Nelson  County  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  in  succession  the  offices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age!  In  addition,  in 
1802,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  1804  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  the  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  In  1806  -he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  1809,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  appointment  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
April  24,  1809.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  i  tth  of  that  month  took  the  oath  of 
office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Government 
interest  then  developing  into  considerable  proportions 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administration  he  had  the  power  to  make 
new  counties  and  appoint  all  the  officers,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the  people  of  each  county,  by  an  informal 


• 


1 


\ 


A 

•  ">• 

1 

E3 
& 


120 


NINIAN  EDWARDS. 


vote,  to  select  their  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  t8io  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  correspondence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  1812,  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
the  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re-settled  for  many  .years 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
1812,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  1815  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1818 
and  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
ex-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
Senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  able  de- 
bater and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He  thought 
seriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  1821,  but  was 
persuaded  by  his  old  friend,  Wm.  VVirt,  and  others  to 
continue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
President  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of. 
Wm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  and  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
order  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  exculpation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
disgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
the  State  of  Illinois  during  the  whole  of  his  career  in 
this  commonwealth,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
actor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a  victory 
for  his  party  in  1824. 

In  1826-7  the  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted soire  depredations  in  the  northern  part  of  the 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  lands 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "Winnebago  War."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
arid  putting  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "  Black  Hawk  War  "  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass'  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  have 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  from  Kentucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantile  business,  having  no  less  than  eightorten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  office,  he  nearly  always  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  to  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  was  also  liberal  to  the  poor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  him 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
1803,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  whom,  especially,  is  well 
known  to  the  people  of  the  "  Prairie  State,"  namely, 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield. 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia from  1809  to  1818;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1824;  and  from  the  lat- 
ter date  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  until  his 
death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  cholera.  Edwards 
County  is  also  named  in  his  honor. 

H  rt ' -"V  ^.     t^  *°mJ&*^f!V' _*,&!?/? 

MM*  :J  -^f^9r  — *®=*?fr 


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LI.  . 
. 

-  ILLINOIS 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


123 


•. 


|OHN  REYNOLDS,  Governor  1831- 
4,  was  born  in  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  father,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
his  mother,  nee  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
which  country  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  about  six  months  old, 
his  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
posed to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

In  1800  the  family  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
liquors.  In  1807  the  family  made  another  removal, 


this  time  to  the  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edwardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  2oth  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeing 
that  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend  college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  carpet,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himself 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville!  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
going  through  the  principal  Latin  authors;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exhibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  discipline.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordingly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  1812  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  About  this  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which  he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  his 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  all  others  for  social  intercourse. 


• 
124 


TaC 


REYNOLDS. 


From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  of  1812, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1814,  in  the  French  village  of 
Cahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Glair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  1828  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
judicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
of  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti-Jackson," 
the  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1830,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor, amid  great  excitement.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  recommended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatorial  admin- 
istration was  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1832.  He  called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  person  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  with  the  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
general  Government  the  war  was  terminated  without 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
war,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  here,  and  was 
the  next  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
term. 

South  Carolina  nullification  coming  up  at  this  time, 
it  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
and  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the  same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  considering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
he  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  State  since  he 
became  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
days  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  first 
move  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
all  elections  made  by  the  House  for  officers  the  votes 
should  be  given  viva  voce,  each  member  in  his  place 
naming  aloud  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
created  considerable  heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


sentially adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex-Governor  was  scarcely 
absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  e^ht  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  years, 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "  National 
Road"  scheme.  He  says,  in  "  My  Own  Times  "  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  economy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
YVashington.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lady  of  the  place. 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluff  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Having  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they  operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1839  the  ex-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  prosecute  the  enterprise.  Accord1' ugly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was  only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Buren  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter-Day 
Saint!" 

In  1846  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu- 
larly for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.  This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  1860,  aged 
and  infirm,  he  attended  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,--as  an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern  Delegates  than  any  other  member.  He 
supported  Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.  After 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the  Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the  support  of  Douglas.  Immedi- 
ately preceding  and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
secession,  and  about  the  first  of  March,  1861,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  the  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  rather  talkative 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  phrases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides  many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He 
died  in  Belleville,  in  May,  1865,  just  after  the  close 
of  the  war. 


-  - 


A 


• .  .. 

UNIVERSITY  OF 
URBAM 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


ILLIAM  LEE  D.  EWING, 
Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  had 
a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined  sentiment.  In  1830  John  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and  Zadok  Casey  Lieutenant  Governor, 
and  for  the  principal  events  that  followed, 
and  the  characteristics  of  the  times,  see 
sketch  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  The  first  we 
see  in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
forms us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Public 
Moneys  at  Vandalia  soon  after  the  organization  of 
this  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  his  hands 
were  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are  usually 
at  the  present  day.  In  1823  the  State  Bank  was 
robbed,  by  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
dollar  deposit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  a  commission  as 
Colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
he  acted  also  as  Major.  In  the  summer  of  1832, 
when  it  was  rumored  among  the  whites  that  Black 
Hawk  and  his  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Rock  River,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  on  a  tour  of 
reconnoisance,  and  with  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
subordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  up 
Rock  River  in  search  of  the  enemy.  On  the  igth  of 
July,  early  in  the  morning,  five  baggage  wagons. 


camp  equipage  and  all  heavy  and  cumbersome  arti- 
cles were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  might 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  miles 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swamps 
and  the  worst  thickets ;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail 
gave  life  and  animation  to  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  acting  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "  spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  inarched  nearly  50 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  with  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skins  that  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  away  to  hasten  their  inarch.  During  the 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all-  their  appurtenances,  were  thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Gen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reached. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  toward  the  Mississippi,  Maj.  Ewing  formed 
his  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  the  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  which  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  the  red  warriors  across  the  great  river. 
Maj.  Ewing  and  his  command  proved  particularly 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  the  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  in- 


*  ' 


J 


.  ptsr 


WILLIAM  L.  D.  EWING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  the  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  in  another  direction. 

In  the  above  affair  Maj.  Ewing  is  often  referred  to 
as  a  "  General,"  which  title  he  had  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Senate,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
the  August  election  of  1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  the 
time  at  which  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  the  law.  His  predecessor,  Charles  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  term.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing,  by  virtue  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  only  a  period  of 
\$  days,  namely,  from  the  3d  to  the  xyth  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  On  the  i;th  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
uance of  the  policy  adopted  by  his  predecessor ;  and 
on  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
was  sworn  into  office,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  the  29111  of  December,  1835,  Gen.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  United  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  gentleman  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
early  politics  of  Illinois,  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
the  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  afterwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
Supreme  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes,  Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped ;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie ;  but  on 
the  1 2th  Ewing  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
accordingly  declared  elected.  In  1837  Mr.  Ewing 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  term  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  1842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Audit?r  on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
he  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  build, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  of 
originality.  He  died  March  25,  1846. 


•:-- 


s^@^^ 
""STSJcyv 


CO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


SSS£^Srf^QfUWnv- 


awwe^-St^Zfajrev. 


«je>- 


OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
1834-8,  was  born  at  Paris, 
Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Great 
Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  he 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
or  Fort  Stephenson.  In  Illinois 
lie  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-General  of  the  Militia, 
a  position  which  his  military  fame 
had  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  State  Senator  from 
Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  for  introducing  the  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1826,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  for  Congress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians. 
As  yet  lie  was  but  little  known  in  the  State.  He  was 
an  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  admiration  of  the  glory  of 
his  militaiy  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
but  he  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeches,  though  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
full  of  good  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  State,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
his  health.  The  most  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  under  the  circumstances,  was  that  he  would 


obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  without  defeating  Mr. 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  a 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  friends 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  641  votes  ahead! 
He  received  6,321  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denouement,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoldering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated. 
Aside  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  penonal  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Congress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
August,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  State,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  participate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  formerly  his 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete ;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  at 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
time.  Of  course  the  Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all 
other  issues  that  could  arise ;  but  he  was  doubtless 


JOSEPH  DUNCAN. 


@ 

4 


. 


sincere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
had  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
which  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
message  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 
against  the  course  of  the  President.  The  measures 
he  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 
desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
majority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
from  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
mainly  to  banks  and  internal  improvements. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan  was  Governor  that  the 
people  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
ternal improvement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
rupted the  State.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 
and  the  disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 
these  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 
tually charged  upon  the  two  political  parties.  Had 
any  one  man  autocratic  power  to  introduce  and 
carry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public ; 
but  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  of  the  same  plow 
handle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 
for  the  failure.  In  this  great  vortex  Gov.  Duncan 
was  carried  along,  suffering  the  ^like  derogation  of 
character  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  excitement  the  Legislature 
"  provided  for  "  railroads  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  Alton 
to  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Carmel,  Alton  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
Terre  Haute,  Quincy  via  Springfield  to  the  Wabash, 
Bloomington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  all 
about  1,300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia, 
Illinois,  Great  and  Little-Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 
also  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve- 
ments were  ordered  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
estimate  for  the  expenses  for  all  these  projects  was 
placed  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  which  was  not 
more  than  half  enough !  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
saddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000 !  It 
was  sufficient  to  bankrupt  the  State  several  times 
over,  even  counting  all  the  possible  benefits. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 
in  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of  Elijah  P.  Love- 
joy  in  the  fall  of  1837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
term  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "  Abolitionist," 
editing  the  Observer  at  that  place,  and  the  pro- 
slavery  slums  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob, 


and  after  destroying  successively  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  his  friends 
were  entrenching  themselves,  and  shot  and  killed  the 
brave  reformer! 

About  this  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  the 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  two  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in  1838.  In  1842 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adam 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi- 
date for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  died 
before  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  his 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected, 
receiving  46,901  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  temporary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  enjoyed,  and  the 
want  of  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
that  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  policy  en- 
tertained in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
served  him  a  ready  purpose.  He  possessed  a  clear 
judgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  right.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  the  admira- 
tion of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
both  affable  and  dignified.  His  portrait  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  which  the  accompanying  was 
made,  represents  him  as  having  a  swarthy  complex- 
ion, high  cheek  bones,  broad  forehead,  piercing  black 
eyes  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  College  at 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1844,  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  leaving  a  wife 
but  no  children.  Two  children,  born  to  them,  had 
died  in  infancy. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


[HOMAS  CARLIN,  the  sixth 
Governor  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  serving  from  1838 
to  1842,  was  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian,  being  born  near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
18,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opportunities  for  an  education 
being  very  meager  in  his  native 
place,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
judgment  and  maturity,  applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing that  seemed  most  important, 
and  thus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
and  his  taste  for  reading  and 
study  remained  with  him  through 
life.  In  1803  his  father  removed 
to  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where  he 
died  in  1810. 

In  1812  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted bravery.  In  1814  he  married  Rebecca 
Huitt,  and  lived  for  four  years  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
souri, where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.  He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
rollton,  in  that  county,  and  in  1825  made  a  liberal 
donation  of  land  for  county  building  purposes.  He 
was  the  first  Sheriff  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois  Senate.  In  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
post  of  considerable  danger.  In  1834  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Jackson  to  the  position  of 
Receiver  of  Public  Moneys,  and  to  fulfill  the  office 


more  conveniently  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Quincy. 

While,  in  i838j  the  unwieldy  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  with  all  its 
expensive  machinery,  amidst  bank  suspensions 
throughout  the  United  States,  a  great  stringency  in 
the  money  market  everywhere,  and  Illinois  bonds 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  hardest 
times  "  existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election  of  State  officers  was 
approaching.  Discreet  men  who  had  cherished  the 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion, met  with  disappointment.  A  Governor  and 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  State 
policy.  But  the  grand  scheme  had  not  yet  lost  its 
dazzling  influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Time  and  experience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstrated 
its  utter  absurdity.  Hence  the  question  of  arresting 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  become 
a  leading  one  with  the  dominant  party  during  the 
campaign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg- 
islature were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democrats,  in  State 
Convention  assembled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  the 
office  of  Governor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten- 
ant Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, brother  of  Ninian  Edwards,  formerly  Governor, 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.  Edwards  came  out  strongly 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  while  Carlin 
remained  non-committal.  This  was  the  first  time 
that  the  two  main  political  parties  in  this  State  were 
unembarrassed  by  any  third  party  in  the  field.  The 
result  of  the  ele-tion  was:  Carlin,  35,573 ;  Ander- 
son, 30,335;  Edwards,  29,629;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent  Legislature 
(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  (Duncan)  in  his  rnes- 


j(  J 


•    » 


r. ••••.-< 
^ 


sage  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  uiged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
but  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  $4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Chicago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
to  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  who  had  already  held  the  post  by  appointment 
through  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lin's preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  warranty  case  brought  up 
before  it  by  John  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereupon  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "Whig  Court!" 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judicu, 
ary,  and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scates,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  during  Cov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  "Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  not  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mormons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  somewhat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  their  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ing to  the  New  Testament — that  they  should  have 

.' 


"  all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "  all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so  rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  days. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Mormons  always  supported  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  1840-1,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  daring  to 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  vir- 
tually erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  the 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved. 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  his  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  r84i,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  Adam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  for  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  Mormons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  The  next  spring  the  Whigs  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  Snyder  died  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supreme  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  his  ele- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1849 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  the 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4, 
1 85  2,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


UNIVERSITY  Of  JUJNOIJ, 


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GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


•:•  •'•  M  fe^fefr^^^&l^li^^^fe^ifefefeiSA&fefei!^ 

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JHOMAS  FORD,  Governor 
from  1842  to  1846,  and  au- 
thor of  a  very  interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  the 
year  1 800.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forquer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  who  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  conse- 
quently left  in  indigent  circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
girls.  With  a  view  to  better  her 
condition,  she,  in  1804,  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
tomary by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers ;  but  upon  her 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  toward  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi bluffs.  Here  young  Ford  received  his  first 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Humphrey, 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endowments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  public  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education ; 
but  George  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  but  for  his  early  death  would  probably 
have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  opportunities, 
received  a  better  education,  though  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  for  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend. 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  Illinois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  obtained  a  grant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named.  Through  the  advice  of 


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this  gentleman,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law;  but  Forquer,  then  merchandising,  re- 
garding his  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  where,  however,  he  remained  but 
one  term,  owing. to  Forquer's  failure  in  business.  On 
his  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
ing school  for  support. 

In  1829  Gov.  Edwards  appointed  him  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  and  in  1831  he  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  times  elected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  without  opposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  once  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1841, 
the  latter  tribunal  was  re-organized  by  the  addition 
of  five  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
he  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a 
notice  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1842,  he  was  elected,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

All  the  offices  which  he  had  held  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefferson- 
ian  principle, — Never  to  ask  and  never  to  refuse 
office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
deservedly  high,  but  his  cast  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  power  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
sound,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
practice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
the  arts  of  demagogues  as  well  as  any  man.  He  was 
plain  in  his  demeanor,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  to  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
keeper, and  was  waited  upon  at  his  hotel  near  mid- 
night by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  the  view 
of  effecting  a  "  combination  !  " 

Mr.  Ford  had  not  the  "  brass  "  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
hardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  one 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
administration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
financial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "  and 
the  Mexican  War. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Governor  proved  himself 
to  be  eminently  wise.  On  coming  into  office  he  found 
the  State  badly  paralyzed  by  the  ruinous  effects  of 
the  notorious  "  internal  improvement  "  schemes  of 


the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  to 
show  by  way  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  was 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  on  to 
completion.  The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  State 
was  growing  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  for 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints  "  became  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  increased  their  num- 
bers throughout  the  country,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  of 
their  leader,  Jo  Smith,  by  a  violent  death,  were  driven 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  been  a 
Judge  for  so  many  years  previously,  Mr.  Ford  of 
course  was  non-committal  concerning  Mormon  affairs, 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  also 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with  the 
other  side.  Mormonism  claiming  to  be  a  system  of 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "  between  two 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rather 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  when 
that  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compli- 
cated matters,  especially  when  religion  is  mixed  up 
with  them,  expose  every  person  participating  in 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 
1845,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  term 
of  Mr.  Ford's  successor.  The  Governor's  connection 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  it 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc. 

Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  very  readable  and 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  is 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
It  exhibits  a  natural  flow  of  compact  and  forcible 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  In 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operations 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  he  is  inimit- 
able, his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objection 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place- 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judged 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writings 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhibit 
a  little  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con- 
temporaries who  were  prominent  during  his  term  of 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  111., 
Nov.  2,  1850. 


'"  miTY  OF  iLUNOIS 
URBANA 


1         '*&*iK 
• 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Augustus  C,  French 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH, 
Governor  of  Illinois  from 
1846  to  1852,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Hill,  in  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire, 
Aug.  2,  1808.  He  was  a 
descendant  in  the  fourth 
generation  ot  Nathaniel 
French,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  1687  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life  young  French  lost  his 
father,  but  continued  to  receive  in- 
struction from  an  exemplary  and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  19  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.  He  discharged  his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.  His  education  in  early  life  was 
such  mainly  as  a  common  school  afforded.  For  a 
brief  period  he  attended  Dartmouth  College,  but 
from  pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.  He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.  The  following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.  Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public  life 
by  representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.  A 
strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
ford County,  at  which  place  he  was  a  resident  when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
a  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  for 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1846,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyman  Trumbull,  John  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  Walter  B.  Scales, 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly, — an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  the  rumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  Win.  McMurtry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.'  Nathaniel  G.  Wilcox,  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  exposed  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election ;  but  in  the  meantime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  the  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  sweeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  The  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  office,  received  5,152  votes, 


*  '• 

I 


«O»  M  H  •"  ^  >T 

AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH. 


ir 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  1848,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  November  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  term  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  incumbent  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opposition  to  his  election,  he  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  5,639  for  Pierre  Menard  (son  of  the 
first  Lieutenant  Governor),  4,748  for  Charles  V. 
Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  1,361  for 
James  L.  D.  Morrison.  But  Wm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  office  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1848.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war,  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Feb.  19,  1847,  tne  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  permission  of  Congress,  declared  that 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale. .  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  time,  the  distribution  of  Government 
land  warrants  among  the  Mexican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of  good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific).  It  sold  for  $100,000  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
The  salt  wells  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  In 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1839,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasury.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  $100,000,000,  and  the 
population  851,470. 


In  1849  the  Legislature  adopted  the  township  or-    __ 
ganization   law,   which,    however,  proved   defective,    \ 
and  was  properly  amended  in  1851.     At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  passed 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  executions. 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  urged 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1850  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  com- 
menced to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  there  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project ;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (East  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Congress  granted 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of 
the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
which  constituted  the  most  important  epoch  in  the 
railroad — we  might  say  internal  improvement — his- 
tory of  the  State.  The  road  was  rushed  on  to  com- 
pletion, which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  by  a  good  class  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 

In  1851  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
free  stock  banks,  which  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not  space  further  to  particularize 
concerning  legislation.  Gov.  French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  .be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature,  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  complexioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  nature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con-  (Q) 
victions  of  duty.  In  public  speech  he  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  1865,  at  his  home  in  Lebanon,  St. 
Clair  Co.,  111. 


Or  ,LUNO» 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


|:OEL  A.  MATTESON,  Governor 
1 85  3-6,  was  bora  Aug.  8,  1808, 
in  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
before.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon English  education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel  first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small  tradesman  in  Prescott, 
Canada,  before  he  was  of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered  an  academy, 
taught  school,  visited  the  prin- 
cipal Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  his  father  had 
given  him,  made  a  tour  in  the  South,  worked  there 
in  building  railroads,  experienced  a  storm  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  the  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  father's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried. In  1833,  having  sold  his  farm,  he  removed, 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government  land  near  the  head  of  Au 
Sable  River,  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.  At 
that  time  there  were  not  more  than  two  neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten  miles  of  his  place,  and  only 
three  or  four  houses  between  him  and  Chicago.  He 
opened  a  large  farm.  His  family  was  boarded  12 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  house  on  his  claim, 
sleeping,  during  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge  prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  1835  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  the  speculative  real-estate  mania  which 
broke  out  in  Chicago  in  1836  and  spread  over  the  State, 
he  sold  his  lands  under  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1838  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  1841,  when  hard  times 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  offered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson  at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  canal  debts  and  leave  him  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
next  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
in  which  he  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  1842  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
by  a  bungling  apportionment,  John  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holding  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district, 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however, 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


A<* 


JOEL  A.  MATTESON. 


greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  hours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  important  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
loan  of  $1,600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Thus  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook ;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard;  Lewis  W.  Ross,  of  Fulton ;  and  D.  P.  Bush, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  Dexter  A. 
Knowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  v°tes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,408.  Mat- 
teson's forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  things  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  party,  or  the  powerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  As  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
virtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  superiors.  His  messages  present 
a  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
was  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 

• /->    .Vv 


gress,  under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  parry  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op- 
position to  the  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  what 
was  temporarily  called  the  "  Anti-Nebraska  "  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  as  "  Ne- 
braska or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  this 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "Anti-Nebraska" 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats.  But  after  a  few  ballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  On  the  nth  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  1856  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation. 

The  Legislature  of  1855  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  the  four  years  of  Gov.  Matteson's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $137,818,07910  $349,951,272;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
144;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  the 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due ;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  from  something  less  than  400  to 
about  3,000 ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  more  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrip,  amount- 
ing to  $224^82.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  Sangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  principal  and  all 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He  died  in   the  winter  of  1872-3,  at  Chicago. 


«.  ," 


,!'V.»i-'.,v..v..v.>v..v. v. '. ', '.  ••.  v.."v..~'i  '.'<'. ':-:'  :v  :>>:;'  .••i'..>v  :  <' : .' .'  >' :  >' :  >' .'  i1'.'  >'  :.>'^''>^f 


1 


.  liiB  11. 


ILLIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
ernor 1857-60,  was  born 
April  25,  1811,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
honest,  God-fearing  people, 
who  reared  their  children  under  the  daily 
example  of  industry  and  frugality,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  that  class  of  Eastern 
society.  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
ble but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  came  West  and  located  in  Mon- 
roe County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling:  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambition,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  choice  of  a  profession  to  be  a  mistake,  and  when 
lie  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
anew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, discovered  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  acquired  for  him  a 
ready  local  notoriety.  It  soon  came  to  be  under- 


stood that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.  During  terms  of  Court  he 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him  a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  1840  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
humor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and .  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

In  stature  he  was  somewhat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  he  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
pleasant  and  manner  winning.  He  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  James, 


«    • 
(i 

I 


WILLIAM  H  BfSSELL. 


X  f 


of  Monroe  County,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
both  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1840, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  Elias  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  him  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don  Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote, — 807  to  6.  Considering  the  limited 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  the  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being  the 
Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.  He  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  He  was  an  ardent  politician. 
During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 
of  the  adjustment  measures;  but  in  1854  he  opposed 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  act  and 
therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 
thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Republican 
party. 

During  his  first  Congressional  term,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson  Davis  claiming  for  the1 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  for  success  at  Buena. 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops ;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  up 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  1856,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  Col.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook 
County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  result  of  the 

h ^^^ ^< 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Genual  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1855,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  the  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  in 
favor  of  the  Governor.  Two  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  State,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  that 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light, 
implicating  ex-Gov.  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat- 
ing $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing $27,500.  (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1859  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated in  this  affair,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unatoned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned,  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  exposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  while  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion except  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was 
generally  hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  relaxing  its 
stealthy  hold,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  March  18, 
1860,  over  nine  months  before  the  expiration  of  his 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  48  years.  He 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  he  had  been  a  member  since  1854. 


WWVERsmr  (#  IUJ(IUIS 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


n||:OHN  WOOD,  Governor  1 86o-r ,  and 
fife**  the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Serapro- 
nius  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
nee  Catherine  Crause,  wag  of 
German  parentage,  and  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
physician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
modern  languages,  who,  after 
serving  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
him  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
death,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  his  home,  Nov.  2,  1818,  and'passed  the  succeed- 
ing winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shawneetown, 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  pursued 
farming.  In  1821  he  visited  "the  Bluffs"  (as  the 
present  site  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and,  pleased  with  its  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  quarter-section  of  land  near  by,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing fall  (1822)  erected  near  the  river  a  small  cabin, 


1 8  x  20  feet,  the  first  building  in  Quincy,  of  which 
he  then  became  the  first  and  for  some  months  the 
only  occupant. 

About  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  Pike 
County,  chief  of  whom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead- 
ing man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  a  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  points  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  Mr.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  off  the  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages  and  as  yet 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  majestic  Father  of  Waters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "  But  it's  too  near  Atlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!" 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  a 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  newspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adams 
County.  During  the  next  summer  Quincy  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containing  but  four  adult  male  residents  and  half 




JOHN  WOOD. 


that  number  of  females.  Since  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
til his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  posi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
face  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majority. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1856, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Wm.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  18,  1860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  1860,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  honest 
Illinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  tiie  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nation  from  destruction. 

In  1861  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  the  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
Washington,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  he  was  appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  throughout  the  war.  In  1864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  I37th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  with 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-four  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
behind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-man  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  growing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneer  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married, — first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughter  of  Joshua  Streeter, 
formerly  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  8,  1863,  and  in 
June,  1865,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
1880,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eight 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  John  Tillson;  Daniel  C.,  who  married  Mary  J. 
Abernethy;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


•  *. 


UCRARY 

ONIVtRSlTY  Of  ILLINOIS 
UKttUlft 


•;>*-• 


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*-gKj^Kf<\ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


ICHARD  YATES,  the  "War 
Governor,"  1861-4,  was  born 
Jan.  18,  1818,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio  River,  at  Warsaw, 
Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.  His  father 
moved  in  1831  to  Illinois,  and) 
after  stopping  for  a  time  in 
Springfield,  settled  at  Island 
Grove,  Sangamon  County.  Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
the  family.  Subsequently  he  entered 
Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville, 
where,  in  1837,  he  graduated  with 
first  honors.  He  chose  for  his  pro- 
fession the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din  being  his  instructor.  After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  as  an 
advocate. 

Gifted  with  a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  soon 
appeared  in  the  political  hustings,  and,  being  a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West,  Henry  Clay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
the  party  of  his  idol.  In  1840  he  engaged  with  great 
ardor  in  the  exciting  "  hard  cider "  campaign  for 
Harrison.  Two  years  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Morgan  County,  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
tory that  by  1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
extending  from  Morgan  and  Sangamon  Counties 
north  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
the  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.  His  Democratic 
opponent  was  Maj.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
ular man  who  had  won  distinction  at  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in  the  Mexican*  War,  and  who  had 
beaten  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position, 


two  years  before,  by  a  large  majority.  Yates  was 
elected.  Two  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates'  second  term  in  Congress  that 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  took 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  became 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  he 
fell  behind  Major  Harris  only  200  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  1860  met  at 
Decatur  May  9,  and  nominated  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to-  Hon.  Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Swett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  State,  who  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.  Francis  A. 
Hoffman,  of  DuPage  County,  was  nominated  for 
Lieutenant  Governor.  This  was  the  year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for  President,  a  period  re- 
membered as  characterized  by  the  great  whirlpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated  J.  C.  Allen  of 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and  Lewis  W.  Ro?s, 
of  Fulton  County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  .The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.  After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the  election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172,196  votes,  and  Mr.  Allen  159,253.  Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 

Gpv.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  tht; 


- 


•S 


RICHARD    YATES. 


<§; 


? 

"> 

) 


most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  the  former  derived  its  sustenance 
from  the  loyalty  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  upholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  popularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transported.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  very  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  by  his  excel- 
lency ;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  his  appeals  for  aid  were 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  upon  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism ;  and  his  special  message 
in  1863  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  for  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  deep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  in 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages on  political  and  civil  affairs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1862,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  the  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  took  the  high  position  that 
the  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
had  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
assemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
sovereign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  to 
effect  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "  happiness, 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Constitution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  import- 
ant "laws!"  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties,  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  June  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions ;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  upon  the 
question  of  adjourning  sine  die,  the  Governor,  having 
the  authority  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !  "  This  led  to  great 
excitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  in 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  1864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
which  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  A  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmaduke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  at  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  pardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment Director  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which  office  he  continued  until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  2-jth  of  November  following. 


—  •;•/ 


L.----.P1,' 


,LUN01S 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Richard  JT*  Ogl 


-s— 


UCHARD  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 
ernor 1865-8,  and  re-elected 
in  1872  and  1884,  was  born 
July  25,  1824,  in  Oldham  Co., 
Ky., — the  State  which  might 
be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."  Bereft  of 
his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
of  eight  years,  his  early  education 
was  neglected.  When  12  years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
he  removed  with  an  uncle,  Willis 
Oglesby,  into  whose  care  he  had 
been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  his  ap- 
prenticeship as  a  mechanic,  working  six  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field, with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  and  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  County. 

The  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Cruz  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  his  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  California  "gold  fever  "  in 
1849,  he  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new  Eldorado,  driving  a  six-mule  team,  with  a  com- 


pany of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  the  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  on  the  ticket 
of  Presidential  Electors.  In  1856  he  visited  Europe, 
Asia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1858  he  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  1860  he 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate ;  and  on  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in, 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  was  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  he  was  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo;  in  April  he  was  promoted  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral ;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
being  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
place,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  im- 


•tf» 
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V 


mediate  death.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  this 
day.  On  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
Major  General,  for  gallantry,  his  commission  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  i6th  Army 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  fro.n  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  he  relinquished  this  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  follow- 
ing, to  court-martial  and  try  the  Surgeon  General  of 
the  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  whin  he  returned  home. 
The  Republican,  or  Union,  -State  Convention  of 

1864  was  held  at  Springfield,   May   25,   when   Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,of  Sanga- 
mon,   and    John   M.    Palmer,  of  Macoupin.     Wm. 
Bross,  of  Chicago,   was  nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.      On   the  Democratic   State  ticket  were 
James  C.   Robinson,  of  Clark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gave  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  31,000  votes.     The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  both  the  Legislature   and  in  the  repre- 
sentation in  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  17,  1865. 
The  day  before  the  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
death  visited  his  home  at  Decatur,  and  took  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  six 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  postponed  a  week. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 

1865  were  the   election  of  ex-Gov.    Yates   to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  I3th 
amend.nent  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.      This   session    also    signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  notorious  "  black  laws,"  part 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since  1819.     Also,  laws  re- 
quiring the  registration  of  voters,  and  establishing  a 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  were, passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature.    But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,   granted    in     1859  for  25   years,   and   now 
sought  to  be  extended  99  years.     As  this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  over  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he  deemed  it  useless  further  to 
attempt   to  check  their  headlong  career.     At   this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest  was  perfected,  unless   we  count  such  the 
turning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867   was  still  more   productive  of 
private  and  special  acts.     Many  omnibus  bills  were 
proposed,  and  some  passed.     The  contests  over  the 
location  of  the   Industrial  College,  the  Capital,  the 


Southern  Penitentiary,  and  the  canal  enlargement 
and  Illinois  River  improvement,  dominated  every- 
thing else. 

During  the  year  1872,  it  became  evident  that  if 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  the 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L.  Beveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put  into 
the  field  Gustavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
35,334  to  56,174, — the  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  by  tbeir  having  an  old-time  Whig  and 
Abolitionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  met 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby's  term  expired  March  4,  1879,  having 
served  his  party  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1884  Mr.  Oglesby  was 
.nominated  for  a  "third  term"  as  Executive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago,  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  Both 
gentlemen  "stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo- 
ple elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  jaint 
ballot,  as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  15,018  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1885.  The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parties  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  each 
party  to  checkmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

Gov.  Og'esby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  medium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  appear- 
ance is  striking  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  well 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
Ardent  in  feeling  and  strongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicanism 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  his  iovial 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gestures, 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  utmost ;  with  frequent  descents  to 
the  grotesque;  and  with  abundant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  emphasis, 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  audience  beyond  measure. 


Of 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


JOHN  M.  PALMES 


-«-* 


*—  f<— 


j:OHN  Me  AULEY  PALMER,  Gov- 
ernor 1869-72,  was  born  on 
Eagle  Creek,  Scott  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  "13,  1817.  During  his  in- 
fancy, his  father,  who  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
where  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  childhood 
and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
early  aptitude.  His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  1831 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm  was  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer's 
mother  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Elihu,  entered  this  school  and  remained . 
1 8  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 

During   the   summer  of   1838  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  then  making  his 


first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young,  eloquent  and  in 
political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 
dence, Sred  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be- 
gan to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading 
of  law,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car- 
linville,  making  his  home  with  his  elder  brother, 
Elihu.  (The  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  con- 
siderable orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)  On 
the  next^  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  would  have  located  elsewhere  than  Carlinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.  Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From  1839  on,  while  he  diligently  pursued  his 
profession,  he  participated  more  or  less  in  local 
politics.  In  1843  he  became  Probate  Judge.  In 
1847  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con- 
vention, where  he  took  a  leading  part.  In  1852  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti-slavery 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op- 
position to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise; 
and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became  a  party 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  the 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuing 
a  circular  to  that  effect.  A  few  weeks  afterward, 


-'  .    •' 


m 


JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


*!  * 


(® 


@ 


however,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  Congressional  Convention  which  nomi- 
T.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
unqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  elected.  The  following  winter 
he  put  in  nomination  for  the  .United  States  Senate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  him  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
1859,  but  was  defeated.  In  1860  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
I4th  III.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Island  No.  10;  at  Farmington,  where  he  skillfully 
extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  position  ; 
at  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  31,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a 
rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
General;  at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers. 
Under  Gen.  Sherman,  he  was  assigned  to  the  14th 
Army  Corps  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  Peach-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
signed to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  those  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  over  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  which  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  -as 
military  Governor ;  and  he  exhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  post. 

Gen.  Palmer  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Peoria  May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomination  would 
probably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not 
persistently  declared  that  he  could  not  accept  a  can- 


didature for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuing 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  State's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
points,  which  were  more  in  keeping  with  the  Demo- 
cratic sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  fjr 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultimately  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  limited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "  tax-grabbing  law  "  to  pay  railroad  subscriptions, 
the  Chicago  Lake  Front  bill,  etc.  The  new  State 
Constitution  of  1870,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "  revolution"  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  1871,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 

Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers 's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles- 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  he  is 
.above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament.  He 
has  a  large  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  social 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  his 
habits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  manners 
and  is  a  true  American  in  his  fundamental  principles 
of  statesmanship. 


m 


I  ••  ••"rv 

UNlVERSinr  <* 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Xi'^^^V-,.'^.'!.^  '..'>•.  'i '.  'i  •.;'.•.'. '.  .  V.  V '. ' 


OHN  LOWRIE  BEVER- 
IDGE, Governor  1873-6,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  6,  1824.  His  parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
idge. His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Beveridge,  be- 
fore their  marriage  emigrated 
from  Scotland  just  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  in 
Washington  County.  His  father 
was  the  eldest  of  eight  brothers,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  the  first  one  of  the  num- 
ber died.  His  mother's  parents, 
James  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
first-born,  whose  "  native  land  "was 
the  wild  ocean.  His  parents  and 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  man,  their  average  age 
being  over  80  years.  They  belonged  to  the  "  Asso- 
ciate Church,"  a  seceding  Presbyterian  body  of 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school ;  and  so  rigid 
was  the  training  of  young  Beveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  igth 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm, 
and  was  in  his  i8th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fall  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  several 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  his  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  money  sufficient;  but,  n_>t  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only 
$40  in  money  started  South  to  seek  his  fortune, 


>J 


& 


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• • 


V"V.MH»CD»HH-y  V    v~' 

JOHN  L.  BEYERIUGE. 


•»|$@JX<s) 


Poor,  alone,  without  friends  and  influence,  he  thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
Jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
went considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  but  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cember, i$47,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1848, 
he.  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Street  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
time  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children,  Alia  May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

In  the  fall  of  1849,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  little  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  soon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
law,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  then  financial 
agent  and  business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1861,  his  law  partner,  Gen.  •  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
HI.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  18,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  n,  to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
until  November,  1863,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


tles  and  skirmishes  :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days' 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1863,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system. 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  recruited  another  com- 
pany, against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  lyth  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1866,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Chicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.  In  the  fall  of 
1866  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  1870,  he  practiced 
law  and  closed  up  the  unfinished  business  of  his 
office.  He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 1871,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large; 
in  November,  1872,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby ;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,  Jan.  21,  1873.  Thus,  inside  of  a  few 
weeks,  he  was  Congressman  at  large,  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.  The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge 's  administration  were: 
The  completion  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  the  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "Haines"  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov. 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bever- 
idge &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial 
paper  at  7 1  Dearborn  Street  (McCormick  Block), 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  1881,  he  has  also  been 
Assistant  United  States  Treasurer :  office  in  the 
Government  Building.  His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kalb  County — James  H.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennet 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


vg) 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


M.   CULLOM. 


HELBY  M.  CULLOM,  Gover- 
nor 1877-83,13  the  sixth  child 
of  the  late  Richard  N.  Cullom, 
and  was  born  Nov.  22,  1829,111 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther then  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  Illinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  family  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  'being  very 
deep  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
the  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  boiled  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
capital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield.  He  died  about 
i873- 

Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  attending  school  as  he  had 
opportunity  during  the  winter.  Within  this  time, 
however,  he  spent  several  mpnths.  teaching  school, 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  ox  team  for  the  neighbors.  With  the  money  ob- 
tained by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County; 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopeless  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  he  heard  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.  Cullom  concluded  to 
study  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  health 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  for 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyng,  in  Peoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar,  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
Attorney,  on  the  Anti-Nebraska  ticket. 

In  1856  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  the  same  time  elected  a  Representa- 
tive in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
ties. On  the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  the  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.  Practicing 


/->    /VX:, 


I?6 


SHELB  Y  M.    CULLOM. 


• 


.. 


law  until  1 860,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  1861,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,  but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  parly 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  In 
1862  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Charles  A.  Dana,  since  of  the 
New  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.  He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1864  he  entered  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress  from  the  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  JohnT.  Stuart,  who  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 
Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4,103!  In  1868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  Expenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories ; 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
Ohio,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of 
law  in  Utah,  which  caused  more  consternation  among 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  the 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25, 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor,  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Journal.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
placed  in  nomination  Lewis  Steward,  a  wealthy 


farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,800  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1877. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1873  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new 
'issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  time  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  1880,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against  Lyman  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  the  former  party  was  some- 
what handicapped  in  the  campaign  by  a  zealous 
faction  opposed  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  for  the  Democratic  State 
ticket.  The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  time  was 
about  27,000.  Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again 
became  Republican,  and  no  representative  of  the 
Greenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.  Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  iS8i.  In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

March  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  expired,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lom was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom's  term  in  the  United 
States  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  1889. 

As  a  practitioner  of  law  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  at  Spring- 
field ;  and  he  has  also  been  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
12,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
two  daughters ;  and  the  second  time  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr, 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


1s 


*  '" 


UNIVERSITY  OF 


_*A/S>K>l/r 


^(VXiJcj 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


OHN  MARSH  ALL  HAMIL- 
TON, Governor  1883-5,  was 
born  May  28,  1847,  in  a  log 
house  upon  a  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Richwood,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
of  Rev.  Wm.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  the 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMorris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
doun  County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  in  that  commonwealth ;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  father  sold  out 
his  little  pioneer  forest  home  in  Union  County,  O., 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roberts  Township,  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  being 
2 1  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  home  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  paying  for  the  land  and 
making  a  comfortable  home.  John  was,  of  course, 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  or  four  months  in  the  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evinced  a  capacity 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  what  books  he  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  the  house.  Much  of 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  the  light  of  a  log  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1857  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing 
their  home,  to  pay  debts ;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "buckled  to"  and  perse- 
vered in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  excitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  1860  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous part  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  special 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  he 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  Mag- 
nolia, a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  this  Wide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military  company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient ;  but  when 
they  offered  themselves  for  the  war,  young  Hamilton 
was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  14  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  0^1863-4  he 
attended  an  academy  at  Henry,  Marshall  County, 

-JSyrSf^bf/rSfl 

"•"fTSST^ii. 


JOHN  MARSHALL  HAMILTON. 


fi» 


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and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  14151  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  too-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 
The  following  winter,  1864-5, -Mr.  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1865-7,  ne 
went  through  three  years  of  the  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46, 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  time  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  money  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Their  business  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnership  continued 
unbroken  until  Feb.  6,  1883,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  Executive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following  Mr.  Rowell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  1871,  Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  Williams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  Wm.  G.  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 
'  In  1876  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Senate,  over  other  and  older 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  part  "  on  the  stump  " 
in  the  campaign,  for  the  success  of  his  party,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
.Greenback  opponent.  In  the  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  and  on  Miscel- 
lany ;  and  during  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U.  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 


elect  John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  the  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans had  gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
David  Davis.  At  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medical  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  against  so 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"  laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  southern  peni- 
tentiary, which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  session 
of  1879  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  President  pro  tern, 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supporter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the  U.  S.  Senate,  who  was  this  time 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robert  Bell,  of  Wabash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  41,200.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  32d  General  Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorship. 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Cullom 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  1883.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrassments  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clairand  Madison 
Counties  in  May,  1883,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-license 
liquor  law,  the  veto  of  a  dangerous  railroad  bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  June, 

1884,  where  his  first  choice  for  President  was  John 
A.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  Arthur;  but 
he  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr. 
Blaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  as  Governor  expired  Jan.  30, 

1885,  when  the  great  favorite  "  Dick  "  Oglesby  was 
inaugurated. 


;*  |     .  ' 


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INTRODUCTORY. 


•M- 


-M- 


SHE  comparative  value  of  bi- 
ography in  the  field  of  lit- 
erature is  daily  becoming 
more  apparent.  At  no 
period  lias  it  ranked  as  at 
present,  and  each  success- 
ive day  adds  to  its  promi- 
nence. Sixty  years  ago  its  su- 
premacy was  acknowledged  by  the 
most  graceful  pen  of  the  age,  and 
the  concession  had  all  the  more 
strength  coming  as  it  did  from  a 
man  whose  ultima  thule  was  found 
in  a  direction  considered  diametri- 
cally its  reverse.  Tourgee  consid- 
ers biography  as  hardly  worthy 
respect,  and  the  opinion  seems 
conspicuously  singular,  coming 
from  one  who  expounds  his  principles  through  the 
lips  of  fictitious  characters,  constructed  for  the  pur- 
pose. It  strikes  one  as  paradoxical.  But  when  a 
historian  so  masterly  as  Lord  Macaulay  pays  tribute 
to  the  value  and  power  of  biography,  its  place  is  as- 
sured beyond  danger  from  assault. 

Carlyle's  statement  that  the  world's  history  is  the 
history  of  its  leaders,  is  the  truest  thing  that  has 
been  said  of  the  comparative  merits  of  biography, 
and  it  brings  us  to  the  quest  for  the  world's  leaders. 
Finding  them,  we  are  startled  to  discover  that  the 
real  and  true  leaders  are,  for  the  most  part,  compara- 
tively unknown.  Modern  progress,  with  its  hurried 
sweep,  has  engulfed  them,  and  bewildered  the  com- 
mon understanding  with  its  exhibit  of  marvels.  But 
when  the  lapse  of  time  has  cooled  enthusiasm,  when 


results  stand  forth  in  matchless  proportions  and  the 
spontaneous  meed  of  praise  awaits  its  rightful 
owner,  agencies  appear  in  their  legitimate  attitude. 

The  time  is  here  when  biography  is  no  longer  con- 
fined to  those  who  have  done  great  things.  The 
day  of  small  things  has  come,  and  the  grand  array 
of  those  who  have  created  the  proud  position  and 
splendid  supremacy  of  American  institutions,  is  re- 
ceiving just  recognition. 

No  wonder  that  Illinois  is  supreme  among  States! 
When  her  pioneer  sons  first  trod  her  fair  acres,  and 
the  hope  of  ultimate  ownership  arose  in  their  souls, 
did  they  not  know,  though  unwittingly,  what  is  the 
true  significance  of  the  "  divine  right  of  kings  ?  " 

Who  more  a  king  than  he  who  stood  in  the  primal 
days  of  Whiteside  County,  his  gaze  fixed  on  the 
broad  acres  of  his  "  claim,"  and  feeling  in  his  veins 
the  leaping  tide  and  in  his  muscles  the  latent 
strength,  through  whose  intelligent  application  the 
fruition  of  his  hopes  should  come  ? 

The  "  annals  "  that  follow  these  words  of  introduc- 
tion have  been  retouched  with  reverence,  and  a  full 
realization  of  the  responsibility  attending  the  work. 
Every  man  who  has  added  by  his  life's  efforts  to  the 
productiveness  of  the  soil,  improved  the  quality  or 
swelled  the  number  of  the  herds,  has  a  right  to  a 
representation  to  the  generations  of  the  future  from 
his  own  standpoint  of  motive  and  achievement. 

And  when  they  that  follow  contemplate  the  re- 
sults of  the  toil  of  those  who  led,  question  as  to  per- 
sonality and  purpose,  these  pages  will  exist  to  answer 
their  eager  solicitude,  and  to  urge  them,  in  the  light 
of  example,  to  fill  worthily  the  steps  that  first  trod 
where  theirs  must  come  after. 


S 


. 


..  - 


• 


^  V 


/ 


•f^^ 


1  XT'  H  H  *1*  H  H  •  y  V     v— ' 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


OL.  EBENEZER  SEELY, 
the  oldest  living  resident  of 
Whiteside  County,  living  up- 
on his  farm  in  Portland 
Tp.,  was  bom  in  Ononda- 
ga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  6,  1802. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jeduthan  and  Sally 
(Gibhs)  Seely.  His  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  died  near  where 
Col.  Seely  now  resides,  Sept.  4,  1836, 
and  was  the  first  man  buried  in  the 
county.  His  mother  was  a  native  of 
Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  died  in  Olin,  Iowa, 
in  1841.  They  were  united  in  mar- 
riage in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  afterwards  moved 
to  Genesee  County,  that  State.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  three 
of  whom  yet  survive,  and  one  of  whom,  Col.  Seely, 
subject  of  this  notice,  is  the  eldest.  Horace  is  now 
residing  at  Oxford  Mills,  Jones  Co.,  Iowa.  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  Rev.  Lowry,  a  Congregational  minister  in 
Olin,  Jones  Co.,  Iowa. 

In  1806,  the  parents  of  Col.  Seely  moved  from 
Onondaga  to  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  latter 
county  Mr.  Seely  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving 
the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common  schools,  and 
developed  into  manhood.  On  attaining  adult  age  he 
continued  to  follow  the  vocation  of  farming  and 
lumbering,  and  soon  after  entered  into  a  copartner- 
ship with  Marvin  Frary  in  the  saw-mill  business. 
They  erected  a  saw-mill  in  the  latter  county,  which 
they  continued  to  operate  for  five  years,  when  Col. 


Seely  sold  out  and,  taking  his  share  of  the  lumber 
that  was  on  hand,  constructed  a  raft  on  which  he 
placed  his  family,  consisting  of  wife  and  five  children 
and  father  and  mother,  and  rafted  down  the  Ohio 
River  to  Louisville,  Ky.  He  sold  his  lumber  at  that 
place  and  took  a  boat  to  St.  Louis,  accompanied  by 
his  family,  and  went  from  the  latter  city  to  Rock  Isl- 
and. At  the  latter  place  he  hired  a  team  and 
brought  his  family  to  what  is  now  Prophelstown 
Township.  He  had  nevertheless  been  to  this  county 
before.  In  September,  1834,  he  came  here  and  lo- 
cated 320  acres  of  land  on  sections  6,  of  Prophets- 
town  Township,  and  i  of  Portland  Township.  He 
broke  some  land  and  made  some  other  improvements 
on  his  place,  and  in  March,  1835,  returned  to  New 
York,  and  in  April,  1836,  brought  his  family  as  stated. 
He  at  first  moved  into  a  little  house  his  brother  Nor- 
man B.,  now  deceased,  owned  at  that  time,  and  soon 
erected  a  log  house  of  his  own,  22x22  feet.  The 
following  year  he  erected  another  building,  22x22 
feet  in  dimensions,  twelve  feet  from  the  building 
which  he  first  erected,  and  placed  them  both 
under  one  roof.  In  1839  he  erected  a  frame  house, 
22x30  in  dimensions,  and  one  and  a  half  stories, 
in  which  he  kept  "  hotel  "  for  the  accommodation  of 
pioneer  travelers,  having  brought  with  him  a  good 
supply  of  bedding,  provisions,  etc.  He  continued  to 
act  as  "  mine  host  "  on  his  farm  for  32  years,  the 
same  being  known  as  a  farmers'  home.  He  had  at  one 
time  220  acres  under  the  plow,  and  a  fine  farm. 

Col.  Seely  also  erected  a  steam  saw-mill  on  his 
farm,  in  company  with  several  other  pioneers,  and 
they  ran  it  for  about  ten  years,  when  he  bought  them 


j£ 


*  * 

A  f 


• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


'S'f 
I 


all  out,  which  he  did  one  at  a  time,  and  became  sole 
owner.  The  mill  was  finally  run  for  two  years  as  a 
grist-mill.  Afterward  Col.  Seely  sold  the  machinery, 
which  was  shipped  away. 

Mr.  Seely  tells  many  interesting  stories  of  his  early 
settlement  in  this  county.  The  first  grist  that  he  had 
ground  he  took  to  Aurora,  100  miles  distant,  and  was 
some  eight  days  making  the  trip.  He  has  drawn  a 
great  deal  of  wheat  to  Chicago,  and  has  had  at  a  time 
two  and  three  teams  on  the  road  at  once.  He  has 
seen  a  string  of  teams  three  miles  long  loaded  with 
wheat,  and  on  their  way  to  the  now  great  metropolis. 
At  one  time  he  went  to  Chicago  with  three  loads  of 
wheat,  and  was  spokesman  for  the  wheat  "  drawers  " 
that  day  and  controlled  the  price  of  that  article  there, 
and  bulled  the  market  from  75  cents  to  $1.10.  At 
present  he  could  hardly  accomplish  the  wonderful 
feat  he  performed  at  that  time.  The  Colonel  also 
saw  the  first  two-story  building  erected  in  Chicago, 
which  was  in  September,  1834.  This  was  the  Tre- 
mont  House,  which  afterward  burned,  and  was 
replaced  with  another  fine  stone  building.  Mr.  Seely 
receives  his  title  of  Colonel  from  having  been  the 
Colonel  of  the  militia  of  New  York,  and  also  in  this 
State. 

Col.  Seely  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Alexander 
Township,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  25,  1824,  to 
Miss  Dolly  Maynard,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  Feb.  27,  1803,  and  died  Jan.  6,  1875. 
They  raised  seven  children,  six  of  whom  survive. 
Solomon,  a  resident  of  Sterling:  Sarah,  the  wife  of 
Alexander  Hatfield,  a  resident  of  Sterling.  Andrew 
J.,  a  farmer  in  Portland  Township.  Martin  V.,  a 
resident  of  Prophetstown.  Caroline,  wife  of  Stephen 
H.  Beardslee,  a  resident  of  Cadillac,  Mich.;  and  Jen- 
nie, a  widow,  residing  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  David  is 
deceased. 

Col.  Seely  has  been  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
30  years.  He  was  the  first  President  of  the  Pioneer 
Society  of  this  county,  and  has  held  the  position  ever 
since.  The  first  meeting  was  held  in  January,  1853, 
in  the  Wallace  House,  Sterling,  and  Col.  Seely  has 
never  failed  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  society 
since,  with  but  a  single  exception.  The  meetings 
are  held  at  Hamilton's  Bluffs,  in  Lyndon  Township, 
this  county.  He  has  a  remarkable  memory  for  a 
man  of  his  age.  His  mind  is  as  clear  and  strong  as 
men  usually  are  at  60. 

Mr.  Seely  is  a  gentleman  worthy  the  distinction  of 




having  his  portrait  placed  in  the  honorary  position  in 
this  ALBUM,  and  especially  so  when  he  has  been 
living  in  this  county  longer  than  any  other  man. 


ason  W.  Blaisdell,  farmer,  residing  on 
section  16,  Portland  Township,  and  the 
owner  of  210  acres  in  the  township,  is  a 
son  of  Daniel  and  Clarissa  (Gardner),  Blais- 
dell, and  was  born  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  July 
27,  1820.  His  father  was  a  millwright,  in  connec- 
tion with  farming  and  lumbering,  in  the  State  of  Ver- 
mont, and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  the  same 
State.  The  issue  of  their  union  was  three  children! 
two  of  whom  are  living.  Mary  is  deceased.  Caro- 
line is  the  wife  of  Daniel  F.  Cole,  a  farmer  residing 
in  Portland  Township,  this  county. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  is  the  youngest  of  his  father's 
family.  He  and  his  father  came  by  river  to  Rock 
Island,  and  walked  to  Portland  Township,  this 
county,  arriving  at  the  residence  of  Horace  Burk 
June  15,  1836.  His  father  made  a  claim  of  160 
acres  on  section  21,  of  Portland  Township.  Com- 
ing at  that  date  in  company  with  his  father,  Mr.  B., 
as  well  as  the  latter,  may  be  considered  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  this  county.  His  father  made 
improvements  on  his  claim,  and  in  the  fall  of  1837 
the  remainder  of  the  family  followed.  In  the  tornado 
which  occurred  in  1 844,  his  father  was  considerably 
bruised,  and  never  fully  recovered.  He  died  on  his 
farm,  Dec.  23,  1855,  where  the  mother  also  died> 
April  15,  1870.  He  was  a  man  of  energetic  dispo- 
sition, with  a  determination  to  establish  a  home  for 
himself  and  family,  and  faithfully  labored  for  the 
fulfillment  of  his  desire.  He  held  numerous  offices 
in  the  township. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  purchased  40  acres  of  prairie  land 
and  33  of  timber  land  in  1843,  and  subsequently 
added  to  his  landed  interests  until  at  one  time  he 
had  about  500  acres.  He  has  given  80  acres  to  his 
son,  Herbert  P.,  120  acres  to  his  daughter,  Anulet, 
and  80  acres  to  Almeda,  and  now  has  210  acres,  lo- 
cated on  sections  21,  16,  25  and  27.  He  has  a  fine 
residence,  good  orchard,  barns,  fine  running  spring, 
etc.  He  also  runs  a  threshing-machine  in  seasons, 
and  has  sawed  wood  for  a  number  of  years. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  was  united  in  marriage  in  Portland 


Township,  Dec.  5,  1844,  to  Miss  Alzina  Rowe.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  A.  Rowe,  and 
was  born  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  issue  of  their 
union  was  three  children,  all  born  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county.  Their  record  is  as  follows  : 
Anulet  was  born  April  14,  1847,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Ralph  Smedley,  a  farmer  of  Portland  Township; 
Aimeda  was  born  July  31,  1855,  and  is  the  wife  of 
William  C.  Bryant,  a  farmer  and  dealer  in  stock  at 
Erie;  Herbert  P.,  born  Sept.  13,  1852,  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  La  Vergne,  Minn. 


illiam  Pearson,  general  farmer,  section  29, 
Ustick  Township,  is  the  proprietor  of  one 
of  the  finest  farms  in  Whiteside  County, 
comprising  340  acres.  His  first  purchase, 
in  1856,  included  60  acres,  which  has  been 
and  still  is  the  site  of  his  home.  He  has  been 
prospered  in  his  business  relations,  and  is  a  very 
successful  farmer. 

He  was  born  Feb.  14,  1832,  in  Chedelhume, 
Chestershire,  England,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and 
Mary  (Fisher)  Pearson.  His  parents  were  natives 
of  England,  and  the  mother  died  in  her  native 
country,  in  1852.  Their  children  were  born  in  the 
following  order :  John,  Samuel,  Thomas,  Jane,  Will- 
iam, James,  Henry  and  Isaac.  Thomas  was  drowned 
in  Clinton,  De  Witt  Co.,  111.  Isaac  died  at  22.  The 
surviving  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mr.  Pearson  live  in 
England.  His  father  came  to  America  and  lived 
about  five  years,  when  he  died  at  the  residence  of 
his  son.  He  was  successively  a  butcher,  farmer 
and  silk-weaver. 

Mr.  Pearson  came  to  the  United  States  in  1854, 
and  settled  at  Blackberry,  Kane  Co.,  111., operating  as 
a  section  foreman  on  the  Chicago  &  North  Western 
Railroad.  In  1856  he  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  operated 
in  the  same  capacity  in  the  interests  of  the  same 
railroad  corporation  after  his  removal  hither,  one  ter- 
mination of  his  route  being  Unionville.  He  has 
since  resided  in  Ustick  Township,  with  the  excep- 
tion  of  six  months  spent  in  Wisconsin. 

In  1860  he  returned  to  his  native  country  to  ful- 
fill  a  long  cherished  purpose,  the  result  of  which 
was  his  marriage  to  Ann  Shotwell.  Their  union  was 


celebrated  Jan.  25,  and  soon  after  they  sailed  for 
their  home  in  the  New  World.  They  have  had  12 
children,  nine  of  whom  still  survive.  They  were 
born  in  the  following  order,  in  Ustick  Township : 
George,  Dec.  25,  1861  ;  James,  Jan.  27,  1863;  Mary 
J.,  Jan.  4,  1865  ;  Frances  E.,  March  9,  1866  ;  Fred- 
eric W.,  Feb.  28,  1868;  Emma  C,  April  7,  1870; 
Eliza,  June  10,  1872;  Levi,  March  4,  r874;  Allan. 
Three  children  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Pearson  was 
born  Nov.  14,  1836,  and  is  the  daughter  of  George 
and  Frances  Shotwell.  Her  father  was  born  in  1806, 
in  Woodford,  Chestershire,  and  died  Jan.  9,  1879. 
Her  mother  was  born  in  1808  in  the  same  place,  and 
died  June  24,  1883.  Their  children  were  named 
Sarah,  Frederick,  Levi,  Ann,  Samuel,  William  and 
Eliza.  Two  sisters  died  in  England.  Samuel  and 
William  came  to  America. 


ILornelius  Trowbridge,  a  farmer  owning 
land  on  sections  33  and  34,  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township,  is  a  son  of  Willard  and  Amy 

(Sprague)  Trowbridge,  natives  of  Connecticut. 

They  were  married  and  settled  in   Lewis  Co.^ 

N.  Y.,  where  the  wife  and  mother  died.  The 
father  afterward  removed  to  Fulton  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  is  at  present  residing.  Their  family  comprised 
six  children,  namely:  John  S.,  Jordon,  Emily.  An- 
son,  Allen  and  Cornelius. 

Cornelius,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  born  in  York,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  20,  1828. 
He  received  a  common-school  education  in  Ohio, 
and  as  the  country  in  which  his  father  resided  was 
new,  and  he  being  the  first  settler  in  the  township  of 
the  county,  the  school  privileges  were  very  limited. 
Cornelius  lived  at  home  assisting  on  the  farm  until 
he  attained  the  age  of  majority.  He  then  bought  a 
tract  of  timbered  land,  which  he  cleared  and  after- 
ward sold,  and  then  cleared  another  farm  in  the 
same  locality ;  he  also  assisted  in  clearing  his  father's 
farm  in  Fulton  County,  Ohio. 

Nov.  8,  1863,  Mr.  Trowbridge  enlisted  in  the  38th 
Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro  and  at  the 
siege  of  Atlanta,  and  was  wounded  by  a  minie  ball 
in  the  right  leg,  and  in  consequence  thereof  he  wa? 
incapacitated  from  active  duty  in  the  field.  He  is  a 


J( 


192 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


member  of  Alpheus  Clark  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Morri- 
son, and  is  also  a  pensioner  of  the  Government. 
After  the  war  closed  Mr.  Trowbridge  returned  to  his 
farm  in  Ohio,  and  resumed  the  cultivation  of  his 
land,  which  he  continued  until  June,  1878,  when  he 
came  to  this  county  and  settled  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  at  present  resides,  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, which  he  had  purchased  the  spring  previous  to 
his  removal  hither.  He  is  the  owner  of  187^  acres, 
the  principal  portion  of  which  lies  in  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township,  and  of  the  whole  tract,  180  acres  is  in  a 
good  tillable  condition. 

Mr.  Trowbridge  was  united  in  marriage  in  Fulton 
Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  30,  1849,  to  Celina  M.,  daughter  of 
Alanson  and  Mary  (Hubbard)  Bradley,  natives  of 
Connecticut.  Her  patents  were  married  and  settled 
in  York  State,  from  whence  they  removed  to  Fulton 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  1844,  and  where  her  father  died  Aug. 
8,  1877.  The  mother  resides  in  Dakota.  Their 
family  comprised  ten  children,  namely :  Edwin, 
Celina,  Almon,  Jane,  Enos,  Cyrus,  James,  Martha, 
Frederick  and  Mary.  Mrs.  Trowbridge  was  born  in 
Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  21,  1830.  She  and  her 
husband  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  Julius  O., 
born  Dec.  26,  1850;  Alfred  E.,  born  Jan.  16,  1854; 
Martha  A.,  born  May  7,  1867,  and  died  when  16 
months  old. 

Mr.  Trowbridge  has  held  the  office  of  School  Di- 
rector, and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Politically  he  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party. 


I  UUam  H.  Harrison,  a  merchant  at  Tam- 
pico, was  born  Dec.  20,  1856,  in  Fenton 
Township,  Whiteside  Co.,  111.  His  par- 
ents, Samuel  and  Betsey  (Pope)  Harrison, 
were  born  in  England,  where  they  were 
farmers.  They  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
and  the  father  died  in  Fenton  Township,  in  1866. 
In  1874  the  mother  and  children  went  to  Vancouver's 
Island,  B.  C. 

Mr.  Harrison  returned  to  Whiteside  County  in 
1876.  He  obtained  a  position  as  clerk  in  the  em- 
ployment of  Isaac  Kahn,  in  whose  interests  he  oper- 
ated 18  months.  In  1878  he  came  to  Tampico  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  R.  Davis  in  the  sale  of 


general  merchandise.  At  the  end  of  18  months  their 
connection  terminated,  Mr.  Harrison  becoming  sole 
proprietor.  His  business  is  in  a  prosperous  condi- 
tion. In  political  opinion  and  relations,  Mr.  Har- 
rison is  a  Republican.  He  is  at  present  a  member 
of  the  Village  Board. 

Dec.  25,  1883,  he  was  married  to  Sadie,  daughter 
of  Thomas  A.  and  Mary  (Varien)  Glassburn.  Her 
parents  were  born,  reared  and  married  in  Ohio,  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  1856,  since  which  time  they  have 
resided  in  Whiteside  County.  They  now  live  in 
Tampico  Township,  where  Mrs.  Harrison  was  born, 
and  acquired  a  good  education.  At  16  she  com- 
menced teaching  in  the  primary  department  of  the 
village  school  at  Tampico,  where  she  was  employed 
six  years. 


1 

r 


•  • 


artin  V.  Seely,  "  mine  host "  of  the  "  Seely 
House,"  is  a  son  of  Col.  Ebenezer  and 
Dolly  (Maynard)  Seely  (see  sketch  of  * 
Col.  Ebenezer  Seely  in  another  part  of  this  £ 
work),  and  was  born  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  i 
Y.,  Jan.  30,  1834.  The  father  of  Mr.  Seely  ^ 
was  a  native  of  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  now  resides 
in  Portland  Township,  this  county,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  82  years ;  his  portrait  appears  in  this  work, 
and  in  connection  therewith  a  biographical  sketch  of 
his  life.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Seely  died  on  the  old 
homestead,  aged  72  years. 

When  two  years  of  age,  1836,  Mr.  Seely  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  this  county,  where  they  located 
-on  a  farm.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  assisting  in  J  \ 
the  labors  of  the  same  and  alternating  his  work 
thereon  by  attendance  at  the  common  schools  until 
he  attained  the  age  of  majority. 

Mr.  Seely  was  united  in  marriage  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county,  March  20,  1855,  to  Miss 
Armina  Maynard,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Emily 
Maynard.  She  was  born  in  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  30, 
1834,  the  same  day  and  year  which  witnessed  the 
birth  of  her  husband.  The  issue  of  their  union  was 
two  children,  both  of  whom  are  deceased,  Sadie  and 
Willie. 

Mrs.  Seely  died  in  Portland  Township,.  March  7, 
1859,  and  Mr.  Seely  was  ngain  married  in  the  same 
township,  Dec.  19,  1861,  to  Miss  Amelia  Keeler, 


• 
I 


-:  ..  - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


daughter  of  Ralph  O.  and  Orlantha  J.  Keeler.  Slie 
was  born  in  Wood  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  15,  1835.  They 
had  one  son,  Ralph  M.,  born  July  19,  1867,  and  at 
present  attending  the  Business  College  at  Sterling, 
111.  Mrs.  Seely  died  in  Prophetstown,  Dec.  15, 1884. 
In  1861,  Mr.  Seely  bought  the  old  homestead,  which 
comprised  260  acres.  He  subsequently  sold  160 
acres  of  the  same  and  at  the  present  time  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  100  acres  of  the  old  homestead,  also  160 
acres  on  sections  i  and  35  in  Portland  Township. 
He  made  a  speciality  of  stock-raising,  buying  and 
feeding  his  stock  and  shipping  annually  about  $50,- 
ooo  worth.  Mr.  Seely  was  President  of  the  White- 
side  Agricultural  Society  of  Sterling,  for  two  years. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

In  1873  Mr.  Seely  went  to  Prophetstown  and  built 
the  Seely  House,  which  he  rented  for  six  years,  and 
during  that  time  was  interested  in  the  stock  business. 
When  the  First  National  Bank  was  organized,  he  was 
a  stock-holder  and  director  of  the  same.  In  1879, 
he  took  charge  of  his  hotel  and  has  conducted  it  ever 
since.  It  is  the  only  hotel  in  Prophetstown,  has  28 
rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  guests,  and  is  con- 
ducted in  a  manner  every  way  suited  to  the  wants  of 
the  traveling  public.  Mr.  Seely  is  strictly  temperate, 
never  having  tasted  a  drop  of  ardent  spirits  in  his 
life ;  nor  does  he  use  tobacco  in  any  way. 


avid  B.  Arrell  is  one  of  the  most  prosper- 
ous  ano<  enterprising  fanners  in  Garden 
Plain  Township.  He  was  born  in  the 
township  of  Veale  in  Daviess  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept. 
20,  1821.  His  parents,  James  and  Sarah  (Crab) 
Arrell,  were  natives  of  the  township  of  Fallow- 
field,  Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  and  emigrated  thence  to 
Indiana  alxnit  1817,  traveling  on  flat-boats  on  the 
Monongahela  and  Ohio  Rivers  to  Evansville  on  the 
latter,  whence  they  went  to  Daviess  County  with 
teams.  They  located  in  Daviess  County  and  were 
pioneers,  building  a  log  house  in  the  depths  of  the 
timber.  The  structure  was  built  without  nails,  cov- 
ered with  clapboards  and  had  a  puncheon  floor.  The 
door  was  furnished  with  a  wooden  latch,  and  the 
trite  saying  that  "  its  string  was  always  out,"  may 
be  accepted  in  all  its  significations.  The  family  left 
Indiana  in  1823,  returning  to  Pennsylvania. 


So  far  as  can  be  ascertained  the  firsi  representa- 
tives of  the  name  of  Arrell  in  America  were  two 
brothers,  Edward  and  William  Arrell,  who  came 
from  County  Derry,  Ireland,  to  America  in  1774. 
They  were  descendants  of  the  Scotch  who  went  to 
the  north  of  the  Green  Isle  to  escape  the  persecutions 
of  the  "kirk"  in  1619,  and  who  experienced  per- 
plexities scarcely  less  oppressive  from  the  taxation  of 
the  Established  Church,  which  presented  their  as- 
similation in  any  degree  with  the  people  of  the  coun- 
try where  they  first  sought  refuge,  for  a  long  period 
of  time.  Hence  the  first  Scotch-Irish  who  settled  in 
America  had  no  mixture  of  Irish  blood  in  their  veins. 
They  were  Scotch  who  were  born  in  Ireland.  Ed- 
ward Arrell,  paternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Arrell  of 
this  sketch,  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Colonists  in 
their  rebellion  against  British  oppression.  He  was 
employed  in  the  commissary  department  at  Bunker 
Hill,  and  while  driving^  his  team  on  the  retreat  his 
wagon  tipped  over.  He  restored  its  equilibrium, 
filled  it  with  wounded  soldiers  and  the  procession 
made  good  its  escape.  He  located  after  the  war  was 
done  in  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.  After  his  marriage  he  se- 
cured a  claim  of  land  on  Maple  Creek,  in  Fallowfield 
Township.  He  improved  a  farm  on  which  he  lived 
until  his  life's  journey  closed..  His  children  num- 
bered seven — four  sons  and  three  daughters. 

James  and  Sarah  Arrell  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children.  Following  is  the  record  of  those  of 
the  number  who  survive :  Matilda  is  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Wood,  and  they  reside  on  a  part  of  the  home- 
stead in  Daviess  Co.,  Ind.  David  B.  is  the  oldest 
surviving  son.  Alice  married  Hon.  John  B.  Scud- 
der,  of  Daviess  Co.,  Ind.  Nancy  is  the  widow  of 
Fenwick  Alexander.  Rachel  is  the  wife  of  G.  Mc- 
Ilvaine,  of  Washington  Co.,  Pa. 

William  Arrell,  the  brother  of  Edward,  settled  in 
Chambersburg,  Pa.  He  had  three  sons  and  one 
daughter.  Only  one  of  his  sons  was  married.  The 
son  John  located  near  Poland,  Ohio,  where  some  of 
his  descendants  yet  reside. 

Mr.  Arrell  of  this  sketch  was  two  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  went  to  Pennsylvania.  After  a  residence 
there  of  seven  years,  the  family  returned  to  Daviess 
Co.,  Ind.,  where  the  son  remained  until  he  was  18. 
He  returned  to  Pennsylvania  in  1839  to  live  with  his 
aunts.  In  1846  he  was  married  to  Margaret  J., 
daughter  of  Baptiste  and  Nancy  (Arrell)  Hopper. 


V§) 


*' 

\    0r 
*\ 


M*  The  year  following  they  went  to  Monongahela  City, 
where  they  resided  until  1853.  In  that  year  they 
came  to  Illinois  and  fixed  their  first  place  of  abode 
near  Albany.  Mr.  Arrell  bought  a  tract  of  unim- 
proved land  on  section  32,  of  Garden  Plain  Town- 
ship, of  which  he  took  possession  in  1857.  On  tak- 
ing up  his  residence  thereon,  he  at  once  proceeded 
to  put  the  place  in  the  best  condition  for  occupation 
and  successful  management.  The  entire  property  is 
in  advanced  cultivation  and  fitted  with  the  best  type 
of  modern  farm  fixtures, 

Eight  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Arrell.  Those  now  living  are  as  follows:  fiffie  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  J.  B.  Ewing,  of  Uniontown,  Fayette  Co., 
Pa.  Hopper  is  married  and  lives  in  Newton  Town- 
ship. Gertrude  married  B.  H.  Quick,  of  Moline. 
David  B.,  Jr.,  resides  at  home. 


abez  Lathe,  a  farmer  in  Lyndon  Township, 
is  the  third  son  of  Reuel  and  Sally  (Rob- 
ins)   Lathe,  of  whom   a   sketch   may  be 
found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.     He  was  born 
Dec.  i,  1822,  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  was  well  edu- 
cated.    He  began  teaching  when  20  years  old,  and 
alternated  that  pursuit  with   farming  until  he  came 
to  Whiteside  County  with  his  parents,  the  removal 
of  the  family  hither  being  effected  in  1845.     In  1846 
he  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  section  12,  Lyndon 
Township,   on   which   he   made   the  first   improve- 
ments, in  1848.     He  broke  a  few  acres  and  set  out 
an  orchard,  as  a   beginning  of  the  work  of  putting 
his  property  under  thorough  cultivation. 

Mr.  Lathe  was  united  in  marriage  April  4,  1849, 
to  Pamelia,  daughter  of  John  P.  and  Candace  Sands. 
In  the  spring  of  1850  he  located  on  his  place,  where 
he  had  built  a  house.  His  wife  died  Sept.  i,  1854. 
He  was  again  married  Dec.  i,  1855,  to  Martha  M. 
Hickcox.  She  was  born  in  Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  N.  and  Mary  (Foster) 
•$•  Hickcox. 

The  agricultural  affairs  of  Mr.  Lathe  were  pro- 
ceeding prosperously,  when  his  buildings,  fences 
and  orchard  were  swept  away  by  the  tornado  of  June 
3,  1860.  His  wife  was  so  severely  injured  that  she 

GN/A. : 


never  fully  recovered.  He  built  the  house  he  now 
occupies  in  1862,  and  the  farm  is  again  supplied 
with  convenient  buildings,  and  is  fenced  in  good 
condition. 


ichard  Storer,  deceased,  formerly  a  farmer 
on  section  n,  Garden  Plain  Township,  was 
born  Feb.  23,  1816,  in  Washington  Co., 
Pa.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Holecraft)  Storer,  and  was  brought  up  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  married  Margaret  Curry, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  Dec.  29,  1818.  They 
resided  in  Allegheny  Co ,  Pa.,  after  their  marriage, 
until  their  removal  in  1853  to  Whiteside  County, 
where  they  settled  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
n,  in  Garden  Plain  Township.  Mr.  Storer  was  a 
skillful  and  industrious  farmer,  and  pushed  his  agri- 
cultural operations  with  success.  He  died  in  June, 
1881. 

Mrs.  Storer  lives  on  the  homestead.  She  is  the 
mother  of  two  daughters, — Elizabeth,  wife  of  J.  B. 
Kearns ;  and  Adeline,  who  married  A.  J.  Stowell,  of 
whom  a  sketch  appears  elsewhere. 


Austin,  a  farmer  on  section  6,  Lyn- 
don Township,  owns  a  valuable  farm  of 
220  acres,  pleasantly  and  desirably  located 
about  three  miles  south  of  Morrison.  The 
place  is  increased  in  appearance  and  value 
by  shade  and  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs. 
Mr.  Austin  was  born  Dec.  30,  1825,  in  Allenville, 
Switzerland  Co.,  Ind.  William  Austin,  his  father, 
was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1794,  and  was 
descended  from  the  early  emigrants  to  New  England. 
During  the  war  of  1812  he  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteer soldiers  and  started  for  Plattsburg,  where  a 
battle  was  in  progress,  but  arrived  too  late  to  take 
active  share  in  it. 

He  married  Margaret  Livings,  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  of  mixed  English  and  German  parentage. 
After  their  marriage  they  resided  a  brief  period  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  went  thence  to  Hamilton 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


Co.,  Ohio.  They  lived  two  years  in  the  vicinity  of 
Cincinnati,  and  then  pushed  on  to  what  was  in  that 
day  the  western  frontier,  locating  in  Cotton  Town- 
ship, Switzerland  Co.,Ind.  The  senior  Austin  bought 
a  tract  of  land  covered  with  the  first  forest,  where  he 
cleared  a  farm,  removing  from  it  after  it  was  well  im- 
proved to  a  second  farm  in  the  wilderness,  where  he 
repeated  the  experience  and  moved  to  a  third  tract 
of  forest.  He  placed  the  latter  in  improved  condi- 
tion, and  in  1854  made  a  final  remove  to  Whiteside 
County,  where  he  had  previously  bought  400  acres 
from  the  United  States  Government,  which  was  lo- 
cated in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township.  He  bought  a 
house  which  he  removed  to  section  27,  and  which 
constituted  his  residence  until  his  death,  in  1859. 
His  wife  died  in  1877.  Their  children  numbered 
ten,  and  seven  are  still  living  (1885).,  Miranda,  the 
widow  of  Henry  Murphy,  lives  in  Jewell  Co.,  Kan. 
Daniel,  Silas  R.  and  Dennis  live  in  Lyndon  Town- 
ship. Martin  B.  is  a  resident  of  Morrison.  Georgi- 
anna,  wife  of  Homer  Olmstead,  lives  in  Cloud  Co., 
Kan.  William  Steward  is  a  resident  at  (Jnionville. 

Mr.  Austin  was  the  assistant  of  his  father  on  the 
pioneer  farms  from  the  time  he  had  sufficient  strength 
to  operate  with  an  ax.  He  improved  the  enforced 
leisure  of  the  winters  by  attendance  at  the  district 
schools,  and  he  made  his  home  with  his  father's 
family  until  he  was  23. 

In  September,  1848,  he  was  joined  in  marriage  to 
Harriet  Gary.  She  was  born  in  Rushford,  Allegany 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Eunice  (Spaulding)  Gary.  Her  parents  were  natives 
respectively  of  Connecticnt  and  Vermont.  Previous 
to  his  marriage  Mr.  Austin  had  purchased  50  acres 
of  land  under  partial  improvements  in  Cotton  Town- 
ship, on  which  he  settled  with  his  bride  and  began 
the  world  on  his  own  responsibility.  He  operated  as 
a  fanner  on  his  property,  clearing  and  extending  the 
improvements  and  increasing  its  value  until  1854. 
In  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  came  to  Whiteside 
County  to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits  under  more 
favorable  circumstances.  He  purchased  land  in 
Lyndon  Township,  then  known  as  township  20, 
range  5  east.  His  land  was  located  on  section  6, 
and  was  wholly  guiltless  of  the  arts  of  the  husband- 
man. Mr.  Austin  rented  a  farm  during  the  first  year, 
and  in  1856  began  the  work  of  improvement  of  his 
own  property.  He  built  a  frame  house  of  unpreten- 


tious  character,  which  his  family  occupied  20  years, 
when  he  erected  the  dwelling  in  which  they  now 
reside. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Austin  number 
eight:  Millard  married  Alice  Moss,  and  lives  in 
Cloud  Co.,  Kan.;  Frank  married  Sophia  Follinsby 
and  resides  in  Clark  Co.,  D.  T.;  Esther  is  the  wife  of 
S.  A.  Maxwell,  of  Unionville  (see  sketch);  Olive 
married  Frank  Wenner,  a  farmer  in  Clark  Co.,  D.  T.; 
Lincoln  is  a  farmer  in  Clark  Co.,  D.  T.;  Hattie,  Clara 
E.  and  Clark  were  born  next  in  order;  Harrison, 
fourth  child,  married  Ellen  Follinsby,  and  died  in 
Exeter,  Neb.,  aged  24  years.  He  left  a  child,  who  re- 
sides with  the  widowed  mother  in  Clark  Co.,  D.  T. 


.  enjamin  Belt  is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Lyndon  Township,  whither  Tie  came  in 
November,  1845.  He  settled  in  1846  on 
section  7.  He  was  born  Dec.  7,  1802,  in 
Huntington  Co.,  Pa.,  whence  he  went  with 
his  parents  eight  years  later  to  Ohio.  They 
were  pioneers  in  the  valley  of  the  Licking.  Mr. 
Belt  passed  his  minority  in  Licking  County  and  was 
a  resident  there  until  his  rernoval  to  Illinois. 

He  was  married  April  30,  1823,  to  Deborah  Calli- 
han,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Seven  of  their  ten  children 
are  living:  Samantha  is  the  widow  of  David  Ray; 
Hannah  is  the  wife  of  G.  H.  Hamilton,  a  leading 
farmer  of  Lyndon  Township,  of  whom  a  full  account 
is  given  elsewhere  in  this  ALBUM;  Elizabeth  married 
John  Belt;  Salathiel  lives  in  California;  Celona  is 
the  wife  of  H.  Daily  and  they  litfe  in  Dakota;  Sa- 
brina  is  the  widow  of  George  A.  Coleman  ;  Frank 
lives  on  the  homestead.  Augustus  is  the  name  of 
an  adopted  son.  Mrs.  Belt  died  Feb.  17,  1878. 

—#3v  •••••  -tec— - 


lion.  James  McCoy,  the  pioneer  lawyer  and 
one  of  the  founders  of  Fulton  City,  111., 
has  been  an  attorney  in  Northwestern  Illi- 
j§  nois  for  nearly  50  years,  and  the  record  of  his 
career  is  such  as  to  reflect  most  honorably  upon 
his  character  as  a  man.  He  was  born  in 
Greenbrier  Co.,  Va.,  Sept.  22,  i8i/.  William  Mc- 
Coy, his  grandfather  in  the  paternal  line,  was  of 


V§> 


•X 


*,v3£^£sr\  J^l 

' v       V  ?£f: 


/ 

;i 


f  Scotch  origin  and  was  born  in  Virginia.  He  mar- 
')  ried  a  Miss  Hamilton,  who  was  of  mixed  Welsh  and 
Irish  parentage.  They  settled  in  Greenbrier  County 
during  the  stirring  times  that  preceded  the  Revolu- 
tion,  when  the  Indians  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard 
were  at  the  height  of  their  atrocities,  which  con- 
dition was,  to  a  great  extent,  attributable  to  the 
fluence  of  the  Tory  element.  Forts  were  con- 
structed by  the  frontiersmen,  and  in  one  of  these  in 
Greenbrier  County,  William  McCoy,  father  of  Judge 
McCoy,  was  born,  while  his  parents  were  seeking 
protection  from  Indian  hostilities.  William  McCoy 
,,  (ad)  attained  to  man's  estate  in  his  native  county, 
and  married  Agnes,  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Gillian)  Hanna.  The  former  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, and  when  a  boy  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Greenbrier  County.  His  wife  was  of  Scotch  ori- 
gin and  was  born  in  the  same  county,  in  1784,  and 
was  of  Scotch  and  Irish  descent.  There  were  12 
children  in  Win.  McCoy's  family,  all  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity,  and  eight  of  whom  are  still  living.  Of 
these,  our  subject  is  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  James 
received  an  academic  education  in  Monroe  Co.,  Va., 
and  was  graduated  in  1836.  He  read  law  till  near 
his  majority,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  with  a  view,  of 
establishing  himself  in  his  profession  in  some  of  the 
new  towns  of  the  West.  He  reached  the  Missis- 
sippi River  at  the  point  now  embraced  by  the  city  of 
Fulton,  May  9,  1837.  Here  he  found  John  Baker, 
on  whose  claim  a  rude  attempt  had  been  made  to 
plat  a  town  site. 

This  survey  was  abandoned,  and  a  new  one  made 
under  the  management  of  Mr.  McCoy,  assisted  by 
Henry  C.  Fellows,  John  B.  Jenkins  and  George 
Kellogg.  These  four  kept  bachelor's  hall  in  a  little 
shanty  on  the  river  bank  near  the  present  steamboat 
landing.  For  several  months  they  led  an  isolated 
and  dreary  life,  fighting  musquitoes  and  shaking  with 
ague.  Occasionally  a  curious  passenger  would  land 
from  some  passing  boat  and,  after  looking  the  situa- 
tion over,  would  go  on.  To  the  eastward  of  them 
was  an  almost  unbroken  stretch  of  wild  and  unsettled 
country  extending  to  Dixon.  Not  even  a  trail  led  to 
the  young  city.  Finally  a  few  venturesome  spirits 
joined  them.  The  owners  of  the  lots  at  that  time 
were  mainly  Messrs.  McCoy,  Henry  C.  Fellows,  John 
B.  Jenkins,  George  W.  Kellogg,  Alvin  Humphries,  R. 
J.  Jenks,  John  Baker,  Lyman  Blake  and  Jeremiah 
Humphries. 


In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  went  to  Cham- 
paign Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  joined  by  his  brother, 
and  they  returned  to  Fulton.  He  sold  his  land, 
consisting  of  one-sixteenth  of  the  platted  tract, 
chiefly  on  credit,  and,  on  the  completion  of  his 
arrangements,  he  returned  to  Virginia,  reaching 
home  after  an  absence  of  1 1  months,  in  the  spring 
of  1838.  He  remained  in  Virginia  until  July  of  the 
the  same  year,  when  he  leturned  to  Fulton  to  make 
collections.  The  financial  crisis,  which  had  con- 
vulsed the  business  world,  had  reached  Fulton,  and 
he  was  not  able  to  adjust  the  business  which  had 
brought  him  there  a  second  time,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  re -purchase  his  property  to  secure  himself 
from  loss.  He  stayed  in  Fulton  until  winter,  and 
made  further  purchases  of  land.  He  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  passed  the  winter,  and  was  there  married, 
April  23,  1839,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Russell,  daughter 
of  James  and  Jane  Russell.  Mrs.  McCoy  was  born 
in  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  19,  1819. 

In  October,  1839,  Mr.  McCoy  returned  a  third 
time  to  Fulton,  to  be  present  at  the  land  sales.  He 
soon  determined  to  make  this  his  future  home.  One 
year  later,  the  village  having  acquired  a  population  of 
three  or  four  hundred,  he  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  His  marked  ability  and  untiring 
energy  soon  placed  him  among  the  foremost  of  his 
profession  in  the  West,  and  his  practice  extended  to 
the  neighboring  Courts,  throughout  Illinois  and  Iowa. 
He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Courts 
of  both  these  States,  where  he  conducted  success- 
fully many  important  suits. 

From  the  outset  of  his  career  as  an  attorney,  Judge 
McCoy  has  controlled  an  extensive  practice  ;  and, 
although  he  has  a  wide  repute  as  a  chancery  lawyer, 
he  is  a  master  of  every  branch  of  the  profession. 
Throughout  his  entire  practice  Judge  McCoy  has 
pursued  one  undeviating  course  of  strict  adherence 
to  the  letter  of  the  law  under  the  direction  of  author- 
itative and  acknowledged  interpreters.  He  is  an 
acknowledged  leader  in  the  legal  ranks  of  Whiteside 
County,  has  no  superior  as  a  counselor,  and  but  few 
peers.  He  has  conducted  his  business  singly  with 
the  exception  of  the  period  in  which  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  two  oldest  sons.  William  J.,  a  prac- 
ticing attorney  at  Morrison  and  Judge  of  the  County 
Court,  is  a  man  of  peerless  ability  and  is  rapidly 
attaining  a  foremost  position  as  a  chancery  lawyer.  (•)) 
His  character,  formed  under  the  direction  of  his 


« •• 
\\ 


V"ViHHX!>HH-'X  V 

WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


father,  is  one  of  the  best  evidences  of  the  influence 
by  which  it  was  involved.  Albert  R.,  an  attorney  at 
Clinton,  Iowa,  is  one  of  the  most  brilliant  advocates 
of  the  Northwest,  and  is  a  man  of  spotless  record. 

In  1851,  while  a  project  was  under  consideration 
before  the  Illinois  Legislature  to  construct  a  railroad 
north  and  south  through  the  State,  Judge  McCoy 
originated  the  idea  of  an  east  and  west  line  from  the 
Lakes  to  Council  Bluffs  on  the  Missouri  River,  to 
cross  the  Mississippi  at  Fulton  and  Lyons.  He  at 
once  called  a  railroad  meeting  at  Lyons,  Iowa,  just 
opposite  Fulton  City.  His  plan  was  to  get  the  Iowa 
Legislature,  which  was  then  in  session,  to  pass  an  act 
to  incorporate  a  railway  between  Lyons  and  Council 
Bluffs.  The  meeting  was  well  attended,  and  Judge 
McCoy  was  appointed  Chairman  of  a  committee  of 
four,  whose  duty  it  was  to  present  the  matter  to  the 
Legislature  and  urge  the  passage  of  such  an  act. 
His  associates  upon  the  committee  were  John  B. 
Bope,  Benjamin  Lake  and  D.  P.  McDonald.  The 
petition  was  presented  on  Monday  morning,  and  on 
the  following  morning  an  act  of  incorporation  was 
passed  by  the  House.  It  was  sent  to  the  Senate 
by  a  special  messenger,  where  it  was  introduced. 
Senator  Leffingwell  procured  a  suspension  of  the 
rules  and  it  passed  to  its  third  reading  in  20  minutes, 
after  which  it  received  the  Governor's  signature  and 
immediately  became  a  law,  in  January,  1851. 

In  order  to  procure  the  passage  of  this  act,  Judge 
McCoy  had  pledged  himself  to  secure  the  passage  of 
an  act  by  the  Illinois  Legislature  to  grant  a  charter 
for  a  railroad  from  Fulton  to  intersect  the  proposed 
Illinois  Central  Road  at  or  near  Dixon.  He  im- 
mediately called  a  railroad  meeting  at  Fulton,  and 
secured  a  well  signed  petition  for  a  charter  for  a  rail- 
road from  Fulton  City  eastward.  Although  the  Illi- 
nois Legislature  was  almost  at  the  close  of  its  session, 
by  prompt  and  energetic  action  he  secured  before  its 
adjournment  a  passage  of  the  bill  he  desired,  which 
provided  for  the  construction  of  the  Mississippi  & 
Rock  River  Junction  Railroad,  now  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern. 

No  sooner  were  these  preliminaries  successfully 
accomplished  than  a  serious  obstacle  arose  in  the 
form  of  another  line  of  road  just  chartered  to  run 
from  Beloit,  Wis.,  to  Rock  Island,  111.  The  inter- 
ests of  the  two  roads  were  in  conflict.  A  desperate 
effort  was  made  by  the  managers  of  the  latter  road 


V§) 


to  defeat  the  project  of  building  the  Mississippi  & 
Rock  River  Junction  Railroad.  Mr.  McCoy  took  up 
the  gauntlet,  and  with  his  characteristic  energy  called 
railroad  meetings,  made  as  many  as  three  speeches 
a  week  in  the  interest  of  the  road,  until  the  total 
amout  of  capital  stock  was  subscribed.  He  spent 
three  years  in  soliciting  an  aggregate  of  $750,000. 
He  secured  a  topographical  map  of  the  v.  estern  slope 
from  the  Pacific  to  the  top  of  the  Sierras,  which  he 
used  in  his  address,  and  prophesied  that  within  25 
years  the  achievements  would  take  place  which  he 
actually  did  witness  within  17  years! 

May  i,  1852,  at  a  meeting  of  stockholders  held 
at  Union  Grove,  the  following  named  gentlemen 
were  elected  officers  of  the  road :  James  McCoy, 
President;  Directors — J.  T.  Atkinson,  Royal  Jacobs, 
Charles  Dement,  Benjamin  Lake,  Elijah  Buel,  John 
Phelps  and  A.  W.  Benton. 

Judge  McCoy  was  still  the  leading  spirit  in  this  en- 
terprise, and  by  wise  and  close  procedure  the  con- 
struction of  the  road  was  assured.  He  issued  the 
first  $^00,000  in  bonds,  and  let  the  contract  to  build 
the  road.  Ground  was  first  broken  in  February,  1853, 
and  in  April  following  the  Michigan  Central  and 
Galena  &  Chicago  Union  Railroad  Companies  came 
forward  and  took  stock  to  the  amount  of  $405,000 
in  that  portion  of  the  road  lying  between  Dixon  and 
Fulton.  From  that  date  its  success  was  assured. 

Mr.  McCoy  was  elected  its  first  President  and 
served  as  director  of  the  road  several  years,  and 
as  the  attorney  of  the  company  under  its  different 
managements  till  about  1879,  when  he  resigned,  to 
devote  himself  to  his  local  practice. 

He  was  elected  -Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  \ 
Whiteside  County,  in  1857,  with  common-law  juris- 
diction, but  resigned  in  his  third  year  of  service,  as 
he  preferred  his  regular  practice.  He  was  elected  a 
Delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  1869- 
70,  to  form  a  new  State  Constitution,  and  was  made 
Chairman  of  one  of  the  most  important  committees, 
that  of  State,  County  and  Municipal  Indebtedness. 
He  also  served  on  the  Judiciary  Committee  and  on 
three  others  of  great  importance. 

Judge  McCoy  was  led  through  his  warm  interest 
in  educational  matters  to  accept  a  place  on  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Illinois  Soldiers'  College,  located 
at  Fulton  City,  now  known  as  the  "  Northern  College 
of  Illinois,"  and  held  that  position  several  years. 


V 

(s; 


In  politics  Mr.  McCoy  was  originally  a  Whig  and 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Harrison.  On 
the  adjustment  of  political  matters  and  the  conse- 
quent re-organization  of  parties,  he  became  a  Repub- 
lican, and  has  voted  with  that  party  since.  He  was 
a  Delegate  to  the  National  Convention  of  1864,  which 
renominated  Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  Presidency, 
and  was  a  Presidential  Elector  of  1868. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCoy  have  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  six  are  living :  Melvina  is  the 
widow  of  Hon.  Robert  E.  Logan,  of  Union  Grove; 
William  J.  married  Marie  Aylesworth.  Addison  W. 
married  Georgiana  Freeman,  and  is  practicing  medi- 
cine at  Wichita,  Kan.;  Augustine  is  a  lumber  mer- 
chant of  Iowa;  Edward,  the  youngest,  is  a  lumber 
dealer  of  Sioux  Rapids,  Iowa. 


iram  Austin,  a  farmer  of  Lyndon  Town- 
ship, resident  on  section  4,  is  the  oldest  son 
of  Stewart  and  Eliza  (Reynolds)  Austin. 
He  was  born  Sept.  4,  1828,  in  Rutland  Town- 
ship, Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  where  his  parents  were 
early  settlers.  As  soon  as  he  obtained  a  suit- 
able growth  he  aided  his  father  in  the  pioneer  labors 
of  the  farm,  helping  to  clear  the  timber  away,  and  in 
the  tillage  of  the  soil.  He  obtained  his  education, 
attending  school  in  the  winter  seasons. 

His  father  came  to  Illinois  in  1847,  leaving  him 
to  arrange  the  incomplete  affairs  relating  to  the 
estate.  He  set  out  to  rejoin  the  family  in  Septem- 
ber, 1848,  leaving  Elmira,  and  traveling  to  Buffalo 
on  the  canal.  He  came  from  there  on  a  steamboat 
to  Chicago,  and  walked  from  that  city  to  Lyndon  in 
three  days.  His  first  labor  in  Whiteside  County  was 
with  a  threshing-machine,  and  the  next  year  he 
worked  on  his  father's  farm.  •< 

In  January,  1855,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Laura,  daughter  of  William  C.  and  Emmeline  (Mon- 
roe) Morse.  She  was  born  Nov.  21,  1836,  in  Luzerne 
Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Austin  and  his  brother  had  purchased 
the  homestead,  and  on  the  event  of  his  marriage  he 
took  up  his  residence  thereon.  He  still  occupies 
the  place,  of  which  he  is  sole  owner,  having  bought 
the  interest  of  his  brother.  The  farm  comprises  180 
acres,  in  the  best  condition  for  agricultural  purposes, 


all  in  tillage,  and  fenced,  with  substantial  buildings, 
fruit  and  shade  trees. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Austin,  eight  in 
number,  were  named  Celestia  E.,  Lyman  R.,  Em- 
ma, Cora  Belle,  Lester  M.,  Clara  May,  Phebe  I. 
and  Raymond  H. ;  Emma  died  in  infancy. 


|  obert  M.  Carr,  merchant  at  Fenton  Cen- 
ter, who  was  born  Feb.  13,  1854,  in  the 
township  of  Fenton.  Merrill  P.  Carr,  his 
.-  father,  came  with  his  father,  Timothy  Carr,  to 
Fenton  Township  in  1838,  when  he  was  but 
eight  years  of  age.  Merrill  P.  Carr  was  born 
in  Vermont,  in  September,  1830.  He  married  Phebe 
A.  Hoffman,  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  settled  about 
the  time  of  his  marriage  on  section  20,  Fenton 
Township,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  he  owned  258  acres  of  land.  His  widow 
afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Paschal  Davis,  and 
they  reside  in  Shelby  Co.,  Mo. 

Robert  M.  is  the  second  son  and  second  child. 
James,  his  eldest  brother,  is  a  practicing  attorney  at 
Maysville,  Nodaway  Co,  Mo.  Charles  W.,  next 
younger,  lives  in  Lyndon.  Clara  married  Dyer 
Booth,  and  lives  in  Barton  Co.,  Mo.  Lawren  D.  is 
County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  in  Sully  Co.,  Dak. 

Mr.  Carr  was  reared  on  his  father's  homestead 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools. 

He  was  married  Feb.  25,  1875,  to  Cynthia  L., 
daughter  of  L.  J.  and  Sarah  Robinson.  He  located 
on  a  part  of  his  father's  estate,  of  which  he  is  now 
the  owner.  In  1881  he  went  to  live  at  Fenton  Cen- 
ter, and  in  February,  1882,  in  company  with  his 
brother,  he  established  a  mercantile  enterprise.  They 
conducted  their  joint  business  two  years,  when  R.  M. 
Carr  became  by  purchase  sole  proprietor,  and  has 
since  managed  his  affairs  singly.  In  1884  he  leased 
the  elevator  at  Fenton  Center  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  traffic  in  grain  and  stock.  In  the  spring 
of  1885  he  began  the  sale  of  agricultural  implements. 
He  is  Postmaster  of  Fenton,  to  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed in  1882. 

They  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely : 
Minnie  A.,  Clara  E.,  Sarah  A.,  Linneus  M.  and 
Mary  L. 


f,    ,-s 


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UNIVERSITY  ut-  IUJNORj 


6 


OC"X>     ^ 

A.  West,  of  the    firm   of  Hollinshead  & 
!?•  West,  dealers  in  clothing  and  gentlemen's 
furnishing   goods    at    Morrison,  was   born 
April  8,    1856,  in  Clyde  Township,  Whiteside 
County.     He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Whitley)  West,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm,   re- 
ceiving a  good  common-school  education. 

He  came  to  Morrison  when  2 1  years  of  age  and 
entered  the  employ  of  Knox  &  Brown,  grocers,  as  a 
salesman,  operating  in  their  interests  two  years.  He 
officiated  in  the  same  capacity  for  Brown  Bros,  and 
John  Snyder  &  Co.,  respectively,  one  year.  In  1881 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  R.  P.  Hollinshead  and 
embarked  in  the  business  enterprise  in  which  they 
are  still  jointly  interested.  Their  stock  includes  a 
full  line  of  well  assorted  goods  common  to  their  busi- 
ness. They  own  the  building  they  are  occupying. 

Mr.  West  is  one  of  the  Councilmen  of  Morrison, 
and  he  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


^.enry  Rollins  Sampson,  Mayor  of  Morrison, 
is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  company 
of  devoted  pilgrims  who  came  to  Mas- 
sachusetts in  the  Mayflower,  in  1620.  He  is 
descended  from  a  later  generation,  which  in- 
cluded the  children  of  Miles  Standish  and 
John  Alden  and  Priscilla  Mullins,  who  intermarried. 
Henry  Sampson,  his  first  recorded  ancestor,  was  a 
child  when  he  came  to  Plymouth,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  family  of  his  uncle,  Edward  Tilley.  This  fact 
became  known  through' the  record  made  by  Governor 
Bradford  himself,  and  which  was  not  discovered  un- 
til 236  years  afterward.  Governor  Bradford  speaks 
of  "the  youth,  Henery  Samson,"  which  accounts  for 
the  absence  of  his  name  from  the  compact  which 
was  made  hi  the  cabin  of*  the  Mayflower,  and  also 
shows  that  its  original  orthography  omitted  the  letter 
"  p,"  which  was  incorporated  therein  by  subsequent 
generations.  The  lines  of  descent  are  remarkably  well 
defined,  and  in  but  one  single  instance  are  clouded 
by  lack  of  direct  evidence.  This,  however,  is  obviated 
by  accumulation  of  negative  testimony  to  an  extent 
.that  substantiates  the  unbroken  lineage.  Henry 


e> 


Sampson  married  Ann  Plummer,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  10  children.   His  youngest  son,  Caleb, 
married  Mercy  Standish,  the  grand-daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Miles  Standish,  and  the  daughter  of  Alexander 
Standish,  who   married    Sarah   Alden,   daughter  of  v— / 
John  Alden  and  Priscilla  Mullens,  whose  courtship  is 
the  subject  of  one  of  the   sweetest    poems   in    the 
English  language.     David,  eldest  son  of  Caleb  and 
Mercy  Sampson,  was  born  in  Duxbury,  and  married 
Mary    Chaffin.      Chapin,    their   youngest    son,   was 
born  in   Marshfield,   Sept.    21,    1735,    and    married 
Elizabeth  Clift.     He  was  a  shipmaster,  and  is  the 
first  of  the  family  on  record  as  following   a  seafaring 
life.     Job  Sampson,  his  son,  was  born  in  Duxbury, 
Sept.    19,   1766,  and  married  Betsey  Winsor.     They 
had  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daughter.    Henry 
Briggs,  the  eldest  child,  was  born  July  14,  1787,  and 
married  Nancy  Turner,  who  was  born  in  Scituate, 
Mass.,    May   8,    1787.      They    had    eight    children. 
Francis  E.  is  the  wife  of  W.  S.  Wilkinson,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  citizens  of  Morrison,  and  now  living 
there  in  retirement.    Ann  B.  is  deceased.    Henry  Rol- 
lins was  born  Sept.  6,  1819,  in  Duxbury,  Mass.    John 
T.   is  deceased.     Julia  T.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  N. 
Russell,  a  retired  merchant  at  Sterling.     Georgiana 
married  Charles  P.  Mallett,  son  of  Colonel  Mallett, 
of  New  York,  and  grandson  of  James  Fenner,  Gov- 
ernor of  Rhode  Island.     They  are  living  at  Joplin, 
Mo.     Florence  H.  married  E.  H.  Whitman,  a  farmer 
near  Como,  Whiteside  County.     Albert  S.  is  a  mer- 
chant at   Sterling.     Henry  Briggs  Sampson  also  be- 
came a  shipmaster,  and  after  following  a  seafaring 
life  some  years,  was  associated  with  his  brother  in  a 
mercantile  enterprise  for  a  few  years,  after  which  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Gardner,  Maine,  and   re- 
sumed his  former  position  as  a  captain  in  the  mer-   > 
chant  service.     Two  years  later,  in    1836,  he  came 
West  to  Tremont,  111.,  whence  he  came,  about  1839, 
to  Hopkins  Township,  and  was  one  of  the   earliest 
settlers  on  the  present  site   of  Como.     His   mother 
was  the  oldest  of  the  colony  who  located  there,  and 
died  at  Como,  Oct,  5,  1854.     The   senior  Sampson 
located  on  a  farm,  where  he  kept  a  hotel  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  many  travelers  and  prospectors 
in  the  county.      He  died  at  Como  Dec.  31,  1865. 

Mr.  Sampson  is  the  third  child  of  his  parents,  and 
remained  under  their  authority  until  he  was  15 
years  of  age.  He  obtained  a  good  practical  educa- 
tion at  the  academies  at  Duxbury,  Mass.,  and  Gard- 
MS *^ ' 


-    ...    - 


202 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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ner,  Maine,  and,  possessing  a  reflective  temperament, 
was  at  an  early  age  the  master  of  the  limited  cur- 
riculum of  the  schools  of  the  period.  In  1835  he 
obtained  a  clerkship  in  Boston, 'and  later  entered  a 
large  shipping  establishment  in  the  same  city,  as 
general  assistant,  where  he  was  employed  several 
years. 

He  came  to  Morrison  in  1858  and  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  the  position  of  deputy-clerk,  under  his 
brother-in-law,  W.  S.  Wilkinson.  He  was  re -ap- 
pointed and  served  an  aggregate  of  eight  years. 

In  1865,  in  partnership  with  Col.  D.  R.  Clendenen, 
he  embarked  in  a  mercantile  enterprise,  which  rela- 
tion was  in  existence  about  one  year.  In  1872, 
associated  with  A.  W.  Warren,  he  opened  an  ab- 
stract office  at  Morrison,  and  they  operated  in  part- 
nership until  July,  1882.  Soon  after  the  termination 
of  their  relations,  Mr.  Sampson  formed  his  present 
business  association  with  his  nephew,  Henry  B.  Wil- 
kinson, and  they  are  the  owners  of  the  only  set  of 
abstracts  of  Whiteside  County.  They  are  also  trans- 
acting a  popular  and  profitable  business  in  real 
estate  and  loans. 

Mr.  Sampson  has  been  an  active  and  useful  citizen 
of  Whiteside  County  since  the  beginning  of  his  resi- 
dence therein.  In  1861  he  was  elected  Town  Clerk 
and  served  three  successive  terms.  In  1861  he  was 
elected  to  his  first  term  as  Supervisor  of  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township,  and  has  since  been  re-elected  until  the 
aggregate  period  of  his  official  terms  in  that  capacity 
is  eight  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Board 
of  Equalization  about  two  years,  and  has  officiated 
six  years  as  Councilman  of  Morrison.  Among  other 
important  services  which  he  has  rendered  was  that  of 
Chairman  of  the  Water  Works  Committee,  in  which 
he  accomplished  a  permanent  benefit  to  the  city  of 
Morrison.  At  the  point  where  the  water  works  are  now 
located  there  was  a  seemingly  exhaustless  natural 
spring,  and  it  was  in  his  opinion  a  desirable  location 
for  the  purpose.  He  proved  the  value  of  his  judg- 
ment by  experiment,  sinking  a  well  of  sufficient 
dimensions  to  thoroughly  test  its  capacity.  The 
necessary  excavation  led  through  the  soil  to  bed- 
rock, on  which  the  foundation  of  the  masonry  is 
placed  ;  and  in  this  a  basin  has  been  blasted,  into 
which  the  water  flows  through  interstices  in  the  rock, 
and  of  remarkable  purity.  He  superintended  the 
construction  of  the  works  until  their  completion,  and 


they  form  one  of  the  attractions  of  Morrison,  as  well 
as  one  of  the  most  valuable  acquisitions  of  the  place. 
Mr.  Sampson  was  elected  Mayor  of  Morrison,  April 
21,  1885,  receiving  an  unanimous  vote. 

His  marriage  to  Emma  L.  Dickinson  took  place  at 
Boston,  Sept.  27,  1858.  Kate  Power  Sampson,  their 
only  child,  was  born  in  July,  1859.  She  died  sud- 
denly of  heart  disease  March  27,  1878,  going  from 
life  before  a  taint  of  worldliness  had  touched  her 
glad  young  spirit  and  while  existence  was  in  its  sil- 
very bloom  of  hope  and  joy.  She  is 

Safe  from  all  sin  and  all  sorrow. 

And  safe  from  the  world's  luring  strife. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sampson  are  members  of  the  Univers- 
alist  Church. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Sampson  appears  on  a  preced- 
ing page.  His  character  is  plainly  apparent  from 
the  data  given  of  his  course  of  life  since  he  became 
a  citizen  of  Morrison.  His  entire  record  is  one  of 
probity,  integrity  and  ability,  the  quality  of  his  judg- 
ment and  mental  balance  rendering  him  an  efficient 
factor  in  all  public  enterprises. 


_amuel  M.  Ladd,  jeweler  and  optician  at 
Morrison,  was  born  Nov.  15,  1857,  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  John  A. 
and  Mary  E.  (Molt)  Ladd.  His  father  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  telegraphers  in  Chicago  and 
the  West,  and  for  many  years  conductor  and 
superintendent  of  railroad,  and  in  charge  of  United 
States  transportation  during  the  War  :  he  is  now  a 
resident  of  Sterling.  He  is  one  of  the  most  promin- 
ent Masons  in  Illinois,  being  Grand  High  Priest  of 
the  State. 

Mr.  Ladd  is  the  oldest  of  the  six  children  belong- 
ing to  the  family,  of  whom  two  are  deceased.  Marian 
E.  lives  at  Morrison.  Mabel  E.  and  Fannie  K.  are 
the  youngest  children.  The  son  completed  his  edu- 
cational course  at  the  High  School  of  Sterling,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1879  he  entered  the  jewelry  store  of 
Clark  &  Giddings  to  learn  the  business,  and  passed 
two  years  in  his  apprenticeship.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  the  firm  of  Sackett  &  Ladd  was  formed  and  they 
opened  business  at  Sterling,  continuing  their  relations 
and  operations  there  three  years. 
In  June,  1884,  Mr.  Ladd  came  to  Morrison  and 


. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


established  his  business  alone.  He  has  a  judiciously 
assorted  stock  and  is  doing  a  good  business.  He  is 
one  of  the  leaders  in  his  line  of  traffic  in  the  western 
part  of  Whiteside  County,  and  is  the  only  exclusive 
dealer  in  jewelry  at  Morrison.  He  makes  a  specialty 
of  Johnson's  optical  goods,  and  uses  Dr.  Johnson's 
dioptic  meter,  to  perfectly  adjust  glasses  to  the  eye 
and  determine  the  lens  suited  to  the  case.  His 
stock  includes  a  full  line  of  fine  goods,  solid  and 
plated  ware,  jewelry,  watches  and  all  other  articles 
common  to  similar  establishments. 

Mr.  Ladd  is  an  earnest  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  Sunday-school 
matters  and  is  the  Secretary  of  the  Central  District 
Sunday-school  organization. 

— »s6v  "»•&•»  rae- — 


.dwin  Old,  farmer,  upon  section  seven, 
Clyde  Township,  is  a  citizen  of  this  coun- 
try by  adoption,  having  been  born  Feb.  26, 
1815,  in  Wakefield,  Yorkshire,  Eng.  _His  father 
and  mother,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Brooks) 
Old,  were  both  natives  of  the  same  shire  where 
the  son  was  born,  and  were  able  to  trace  their  line  of 
ancestral  descent  to  a  very  early  period  in  the  history 
of  Great  Britain.  -The  father  was  a  cloth  manufac- 
turer by  profession  and  both  he  and  his  wife  spent 
their  entire  lives  where  they  were  born. 

Mr.  Old  was  12  years  of  age  when  he  began  to  ac- 
quire a  knowledge  of  the  calling  of  his  father.  He 
served  a  regular  apprenticeship  and  followed  the 
business  until  he  was  25  years  old  in  the  place  of  his 
nativity,  In  1840  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
and  first  located  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  He  went 
thence  to  Cairo,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  ob- 
tained employment  in  the  cloth  manufacturing  es- 
tablishment of  Horace  Austin  &  Co.,  and  operated  in 
the  interests  of  the  firm  five  years. 

He  was  married  June  17,  1841,  in  Cairo,  to  Ann 
Platt,  and  they  have  been  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  survive :  William,  who  married 
Georgiana  Rhodes  and  resides  at  Clinton,  Iowa; 
Adaline  married  Robert  Davis,  who  is  a  gardener  at 
Morrison;  Frances  married  Thomas  Gulliland,  a 
farmer  in  Usttck  Township.  Ellen  lives  with  her 
parents.  The  father  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Old,  John 
and  Betty  (Beens)  Platt,  were  natives  of  Yorkshire. 


Her  father  was  a  weaver.  They  came  with  their 
family  of  three  children  to  America.  Mrs.  Old  was 
born  Jan.  12,  1822,  in  Yorkshire,  and  is  the  oldest 
child  and  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to 
the  United  States  she  was  six  years  of  age.  They 
located  in  Cairo,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  there  her 
father  died  in  1849.  The  mother  died  about  1831. 

After  they  had  been  married  five  years,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Old  went  to  Hobart,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
in  the  year  following  returned  to  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y., 
locating  in  Windham  for  a  time,  whence  they  went 
to  Haverstraw,  in  Rockland  County,  in  the  same 
State.  After  a  residence  there  of  three  years  they 
went  to  New  Jersey.  One  year  later  they  made  a 
final  change  in  their  affairs  and  set  out  westward, 
coming  to  Clyde  Township,  where  a  number  of 
English  families  from  Yorkshire  had  located  together 
with  others  from  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State  of 
New  York. 

Mr.  Old  purchased  40  acres  of  land  on  his  arrival 
and  set  diligently  about  the  work  of  improving  his 
property  and  developing  the  general  welfare  of  the 
community  so  far  as  lay  within  the  reach  of  his  indi- 
vidual influence.  The  entire  section  was  almost 
wholly  unimproved,  and  houses  were  few.  There 
were  literally  no  fences.  The  family  encountered 
the  novel  experiences  of  pioneer  life,  but  instead  of 
being  disheartened  pressed  eagerly  forward  in  the 
work  of  making  a  home.  The  homestead  estate  now 
comprises  200  acres,  with  160  acres  under  improve- 
ment. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Old  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  of  England. 


If  ease  Johnson  (deceased)  was  born  in  Troy, 
fa  N.  Y.,  April  2,  1798,  and  was  the  son  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Conkle)  Johnson.  His 
father  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  a  prominent  at- 
torney of  New  York.  Jesse  went  to  Loweville, 
Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  while  a  young  man,  where  he  was 
married  Feb.  8,  1822,  to  Miss  Mary  Webb.  They 
had  four  boys  and  eight  girls  :  Mary,  wife  of  Carlos 
Ware,  of  Fulton  Township.  Sarah,  wife  of  William 
Knight,  died  in  December,  1863.  Charles  J.  mar- 
ried Mary  Exley,  and  is  an  attorney  of  Sterling,  111. 
Harriet,  wife  of  William  C.  Green,  the  present  May 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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of  Fulton.  John  was  an  attorney  of  LeClaire,  Iowa; 
he  married  Olive  Abbott,  and  died  in  July,  1884, 
leaving  a  wife  and  seven  children.  Edmoud  L. 
married  Mahala  Wright,  was  a  soldier  of  the  late  war 
and  died  in  1862,  leaving  a  wife  and  son.  Cornelia 
died  in  infancy.  Cornelia  P.  is  the  wife  of  Richard 
Green,  a  merchant  of  Fulton,  111.  Henrietta,  wife  of 
Charles  Davidson,  a  locomotive  engineer  of  Bloom- 
ington,  111.  Anna  M.,  widow  of  William  Reed  and  a 
resident  of  Clinton,'  Iowa.  Eliza,  wife  of  Samuel 
Denison,  of  Port  Byron,  111.  Caleb  C.,  the  youngest, 
is  an  attorney  of  Sterling  and  a  Representative  to 
the  State  Legislature  from  Whiteside  County.  He 
married  Josephine  Worthington. 

Mr.  Johnson  moved  from  New  York  to  Indiana  in 
1832,  and  in  June,  1838,  came  to  Fulton,  111.  He 
spent  the  summer  at  the  village  and  in  the  fall  moved 
to  a  farm  about  five  miles  distant,  and  was  one  of 
the  very  first  to  begin  farming  in  the-  county.  He 
remained  on  his  farm  till  1853,  when  he  returned  to 
the  city  and  in  company  with  his  son-in-law,  William 
Knight,  purchased  and  put  in  operation  the  first  steam 
ferry  between  Fulton  and  Lyons.  He  subsequently 
formed  a  partnership  with  Daniel  Oliver  in  the 
grocery  business  at  Fulton,  but  retired  from  business 
several  years  prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred  Oct. 
12,  1876,  at  his  residence  in  Fulton.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  till  April,  1879.  She  was  an  estimable 
lady  and  highly  respected.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  a  Whig  in  early  life  and  on  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  became  an 
earnest  supporter  of  its  policy.  He  never  sought 
public  office  and  only  once  served  in  a.  public 
capacity  at  Fulton,  that  of  Road_Commissioner. 


ichard  Beswick,  deceased,  was  formerly 
a  resident  on  section  31,  Clyde  Township, 
where  he  settled  in   18 — .     He  was  born 
Sept.    12,    1810,   in   Scarborough,  Yorkshire, 
England,  and  died  at  his  home  July  7,   1884. 
His  demise  was  very  sudden  and  was  the  re- 
sult of  blood  clot  obstructing  the  action  of  the  heart. 
Richard  Beswick,  senior,  and  Elizabeth   (Naggs) 
Beswick,  his  wife,  father  and  mother  of  the  subject 
of  this  biographical  sketch,  were  natives  of  England 
and  belonged  to  the  old  class  of  yeomanry.     The 

*- *®rz — ^< 


son  was  19  years  of  age  when  the  family  came  to  the 
New  World  and  located  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  of 
Toronto.  Richard  Beswick,  junior,  was  there  mar- 
ried and  resided  in  the  Dominion  about  three  years 
after  that  event,  when  with  his  family  he  removed  to 
Clyde  Township.  Both  township  and  county  were 
in  the  earliest  period  of  their  development  and  the 
former  was  still  unnamed.  Mr.  Beswick  at  once 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  began  the  tedious 
though  pleasant  work  of  making  a  home.  The  first 
grain  he  raised  was  marketed  at  Chicago  and  Galena, 
and  drawn  thither  by  horse  teams.  His  wife,  Sally 
(Patrick)  Beswick,  died  about  1844,  leaving  a  son 
and  a  daughter.  George  died  of  measles  while  serv- 
ing as  a  soldier  for  the  Union.  Belinda  is  the  wife 
of  Richard  Tyre,  an  extensive  farmer  of  Dakota 
Territory,  owning  400  acres  of  land  in  Union 
County. 

After  the  decease  of  his  wife  Mr.  Beswick  returned 
to  Canada  and  removed  his  parents  to  Clyde  Town- 
ship, where  they  remained  during  the  rest  of  their 
lives.  They  died  at  the  residence  of  their  son,  but 
had  chiefly  made  their  home  with  a  married  daugh- 
ter in  Clyde  Township.  They  were  aged,  respec- 
tively, about  75  and  60  years. 

March  24,  1849,  Mr.  Beswick  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Hannah  •  E.  Humphrey.  She  was  born  March  16, 
1821,  in  Northport  Township,  Waldo  Co.,  Maine, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Lydia  (Dun- 
can) Knight.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  the  Pine- 
Tree  State,  born  of  New  England  ancestry,  and  of 
English  extraction,  save  a  slight  admixture  of  Irish 
blood  in  the  predecessors  of  the  father.  The  mother 
died  in  1831,  leaving  n  children,  eight  of  whom  yet 
survive. 

Mrs.  Beswick  was  sixth  in  order  of  birth  and  was 
but  ten  years  of  age  when  her  mother  was  removed 
by  death.  Her  father  was  again  married,  in  Maine, 
and  of  the  second  union  one  son  (n»w  de- 
ceased) was  born.  Later  the  father  took  six  of  the 
younger  children  and  went  to  Ohio  and  settled  on  a 
farm  near  Grandville,  Licking  County.  He  was 
again  married  while  living  there,  and  later  came  to 
Fulton,  Whiteside  County.  The  father  died  there 
Feb.  12,  1866.  His  wife  died  at  her  brother's  home, 
in  the  southern  part  of  Illinois,  shortly  after  coming 
to  the  State.  Both  were  in  advanced  life. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mrs.  Beswick,  to  Alvaro 
Humphrey,  occurred  June  22,  1838,  in  Licking  Co. 


- 


Ohio.  He  was  a  native  of  the  county  and  was  the 
son  of  a  farmer  who  was  born  in  New  England  and 
who  had  .become  a  pioneer  of  the  Buckeye  State  in 
its  earliest  development.  His  father  died  in  Cincin- 
nati, the  mother  in  Licking  County.  The  death  of 
Mr.  Humphrey  took  place  in  the  county  of  his  na- 
tivity April  22,  1847,  and  he  left  two  sons, — George 
and  Lorenzo.  The  former  married  Lucy  Van  Damark 
and  is  a  farmer  in  Brown  Co.,  Kan.  The  younger  child, 
died  in  Fulton  soon  after  the  removal  of  his  mother 
to  Illinois.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs. 
Beswick  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  was  an  in- 
mate of  the  family  of  hei  brother,  William  Knight,  un- 
til she  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Beswick.  Of  this 
union  five  children  have  been  born, — William  A., 
Thomas  L.,  Lizzie,  Carrie  and  Sarah.  The  latter 
died  when  five  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Beswick  was  a  useful  and  influential  citizen  of 
his  township  and  served  14  years  as  Supervisor,  act- 
ing continuously  during  that  period.  He  held  var- 
ious other  offices  and  was  actively  interested  in 
educational  matters.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


Frederick  J.  Beuzeville,  dealer  in  boots, 
shoes,  harnesses,  etc.,  at  Morrison,  was 
born  April  17,  1849,  in  Vienna,  Ontario 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of  George  and 
Miriam  (Prescott)  Beuzeville.  His  parents 
were  born  in  England,  and  in  1842  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  and  located  in  Ontario  Co.,  N. 
Y.  In  1854  the  family  came  to  Morrison,  and  nine 
years  later  went  to  Lyons,  low.a.  They  went  thence 
in  1882  to  Plankington,  Aurora  Co.,  Dak.,  where 
they  are  still  resident. 

Mr.  Beuzeville  learned  his  trade  of  his  father,  who 
has  followed  the  business  of  a  harness-maker  in  the 
various  places  where  he  has  been  located.  The  son 
began  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  its  various  details 
at  Lyons,  Iowa,  when  he  was  17  years  of  age,  and 
after  working  under  his  father's  supervision  until 
1869,  he  came  to  Morrison  and  established  the  busi- 
ness enterprise  in  which  he  has  since  been  engaged. 
In  1872  he  bought  the  building  which  he  first  oper- 
ated, and  the  site  therewith,  and  on  the  latter  in 
1875  he  erected  the  brick  building  which  he  now  oc- 


cupies, situated  on  the  principal  business  street  at 
Morrison.  Mr.  Beuzeville  owns  also  his  residence 
and  two  valuable  city  lots  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fair- 
ground. 

Jan.  5,  1874,  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Maria  Evans,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Eva,  born  Jan.  20,  1875  ;  Lela,  April,  17,  1877  ;  and 
Mabel,  May  7,  1879.  Mrs.  Beuzeville  was  born 
March  2,  1855,  at  Auburn,  Steuben  Co.,  Ind.,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Erastus  and  Caroline  (Frink)  Evans. 
Her  mother  was  born  May  i,  1827,  in  Eaton,  Madi- 
son Co.,  N.  Y.  Her  father  was  born  in  1824,  in 
Hastings,  N.  Y.,  and  died  when  he  was  31  years  of 
age,  before  the  birth  of  his  daughter. 


.imon  Stapleton,  farmer  in  Clyde  Town- 
ship, located  on  section  18,  was  born  Dec. 
25,  1827,  in  Earleaten,  Yorkshire,  England. 
William  Stapleton,  his  father,  was  a  dresser 
of  woolen  goods  and  married  Susan  Tong. 
Both  were  of  English  parentage  and  ancestry, 
and  they  had  nine  children. 

Simon  is  the  sixth  child,  and  when  he  was  14 
years  of  age  the  father,  mother  and  seven  youngest 
children  came  to  America.  The  children  whom  they 
left  behind  had  become  the  heads  of  families.  The 
family  landed  at  the  port  of  New  York  in  April,  1841. 
They  went  thence  to  Jersey  City,  where  the  father 
found  remunerative  employment  in  a  pottery  and 
continued  to  labor  in  the  same  establishment  two 
years.  In  1843  they  removed  to  Little  Falls,  in 
the  same  State,  where  the  senior  Stapleton  obtained 
a  situation  in  the  same  business  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged in  his  native  country,  in  1845  another  trans- 
fer was  made  to.  Bloomfield,  N.  J.,  where  the 
father  worked  three  years  as  a  cloth  dresser.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  they  removed  to  West  Hobo- 
ken,  N.  J.,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

Prior  to  this  period,  Mr.  Stapleton  had  remained 
an  inmate  of  the  household  of  his  father,  but  on  their 
locating  at  Hoboken  he  determined  to  fit  himself  for 
the  calling  of  a  carpet  weaver,  and  after  spending 
five  years  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  purpose  he 
went  with  his  father  and  family  from  Holwken  to 
Haverstraw,  on  the  Hudson  River.  There  he  and 
his  father  obtained  employment  in  the  mills  and  were 


5F 
fa 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


occupied  some  time  in  the  pursuit  of  their  respective 
callings.  Meanwhile  he  was  married  and  later  came 
West,  his  father  going  to  Yonkers,  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  in  r85i,  where  he  remained  about 
two  years,  and  while  he  maintained  his  residence 
there  visited  his  native  home  in  England.  After  his 
return  to  the  United  States,  he  removed  to  Astoria, 
L.  I.  A  year  later  he  went  to  Franklin,  where  he 
died  Dec.  25,  1858,  aged  67  years.  The  widowed 
mother  returned  to  Yonkers  and  died  there  in  1860. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Stapleton  to  Mary  Wood  took 
place  April  21,  at  Poughkeepsie.  She  was  born  Oct. 
17,  1829,  in  Saddleworth,  Yorkshire,  England,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Browbent)  Wood. 
They  belonged  to  the  class  who  worked  in  the 
factories  of  that  country,  and  when  the  daughter  was 
12  years  of  age,  in  1841,  the  family  emigrated  to 
America,  locating  in  Haverstraw.  Later  on  they 
went  to  Webster,  Mass.,  where  they  resided  two 
years. 

In  1850  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stapleton  and  the  parents 
of  the  latter  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  were 
among  the  very  earliest  of  its  permanent  pioneer  ele- 
ment. Mr.  Wood  died  May  9,  1884,  ten  years  lack- 
ing one  month  subsequent  to  the  death  of  his  wife, 
which  occurred  April  9,  1874.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren, the  two  eldest  being  twins,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Stapleton  is  one.  She  has,  herself,  been  the  mother 
of  12  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living.  Susan  mar- 
ried Frank  Mills,  a  farmer  of  Clyde  Township. 
Joseph  married  Nellie  Leech  and  removed  to  a  farm 
in  Clark  County,  D.  T.  James  married  Phebe 
Fletcher  and  is  a  resident  of  the  county  last  named. 
Simon  is  also  living  in  Dakota.  Lucy  married  Pierce 
Smith,  of  Union  Grove  Township,  and  he'is  em- 
ployed by  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad 
corporation  as  a  telegraph  operator.  Jane  is  the  wife, 
of  Morris  Weaver,  a  farmer  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Town- 
ship. Charles,  Frederick  and  Edward  are  the  names 
of  the  youngest  children  who  survive.  Mary  A.  died 
when  she  was  21  years  old.  William  died  in  infancy. 

On  coming  to  Clyde  Township,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stapleton  located  on  40  acres  of  land  given  them  by 
the  parents  of  the  fotmer.  On  this  they  have  main- 
tained their  homestead  without  intermission,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years,  when  they  lived  at  Port  By- 
ron, Rock  Island  Co.,  111.  They  have  added  materially 
to  their  original  acreage  and  now  own  260  acres  of 

(gVV^g^CT     , 


well  improved  land,  including  20  acres  in-  timber. 
Mr.  Stapleton  has  made  all  the  improvements  on  his 
place,  which  is  one  of  the  best  in  Clyde  Township. 
He  is  an  earnest  Republican  and  influential  in 
politics  in  the  locality  where  he  is  a  citizen.  He  has 
devoted  his  interest  and  energies  to  the  educational 
development  of  the  township  and  has  served  in  the 
several  official  positions  of  the  school  district  in 
which  he  resides. 


"ohn  H.  Snyder,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Snyder  &  Co.,  merchants  "at  Morrison, 
was  born  Aug.  16,  1840,  in  Argusville, 
Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father,  James  Sny- 
der, was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where 
he  was  for  some  years  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business.  He  is  a  resident  of  Morrison  and  is 
about  77  years  of  age.  The  mother,  Nancy  (Runkle) 
Snyder,  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  has  been 
some  years  deceased.  The  four  children  of  whom 
they  became  the  parents  still  survive.  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  L.  H.  Robinson,  of  Chicago,  who  is  operating 
in  that  city  as  a  loan  and  real-estate  broker.  Har- 
riet N.  lives  in  Chicago.  James  A.  is  engaged  in 
conducting  a  branch  store  in  Clarence,  Iowa. 

Until  he  was  20  years  of  age,  Mr.  Snyder  was 
chiefly  engaged  in  obtaining  his  education,  and  in 
1855  he  accompanied  the  family  of  his  father  to 
Morrison.  His  first  employ  was  as  a  clerk  in  the 
dry-goods  house  of  Spears  &  Bro.,  in  which  capacity 
he  officiated  about  four  years,  when  he  was  admitted 
to  a  partnership  and  the  firm  style  became  Spears  & 
Co.  Its  relations  were  in  existence  four  years,  and 
in  1868  he  went  to  Clarence,  Iowa,  where,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother,  he  established  the  mercantile 
enterprise  which  is  now  under  the  management  of 
his  brother.  He  instituted  the  business  which  he 
has  since  prosecuted  in  1876,  and  is  operating  with 
satisfactory  results.  His  stock  includes  fine  and  well 
assorted  lines  of  dry  goods. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  be- 
longs to  Lodge  No.  357,  at  Morrison.  He  owns 
considerable  property  in  the  city,  and  is  a  stock- 
holder and  director  in  the  First  National  Bank  at 
Morrison. 

Mr.  Snyder  was  married  July  20,  1867,  in  Morri- 
son, to  Mary  Furlong,  and  they  have  two  children, — 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Jessie  H.  and  Alliene.     Mrs.  Snyder  is  the  daughter 
,j  of  John  and  Sarah  Furlong  and  was  born   Jan   25, 
1847,  in  New  York. 


homas  L.  Beswick,  farmer,  section  30, 
Clyde  Township,  was  born  Nov.  15,  1852, 
on  section  3  of  the  township  of  which  he 
has  been  a  life-long  resident.  He  is  the  son  of 
Richard  and  Hannah  E.  (Knight)  Beswick,  of 
whom  a  biographical  narration  appears  on 
other  pages  of  this  work.  They  were  among  the  first 
settlers  of  the  county  and  the  son  is  one  of  the  first 
white  children  born  in  Clyde  Township. 

Mr.  Beswick  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  brought  up  with  a  complete  practical  knowledge 
of  fanning.  He  was  married  Dec.  30,  1875,  to  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Chester  W.  and  Ann  (Milnes)  Millard. 
The  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  was  of 
English  descent.  The  mother  was  born  in  England 
and  when  but  four  years  of  age  came  to  America 
with  her  parents,  who  located  in  Whiteside  County 
in  the  very  earliest  period  of  its  history.  The  par- 
ents were  married  in  Clyde  Township,  where  they 
resided  during  the  entire  period  of  their  married  life, 
which  was  terminated  by  the  death  of  the  father  in 
August,  1 88 1.  Mr.  Millard  was  a  miller  by  vocation 
and  erected  the  first  mill  in  Clyde  Township,  which 
was  located  on  Rock  Creek,  in  the  east  part  of  the 
town.  He  sold  that  property  later  on  and  con- 
structed a  second  mill  on  a  branch  of  the  creek,  sit- 
uated about  the  center  of  the  town,  of  which  he 
retained  the  ownership  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  died  of  cancer  on  the  hand,  at  63  years  of 
age.  Mrs.  Beswick  is  their  only  child  and  was  born 
April  9,  1855,  in  Clyde  Township.  She  was  educated 
at  the  common  schools  of  her  native  township  and  at 
Morrison,  obtaining  a  more  extended  course  of  study 
at  Lowell,  Mass.  She  devoted  some  time  to  teach- 
ing previous  to  her  marriage.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beswick  in  the  order 
named:  George  C.,  Nov.  19,  1876;  Florence  A., 
Aug.  2,  1878;  Clarence  W.,  June  23,  1880;  Carrie 
E.,  Aug.  15,  1882. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Beswick  rented  farms  situated 
at  different  points  in  Clyde  Township,  and  operated 
in  that  method  until  1885,  when  he  purchased  210 


acres  of  the  homestead  of  his  father.  He  is  an  ex- 
perienced and  skillful  farmer  and  is  making  a  spe- 
ciality of  raising  Poland  China  swine  and  Short-Horn 
cattle.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  his  town- 
ship for  some  time  in  the  capacity  of  .Collector.  Mrs. 
Beswick  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 


ames  Stapleton,  farmer,  section  5,  Clyde 
Township,  is  the  owner  of  199  acres  of 
land,  on  which  he  has  been  a  resident  since 
1858,  and  which  became  his  property  by  pur- 
chase four  years  earlier.  He  was  born  Feb. 
28,  1830,  at  Earl's  Eaton,  Yorkshire,  England: 
is  the  son  of  William  and  Susan  Stapleton,  of  whom 
a  biographical  sketch  appears  on  other  pages.  He 
was  1 1  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  from 
their  native  country  with  their  family  to  America,  lo- 
cating first  at  Paterson,  N.  J.  Soon  afterwards  they 
went  to  Jersey  City.  When  he  was  16  years  old  he 
entered  the  carpet  factory  of  Shepherd,  Sines  &  Co., 
of  Jersey  City,  to  learn  the  method  of  weaving  in- 
grain carpet,  and  spent  two  years  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  his  purpose.  He  went  from  Jersey  City 
to  Haverstraw  on  the  Hudson  River,  located  near 
Sing  Sing,  where  he  obtained  a  situation  in-  the  ex- 
tensive establishment  of  Higgins  &  Co.  He  was 
employed  by  that  firm  five  years.  He  went  next  to 
Franklin,  N.  J.,  and  was  there  five  years.  In  1858 
he  came  to  Clyde  Township  and  took  possession  of 
the  farm  on  which  he  has  since  resided,  and  which 
his  brother  secured  for  him  in  1854.  He  was  un- 
married and  made  his  home  as  convenience  or  op- 
portunity served,  and  June  29,  1861,  he  was  married 
to  Sarah  J.  Simpson.  Two  children  have  been  born  to 
them, — George  B.,  born  July  24,  1864,  and  John  V., 
Sept.  25,  1867.  Mrs.  Stapleton  is  the  daughter  of 
Israel  and  Jane  (Huston)  Simpson.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  New  Jersey  and  were  of  New  Eng- 
land origin,  in  nationality  representing  the  English, 
Dutch  and  Scotch  from  whom  they  were  descended. 
They  were  farmers  in  their  native  county,  where  they 
spent  their  entire  lives.  The  death  of  the  father 
took  place  in  1865,  at  the  age  of  75  years.  The 
mother  died  in  1870,  when  she  was  74  years  old. 
Mrs.  Stapleton  was  born  May  4,  1835,  in  Frankl'n, 
Essex  Co.,  N.  J.,  and  she  is  the  seventh  of  nine  chil- 


• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


dren  born  to  her  parents.  She  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  lived  in  the  place  of  her  nativity 
until  she  came  West  after  marriage. 

The  farm  on  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stapleton  began 
their  wedded  lifejiad  been  somewhat  improved  and 
is  now  in  excellent  agricultural  condition  with  good 
residence  and  farm  buildings  and  a  large  and  valua- 
ble orchard. 

Politically,  Mr.  Stapleton  is  a  Republican. 


mil  Westphal,  liquor  dealer  at  Morrison, 
was  born  June  24,  1828,  in  Holstein,  Ger- 
many. At  an  early  age  he  was  sent  to 
the  University  of  Kiel,  where  he  remained  until 
he  graduated,  March  28,  1848.  At  the  break- 
ing out  of  war  between  Denmark  and  Schles- 
wig-Holstein,  he  served  on  the  staff  of  General 
Baudissin  until  the  close  of  the  contest.  He  also 
took  part  in  the  French  and  Italian  revolution.  At 
the  insurrection  of  Milan,  Italy,  he  was  again  en- 
gaged in  the  cause  of  liberty,  under  General  Mazini. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1858,  first  loca- 
ting in  Fulton,  111.  He  found  it  necessary  to  engage 
in  active  labor  and  obtained  a  situation  in  the  employ 
of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad,  by  which 
he  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  corps  of  wood-choppers. 
In  1863  he  inaugurated  his  present  business  at 
Morrison,  which  he  has  prosecuted  for  more  than  a 
score  of  years  with  .satisfactory  results.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Sept.  22,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Paulina  Nomm- 
sen,  a  native  of  Schleswig.  Their  four  children  were 
born  in  the  following  order :  Carl,  Paula,  Fritz  and 
Julia.  Paula  died  in  1881. 


aniel  P.  Spears,  of  the  firm  of  D.  P.  Spears 
&  Son,  dealers  in  dry  goods,  hats,  notions, 
gentlemen's  and   ladies'  furnishing  goods, 
at  Morrison,  111.,  was  born  Dec.  29,  1822,  in 
Milan,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio.     His  father,  William   W. 
Spears,   was   born    in    Pennsylvania   and    went 
thence  to  the  State  of  New  York,  whence,  after  a 
residence   of  some  years   there,  he    went    to   Ohio 
where  he  remained  until  the  termination  of  his  life. 


•\m 

=  ® 

.ivc  of 


The  mother,  Love  (Watkins)  Spears,  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts.  Of  their  ten  children  five  are  liv- 
ing :  Nathan  W.  is  a  farmer  and  merchant  in  Fay- 
ette  Co.,  Iowa ;  Nancy  is  the  widow  of  Samuel  Harper 
and  lives  in  Lawton,  Mich.;  Betsey  is  the  wife  of 
Russell  Munger,  a  retired  farmer  at  Lawton,  Mich. ; 
Mary  A.  married  Crowell  Eddy,  a  farmer  in  the 
township  of  Clinton,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  and  died 
there  March  10,  1885. 

Mr.  Spears  is  the  youngest  of  the  children  born  to 
his  parents,  and  until  he  was  24  years  of  age  re- 
mained on  the  farm  of  his  father.  Meanwhile  his 
brothers,  William  and  Charles,  both  now  deceased, 
had  established  themselves  in  business  at  Pittsburg, 
and  at  the  age  named  he  went  there  and  engaged  in 
their  employ,  where  he  continued  four  years.  About 
1840  he  went  to  Tecumseh,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  and 
entered  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Nathan, 
where  they  were  interested  in  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods.  .On  the  termination  of  this  venture 
he  went  to  White  Co.,  Ind.,  where,  associated  with 
W.  R.  Davis,  he  embarked  in  a  mercantile  enterprise 
in  which  he  was  occupied  seven  years.  In  1858  he 
came  to  Morrison  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  the 
position  of  salesman  in  the  dry-goods  house  of 
Spears  &  Bro.  Four  years  later  he  purchased  a  part 
of  the  building  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the 
transaction  of  his  business  and  put  in  a  stqck  of 
merchandise.  He  embarked  in  the  enterprise  in 
company  with  Joseph  Shafer.  This  relation  existed 
until  the  death  of  the  latter,  when  Mr.  Spears  pur- 
chased the  claims  of  the  heirs  of  his  late  partner, 
and  became  associated  with  James  Shafer,  nephew 
of  the  deceased.  Two  years  later  he  became  by  pur- 
chase sole  proprietor  of  the  establishment  and  until 
September,  1884,  conducted  the  business  alone.  At 
that  date  he  purchased  the  store  and  stock  of  Chas. 
Spears  &  Son,  situated  adjoining,  opened  communi- 
cation between  the  sales-rooms  and  is  now  transact- 
ing business  in  the  double  store.  At  the  date  of 
enlargement  he  admitted  his  son,  Frank  W.,  to 
a  partnership.  Their  establishment  includes  two 
large  sales-rooms,  51  by  44  feet  in  size,  and  they 
employ  four  assistants.  Their  stock  is  estimated  at 
a  value  of  $17,000,  and  includes  a  full  line  of  goods 
suited  to  the  local  patronage.  In  the  spring  of  1885 
Messrs.  Spears  &  Son  added  a  carpet  department  to 
their  business. 

Mr.  Spears  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Odd   Fellows. 


I  '    ' 

r  «.,|«OIS 


f    '••• 


of 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


213 


He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  of  Mor- 
rison. He  owns  a  farm  of  70  acres  lying  three  miles 
south  of  the  city,  also  12  acres  connected  with  his 
residence  in  this  place.  He  is  also  the  owner  of 
a  half  interest  in  160  acres  of  land  in  White  Co.,  Ind. 
Mr.  Spears  has  been  married  three  times.  He 
was  first  joined  in  marriage  in  Milan,  Ohio,  to  Eliz- 
abeth Walbridge,  who  died  two  years  later,  after 
becoming  the  mother  of  one  child,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  Spears  was  again  married,  in  White  Co., 
Ind.,  to  Sarah  J.  Burns,  who  survived  between  two 
and  three  years.  Dec.  6,  1858,  Mr.  Spears  con- 
tracted a  third  marriage  at  Monticello,  Ind.,  with 
Mary  Shafer.  Their  five  children  were  born  at 
Morrison.  Frank  W.  is  the  oldest  and  is  in  business 
with  his  father.  Fred  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth. 
Burt  C.  is  a  clerk  in  the  store.  Maggie  J.  and  James 
are  the  two  youngest. 


jtarlan  ]j.  Brewer,  proprietor  of  the  "Brewer 
House  "  at  Rock  Falls,  was  born  at  Black 
Rock,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  7,  1845.  His  parents, 
Addison  and  Maria  (Adams)  Brewer,  farmers, 
came  West  in  1846  and  settled  at  Bingham 
ton,  Lee  Co.,  111.,  on  land  which  they  bought  of 
the  Government.  After  a  residence  there  of  five 
years  they  removed  to  Dixon,  111.,  where  Mr.  B. 
started  a  wagon  shop  and  pursued  his  business  there 
a  year.  He  then  sold  out  and  returned  to  Bing- 
hamton,  purchasing  a  hotel,  whiph  he  conducted 
until  his  death,  which  was  caused  by  his  team  run- 
ning away  and  throwing  him  out  upon  the  ground. 

When  1 6  years  old,  young  Harlan  enlisted  in  Co. 
B,  i2th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Sept.  T3,  1861,  under  Col. 
John  McArthur,  and  participated  in  many  im- 
portant engagements,  among  which  were  the  battles 
of  Fort  Donaldson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  in  front  of  At- 
lanta, etc.,  and  in  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea.  He 
veteranized  Dec.  31,  1863,  and  took  part  in  the  Grand 
Review  at  Washington.  He  was  mustered  out  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,July  10,  1865. 

Returning  from  the  war,  he  for  two  years  was  a 
brakeman  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  then 
promoted  as  conductor.  He  followed  railroading 
for  13  years.  He  next  took  charge  of  the  "Baltic 
House  "  as  proprietor,  changing  its  name  to  "  Brewer 


House,"  which  he  is  now  successfully  conducting. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  TJ.  W.  and  of  the  G. 
A.  R.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has 
held  the  offices  of  Village  Trustee  and  Constable  at 
Rock  Falls. 

He  was  married  Dec.  31,  1866,  to  Miss  Amelia 
Doolittle,  a  native  of  Binghamton,  Broome  Co.,  N. 
Y.  They  have  had  two  children  :  Stella  May,  born 
Nov.  10,  1869;  and  Villette  D.,  June  25,  1878,  who 
died  June  28,  1883. 


li  Upton,  retired  farmer,  residing  at  Mor- 
rison, has  lived  in  Whiteside  County  since 
1844.  He  was  born  Sept.  28,  i8ir,  in 
Peterboro,  N.  H.  His  parents,  Eli  and  Abi- 
gail (Snow)  Upton,  resided  in  the  farming  com- 
munity in  the  Granite  State,  and  consequently 
their  son  was  brought  up  on  a  farm.  Before  he 
reached  his  majority  he  had  acquired  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  trade  of  machinist  and  passed  14 
years  in  its  pursuit.  He  operated  ten  years  in  Mas- 
sachusetts and  in  Dover,  N.  H.,  with  satisfactory 
results.  In  1840  he  went  to  Sonora,  -Mexico,  where 
he  passed  four  years  in  the  construction  of  a  cotton 
factory,  which  he  put  in  complete  running  order.  In 
1844  he  determined  on  an  entire  change  in  his  mode 
of  life.  He  therefore  came  to  Whiteside  County  and 
bought  a  farm  in  Lyndon  Township,  on  which  he  re- 
sided and  was  occupied  in  its  improvement  ten  years. 
In  1854  he  transferred  his  residence  to  a  farm  on 
section  32,  in  the  town  of  Mt.  Pleasant.  His  original 
purchase  there  is  still  in  his  possession  and  he  is  the 
owner  of  800  acres  of  land  in  the  township,  which 
constitutes  one  of  the  most  valuable  homesteads  in 
Whiteside  County  and  is  all  improved  and  perfectly 
equipped.  Among  its  attractions  is  a  valuable  and 
elegant  farm  residence,  built  at  an  expense  of  $7,000. 
In  the  spring  of  1882  Mr.  Upton  entered  upon  a  life 
of  retirement  at  Morrison.  Associated  with  his  son, 
he  is  the  owner  of  three  imported  French  Norman 
horses,  each  of  which  cost  $2,000.  They  own,  besides, 
one  valuable  animal  of  half  Norman  blood  and  a 
trotting  stallion.  Mr.  Upton  and  his  son  take  great 
satisfaction  in  their  valuable  and  beautiful  horses, 
and  are  justifiable  in  so  doing,  as  they  have  added 


fi 


© 

•5s 

1 


214 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


materially  to  the  value  of  that  variety  of  property  in 
Whiteside  County. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Upton  to  Elizabeth  A.  New- 
comb  took  place  in  Enfield,  Conn.,  June  15,  1844. 
They  have  had  four  children,  all  sons,  three  of 
whom  are  living.  They  were  born  in  the  following 
order:  George  Y.,  John  E.,  Joseph  S.  and  Franklin 
A.  The  oldest  is  a  farmer  and  is  associated  with 
his  father  in  the  ownership  and  management  of  their 
valuable  horses.  The  second  son  is  not  living.  The 
younger  sons  are  farmers  in  the  township  of  Mt. 
Pleasant. 

The  portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Upton  appear  on 
preceding  pages. 


yron  Stowe,  resident  on  section  2,  Union 
Grove  Township,  has  been  a  farmer  of 
Whiteside  County  since  1855,  when  he 
came  with  a  company  and  bought  a  tract  of 
land  containing  456  acres  lying  in  the  town- 
ships of  Union  Grove  and  Mt.  Pleasant. 

He  was  born  March  20,  1831,  in  Weybridge,  Ad- 
dison  Co.,  Vt.,  and  is  the  son  of  Clarke  and  Abigail 
(Marsh)  Stowe.  They  were  both  born  in  Vermont, 
and  the  former  died  there  April  18,  1847.  The 
mother  came  after  that  event  to  Whiteside  County, 
and  died  in  Albany,  Nov.  26,  1875.  Their  children 
— six  in  number — lived  to  mature  age.  They  were 
named  Caroline,  Mary  A.,  Byron,  Milo,  Beulah  and 
Edgar. 

Mr.  Stowe  remained  in  his  native  State  until  he 
came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  was  engaged  in 
farming,  after  reaching  suitable  age.  In  1855  he 
came  to  Whiteside  County,  as  stated.  He  settled 
on  the  same  section  on  which  he  is  now  resident  and 
where  he  owns  112^  acres  of  land,  and  has  placed 
most  of  his  acreage  under  cultivation.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  political  affiliation,  and  has  held  several 
local  official  positions. 

He  was  married  Aug.  31,  1862,  to  Mrs.  Elvira 
Ellison,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Amelia  (Keith) 
Bannister,  and  widow  of  Gilbert  Ellison.  The  lat- 
ter died  in  January,  1860,  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  By 
her  earlier  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  one 
child— Willard  S.  Mrs.  Stowe  was  born  in  Pots- 
dam, St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  8,  1834.  Her 

Mf. ^^ @^ 


parents  removed  to  Whiteside  County  about  1850, 
and  were  residents  of  Union  Grove  Township  about 
1 8  years,  removing  thence  to  Clinton,  Iowa.  Her 
father  died  Dec.  20,  1881.  Her  mother's  demise  oc- 
curred Feb.  12,  1884.  They  had  five  children — El- 
len, Elvira,  Mary,  Prentice  and  Martin. 

Mr.   and  Mrs.  Stowe  have  one  child — Merntt  M. 
They  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


am.es  Pettigrew,  Postmaster  at  Rock 
£  Falls,  was  born  July  8,  1827,  at  Paisley, 
Renfrewshire,  Scotland.  When  he  was 
seven  years  of  age  his  father,  John  Pettigrew, 
died ;  and  his  mother,  nee  Jane  Allison,  emi- 
grated to  this  country  and  died  in  1882. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  with  his 
mother  and  took  care  of  her  while  she  lived,  re- 
ceiving in  his  younger  days  a  common-school  educa- 
tion ;  came  to  this  country  with  his  mother  in  the 
fall  of  1843,  spending  the  first  winter  at  Sterling, 
111.,  and  lived  in  Ogle  County  until  1875,  when  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  125  acres.  After  working  upon 
the  place  for  a  season  he  sold  it,  and  in  1876  pur- 
chased his  present  residence. 

He  has  been  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  four 
times.  He  was  a  Justice  for  ten  years  in  Ogle 
County,  and  was  elected  to  the  office  at  Rock  Falls 
in  the  spring  of  1876,  and  held  it  until  he  resigned 
"to  accept  his  present  position  as  Postmaster.  He  was 
Village  Trustee  for  one  term,  Village  Treasurer  four 
years,  and  has  held  minor  offices.  He  is  a  zeal- 
ous Republican,  a  Trustee  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  but  not  a  member.  By  his  native  talent 
and  public  services  he  has  become  a  prominent 
man  in  his  community.  He  owns  several  lots  in 
Rock  Falls,  besides  the  postoffice  building  on  Main 
Street. 


amuel  Currie,   retired  farmer,   resident  at 
Morrison,  has  been  a  citizen  of  Whiteside 
County    since    1838,   when    he    became  a 
member  of  its    pioneer  agricultural  element, 
and  has  since   been  a  factor  in   the  develop- 
ment of  Northwestern  Illinois.     He  was  born 
Aug.    15,    1810,  in   Roxburgshire,  Scotland,  on  the 

£ *&* 


> 


river  Tweed.  His  father,  John  Carrie,  was  a  native 
of  Yetholra,  in  the  same  shire,  and  was  born  Oct.  25, 
1776.  His  mother,  Hannah  (Lockey)  Currie  was 
born  in  Ilderton,  Northumberlandshire,  England, 
Nov.  n,  1784.  The  marriage  of  his  parents  took 
place  at  Jedburgh,  May  27,  1805,  and  in  May,  1818, 
the  family  emigrated  to  America.  They  settled  at 
first  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  they  remained 
until  November,  1819,  when  they  went  to  York, 
in  Canada  (now  Toronto).  In  March,  1820,  they 
took  possession  of  a  farm  in  Scarborough,  in  the 
Dominion,  where  the  father  died,  Sept.  17,  1830. 
The  mother  died  Dec.  18,  1861,  in  East  Whitby, 
Canada.  There  are  (in  1885),  but  four  survivors  of 
their  ten  children,  who  were  born  in  the  following 
order:  Sarah  (deceased)  was  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Lundy.  James  is  living  in  retirement  in  the  town- 
ship of  Whitby,  Canada;  has  been  for  many  years  a 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  John 
was  a  farmer;  Andrew  was  a  merchant  tailor,  and 
Robert,  formerly  a  farmer  in  Kansas,  are  all  deceased. 
George  is  engaged  in  the  business  of  sheep-raising  in 
Montana.  Mark  was  during  his  lifetime  a  carriage 
builder  and  blacksmith  in  Canada.  Margaret  is  de- 
ceased. William  resides  in  Lloyd,  Wis.,  and  was  a 
millwright  before  his  retirement  from  active  business 
life. 

Mr.  Currie  attained  to  adult  age  in  the  Dominion, 
and  when  about  24  years  of  age  rented  a  saw-mill 
and  engaged  in  manufacture  of  lumber,  in  which  he 
was  interested  about  five  years.  During  that  period 
Mackenzie's  Rebellion,  known  also  to  the  history  as 
the  Patriot  War,  startled  the  representatives  of  the 
British  government  in  the  Dominion,  and  Mr.  Currie 
joined  the  insurgents  in  the  ill-fated  struggle.  He 
was  shot  through  his  right  arm  in  one  of  the  en- 
counters of  the  conflict,  and  has  suffered  from  the 
consequences  all  his  life.  He  found  Canadian  rule 
no  more  palatable  after  the  rebellion  had  been 
crushed  than  before,  and,  in  June,  1838,  he  bid  a 
final  farewell  to  monarchical  government  and  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  primarily  in  Carroll  County,  where 
he  remained  one  year.  In  1839  he  came  to  White- 
side  County  and  entered  a  claim  of  240  acres  of  land 
on  section  30,  Clyde  Township,  which  comprised  160 
acres  of  prairie  and  80  acres  of  timber — one  of  the 
finest  and  most  promising  tracts  of  land  in  the  town- 
ship and  which  he  converted  into  a  model  farm.  He 


resided  on  his  estate  25  years,  pursuing  his  agricul- 
tural projects  and  engaged  during  the  latter  part  of  that 
period  in  loaning  money.  He  has  operated  to  some 
extent  in  the  business  last  named  since  his  removal 
to  Morrison,  in  October,  1864,  when  he  retired  from 
active  participation  in  a  laborious  life.  He  is  the 
owner  of  considerable  property,  variously  situated  in 
the  county. 

Mr.  Currie  has  been  married  twice.  He  first 
formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  in  Scarborough,  Can- 
ada, June  15,  1833,  with  Jane  Patrick,  who  died  May 
27,  1840,  after  becoming  the  mother  of  two  sons — 
Asa  and  John — who  followed  their  young  mother  to 
the  silent  land  beyond  while  they  were  still  in  youth. 
She  was  bom  June  4,  1812.  Mr.  Currie  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Julia  Thomas,  Sept.  17,  1840,  in  the 
township  of  Mt.  Pleasant.  Mrs.  Currie  was  born 
Dec.  10,  1817,  in  St.  Clair,  111.  Her  parents,  An- 
thony M.  and  Jane  (Jordan)  Thomas,  were  born  in 
South  Carolina,  and  were  married  in  1805,  in  St. 
Clair  County,  whither  the  former  had  come  in  1804. 
Anthony  Thomas  was  a  soldier  of  1812.  He  came 
to  Mt.  Pleasant  in  1837,  where  he  died  Sept.  8,  1850. 
His  wife  died  Sept.  12,  1858. 


eonard  Hiner,  farmer,  resident  on  section 
19,  Clyde  Township,  has  been  a  citizen  of 
Whiteside  County  since  1855.  He  was 
born  Aug.  30,  1813,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Ta. 
Leonard  Hiner,  senior,  his  father,  was  a  farmer 
and  was  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State. 
Late  in  life  he  became  a  resident  of  Wabash  Co., 
Ind.,  where  he  died  in  August,  1854.  He  married 
Catherine  Bitterman,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  and  was  of  German  parentage  and  descent. 
She  died  about  1860,  in  Wabash  Co.,  Ind.  Their 
children  were  12  in  number. 

Mr.  Hiner  was  third  in  order  of  birth.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  and  operated  as  a 
farm  assistant  until  he  was  of  age,  with  the  exception 
of  two  years,  when  he  was  employed  in  a  woolen 
mill. 

He  was  married  in  February,  1833,  in  Chester  Co., 
Pa.,  to  Mary  Sparr,  who  was  born  in  that  county. 
Her  parents,  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Criley)  Sparr, 
were  fanners  and  were  born  of  German  parentage,  in 


T 


Chester  County.  They  lived  in  the  same  place 
throughout  their  lives.  The  record  of  the  children 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiner  is  as  follows :  Martin  L.  mar- 
ried Lizzie  McFadden  and  is  superintending  the 
homestead  of  his  parents.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren,— Delia  M.,  Anna  M.  and  Albertus  B.  Catherine 
M.  married  Eugene  Griffith,  and  resides  in  Iowa. 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Wengert,  a  farmer  in 
Benton  County,  Iowa.  Julia  A.  married  William 
Alldritt,  a  farmer  in  Clyde  Township.  Rachel  J. 
married  Lewis  Griffith,  and  they  live  in  Knox  Coun- 
ty, Ohio.  Harriet  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Little,  and  they 
are  residents  of  California. 

After  they  had  been  married  two  years,  during 
which  time  they  had  resided  in  Chester  Co.,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hiner  went  to  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and,  a  year 
later,  went  to  Wayne  County,  and  thence  to  Mercer 
County,  Ohio.  They  passed  seven  years  in  the 
county  last  named  on  a  farm  of  which  they  became 
the  owners  by  purchase.  The  place  was  sold  in 
1854,  and  a  year  later  the  family  canje  to  Whiteside 
County.  They  made  their  first  location  on  Elkhorn 
Creek,  where  their  stay  was  brief,  Mr.  Hiner  soon 
after  deciding  to  fix  his  permanent  residence  in  Clyde 
Township,  where  he  purchased  80  acres  of  unim- 
proved prairie.  The  place  is  now  in  an  attractive  and 
valuable  condition.  Mr.  Hiner  is  a  Democrat  in 
political  faith  and  has  held  several  offices.  Mrs. 
Hiner  died  in  the  fall  of  1878,3!  the  age  of  71  years. 

foh.ii  H.  Becker,  blacksmith  and  wagon 
manufacturer  at  Coleta,  was  born  Oct.  3, 
1853,  in  Prussia,  Germany.  His  parents, 
Peter  and  Margaret  Becker,  were  natives  of  the 
same  country  as  their  ancestors  had  been  for 
generations  before.  The  former  died  in  Prus- 
sia about  1857,  when  his  son  was  a  small  lad.  He 
was  an  only  child,  and  when  his  mother  chose  an- 
other husband  he  went  to  live  wilh  his  grandfather, 
where  he  remained  two  years ;  and  at  the  expiration 
of  that  time  he  accompanied  some  relatives  to  the 
United  States,  and  was  taken  by  them  to  Ohio.  His 
mother  had,  meanwhile,  emigrated  to  the  New  World, 
and  had  become  settled  in  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Ind., 
whither  he  went  soon  after  and  was  again  under 
maternal  care  until  he  was  T5  years  of  age.  Al>out 
1868  he  came  to  Genesee  Township,  in  Whiteside 


County,  and  he  became  a  farm  laborer,  in  which  oc- 
cupation he  passed  two  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time,  he  came  to  Coleta  to  learn  his  trade  under  the 
instructions  of  L.  H.  Porter.  After  a  service  of  four 
years  he  bought  the  shop  and  business  relations  of 
his  employer  and  began  to  operate  on  his  own  re- 
sponsibility. During  the  four  years  he  learned  the 
details  of  wagon-making  at  Sterling,  and  he  has 
since  pursued  both  callings.  He  has  two  forges  and 
in  wagon-making  he  has  acquired  an  excellent  repu- 
tation through  successful  competition  at  the  fairs  at 
Morrison  and  Sterling.  His  work  is  accomplished 
with  skill,  and  is  ranked  as  first-class  in  reliability. 
He  owns  his  business  buildings  and  residence. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Genesee  Township, 
April  30,  1874,  to  Esabinda  Nance,  and  they  have 
three  children, — William,  Mary  and  Arthur.  Mrs. 
Becker  was  born  July  8,  1856.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church. 


arren  P.  Hall  (deceased),  late  of  the 
Langford  &  Hall  Lumber  Company,  and 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Fulton,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Bristol,  Ontario  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Sept.  5,  1826,  and  was  the  son  of 
Perez  and  Ruth  (Hicks)  Hall.  When  he  was 
only  a  year  old  his  parents  moved  to  West  Bloom- 
field,  of  the  same  county,  where  his  boyhood  was 
passed.  When  he  was  13  years  of  age,  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Burton,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.; 
and  six  years  later  he  left  home  to  work  with  a  Mr. 
Lemuel  Smith,  a  manufacturer  of  lumber  at  Port- 
ville.  He  spent  ten  years  with  Mr.  Smith,  during 
which  time  he  learned  the  lumber  business  thor- 
oughly, especially  the  mechanical  part,  for  which 
Mr.  Hall  had  a  peculiar  fitness.  His  natural  love 
of  machinery  and  of  mechanical  construction  found 
a  fair  field  for  expansion  in  his  chosen  employment. 
Soon  after  leaving  Mr.  Smith,  he  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  for  himself,  at  Portville,  Cattaraugus 
County,  but  continued  it  only  two  years,  when  he 
was  burned  out. 

He  then  went  to  Berlin,  Wis.,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  foreman  by  Mr.  Ruddock,  an  extensive 
lumber  manufacturer  on  the  Fox  River.  He  was 


'        - 


.      .    '  . 


1 


V 


-  ..  - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


) 


married  in  that  city  Dec.  30,  1858,  to  Miss  Catha- 
rine Swarts,  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret 
(Barry)  Swarts.  Mrs.  Hall  was  born  in  Hamilton, 
Monroe  Co.,  Penn.  One  year  after  their  marriage, 
Mr.  Hall  and  wife  moved  to  Janesville,  Wis.,  where 
he  was  employed  in  the  lumber  business.  In  1861 
he  removed  to  Dixon,  111.,  where  he  set  up  a  mill 
and  operated  it  for  Mr.  A.  K.  Norris  till  the  spring 
of  1865.  He  came  to  Fu.ton  April  6  of  that  year, 
and  engaged  as  foreman  with  Mr.  C.  E.  Langford,  a 
lumber  manufacturer  of  that  place.  In  January, 
1866,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Langford, 
under  the  firm  name  of  "Langford  &  Hall."  Mr. 
Hall  took  charge  of  the  mill  and  manufacturing  de- 
partment, and  under  his  superior  management  the 
present  extensive  and  complete  mills  of  the  Lang- 
ford  &Hall  Lumber  Company  were  built  in  1876-7. 
It  was  largely  due  to  Mr.  Hall's  successful  man- 
agement of  the  operating  department  that  the  com- 
pany made  such  rapid  progress  in  increasing  and 
extending  their  business. 

In  Jan.,  1878,  the  Langford  &  Hall  Lumber  Com- 
pany was  incorporated,  in  which  Mr.  Hall  held  shares 
to  the  amount  of  $35,000.  He  was  elected  pres- 
ident and  also  superintendent  of  the  company  in 
1880,  which  po  silions  he  held  till  the  happening  of 
the  terrible  accident  that  cut  short  his  valuable  life 
in  the  noon-day  of  his  success  and  prosperity.  Mr. 
Hall  lost  his  life  on  the  7th  of  July,  1881,  by  a  blow 
from  a  falling  timber,  while  assisting  his  men  in  re- 
moving the  hoisting  poles  after  having  raised  a 
smoke-stack  at  the  mill. 

The  sudden  death  of  such  a  man  as  Warren  P. 
Hall  was  a  sad  blow,  not  only  to  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, to  whom  he  had  been  a  devoted  husband  and 
father,  but  also  to  his  business  associates,  employes 
and  fellow-citizens. 

Mr.  Hall  experienced  religion  at  the  early  age  of 
1 1  years,  and  became  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  West  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.  He  continued 
a  consistent  member  of  that  Church  till  19  years  of 
age,  when  he  severed  his  connection  and  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Portville,  N.  Y. 
He  continued  during  the  remainder  of  his  life  an 
earnest,  zealous  worker  in  that  denomination.  He 
filled  the  offices  of  Steward,  Class-leader  and1  Trustee 
for  many  years,  and  by  his  good  example,  sincere 
and  liberal  support,  was  veritably  a  pillar  of 

^^— 


the  Church.  He  was  punctual  in  attendance  at  ser- 
vices, prayer-meetings  and  class-meetings,  while  his 
purse  was  always  open  in  support  of  the  Church,  its 
missions  and  its  charities. 

The  funeral  services  were  conducted  by  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  of  which  he  had  long  been  an  hon- 
ored member.  The  attendance  was  remarkably 
large,  both  from  city  and  country,  and  showed  the 
high  esteem  in  which  the  deceased  was  held.  The 
Revs.  R.  M.  Smith,  Carr  and  David  delivered  ap- 
propriate discourses. 

Mr.  Hall  left  a  wife  and  two  daughters  to  mourn 
his  loss.  The  family  had  been  bereaved  only  a  few 
years  before  by  the  death  of  an  only  son,  George, 
who  was  drowned  while  skating  on  the  so-called 
Cat-tail,  Jan.  15,  1876.  He  was  a  bright,  promising 
lad  in  his  i6th  year.  He  had  experienced  religion 
three  years  before,  and  was  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  the  eldest  of 
the  children,  and  was  born  at  Janesville,  Wis.  Es- 
tella,  the  second  child  and  eldest  daughter,  was  born 
at  Dixon,  111.,  and  is  the  wife  of  Silas  E.  Morris,  of 
Darlington,  Wis.  Grace  E.,  the  youngest,  was  born 
at  Fulton. 

Mr.  Hall  was  a  Republican  with  strong  prohibi- 
tion sympathies.  His  temperance  views  were  well 
known,  and  it  may  truthfully  be  said  of  him  that  in 
all  the  walks  of  life  he  aimed  to  be  right  and  his  in- 
fluence was  always  in  favor  of  that  which  was  cal- 
culated to  make  the  world  better  and  purer. 


:iram  C.  McCray,  farmer,  section  6,  Genesee 
Township,  was  born  Aug.  30,  1850,  and  is 
the  son  of  Martin  D.  and  Margaret  Ann 
^  (Crum)  McCray.  His  father  was  a  settler  of 
1838  in  Genesee  Township.  He  was  born  May 
31,  1806,  in  Kentucky.  His  father  dying  when 
he  was  ten  years  of  age,  he  went  to  Indiana,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood  in  the  care  of  his  uncle.  Jan. 
i,  1836,  he  married  the  sister  of  John  Thompson 
Crum,  who  came  to  Genesee  Township  in  the  same 
year.  The  wife  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  their  mar-, 
riage  occurred  in  Henry  Co.,  Ind.  They  had  five 
children  and  Mr.  McCray  is  the  youngest.  His 
father  died  in  1863,  and  he  remained  in  his  mother's 
care  a  year  longer.  She  married  John  Yager,  Nov. 


2l8 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


I 


* « 


16,  1863,  and  lives  in  Sterling.  When  her  son,  who 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  14  years  of  age, 
he  went  to  Coleta  for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  a 
knowledge  of  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  under  the 
direction  of  J.  H.  Gulp.  After  working  a  year  he 
engaged  in  farming  until  1870;  then  worked  ten 
years  for  T.  T.  Daniels  at  Morrison,  and  in  1883  he 
again  commenced  farming. 

His  marriage  to  Susanna  Hurless  took  place  Sept. 
19,  1869.  Mrs.  McCray  was  born  Aug.  20,  1852,  in 
Wood  Co.,  Ohio,  and  she  is  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
Cephas  and  Elizabeth  (Overholser)  Hurless,  of  whom 
a  sketch  may  be  found  on  other  pages.  She  was 
hardly  two  years  of  age  when  her  parents  located  in 
Genesee  Township.  She  is  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren,— Edwin  M.,  born  May  8,  1870,  and  Perry  A., 
born  June  21,  1872. 

Mr.  McCray  is  a  Democrat.  His  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 


ouis  B.  Peters,  undertaker  and  dealer  in 
furniture  opposite  the  depot  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  at  Fulton 
City,  is  a  successor  to  his  father,_  Clement 
Peters,  who  established  the  business  in  1872. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  ,born  in  Lyons, 
Iowa,  Aug.  9,  1857,  and  is  the  son  of  Clement  and 
Doretha  (Langenberg)  Peters.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Europe.  His  father  was  born  in 
Loraine,on  the  Franco  German  border:  his  mother,  in 
Saxony.  His  father  came  to  America  in  1855,  and 
his  mother  in  1856.  Louis  learned  the  cabinet- 
makers' trade  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  and  subse- 
quently worked  at  it  in  Vinton,  la.,  Denver,  Col., 
and  Le  Mars,  la.  He  was  also  employed  by  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  one  and  a  half 
years,  in  1881-2.  On  the  death  of  his  father  he 
succeeded  to  his  present  business  in  November, 
1882.  Mr.  Peters  has  a  well  stocked  store  in  his 
line,  and  attends  promptly  to  all  orders  in  the  under- 
taking line.  His  stock  averages  in  value  about 
$2,500. 

He  was  married  at  Fulton,  III,  Feb.  n,  1885,  to 
Miss  Susan  Monohan, daughter  of  William  Monohan. 
Mrs.  Peters  was  born  in  Whiteside  Co.,  111.  They 


are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  Fulton.  Mr. 
Peters  is  a  member  of  good  standing  of  Abou  Ben 
Adhem  Lodge,  No.  t48,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  in  politics 
is  a  Democrat.  He  is  an  enterprising  young  busi- 
ness man,  possessing  a  thorough  knowledge  of  under- 
taking and  furniture  business,  and  is  rapidly  building 
up  a  substantial  trade. 


braham  L.  Grater,  general  farmer  on  sec- 
tion 35,  Clyde  Township,  was  born  Sept. 
12,  1845,  in  Limerick  Township,  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  Pa.  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Lan- 
dis)  Grater,  his  father  and  mother,  were  natives 
of  the  same  county  and  were  both  descendants 
of  German  ancestors.  The  father  was  married  twice 
and  by  the  first  marriage  there  were  three  children. 
Ten  children  were  born  to  the  parents  of  Mr.  Grater, 
and  he  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  His  father 
and  mother  now  reside  with  him,  and  are  aged  re- 
spectively 76  and  72  years. 

When  he  was  18  years  of  age  he  left  his  father's 
household  to  learn  the  business  of  a  carpenter,  and 
entered  upon  an  apprenticeship  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  Samuel  E.  Horning.  After  working  under  in- 
structions three  years,  he  operated  as  a  journeyman, 
remaining  some  time  in  his  native  State,  and  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Sept.  12,  1867,  in  his 
native  county,  to  Hannah  Spare.  She  was  born  in 
Limerick,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  8,  1845,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Delana  (Poley) 
Spare.  She  is  four  days  older  than  her  husband, 
and  is  the  mother  of  seven  children, — William  H., 
Lizzie,  Jacob  W.,  John,  Mary  E.,  Benjamin  F.  and 
Abraham  E. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grater  resided  eight 
years  in  their  native  county,  where  the  former  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  April,  r875,  they  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  on  a  farm  in  Clyde  Township, 
situated  near  the  -projected  village  of  Malvern,  and 
during  one  year  after  locating  there,  Mr.  Grater  op- 
erated as  a  carpenter.  He  then  engaged  in  farming, 
and  he  now  owns  75  acres  of  first-class  land  under 
excellent  improvements.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  herd 
of  33  cows  of  good  grades  and  has  for  some  time 


*&*: 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


I 

/» 


been  engaged  in  the  dairy  business,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  satisfactory  results. 

Mr.  Grater  is  a  Republican  in  political  principles. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Dunkard  or  Brethren  Church, 
and  in  1879  was  made  a  Deacon.  In  1883  he  was 
elected  minister  and  has  since  filled  that  position. 
Mrs.  Grater  is  a  member  of  the  same  religious  de- 
nomination. 


^•.achariah  Dent  is  the  earliest  pioneer  set- 
tler in  Clyde  Township.     He  moved  into 
the  township  June  i,  1839,  previous  to  the 
organization  of  Whiteside  County,  and  at  a 

>  date  when  its  original  state  of  nature  was  al- 
most uninvaded.  Mr.  Dent  was  born  July  26, 
1805,  in  Buckingham,  Norfolkshire,  England.  He 
was  named  for  his  father,  who  was  an  English  yeo- 
man. Elizabeth  Dent,  his  mother,  was  a  native  of 
the  same  country.  The  elder  Dent  died  about  1811, 
and  his  son  was  brought  up  chiefly  by  strangers. 
The  mother  survived  some  years,  dying  after  the  re- 
moval of  her  son  to  America. 

Mr.  Dent  learned  the  trade  of  a  cloth-\veaver,  and 
followed  that  vocation  until  1832,  the  year  in  which 
he  emigrated  to  America.  He  first  located  in  On- 
tario, Can  ,  where  he  obtained  a  clerkship  near  New- 
market. He  passed  several  years  in  one  employ, 
and  for  some  time  subsequently  he  was  similarly  en- 
gaged in  the  interests  of  a  second  employer.  Mean- 
while he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  his  claim, 
which  he  purchased  of  an  Englishman,  and  was 
careful  to  settle  in  the  "  timber,"'  as  it  was  then  gen- 
erally the  opinion  that  the  prairie  was  comparatively 
useless  for  agricultural  purposes.  While  in  Canada 
he  took  part  in  the  contest  known  to  history  as  Me 
Kenzie's  Rebellion,  or  the  Patriot  War,  espousing 
the  cause  of  the  rebels.  He  was  on  the  losing  side, 
and  shared  the  consequences,  which  in  his  case  was 
a  term  of  imprisonment  at  Toronto.  During  the 
short-lived  struggle  he  was  involved  in  its  several 
conflicts,  but  escaped  without  receiving  injury,  and 
on  being  released  from  prison  he  was  again  admitted 
to  his  former  social  position.  Useless  as  were  the 
efforts  to  shake  off  the  bonds  of  the  British  Govern- 
ment, the  underlying  principles  were  in  accordance 


with  strict  justice  and  in  the  natural  order  of  things 
must  in  the  course  of  time  prevail. 

On  removal  to  Clyde  Township  for  a  permanent 
residence,  he  constructed  a  home  in  the  woods  where 
he  located  for  reasons  stated.  He  lived  alone  for 
some  years,  engaged  in  a  struggle  with  the  adversi- 
ties and  trials  of  an  early  settler  in  a  new  country. 
The  condition  of  things  may  be  inferred  from  the 
fact  that  the  value  of  a  bushel  of  wheat  was  less  than 
a  pound  of  coffee. 

Mr.  Dent  was  married  about  the  year  1848  to 
Eunice  Montgomery.  She  was  born  in  August, 
1810,  in  Roxbury,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Martin  and  Louisa  (Waite)  Montgomery. 
Her  parents  were  born  in  New  York  and  were  of 
New  England  ancestry.  They  were  a  branch  of  the 
family  who  were  prominent  in  New  England  and  in 
the  State  of  New  York  in  the  period  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  family  of  Mrs.  Dent  removed  to  Illinois 
in  July,  1839,  and  have  all  been  dead  some  years. 
No  children  came  to  add  to  the  home  happiness  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dent.  She  died  in  the  winter  of  1869, 
and  since  that  event  Mr.  Dent  has  lived  in  quiet  re- 
tirement, on  section  15  of  Clyde  Township.  He  is 
the  owner  of  250  acres  of  land,  finely  situated  and 
comparing  favorably  with  the  farms  in  the  vicinity. 
He  is  a  Democrat  of  the  Jackson  school,  and  has  al- 
ways adhered  to  his  first  political  principles.  He 
has  officiated  some  years  in  township  offices  but 
finally  withdrew  from  active  duty  as  a  citizen  on  ac- 
count of  old  age.  He  is  80  years  of  age  at  the  date 
of  this  writing  (1885). 


Collins,  successor  to  A.  Critchfield  &  Co., 
wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  marble  and 
granite  monuments,  cemetery  enclosures, 
etc.,  at  Fulton.  This  business  was  established 
in  June,  1882,  by  A.  Critchfield  &  Co.,  who  con- 
ducted it  till  March,  1884,  when  Mr.  Collins 
bought  them  out,  Mr.  A.  Critchfield  being  retained 
as  foreman  and  general  manager  of  the  mechanical 
and  designing  department. 

Mr.  Collins  employs  from  six  to  ten  men,  and  turns 
out  from  eighteen  to  twenty  thousand  dollars'  worth 
of  work  annually.  The  bulk  of  his  custom  comes 
from  Whiteside  and  neighboring  counties,  although 

— ^^ 


<& 


SEf  sales  extend  into  Iowa  and  neighboring  States.  He 
uses  in  his  work  only  the  best  grades  of  Italian  and 
American  marble,  and  of  Scotch  and  American 
granite.  He  has  facilities  for  turning  out  work  on 
short  notice,  of  beautiful  designs  and  of  the  finest 
workmanship. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Cumber- 
berland  Co.,  N.  J.,  near  the  historic  ground  known 
as  "  Vineland,"  on  the  igth  of  September,  1824,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Pettet)  Collins.  In 
1838  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reared  on  a  farm.  He  was  married  at 
Dayton,  June  24, 1847,10  Miss  Mary  J.  Irvin,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Martha  (Brooks)  Irvin.  Mrs. 
Collins  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Ohio.  In  1855 
he  came  West  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Muscatine 
Co.,  Iowa.  He  was  elected  and  served  14  years  as 
Township  Assessor,  several  years  as  Town  Clerk, 
and  held  other  minor  offices.  He  continued  farming 
in  Muscatine  County  till  March,  1882,  when,  having 
sold  out,  he  removed  to  Fulton  and  engaged  in  the 
marble  business. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Collins  have  had  eight  children,  two 
sons  and  six  daughters.  Anna  B.  is  the  wife  of  T. 
S.  Meeker,  of  Muscatine,  Iowa.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife 
of  Asa  Critchfield,  of  Fulton,  111.  Laura  died  aged 
21  years.  Martha  L.  is  the  wife  of  Morris  N.  Rippey, 
of  Muscatine,  Iowa.  Ida  C.,  William  I.,  Harry  E. 
and  Eva  A.  are  unmarried.  William  is  engaged  with 
his  father  in  the  marble  works.  Harry  is  at  Darling- 
ton, Wis  ,  employed  as  merchant  clerk. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Collins  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  C.  is  Prohibitionist  in 
politics,  but  was  a  Republican  till  1884. 


"Wgs&wf  eorge  w  Remage)  M.  D.,  physician  and 
surgeon  at  Coleta,  was  born  Jan.  29,  1837, 
in  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio.  Abner  Remage,  his 
? »  father,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of 
Scotch  and  French  extraction.  The -ancestral 
stock  located  in  America  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  in  which  the  paternal  great-grandfather 
of  Dr.  Remage  was  a  participant  and  was  captain  of 
a  company.  His  grandfather  and  two  uncles  were 
soldiers  in  the  War  of  1812.  Their  business  relations 
were  in  the  vocations  of  farmers  and  mechanics. 


Abner  Remage  settled  in  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1826, 
where  he  was  a  pioneer,  and  located  in  the  woods  on 
a  farm  which  was  in  its  primeval  condition.  He 
made  it  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
November,  1861.  He  had  lived  a  life  of  usefulness 
and  honor  and  had  proved  a  valuable  citizen  in  the 
progress  of  the  county  from  its  primal  condition  to 
the  advanced  state  to  which  it  attained  with  great 
rapidity.  The  mother  of  Dr.  Remage,  Susan  Custer, 
before  her.  marriage,  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  old 
Dutch  families  who  were  identified  with  the  pioneer 
history  of  the  State.  She  died  in  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio, 
in  1855,  aged  47  years.  They  had  ten  children,  five 
sons  and  five  daughters. 

Dr.  Remage  is  the  third  son  and  seventh  child. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  17  years  of  age 
and  obtained  a  rudimentary  education  at  the  district 
school,  which  at  that  age  he  began  to  turn  to  account 
in  teaching,  in  Berlin,  in  the  county  where  he  was 
born,  and  he  passed  alternate  seasons  in  attendance 
at  school.  He  had  cherished  a  project  to  fit  himself 
for  a  professional  life,  and  he  commenced  to  read 
medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  W.  N.  King,  in  Millers- 
burg,  Holmes  County.  In  the  winter  of  1858-9,  he 
entered  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  pursued  the  pre- 
scribed course  of  study  until  the  following  spring, 
when  he  went  to  Middletown,  in  his  native  county, 
and  commenced  practice  in  company  with  Dr.  Joel 
Poerene.  Two  years  later,  the  nation  was  convulsed 
by  civil  war,  and  Dr.  Remage,  then  in  the  full  vigor 
of  young  hopes  and  ambitions,  resolved  to  risk  the 
fate  of  war,  and  he  enlisted  as  a  private  soldier  in 
Co.  H,  23d  Regt.  Ohio  Vol.,  under  Capt.  J.  L.  Drake. 
The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Department  of 
West  Virginia.  He  was  under  fire  Sept.  10,  i86r,  at 
Carnifex  Ferry,  which  was  the  only  occasion  in  which 
he  was  in  active  service.  His  health  became  seri- 
ously impaired  and  he  received  honorable  discharge 
in  November,  r86r.  He  resumed  his  practice, 
which  he  prosecuted  until  the  fall  of  1862,  when  he 
went  again  to  the  University  at  Ann  Arbor  and  com- 
pleted his  course  of  medical  study  and  was  graduated 
March  25,  1863.  He  received  from  Gov.  Tod,  of 
Ohio,  a  commission  as  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  g6th 
Regt.  Ohio  Vol.,  and  thus  officiated  until  Feb.  13, 
1865,  when  he  was  promoted  Surgeon  and  assigned 
to  the  Fifth  Tenn.  Reg.  in  the  Dept.  of  the  Cum- 
berland. At  the  close  of  the  war,  July  T7,  1865,  he 


V 

I 


i    1'  -«  •„  f-.,r 

UNIVERSITY  OF 
URBANA 


' 


'• 


WHITES  IDE  COUNTY. 


was  mustered  out  of  service,  when  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Somerville,  Union  Co., 
Ohio.  He  operated  as  a  physician  at  that  point  five 
years,  and,  in  1870,  transferred  his  interests  to  Paul- 
ding,  the  county  seat  of  the  county  of  the  same  name, 
where  he  established  his  business  and  operated  with 
marked  success  until  December,  1877.  He  became 
worn  with  constant  attention  to  his  professional 
duties  and  sold  out  for  the  purpose  of  travel  and 
recuperation,  in  which  he  was  occupied  some  months. 
In  September,  1878,  he  located  at  Coleta,  where  he 
has  since  resided  and  prosecuted  his  business  as  a 
physician  with  satisfactory  results. 

Dr.  Remage  was  married  at  Wooster,  Wayne  Co., 
Ohio,  Sept.  20,  1859,  to  Louisa  C.  Schwartfager,  and 
they  have  had  three  children.  Laura  is  deceased. 
Lola  married  Archie  McAdow  and  lives  at  Paulding, 
Ohio.  Herman  is  a  student  at  Paulding.  Mrs. 
Remage  was  born  in  Coshocton  Co..  Ohio. 


s 


eril  Mead,  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  in- 
surance agent  at  Morrison,  was  born  Dec. 
18,  1820,  in  Springfield,  Clarke  Co.,  Ohio. 
Allen  Mead,  his  father,  was  born  Feb.  20, 
1793,  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  but  a 
youth  when  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain 
occurred.  He  entered  the  United  States  army  and 
was  in  the  command  of  Gen.  Van  Rensselaer.  At 
the  battle  of  Queenstown,  his  regiment  was  attached 
to  the  forces  under  Winfield  Scott,  then  a  Lieutenant 
in  the  regular  army  of  the  United  States.  Daring 
the  last  28  years  of  his  life  he  was  a  minister  of  the 
Free-Will  Baptist  Church  and  resided  at  various 
places  in  the  pursuit  of  his  calling.  He  died  at 
Wolf  Lake,  Noble  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  20,  1849.  Sally 
(Scarlett)  Mead,  his  mother,  was  born  Feb.  25,  1797, 
in  Addison  Co.,  Vt.,  and  died  at  Wolf  Lake,  Sept.  i  r, 
1864.  They  had  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  yet 
living.  The  eldest,  Alfred,  resides  at  Tremont, 
Clarke  Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Mead  is  the  next  in  order  of 
birth.  Ephraim  is  a  farmer  in  Indiana.  Sophronia 
married  Washington  Scott,  and  resides  in  Michigan. 
Sarah,  wife  of  Jefferson  Scott,  lives  in  Warsaw,  Ind. 
Mr.  Mead  received  a  good  education  in  his  native 
State,  completing  his  studies  at  Springfield,  where  he 
took  a  thorough  course  of  instruction  in  advanced 


English  branches.  On  leaving  school  he  engaged  in 
teaching,  of  which  he  made  a  business  for  15  years. 
In  1855  he  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  interested 
himself  in  the  purchase,  improvement  and  sale  of 
lands  in  the  township  of  Ustick.  While  there  he 
officiated  seven  years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  After 
a  business  career  of  nine  years  in  Ustick  Township 
he  removed,  in  1865,  to  Morrison,  and  purchased  80 
acres  of  land,  of  which  sixteen  acres  lay  within  the 
corporation,  upon  which  he  built  his  residence.  The 
remainder  of  the  80  acres  is  situated  east  of  the  city. 
Mr.  Mead  is  also  the  owner  of  a  business  building  in 
the  city.  He  is  the  owner  of  160  acres  of  land  in 
Sioux  and  Hancock  Counties,  Iowa,  and  60  acres  in 
Du  Page  Co.,  111.,  lying  14  miles  southwest  of  Chi- 
cago, on  the  line  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad.  He  owns,  besides  the  estate  enumerated, 
153  acres  in  Union  Grove  Township.  He  is  a 
stockholder  and  director  of  the  First  National  Bank 
at  Morrison,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  at  Kearney,  Neb.  In  his  relations  as  an 
insurance  agent  he  represents  the  Orient  of  Hartford 
and  the  Royal  of  Liverpool  (fire  insurance).  In  life 
insurance  he  operates  in  the  interests  of  the  North- 
western Mutual,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.  He  is  also 
dealing  in  real  estate  and  acting  in  the  capacity  of 
Pension  Agent. 

On  coming  to  manhood,  Mr.  Mead  accepted  the 
political  issues  of  the  Whig  party,  and  became  a 
partisan  of  the  Henry  Clay  school.  He  continued  to 
act  with  that  party  until  1856,  when  he  became  a 
Republican,  uniting  himself  with  the  party  which 
then  came  into  existence.  He  was  prominent  in 
public  life  in  his  native  county,  and  in  1844  was 
elected  Assessor  of  Harmony  Township,  and  was  re- 
elected  ten  consecutive  years.  In  1850  he  was  ap- 
pointed Deputy  United  States  Marshal  for  Clarke 
Co,  Ohio,  under  the  administration  of  President 
Taylor.  In  1872  he  supported  Horace  Greeley  for 
President  In  1884  he  was  an  ardent  supporter  of 
James  G.  Blaine.  In  1873  he  was  elected  Coroner 
of  Whiteside  County  and  served  out  the  term.  In 
the  spring  of  1881,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  still  holds  the  incumbency.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity  and  belongs  to 
Lodge  No.  257,  at  Morrison. 

Mr.  Mead  was  united  in  marriage  at  Harmony, 
Clarke  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  30,  1847,  to  Harriet  Newlove. 
She  was  born  April  3,  1830,  in  Harmony,  and  is  the 

— 5^ • 


(' 


c 
r 

•  < 

V 


WHITKSIDE  COUNTY, 


*$£  daughter  of  Laybourn  and  Elizabeth  Newlove.     Fol- 

'A    lowing  is  the  record  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

. ', -i  Mead:  Elizabeth  was  born  Sept.  2,  1848,  and  died 
Aug.  12,  1862.  Rilla  S.,  born  Nov.  12,  1851,  died 

S*)  Dec.  25,  1879.  M.  Inman,  born  Feb.  25,  1856,  is 
the  manager  of  his  father's  farm  in  Union  Grove 
Township.  Ellen,  born  May  17,  1860,  died  Feb.  14, 
1882.  Harriet  and  Eliza,  twins,  were  born  April  5, 
1863. 

Mr.  Mead's  portrait  is  given  on  another  page.  Its 
claims  to  a  place  in  the  records  of  Whiteside  County 
are  clearly  manifest  from  the  foregoing  account  of  his 
relations  to  the  community  in  whose  interests  he  has 
so  faithfully  labored. 


'homas  Milnes,  general  farmer,  resident  on 
section  21,  Clyde  Township,  was  born  on 
the  same  section,  March  25,  1861.  His 
parents  were  Joseph  and  Jennie  (Mason) 
Milnes.  The  later  was  born  in  the  North  of 
Ireland.  She  was  but  six  years  of  age  when 
her  parents  emigrated  from  the  Green  Isle  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Lowell,  Mass.  The 
father  was  of  English  descent  and  their  marriage 
took  place  in  1860,  in  Chicago.  The  senior  Milnes 
was  a  farmer  and  had  come,  in  1842,  to  Clyde  Town- 
ship, where  his  father  located  a  farm  on  the  bank  of 
Little  Rock  Creek.  He  was  then  about  ten  years 
old.  The  family  was  one  of  the  first  to  make  a  per- 
manent settlement  in  Whiteside  County.  Joseph 
Milnes  and  his  wife  located  immediately  after  their 
marriage  on  the  homestead  estate,  where  they  reared 
their  family  and  conducted  their  affairs  until  their 
removal  in  1882  to  Morrison,  where  they  still  reside. 
The  place  is  in  the  possession  of  the  son,  who  is  the 
subject  of  this  biographical  narration. 

Mr.  Milnes  was  brought  up  on  his  grandfather's 
farm  and  has  all  his  life  been  interested  in  its  prog- 
ressive improvements,  interspersed  by  attendance  at 
school.  He  obtained  a  more  entensive  education  by 
going  to  school  at  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  where  he  passed 
two  years,  and  there  entered  upon  a  course  of  com- 
mercial study,  which  he  completed  at  Fulton,  in 
Whiteside  County.  After  leaving  school  he  returned 
to  agricultural  pursuits  on  the  home  farm.  Two 
years  later  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 


Carrie  E.,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Hannah  E. 
(Knight)  Beswick.  Their  marriage  took  place  Dec. 
28,  1882.  Mrs.  Milnes  was  born  Aug.  24,  r86i,  on 
section  30,  Clyde  Township,  and  was  brought  up  and 
educated  in  her  native  county.  The  family  now  in- 
cludes two  children  born  as  follows :  Earl  B.,  Nov. 
26,  1883,  and  Paul  E.,  Feb.  26,  1885.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Milnes  settled  after  their  marriage  on  the  old  home 
place  and  have  diligently  prosecuted  the  interests  of 
general  farming.  Mr.  Milnes  is  a  Democrat  and  is 
present  Township  Treasurer. 


f^ohn  E.  Durstine,  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 34,  Coloma  Township,  is  the  sixth 
child  born  to  Martin  and  Mary  A.  (Har- 
vey) Durstine,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
devoted  to  agricultural  life.  They  sold  their 
old  home  and  moved  to  Round  Grove,  this 
county,  in  1853.  The  latter  place  they  also  sold  and 
in  1870  purchased  property  at  Morrison,  which  they 
occupied  until  1874,  when  they  rented  it  and  changed 
their  residence  to  Coleta,  a  small  town  northwest  of 
Sterling,  where  the  father  died,  in  September,  i877) 
and  the  mother  in  September,  1884. 

The  subiect  of  this  sketch  was  born  Dec.  5,  1842, 
received  a  common-school  education,  and  when  17 
years  of  age  enlisted  for  the  Union.  At  Stone  River 
he  was  wounded  through  the  thigh ;  was  taken  pris- 
oner a  short  time  and  was  paroled,  and  finally  ex- 
changed. Before  he  was  wounded  he  was  Orderly 
to  Gen.  E.  N.  Kirk;  afterward,  Orderly  at  the  Medi- 
cal Director's  Office  of  the  i4th  Army  Corps,  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  At  the  expiration  of  his  three 
years'  enlistment  he  was  honorably  discharged. 

He  then  came  to  Round  Grove  and  worked  at 
farming  for  a  time,  and  next  he  attended  the  Illinois 
Soldiers'  College  at  Fulton,  this  county,  for  two  terms, 
He  went  then  to  Benton  Co.,  Iowa,  and,  in  company 
with  his  brother,  purchased  a  farm  of  193  acres.  Re- 
turning to  Round  Grove,  he  married  Miss  Emma 
Stone,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Their  two  children  are 
Warren  E.  and  Ethel  S.  Mr.  Durstine,  after  mar- 
riage, moved  to  his  farm  in  Iowa,  and  after  residing 
there  two  years  he  moved  to  Story  County,  same 
State,  and  occupied  a  farm  there  for  three  years; 
then  five  years  at  Round  Grove  again  ;  then  six  years 
on  a  farm  he  purchased  about  two  miles  north  of  the 


,.-- 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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4 

I 


station ;  and  finally  sold  that  property  and  moved  to 
the  place  he  now  occupies. 

Politically,  Mr.  Durstine  is  a  Republican,  and 
religiously  he  belongs  to  the  Congregational  Church, 
as  does  also  Mrs.  D.  He  is  a  Deacon  and  a  Trus- 
tee in  his  Church.  He  is  also  Treasurer  and  Com- 
missioner of  High  ways  of  his  township.  By  the  many 
removals  and  changes  in  life  Mr.  Durstine  has  made, 
he  has  generally  ameliorated  his  condition  and  cir- 
cumstances, and  is  now  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
Coloina. 


eorge  W.  Holcomb,  liveryman  at  Morri- 
son, was  born  Aug.  18,  1848,  in  the  town- 
ship of  Woodbine,  Jo  Daviess  Co.,  111. 
Newell  Holcomb,  his  father,  was  born  Aug. 
15,  1819,  on  an  island  in  Lake  Champlain, 
which  belongs  to  the  State  of  Vermont  and 
which  constitutes  Grand  Isle  County.  Louisa  (Kel- 
logg) Holcomb,  the  mother,  was  born  April  4,  1823, 
in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  former  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  he 
went  in  1839  to  Jo  Daviess  County,  walking  the  en- 
tire distance  from  Springfield  to  Galena.  The  mother 
died  in  Woodbine  Township,  Sept.  7,  (849,  leaving 
two  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Maria  L.,  married 
Sidney  Willison,  of  Jo  Daviess  Co.,  111. 

Mr.  Holcomb  was  little  more  than  a  year  old 
when  his  mother  died.  He  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm  of  his  father,  and  bred  to  the  business  of  an 
agriculturist.  On  reaching  an  age  suitable  to  set- 
tling in  life,  he  bought  40  acres  of  land  in  the  same 
township  in  which  he  was  born,  and  where  he  oper- 
ated until  the  spring  of  1882,  when  he  opened  a 
restaurant  at  Savanna,  Carroll  Co.,  111.  After  pass- 
ing a  year  there  in  that  business,  he  transferred  his 
interests  to  Sterling.  He  maintained  a  restaurant 
there  but  a  short  time,  however,  removing  in  1883  to 
Morrison.  He  opened  a  grocery,  in  which  he  was 
engaged  six  months,  when  he  sold  out  and  interested 
himself  in  the  business  in  which  he  is  now  occupied. 
He  keeps  about  eight  horses  and  livery  equipments 
in  proportion. 

Mr.  Holcomb  was  married  May  13,  1878,  at 
Lyons,  Iowa,  to  Mary  S.,  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  Tyson.  She  was  born  in  Clyde  Township, 


,  •:  •* 


Whiteside  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holcomb  have 
one  daughter,  Lillie  M.,  born  in  Woodbine  Township, 
Dec.  28,  1879. 


iilliam  B.  Brown,  liveryman  and  dealer 
in  horses  at  Rock  Falls,  was  born  at  North 
Stonington,  New  London  Co.,  Conn.,  June 
24,  1838.  His  parents,  Thatcher  and  Eu- 
nice (Spalding)  Brown,  were  also  natives  of 
the  same  State. 
Receiving  a  liberal  education,  he  commenced 
teaching  at  the  age  of  16  years,  and  followed  that 
vocation  for  five  years ;  thenceforward  he  made  ag- 
riculture his  principal  business,  and  dealt  in  live 
stock.  In  1868  he  left  his  parental  home  and  emi- 
grated to  this  State;  after  stopping  at  Grand  de 
Tour  six  months,  lie  came  to  Rock  Falls  and  en- 
gaged in  the  livery  business,  following  it  ever  since, 
with  satisfactory  success.  Purchasing  a  lot  on  Main 
Street,  he  built  a  store  upon  it,  aud  has  since  rented 
the  same.  He  also  bought  two  lots  on  Bridge  Street, 
where  he  at  present  keeps  his  livery  barn  and  outfit. 
In  his  political  principles  Mr.  Brown  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  has  been  Trustee  of  the  village  corpora- 
tion for  six  years,  Assessor  four  years  and  School 
Director  two  years. 

He  was  married  Sept.  3,  1863,  to  Phebe  E.  Col- 
lins, a  native  of  Connecticut  and  a  daughter  of 
Amos  and  Phebe  (Brown)  Collins,  who  were  also  na- 
tives of  Connecticut  and  members  of  the  agricultural 
community.  By  this  marriage  there  have  been  six 
children — John  B.,  Charles  R.,  George  I.,  William  J., 
Sarah  L.  and  Nellie  F. 


ustin  Morse,  dealer  in  leather,  shoemakers' 
supplies,  etc.,  established  his  business  at 
Fulton,  Nov.  i,  1884.  He  was  born  in 
Worcester,  Mass.,  Aug.  21,  1824,  and  is  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  Sally  (Bigelow)  Morse.  His 
parents  were  of  Puritan  descent.  He  served 
a  regular  apprenticeship  to  the  tanner  and  currier's 
trade  in  his  native  town,  and  in  early  manhood  went 
to  Boston,  where  he  was  employed  as  foreman  in  a 
large  currying  establishment. 

He  was  married  in  Boston,  Jan.  9,    1845,   to  Miss 




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Susan  J.  Walker,  of  Lincoln  Co.,  Maine.  In  1847 
he  removed  to  New  Hartford,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
was  foreman  of  the  tannery  of  Stephen  Childs  of 
that  place,  one  of  the  largest  concerns  of  the  kind 
in  the  State.  He  held  that  position  nine  years,  and 
then  removed  to  Dixon,  111.  (1856).  He  engaged  in 
business  at  Dixon  as  dealer  in  leather  and  saddlers' 
hardware,  which  he  carried  on  successfully  for  28 
years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morse  had  four  children,  three  boys 
and  one  girl.  Georgiana  I.  is  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Knox, 
of  Pittsburg,  Pa. ;  Willie  died  in  childhood  ;  Charles 
died  aged  six  years ;  Edward  is  an  attorney  in  prac- 
tice at  Huron,  D.  T.  Mrs.  Morse  died  Jan.  20, 
1883. 

Mr.  Morse  was  married  again  March  20,  1884,  at 
Fulton,  111.,  to  Mrs.  Catharine  Hall,  widow  of  Warren 
P.  Hall,  late  of  the  Langford  &  Hall  Lumber  Com- 
pany, and  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  Barry 
Swarts. 

Mr.  Morse  moved  to  Fulton  in  the  fall  of  1884 
and  established  his  present  business  Nov.  i,  of  that 
year.  Politics,  Republican. 


euben  P.  Hollinshead,  of  the  firm  of  Hol- 
linshead &  West,  dealers  in  clothing  and 
furnishing  goods  at  Morrison,  is  a  native 
citizen  of  Whiteside  County,  111.,  having  been 
born   May  3,  1857,  at  Fulton.     Joshua  Hol- 
linshead, his  father,  is   a   native  of  Canada, 
and  is  a  farmer  in  Ustick  Township.     The  mother, 
Nancy  (Ingham)  Hollinshead,  was  born  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  died  at  Fulton,  this  county,  leav- 
ing two  children,  both  sons.     John  D.  is  a  pilot  on 
the  Mississippi  River. 

Mr.  Hollinshead  left  home  when  he  was  19  years 
of  age  to  learn  the  jewelry  business,  and  bought  out 
an  establishment  at  Fulton,  where  he  acquired  a 
practical  knowledge  of  its  details.  In  September, 
1879,  he  came  to  Morrison,  where  he  entered  the 
clothing  house  of  H.  Worthington  as  a  salesman.  In 
January,  1881,  associated  with  J.  A.  West,  he  became 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  stock  and  business  inter- 
ests of  his  former  employer,  to  which  they  succeeded 
by  purchase.  They  are  doing  a  successful  and 

popular  business.     Mr.  Hollinshead  is  a  member  of 

^ 

S&\  ^g^g-nr 

HEP  V^AV^TV 


the   Masonic    fraternity   and   of  the   Order  of  Odd 
Fellows. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  S.  Brumagrin  took  place  at 
Morrison,  Oct.  25,  1882;  they  have  one  son,  Frank 
Glenmore,  born  Jan.  10,  1884.  Mrs.  Hollinshead 
was  born  March  26,  1863,  in  Spolswood,  N.  J.,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Dr.  R.  J.  and  Jane  D.  (Van  Cleef) 
Brumagrin. 


eorge  E.  Goodenough,  farmer,  section 
10,  Union  Grove  Township,  was  born 
April  IT,  1843, in  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  He 
is  the  son  of  Willard  A.  and  Jane  (Hull) 
Goodenough,  whose  biographical  notice  is  to 
be  found  on  other  pages  of  this  work.  He 
was  22  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Whiteside  County. 

He  is  one  of  the  prominent  agriculturists  of  Union 
Grove  Township,  and  is  the  owner  of  230  acres  of 
land,  the  principal  part  of  which  is  under  cultiva- 
tion. In  political  faith  he  is  a  Republican. 

He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Mary  De 
Groodt,  and  they  have  four  children — Minnie  J., 
John  W.,  Arthur  L.  and  Bertie  E.  John  W.  died 
when  he  was  five  months  old.  Mrs.  Goodenough  is 
the  daughterof  John  and  Mary  De  Groodt,  and  they 
were  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York.  She  was 
born  Feb.  15,  1849,  in  Rockford,  111.  She  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  to  which  her  husband  also 
belongs. 


ohn  Dickson,  watchman  for  the  Keystone 
Manufacturing  Company,  of  Rock  Falls, 
was  born  Dec.  31,  1830,  in  Scotland.  He 
was  the  second    child  of    William    and  Ellen 
(Tunna)  Dickson,  natives,  also,  of   that    coun- 
try and  members  of  the  agricultural  class,  who 
died  in  their  native  land. 

Mr.  Dickson  remained  at  his  parental  home  until 
he  was  26  years  of  age,  receiving  a  common-school 
education  and  assisting  upon  the  farm.  In  1855  he 
emigrated  to  America,  landing  at  New  York,  taking 
a  steamer  up  the  Hudson  to  Albany  and  going 
out  to  Sharon  Springs,  where  he  worked  nine  months 




:; 


! 


, 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


- 
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in  a  hotel.  He  then  came  to  Sterling  and  worked  a 
year  in  a  hotel ;  next  he  was  employed  a  mile  west 
of  that  place  until  the  spring  of  1859,  when  he  went 
to  Pike's  Peak,  where  he  was  successful  in  gold-min- 
ing. In  1861  he  returned  to  Sterling,  and  went  on 
to  England,  where  he  visited  from  August  to  No- 
vember and  married  Miss  Anna  Campbell,  a  native  of 
Scotland.  Coming  again  to  this  country,  he  com- 
menced keeping  house  a  mile  west  of  Sterling,  and 
lived  in  that  neighborhood  five  and  a  half  years. 
The  last  six  months  of  this  time  he  was  engaged  at 
work  on  the  second  bridge  at  that  point,  below  the 
dam.  Since  1863  he  has  been  in  the  employment 
of  the  Keystone  Manufacturing  Company. 

His  first  purchase  in  this  county  was  a  lot  in  Ster- 
ling, and  the  second  was  a  lot  of  A.  P.  Smith  at  Rock 
Falls,  for  which  he  paid  $[oo,  and  on  which  he  built 
a  residence.  After  residing  there  a  short  time  he 
made  a  trade  with  Mr.  Smith  for  another  lot  and 
moved  his  house  upon  it.  Since  then  he  has  bought 
another  lot,  adjoining,  for  which  he  paid  $350.  In 
1884  he  purchased  a  house  and  lot  joining  north  of 
him,  paying  for  it  $900. 

Politically,  Mr.  Dickson  is  a  Democrat,  casting  his 
first  vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  after  taking  out 
his  naturalization  papers.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  of  Rock  Falls,  is  a  member  and 
treasurer  of  the  Keystone  Fire  Company,  treasurer 
of  the  Keystone  Aid  and  Relief  Society,  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  of  the  Presbyterian 
Society  of  Sterling,  to  which  latter  body  his  wife  also 
belongs.  They  have  four  children — E.  Ella,  Anna 
L.,  William  G.  and  John  A.  Dickson. 


°86V  • 


•   net—  - 


S  illiam  A.  Kennedy,  farmer,  located  on 
section  27,  Clyde  Township,  was  born 
*p  "  Oct.  10,  1828,  in  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y. 
jy  His  parents,  Alexander  and  Sarah  A.  (Tice) 
Kennedy,  were  natives  of  New  York,  and' 
descended  from  ancestors  of  New  England  birth 
and  Scotch  origin.  They  were  farmers  and  came 
West  when  their  son  was  20  years  old — in  1848 
They  located  at  first  in  Whiteside  County,  but  later 
the  father  went  to  Buffalo  County,  Neb.,  where  he 
died  in  Kearney  City,  in  the  fall  of  1883.  The 
mother  is  living  in  Clyde  Township,  and  is  78  years 


of  age.    She  is  still  in  unbroken  health  and  strength. 

Mr.  Kennedy,  in  company  with  his  brother,  be- 
came the  proprietor  of  320  acres  of  land  in  Clyde 
Township,  all  of  it  being  unimproved.  He  was  then 
not  23  years  of  age.  He  was  married  April  10,  1856, 
in  the  township  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  to  Emmeline,  daugh- 
ter of  Aaron  and  Amy  (Havens)  Bailey.  Her  father 
was  born  in  Vermont,  and  her  mother  was  a  native 
of  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Kennedy  was  born  Aug. 
14,  1840,  in  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  Her  parents  came 
to  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  in  1855,  where  they  were 
fanners.  Her  father  died  of  a  cancer,  Oct.  20,  1874, 
in  the  township  of  Delhi,  when  he  was  77  years  of 
age.  The  mother  is  84  years  old  and  is  vigorous, 
mentally  and  physically. 

At  the  time  of  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy settled  on  the  property  he  owned,  on  which  he 
made  rapid  improvements.  The  farm  is  now  (1885) 
in  the  best  of  conditions  and  fenced  and  stocked. 
Mr.  Kennedy  is  a  Democrat,  and  both  himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


j^olomon  Farwell,  resident  at  Unionville, 
has  been  a  citizen  of  Whiteside  County 
since  ^53.  His  parents,  Solomon  and 
Sabina  (Burlingame)  Farwell,  were  natives  re- 
spectively of  Massachusetts  and  Vermont. 
The  former  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  March 
23>  J773-  The  birth  of  the  latter  occurred  in 
Wethersfield,  Vt.,  Dec.  29,  1780.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  settled  for  a  fime  in  Vermont,  afterward 
going  to  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  were  pioneers 
and  residents  for  many  years.  Late  in  life  they  went 
to  Loraine,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  the  father 
died  June  17,  1850.  The  mother  died  Feb.  5,  1856. 
Their  nine  children  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Submit,  Leonard  M.,  Selah,  Eunice,  Sabina,  Eliza, 
Lemuel,  Phila  A.,  Hannah  E.  and  Solomon. 

Mr.  Farwell  was  born  Jan.  n,  1827,  in  Denmark, 
Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  youngest  child  of  his 
parents.  He  attended  the  common  schools  and  be- 
came a  carpenter  and  joiner,  following  that  business 
until  his  removal  to  Whiteside  County,  and  since  that 
time  has  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  in  connection 
with  his  farming.  In  September,  1853,  he  bought  60 
acres  of  land  in  the  township  of  Ustick,  where  he  was 


/~\   .V. 


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I 


engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  agricultural  projects  about 
1 6  years,  and  then  sold  and  purchased  a  farm  in  the 
township  of  Union  Grove.  He  remained  there  but  a 
short  time,  selling  his  farm  and  returning  again  to 
Ustick  Township,  where  he  bought  another  farm,  on 
which  he  resided  and  operated  until  he  determined 
to  retire  from  active  business  life.  In  the  fall  of 
1882,  he  sold  his  landed  interests  and  removed  to 
Unionville. 

He  was  married  in  Denmark,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Feb.  4,  1848,  to  Margaret  Plank,  and  they'  are  the 
parents  of  nine  children, — Celia  H.,  Emma  E.,  Car- 
rie A.,  J.  D.,  Nellie  F.,  Minnie  P.,  Fred  B.,  Lulu  G. 
and  Gertie  L.  The  child  last  named  died  when  four 
months  old.  Mrs.  Farwell  was  born  Sept.  21,  1829, 
in  Denmark,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Eleanor 
(Ostrander)  Plank.  Her  parents  were  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  four  of  their  children  reached 
mature  life, — Margaret,  Hannah,  Nancy  and  John  H. 

Politically,  Mr.  Farwell  is  a  Republican.  He  held 
the  positions  of  Township  Clerk  and  Assessor  while 
a  resident  in  Ustick.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Universalist  Church. 


jfiorace    L.    Abbott,    proprietor  of   a  livery, 
sale  and  feed  stable  at  Fulton,  established 
his  business   there  in  March,  1874.     He  is 
a  native  of  New  York,  was  born  in  Chautauqua 
County,  Feb.  12,   1840,  and  is  the  son  of  Clark 
and  Betsy  (Crouch)  Abbott.     His  parents  were 
natives  of  Vermont. 

Horace  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in  1842 
and  lived  in  DeKalb  County  till  1853,  when  the 
family  removed  to  the  township  of  Ustick,  this 
county.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  in  Ustick, 
and  continued  his  residence  there  till  the  second 
year  of  the  war.  He  enlisted  Aug.  9,  1862,  in  Co. 
F,  93d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  till  the  close  of  that 
great  conflict,  being  mustered  out  July  2,  1865.  His 
regiment  was  in  the  isth  Army  Corps  or  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee,  and  he  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Jackson,  Miss.,  Champion  Hill,  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg,  Miss.,  battles  of  Missionary  Ridge,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Altoona  Pass  and  Savannah,  Ga.,  besides 
various  minor  engagements. 

On  his  return  from  the  war  he  located  at  Fulton 

X-s     .V 


and  engaged  in  teaming  and  threshing  till  1871, 
when  he  engaged  in  farming.  In  1874  he  quit 
farming  and  entered  the  livery  business. 

Mr.  Abbott  was  married  in  Ustick,  this  county, 
July  3,  1866,  to  Miss  Martha  Barber,  daughter  of 
Millard  and  Margaret  (Glen)  Barber,  her  father  a 
native  of  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  She  was  born  in 
Montour  Co.,  Pa.  They  have  three  children,  all 
boys  :  Charles,  Lester  and  Willard. 

Mr.  Abbott  has  served  six  years  as  City  Marshal 
of  Fulton  and  four  years  as  Constable.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  Modern  Woodmen,  and  in 
politics  an  earnest  Democrat. 


illiam  Taylor,  farmer,  section  32,Genesee 
Township,  was  born  May  16,  1814,  in  the 
city  of  New  York.  Stephen  Taylor,  his 
grandfather,  was  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  descended  from  ancestors  of  New 
England  origin.  He  died  about  1840  in  Onon- 
daga  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  wife,  who  was  born  Rebecca 
Emmett,  was  of  Irish  parentage  and  died  in  El- 
bridge,  Onondaga  County.  Tunis,  the  second  son 
of  the  latter,  and  father  of  Mr.  Taylor  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  he  spent 
his  life,  and  died  in  1864,  in  Wayne  County,  aged 
about  63  years.  He  married  Catherine  Clelland, 
who  was  also  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
descended  from  ancestors  who  came  to  America  from 
Holland.  She  died  Aug.  26,  1864,  in  Wayne  County, 
aged  50  years. 

Mr.  Taylor  is  the  third  child  of  his  parents,  and 
he  was  a  very  small  boy  when  they  moved  into  the 
woods  of  Onondaga.  He  obtained  his  education  in 
the  pioneer  school-houses  of  that  county,  which  were 
built  of  scantling  cut  from  logs,  the  structures  being 
built  in  the  same  method  or  plan  on  which  log  houses 
were  built.  He  attained  to  man's  estate  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  and  was  married  March  2,  1834,  in 
Wayne  County,  to  Eunice  M.  Olmstead.  Follow- 
ing is  the  record  of  their  children  :  Calista  A.,  born 
Aug.  23,  1835,  married  J.  H.  Hewitt,  a  farmer  in 
Chickasaw  Co.,  Iowa.  James  C.  was  born  May  13, 
1837,  and  married  Louise  Edson  for  his  first  wife. 
She  died,  leaving  two  children  :  James  E.  and  Sylvia. 
He  was  a  second  time  married,  to  Mary  l.ucinda 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Bruner,  and  they  reside  on  a  farm  in  Genesee  Town- 
ship. Jerusha,  now  Mrs.  Dowd,  is  the  wife  of  a 
farmer  in  Genesee  Township.  Eunice  married  Ran- 
som B.  Johnson  and  lives  in  Ottawa  Co.,  Kan. 
Lucy  is  the  wife  of  Scott  Sortor,  of  Chickasaw  Co., 
Iowa.  Rosalia,  now  the  wife  of  Jacob  Buzzard,  is  a 
resident  of  Brown  Co.,  D.  T.  S.  W.  is  deceased. 
Tunis  became  a  soldier  in  the  Union  Army  and  was 
killed  by  a  minie  ball  at  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
Ky.  Mary  died  in  infancy.  John  H.  is  deceased. 
On  settling  in  life,  Mr.  Taylor  established  his  fam- 
ily on  a  farm  in  his  native  State,  and  they  were  there 
resident  until  1852.  In  that  year  he  came  West  and 
purchased  80  acres  of  land  on  section  32,  Genesee 
Township,  which  had  not  then  known  the  plow  or 
any  other  element  or  influence  to  develop  its  fruit- 
fulness.  The  entire  tract  is  under  cultivation,  and 
he  has  deeded  40  acres  to  his  son.  In  October, 
1867,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  the  place 
where  he  lives,  and  has  since  officiated  in  that  posi- 
tion. He  was  a  Democrat  at  the  outset  of  his  polit- 
ical career,  but  some  years  since  became  a  Republi- 
can. He  is  holding  the  position  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  and  his  wife  were  reared  in  the  tenets 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


"•jilliam  F.  Twining,  retired  farmer,  resi- 
dent on  section  12,  Union  Grove  Town- 
ship, came  to  Whiteside  County  in  1863. 
He  is  the  son  of  William  and  Ovonda  (Fow- 
ler) Twining.  They  were  natives  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  located  after  their  marriage  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  were  there  resident  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Their  children 
were  named  Susan,  John,  Lucinda,  William  F.,  Al- 
fred W.,  Milo  S.  and  Mariette. 

Mr.  Twining  was  born  Aug.  17,  1820,  in  Jefferson 
Co.,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  farmer  in  his  native  State  un- 
til his  removal  to  Illinois.  He  decided  to  locate  in 
Union  Grove,  and  he  purchased  65  acres  on  sections 
12  and  13.  He  continued  to  live  on  and  operate 
his  farm  until  the  spring  of  1884,  when  he  sold  his 
property  and  retired  from  participation  in  active 
life.  He  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party  in  po- 
litical sentiment,  and  has  officiated  as  Township 


Treasurer  and  School  Trustee,  besides   having  held 
several  minor  official  positions. 

Mr.  Twining  was  united  in  marriage  in  Champion, 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  19,  1846,  to  Martha  M. 
Taylor,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York.  They 
became  the  parents  of  five  children — Mary  F.,  Will- 
iam E.,  Mary  F.  (2d),  Fred  A.  and  Florence  A.  The 
eldest  child  is  deceased,  as  is  the  fourth — Fred  A. 
The  mother  died  in  Union  Grove  Township,  July  26, 
1879.  Mr.  Twining  was  again  married  March  16, 
1882,  to  Nellie,  daughter  of  William  and  Nellie 
(Wilson)  Rook.  Mrs.  Twining  was  born  July  28, 
1845,  in  England.  She  is  one  of  six  children  born 
to  her  parents,  as  follows:  John,  Martha,  Elizabeth, 
Nellie,  Mary  and  Fanny.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Twining 
have  one  child — Gracie  B. 


ames  C.  Taylor,  farmer,  section  31,  Gen- 
esee Township,  was  born  May  13,  1837,  in 
'Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is  the  son  of  William 
Taylor,  of  whom  an  account  is  given  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  He  lived  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity  until  he  was  15  years  of  age,  and  in 
1852  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  and  has 
since  been  a  resident  of  Genesee  Township.  Every- 
thing was  in  a  primeval  condition  and  it  was  neces- 
sary that  all  should  give  their  earnest  attention  to 
the  work  of  improving  a  home.  He  was  the  oldest 
son,  and  he  devoted  himself  with  vigorous  energy  to 
the  cultivation  of  the  prairie  farm.  He  continued 
to  live  at  home  until  he  was  30  years  of  age. 

He  was  first  married  Sept.  18,  1870,  in  Genesee 
Township,  to  Louise  Edson,  the  daughter  of  Jacob 
Edson.  She  was  born  Jan.  27,  1840,  in  Otsego  Co., 
N.  Y.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  New  England, 
She  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  the  county  where 
she  was  born,  and,  at  .the  age  of  15  years,  began  to 
teach  in  the  public  schools  of  New  York,  and  was 
similarly  engaged  until  she  was  past  20  years  of  age. 
In  1 868  she  came  to  Whiteside  County,  where  she 
taught  school  until  she  was  married.  She  died 
April  rg,  1883,  and  left  two  children.  James  E. 
was  born  Feb.  12,  1876,  and  Sylvia  L.,,Feb.  22, 
1879.  She  was  a  person  of  estimable  character,  and 
her  loss  to  her  family  and  friends  was  deeply  de- 
plored by  her  family  and  neighbors,  who  still  pre- 


• 


f& 

I 


•-— - 


«f*^j£ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


serve  her  memory.  Mr.  Taylor  formed  a  second 
matrimonial  alliance  with  LucindaBruner.  She  was 
born  Jan.  12,  1848,  in  Somerset  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  A.  (Mull)  Bruner. 
Her  father  was  formerly  a  miller  in  Pennsylvania 
and  in  1865,  after  coming  West,  he  settled  in  Lee 
Co.,  111.,  and  became  a  farmer,  operating  in  that 
capacity  in  the  townships  of  Franklin  Grove  and 
South  Dixon.  He  and  his  wife  are  residents  in  the 
township  last  named,  and  they  are  aged  respectively 
67  and  65  years  (1885). 

In  1870  Mr.  Taylor  located  his  residence  on  40 
acres  of  land,  constituting  one-half  of  the  original 
claim  of  his  father,  and  situated  on  section  31.  With 
the  exception  of  a  year  spent  in  Nebraska,  this  has 
since  been  his  place  of  abode. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  political  belief.  Mrs.  Tay- 
lor is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


illiam  Parker,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Rock  Falls  News,  is  a  native  of  Maysville, 
„  Ky.,  born  in  1835,  and  is  a  descendant  of 
<^  the  pioneers  of  that  State.  Commenced  the 
printing  business  at  the  age  of  15  and  served 
three  years  in  the  office  of  the  Ripley  Bee,  at 
Ripley,  Ohio,  afterwards  served  two  years  in  the  job 
office  of  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer.  He  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1855  and  commenced  the  publication  of  a 
paper  at  Salem,  in  Marion  County,  in  the  same  year, 
and  has  been  steadily  engaged  in  the  newspaper  and 
printing  business  ever  since. 

Mr.  Parker  entered  the  volunteer  service  of  the 
United  States  army  as  Lieutenant  of  Co.  A,  75th 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  at  Dixon,  in  1862,  and  served  till  the 
close  of  the  war,  being  promoted  as  Captain  soon  after 
going  to  the  front.  After  the  war  closed  he  was  com- 
missioned Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  for  meritorious 
services  on  the  field.  He  came  from  old  Kentucky 
"  emancipation  "  Whig  stock,  joined  the  Republican 
party  at  its  organization  and  has  never  voted  any 
other  ticket. 

Mr.  Parker  was  married  in  Salem,  Marion  Co.,  111., 
to  Miss  Ella  Bond,  in  1856.  Miss  Anna  F.  Parker, 
their  only  living  child,  is  interested  with  her  father  in 
the  publication  of  the  Rock  Falls  News. 


Both  self  and  wife  are  of  Presbyterian  and  Con- 
gregational stock.  He  is  Senior  Vice-Commander  of 
Will  Robinson  Post,  No.  274,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  been 
twice  elected  representative  to  the  State  Encamp- 
ment of  that  order. 


ainos  Holleran,  proprietor  of  the  "  Robin- 
son   House,"   the  only   first-class  hotel  in 
Fulton,  was  born  in  County  Clare,  Ireland, 
Dec.  26,  1843,  and  is  the  son  of  P.   M.   and 
Catharine   Holleran.     He  emigrated   with  his 
parents  to  Canada  West  in  1848,  and  in  1855 
came  to  Fulton,  111. 

He  engaged  in  steamboating  as  cabin  boy  %nd 
worked  his  way  up  to  the  position  of  Captain, 
followed  steamboating  some  12  years  and  was  known 
as  an  expert  pilot  and  trustworthy  officer.  During 
the  late  war  he  was  employed  in  the  United  States 
Naval  service  on  the  lower  river.  He  built  and  op- 
erated a  ferry  between  Fulton  and  Lyons  for  some 
years.  He  also  conducted  a  "bus  line  at  Fulton.  He 
was  elected  and  served  as  City  Marshal.  In  1865 
he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  with  John 
Downs,  which  connection  continued  till  1878,  when 
he  sold  out  and  went  to  Orleans,  Harlan  Co.,  Neb. 
He  built  the  "  Central  House  "  at  Orleans  and  kept, 
it  two  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Red 
Cloud,  where  he  kept  the  "Valley  House  "  till  r88o. 
He  then  removed  to  Cascade,  Iowa,  and  kept  tr 
"  Holleran  House  "  till  the  fall  of  1884,  when  he 
moved  to  Fulton  and  purchased  the  "  Robinson 
House."  Mr.  Holleran  has  made  many  important 
improvements  in  the  house  and  premises,  and  now 
has  a  comfortable  and  tasteful  establishment,  com- 
plete and  first-class  in  all  its  appointments.  He 
also  has  a  good  livery  in  connection  with  the  house. 
He  was  married  at  Fulton,  May  28,  1865,  to  Miss 
Adelia  Connor,  daughter  of  P.  H.  and  Ellen  Connor. 
Mrs.  H.  was  born  at  Dundas,  Canada.  They  have 
four  children,  one  son  and  three  daughters  :  Minnie 
E.,  Frank  L.,  Eva  and  Maudie  I.  Mr.  and  Mr 
Holleran  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  In 
politics  Mr.  H.  is  Democrat. 

Mr.  Holleran  still  owns  his  fine  farm  of  r6o  acres 
in  Harlan  Co.,  Neb.,  valuable  city  property  in  Red 
Cloud,  a  fine  residence  and  five  acres  of  land  at 

5 — ^€^ 


t"*~»r 


'- 


.  J: 


Ti  i>  ILLlNOlb 


> 

;:• 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


233 


3j 


Cascade,  besides  20  lots.  He  is  an  enterprising 
business  man,  and,  being  ably  assisted  by  his  intelli- 
gent and  energetic  wife,  is  bound  to  make  the  "  Rob- 
inson House  "  a  favorite  stopping  place  with  the 

traveling  public. 


N 


: 


illiam  D.  Hayes,  merchant  and  Postmaster 
at  Malvern,  was  born  in  West  Brandywine 
Township,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  25,  1830. 
Thomas  and  Ann  (Davis)  Hayes,  his  par- 
ents, were  also  born  in  that  State  and  were 
of  English  ancestry.  Henry  Hayes,  his  earliest 
traceable  ancestor,  came  to  America  as  a  refugee 
(ram  British  law,  in  1690,  or  thereabouts.  He  was  in 
humble  circumstances  in  his  native  country  and  was 
employed  as  a  teamster.  An  unguarded  motion  with 
his  whip  resulted  in  a  run-away,  by  which  the  grand- 
ees were  well  shaken  up  and  the  horses  cleared 
themselves  from  the  clumsy  state  carriage,  and  he 
was  obliged  to  flee  for  his  life.  He  secreted  himself 
in  the  heath  until  opportunity  served  to  get  away  and 
he  sailed  for  the  New  World,  landing  where  is  now 
Chester,  on  the  Delaware  River.  He  sought  the 
headwaters  of  White  Clay  Creek  and  spent  seven 
years  in  a  small  cabin,  living  the  life  of  a  hermit,  the 
wilderness  being  then  unbroken.  Samuel  Hayes,  his 
great-grandfather,  located  in  East  Malborough  Town- 
ship, Chester  County,  and  was  surrounded  by  Tories 
during  the  Revolutionary  War,  who  made  him  much 
trouble  on  account  of  his  Whig  principles.  His 
grandfather  on  his  mother's  side,  William  Davis,  died 
in  Chester  Co.,  Pa .,  Jan.  9,  1863,  aged  82  years  He 
was  a  "  smith  "  (or  blacksmith)  nearly  all  his  life, 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  edged  tools,  with  the 
hand  hammer  on  a  common  anvil. 

Thomas  Hayes  was  a  mechanic  in  early  life  and 
later  became  a  farmer.  He  died  in  the  township  of 
Newlin,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  in  March,  1867,  aged 
60  years.  His  widow  died  March  6,  1878,  aged  73 
years. 

Mr.  Hayes  was  reared  by  his  parents,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  the  death  of  his  father.  He  had 
obtained  a  good  education  and  when  he  was  2 1  years 
of  age  he  began  teaching  and  followed  that  calling 
12  years.  During  that  period  (April  29,  1857)  he 
was  married,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  to  Martha  E., 


daughter  of  Thomas  and  Martha  (O'Niel)  Johnson, 
who  was  born  in  Chester  County.  Her  parents  were 
farmers  and  were  of  German  and  Irish  extraction. 
Both  are  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Hayes  was  born  in 
Willistown  Tp,.  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  27,  1833. 
Five  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hayes  are  all 
living.  They  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Anna  M.,  born  Feb.  9,  1860;  Ira  T.,  June  8,  r867; 
May  E.,  Aug.  5,  1868;  Elsie  T.,  Nov.  23,  1873; 
Clarence  J.,  Sept.  30,  1875. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hayes  located  after  their  marriage 
in  Newlin,  where  they  purchased  a  small  property, 
and  Mr.  Hayes  was  there  engaged  some  time  in 
teaching.  Ten  years  later  they  went  to  the  township 
of  West  Pikeland,  in  the  same  county,  where  they 
operated  as  farmers  two  years,-  and  went  thence  to 
Chester  Valley,  where  they  resided  a  year.  They 
removed  thence  to  Delaware  County,  in  the  same 
State.  Later  they  made  another  transfer,  to  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  Pa.  After  a  stay  there  of  three  years, 
they  came  to  Clyde  Township,  reaching  their  desti- 
nation Feb.  T2,  1876.  Mr.  Hayes  at  once  established 
his  mercantile  relations  and  has  since  continued  in 
trade.  In  December,  1877,  he  was  appointed  Post- 
master at  Malvern,  of  which  he  is  the  founder  and 
was  the  chief  means  of  procuring  the  establishment 
of  the  mail  route.  He  is  the  first  Postmaster.  He 
is  a  Republican  and  has  acted  eight  years  as  Justice 
of  the  Peace;  has  also  held  various  other  offices. 


illiam  A.  Van  Osdol,  one  of  the  most 
extensive  farmers  in  Whiteside  County, 
residing  upon  section  7,  Hopkins  Town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Gibson) 
Van  Osdol,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
married  in  Ohio  Co.,  Ind.,  but  finally  settled  in 
Dearborn  County.  Mr.  Van  Osdol  died  in  February, 
1870,  in  Ohio  Co.,  Ind.,  where  all  of  William's  grand- 
parents settled  about  1820,  coming  from  Penn- 
sylvania. His  wife,  and  the  mother  of  William  A., 
still  survives  and  resides  in  that  county.  They 
had  a  family  of  1 1  children,  of  whom  William  A.  was 
the  eldest.  He  was  born  in  Ohio  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug. 
17,  1827.  He  passed  his  boyhood  days  and  grew 
to  manhood  in  that  county  and  continued  to  reside 
there  till  1856.  He  received  a  good  common-school 


234 


WHITESWE  COUNTY. 


education,  and  for  a  time  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits  at  Aberdeen,  Ind. 

In  May,  1856,  Mr.  Van  Osdol  came  to  Whiteside 
County  and  located  in  Hopkins  Township,  where  he 
has  since  lived,  closely  and  largely  identified  with  the 
interests  and  welfare  of  the  community.  He  is  the 
owner  of  520  acres  of  land  in  this  township,  500 
acres  of  which  is  in  a  tillable  condition.  He  also 
owns  440  acres  of  land  in  Ida  Co.,  Iowa,  all  under 
cultivation  and  managed  by  his  eldest  son.  This  vast 
estate  has  been  accumulated  by  Mr.  Van  Osdol  in  a 
very  brief  time,  be  it  said  to  his  credit.  When  22 
years  of  age  he  possessed  only  $37.50  of  prop- 
erty, which  was  in  a  note  given  to  him  by  his  father. 
The  secret  of  his  splendid  success,  besides  possess- 
ing good  business  ability,  is  industry  and  frugality. 
Young  men  about  to  enter  upon  an  active  business 
career  might  read  the  record  of  his  life  with  no  little 
profit. 

Mr.  Van  Osdol  was  united  in  marriage  in  Dear- 
born Co.,  Ind.,  Nov.  20,  1850,  with  Rebecca  Turner. 
She  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  of  Irish 
parentage,  and  the  seventh  of  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren. Her  parents  were  Robert  and  Martha  (Woods) 
Turner.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Osdol  have  been 
born  six  children  •,  John  M.,  Sarah  E.,  William  S., 
Ida  M.,  Robert  R.  and  Frank  A.  John  M.  and 
Sarah  E.  are  deceased.  While  never  aspiring  to 
public  position,  Mr.  Van.  Osdol  has  held  many  of 
the  minor  offices  of  his  township.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopil  Church,  and  in  political 
views  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 

As  a  truly  representative  agriculturist  and  a  worthy 
citizen  of  Whiteside  County,  we  place  Mr.  Van 
Osdol's  portrait  in  this  volume  in  connection  with 
this  sketch.  It  is  engraved  from  a  photograph  taken 
about  1878. 


illiam  H.  Knox,  of  Union  Grove  Town- 
ship,  is    a    native    citizen    of    Whiteside 
County,  and   was  born    Oct.    8,   1856,  in 
Mt.  Pleasant  Township.     His  parents,  Will- 
iam and  Mary  J.   (Emery)    Knox,  came  to 
Whiteside  County  in  1835,  and  after  residing 
some  time  in  Prophetstown,  removed  to  the  township 
of  Mt.  Pleasant  and  there  the  father  died,  Dec.  20, 

l®%gi*& 


1884.  The  mother  is  still  living.  The  names  of 
their  eight  children  were  Sarah  J.,  Harriet,  Walter 
E.,  Martin  W.,  William  H.,  Andrew  J.,  Clarence  D. 
and  Clara  M. 

Mr.  Knox  spent  the  years  of  his  minority  in  ob- 
taining his  education.  In  1878  he  detached  himself 
from  home  associations  and  rented  a  farm  in  Mount 
Pleasant  Township,  on  which  he  operated  two  years. 
In  1881  he  made  a  permanent  settlement  on  a  farm 
of  150  acres  on  section  25,  of  which  he  is  the  owner, 
in  Union  Grove  Township.  Of  this  115  acres  are 
under  excellent  cultivation. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Knox  to  Cora  M.  Harrison 
took  place  Jan.  i,  1879,  in  the  township  of  Mt. 
Pleasant.  Two  children  have  been  added  to  the 
household  circle, — Olive  L.  and  Ruby  H.  Mrs. 
Knox  was  born  Oct.  12,  1859,511  Ohio,  and  she  is 
the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Electa  A.'(Hoag)  Har- 
rison. Her  father  was  a  native  of  England  and  her 
mother  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York.  After  a 
residence  of  some  years  in  the  State  last  named  and 
in  Ohio,  they  came,  in  the  spring  of  1868,  to  White- 
side  County  and  fixed  their  residence  in  the  township 
of  Mt.  Pleasant.  Mrs.  Knox  has  one  brother  younger 
than  herself — George  F.  Harrison. 

Mr.  Knox  is  identified  with  the  Republican  parly 
in  political  sentiment. 


.in, 

lip, 

:o.,  \[ 

nd    ,. 
Her    I 


lam    R.  Grubb,    farmer   and   blacksmith, 
resident  on  section  33,  Genesee  Township, 
was  born  April  i,  1842,  in   Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.     The- sketch  of  his  parents,  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Rowe)  Grubb,  may  be  found  on  oth 
pages. 

Of  two  sons,  which  comprise  the  entire  number  of 
children,  Mr.  Grubb  is  the  younger.     He   attended 
school  in  his  native  county  from  a  suitable  age  until 
he   was  14,  when  his  parents  removed  to  Sterling. 
There  he   was  engaged   in  study  one  year.     Mean- 
while, his  father  purchased  a  farm  in  Genesee  Town- 
ship, to  which  the  family   removed,  and   father  and  g 
sons  entered  into  the  work  of  establishing  a   home,  / 
such  as  was  possible  on  the  prairie,  that  only  needed  £ 
the  application  of  the  commonest  methods  of  agri-  ' 
culture  to  respond  generously. 

Mr.  Grubb  worked  on  the  farm  summers  and 


•>> 


-    .. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


to  school  winters  for  some  years.  He  remained  un- 
married until  he  was  28  years  old.  Feb.  27,  1870, 
he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Eliza  A., 
daughter  of  C.  B.  and  Jane  (Loudon)  Peugh,  of 
whom  a  personal  account  is  inserted  in  this  work. 
Mrs.  Grubb  was  born  Oct.  n,  1848,  in  Washington 
Co.,  Ind.  She  was  a  child  of  four  years  when  her 
parents  came  to  Illinois  and  settled,  in  Genesee 
Township  in  its  days  of  first  things,  a  condition  of 
things  fully  realized  by  Mrs.  Grubb,  as  she  was  one 
of  the  oldest  children.  She  is  the  mother  of  two 
children:  Charles  L.,  born  Aug.  n,  1871,  and  Fanny 
A.,  Oct.  7,  1876. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grubb  settled  on  40  acres  of  land, 
which  had  been  purchased  by  the  former  previous  to 
his  marriage,  and  was  then  totally  unimproved.  He 
had  made  it  ready  for  a  home,  and  on  removing 
thither  pressed  the  work  of  improvement.  He  has 
purchased  an  additional  tract  of  80  acres,  and  has 
improved  the  entire  quantity.  Mr.  Grubb  is  a  Re- 
publican. Mrs.  Grubb  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church  since  she  was  16  years  of  age. 


|jenry  E.  Horning,  carpenter  and  joiner, 
resident  at  Malvern,  in  Clyde  Township,  is 
the  son  of  Henry  and  Hannah  (Isenberg) 
yy  Horning,  both  of  whom  were  of  German  ances- 
try, with  a  slight  admixture  of  English  blood  on 
the  side  of  the  mother.  Mr.  Horning  was  born 
Oct.  23,  1838,  in  Trappe,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.  He 
set  out  independently  in  life  when  he  was  14  years 
old,  his  parents  then  both  living.  His  father  died  Nov. 
12, 1 87 2,  aged  74  years.  His  mother  is  still  living  in 
firm  health,  in  Maryland,  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  aged  87  years. 
On  making  his  first  venture  in  life,  Mr.  Horning 
engaged  in  farm  labor,  in  which  he  continued  four 
years.  Oct.  26,  1856, he  apprenticed  himself  to  John 
'  Poley,  a  cousin  who  resided  in  the  place  of  his 
nativity,  and  he  served  with  him  three  years,  obtain- 
ing a  thorough  and  practical  knowledge  of  the  busi- 
ness of  a  carpenter.  Passing  another  year  working 
as  a  journeyman,  he  afterwards  established  a  shop  in 
his  own  interests  in  his  native  village.  In  August, 
1862,  he  went  to  Philadelphia  and  remained  there 
engaged  in  work  at  his  trade  13  years.  He  returned 
at  the  end  of  that  time  to-  his  native  county  and 

MXar-  f-N    l^f: 


worked  as  a  carpenter  two  years,  at  Worcester.  In 
February,  1876,  in  company  with  W.  D.  Hayes,  he 
came  to  Whiteside  County  and  settled  at  Malvern, 
and  is  the  owner  of  the  property  where  he  resides. 
Since  May  6,  1885,  he  has  been  traveling  agent  for 
the  sale  of  medicines. 

He  was  married  Nov.  24,  1859,  at  Bethel,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  to  Lydia,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Hammaker)  Pfeifer.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Berks  County,  and  were  of  German  descent.  They 
were  farmers  and  lived  and  died  in  their  native  State. 
Mrs.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Dunkard  Church.  Mr. 
H.  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P. 


l^-,apt.  Alfred  M.  Carpenter,  Master  of  the 
steamer  "  Helen  Mar,"  and  a  pioneer  of 
Whiteside  County,  was  born  in  Lake  Co., 
Ohio,  May  19,  1836,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
B.  and  Mary  (Fisk)  Carpenter.  When  four 
years  of  age  he  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Adams  Co.,  111.,  and  a  few  years  later  to  Missouri. 
In  1846  the  family  returned  to  Illinois  and  settled 
in  Albany,  this  county. 

When  15  years  of  age  Alfred  began  running  the 
Mississippi  River,  floating  rafts,  and  in  1867  began 
sleamboating.  In  1873,  after  22  years  on  the  river, 
12  of  which  were  spent  on  the  rafts,  he  had  by  hard 
labor  and  economy  accumulated  a  snug  sum  of 
money.  This  he  invested  in  the  purchase  of  the 
steamer  "  Hudson,  "  and  began  business  for  himself, 
as  Captain  of  his  own  vessel.  He  had  secured  a 
large  contract  for  moving  lumber  at  a  figure  that 
promised  him  a  very  flattering  return  for  his  labor ; 
but  misfortune  overtook  him  near  the  close  of  the 
third  season.  While  towing  a  raft,  a  log  was  carried 
under  his  boat  which  "  hung  her  up  "  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  she  could  not  be  relieved.  He  left  her 
with  the  expectation  of  raising  her  when  the  ice 
should  be  strong  enough  to  work  on.  The  mildness 
of  the  winter  frustrated  his  plans,  and  in  the  break- 
up the  following  spring  his  vessel  was  swept  away. 
By  this  disaster  he  not  only  lost  his  earnings  for  so 
many  years  of  hard  work  and  exposure,  but  he  also 
lost  the  benefit  of  his  contract,  which  was  worth  at 
least  $10,000,  for  the  reason  that  he  was  to  move 
the  lumber  with  the  steamer  "  Hudson." 
The  following  season  (1874)  he  began  steamboat- 


i 


v_x 

y 

i 


If 


<: 

il 

I 


ing  again,  on  a  salary,  since  which  time  he  has  com- 
manded the  following  named  boats  :  "  Louisville 
Despatch,"  "Andy  Riley,"  "White,"  "Eclipse," 
"Stillwater"  and  the  "Helen  Mar."  He  is  the 
present  Captain  of  the  latter  named  boat,  which  is 
owned  by  Knapp,  Stout  &  Co.,  of  St.  Louis,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  trade. 

Captain  Carpenter  was  married  in  Albany,  White- 
side  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  31,  1857,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Zent, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Myra  Zent.  Mrs.  Carpenter 
was  born  in  Morrow  Co.,  Ohio,.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren^ three  sons  and  two  daughters:  Florence  C., 
the -wife  of  Henry  Rodman,  of  Davenport,  Iowa  ;  Al- 
fred M.  died  in  childhood ;  Charles  O.  is  a  steamboat 
mate  on  the  Mississippi ;  Theodore  A.  died  aged 
eight  years ;  and  Eva  J.,  the  youngest,  is  four  years 
of  age.  Mrs.  Carpenter  died  May  13,  1882,  and 
Capt.  Carpenter  was  married  again  Dec.  5,  1883.  in 
Dakota,  Minn.,  to  Miss  Laura  Fox,  daughter  of  Al- 
vin  K.  and  Sophia  (Tompkins)  Fox.  Mrs.  Carpenter 
was  born  in  Minnesota. 

With  the  exception  of  five  years  spent  in  Hancock 
Co.,  111.,  Captain  Carpenter  has  made  his  home  at 
Fulton  since  his  first  marriage. 

He  has  now  had  34  years'  experience  in  the  lumber 
and  log  business  on  the  river,  and  13  years'  as  steam- 
boat Captain.  With  the  exception  of  the  loss  of  his 
own  boat,  he  has  met  with  no  accident  of  conse- 
quence, and  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
most  experienced  and  successful  captains  on  the 
river. 


Clifton  Snyder,  Postmaster  of  Fulton,  111. 
was  born  in  this  city,  Nov.  14,  1857,  and  is 
the  son  of  the  Hon.  William  C.  and 
Isyphene  C.  (Pearce)  Snyder.  He  was  educated 
in  the  city  schools  of  Fulton  and  at  the  North- 
ern Illinois  College.  At  14  years  of  age  he 
entered  the  office  of  the  Fulton  Journal  as  an  ap- 
prentice, learned  the  printer's  trade,  and  in  Decem- 
ber, 1877,  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  T.  J.  Pickett,  Jr.  and  leased  the  Journal  office, 
Mr.  Pickett  being  succeeded  by  Mr.  W.  R.  Cobb  in 
March,  1879.  This  connection  lasted  till  March  i, 
1880,  when  he  sold  out,  but  continued  in  the  office 
some  time  longer.  In  May,  1881,  he  engaged  in  the 

fS- ^3^       ^  ^i 


warehouse  business,  in  company  with  W.  C.  Snyder, 
and  they  do  a  general  forwarding  and  commission 
business,  and  deal  in  grain,  feed,  coal,  lime,  brick  and 
cement.  Mr.  Snyder  was  appointed  Postmaster  at 
Fulton  by  President  Arthur,  Dec.  22,  1882,  and 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  Jan.  i,  1883. 

Mr.  Snyder  was  married  at  Peoria,  111.,  March  29, 
1885,  to  Miss  Hattie  L.  Noble,  daughter  of  Hiram 
and  Sophia  E.  (Summers)  Noble.  Mrs.  Snyder  was 
born  on  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 

-     6     (d  /y^PitO^'*^  ^)     A 

v  ts>  >3SXi>r  e;  ¥ 

phraim  M.  Bechtel,  a  farmer  on  section 
10,  Clyde  Township,  was  born  March  23, 
1833,  in  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio.  Benja- 
min R.  Bechtel,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  a  stone  mason  by 
trade.  He  learned  his  business  in  the  State 
where  he  was  born,  and  was  there  married  to  Re- 
becca Myers.  Both  parents  were  of  German  ances- 
try and  descent.  After  the  birth  of  their  eldest  child 
they  removed  to  Ohio,  where  they  located  in  Colum- 
biana County.  Mr.  Bechtel  of  this  sketch  was  born 
soon  after,  and  is  the  second  child  born  in  that 
county,  being  the  third  child  of  his  parents.  When 
he  was  five  years  of  age  the  family  removed  to  Ches- 
ter Township,  Wayne  Co.,  in  the  same  State.  He 
was  there  brought  up  and  educated  and  was  an  in- 
mate of  the  paternal  home  until  he  was  20  years  of 
age,  when  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  cooper,  and  was 
was  engaged  in  that  business  two  years.  Subse- 
quently he  engaged  as  a  mechanic  in  the  employ  of 
the  Chicago,  Fort  Wayne  &  Pittsburg  Railroad 
corporation,  and,  after  two  years  in  their  service,  he 
came  to  Illinois.  He  was  first  employed  by  the 
Chicago  &  Rock  Island  corporation,  in  whose  inter- 
ests he  operated  one  year.  He  then  came  to  White- 
side  County,  whither  his  parents  had  removed  in 
1855.  He  purchased  40  acres  of  land  in  Clyde 
Township,  which  was  his  second  purchase  of  real 
estate,  he  having  previously  become  the  owner  of  40 
acres  of  land  in  Benton  Co.,  Iowa.  This  he  after- 
wards sold  and  devoted  his  entire  time  to  the  im- 
provement of  his  property  in  Illinois.  His  parents 
were  residents  on  a  farm  in  the  eastern  part  of  Clyde 
Township,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  The  father  died  about  a  year  after  removing 


' ' 


V' 


COUNTY. 


f 

\ 

*• 

: 


V 


to  Illinois.     The  death  of  the  mother  occurred  about 
1872.     Both  were  in  advanced  years. 

Mr.  Bechtel  devoted  his  time  and  strength  to  the 
improvement  of  his  farm  in  Clyde  Township  until 
March,  1859,  when,  in  company  with  James  Wood, 
Thomas  Aldritt  and  Richard  Frye,  he  started  for  the 
promised  land  of  Pike's  Peak.  They  drove  across 
the  plains,  encountering  hardship,  privation  and 
fatigue,  and  finally  arrived  at  Denver.  They  went 
thence  up  the  Platte  River,  prospecting  for  gold  but 
with  success  far  below  the  hopes  which  had  induced 
them  to  leave  the  certainties  of  a  life  of  effort  on  the 
beautiful  and  fruitful  prairies  of  Illinois,  to  chase  the 
will-o-the-wisp  promises  of  speedy  wealth  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  they  learned  that  the  gold 
that  came  through  the  medium  of  their  toil  was  just 
as  swift  recompense  as  the  placer  yields  of  the 
Platte,  and  a  deal  more  certain.  Their  tarry  in  the 
mountains  was  brief,  and  selling  their  equipments 
they  purchased  provisions  with  the  proceeds  and  set 
out  on  their  return  homeward.  They  made  the 
route  in  hungry  weariness,  encountering  throngs  of 
starving  and  distressed  emigrants  pressing  on  to  re- 
peat the  experiment  which  had  proved  to  them 
anything  but  a  success. 

Mr.  Bechtel  resumed  farming  in  Whiteside  County, 
and  added  further  purchases  to  his  acreage.  A  few 
years  later  he  made  a  change  in  location  and  pur- 
chased 80  acres  on  section  10,  which  he  bought  with 
the  purpose  of  making  it  a  permanent  location.  It 
was  wholly  unimproved,  and  he  entered  vigorously 
into  the  work  of  converting  it  into  a  farm.  Later, 
he  purchased  80  acres  on  section  9,  and  still  later 
bought  80  acres  additional  on  section  10,  on  which 
some  improvements  had  been  made.  He  is  now  the 
owner  of  240  acres,  all  of  which  is  under  cultivation, 
and  constitutes  one  of  the  splendid  estates  which 
gives  Whiteside  County  its  value.  Its  buildings  are 
valuable  and  serve  to  increase  the  attractions  of  the 
place.  The  proprietor  is  heavily  interested  in  stock 
and  sends  to  market  annually  upwards  of  100  head. 
Mr.  Bechtel  inclines  to  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  but  is  in  no  sense  aggressive  in  his 
political  affiliations.  He  is  a  Deacon  in  the  Dunkard 
Church. 

His  marriage  to  Sarah  Wilson  took  place  Feb.  22, 
1861,  in  Clyde  Township.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Jane  (Blue)  Wilson,  and  is  a  native  of 


\f 


Clyde   Township,   where   she  was  born  March  29,    -j 
1841.     (See  sketches  of  David  and  William  Gsell.) 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bechtel  four  children  have  been 
born  as  follows:     John,  Feb.  17,  1862;  Ella,  July  i, 
1866;    Lana,  Nov.  i,  1876;  and  Rebecca,  who  died  \&) 
when  nearly  15  years  of  age. 


enjamin  Bonebrake,  resident  at  Union- 
ville,  has  passed  his  life  as  a  mechanic. 
He  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Catherine 
(La  Rose)  Bonebrake,  the  former  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  North  Caro- 
lina. After  their  marriage  they  located  in 
Ohio,  where  they  were  subsequently  resident  until 
their  death.  Their  children  were  named  Anna,  Levi, 
Benjamin  and  Sarah. 

Mr.  Bonebrake  was  born  May  22,  1817,  in  Preble 
Co.,  Ohio.  He  passed  his  youth  in  the  acquisition 
of  his  education  and  as  a  farm  assistant,  at  home. 
At  the  age  of  20  years  he  obtained  the  control  of  his 
own  time,  and  he  fulfilled  a  predetermined  resolution 
to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  in  which 
he  passed  44  years.  On  becoming  master  of  his 
trade,  he  located  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
operated  eight  years.  In  the  spring  of  1856  he  came 
to  Whiteside  County  and  rented  a  farm  in  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant Township.  After  a  short  trial  of  agricultural  life 
he  went  to  Morrison,  and  in  the  spring  of  1861  set- 
tled permanently  at  Unionville.  He  is  the  owner  of 
40  acres  of  land  in  Union  Grove  Township. 

In  political  preference  Mr.  Bonebrake  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  has  been  active  in  several  local  official 
positions.  He  has  served  12  years  as  School  Trus- 
tee, and  as  Collector  six  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
Union  Grove  Lodge,  No.  257, 1.  O.  O.  F.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church,  of  which 
his  wife  is  also  a  member. 

"  His  marriage  to  Susan  White  occurred  in  Preble 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  September,  1841.  She  was  born  in 
Vermont  and  died  Feb.  28,  1858,  in  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township,  leaving  two  children, — Carrie  and  La 
Rose.  Feb.  28,  1861,  he  was  again  married  to  Mrs. 
Harriet  A.  (Trye)  Baker.  She  was  born  Aug.  13, 
1825,  in  Sheffield,  England,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  (Carter)  Trye,  and  widow  of  Wil- 
liam R.  Baker,  by  whom  she  had  four  children, 


fy 

(§, 


named  Charles  W.,  Olive,  Warren  and  Ida  M.  Mr. 
Baker  died  June  14,  1859.  He  was  the  oldest  son  of 
Jacob  Baker,  a  prominent  pioneer  citizen  of  White- 
side  County,  of  whom  a  personal  record  appears  on 
another  page. 


1 


• 


£ohn  Stuart,  carriage  manufacturer  at  Ful- 
ton, established  his  factory  in  1865.  He 
is  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland,  of 
Scotch  descent,  and  was  born  May  8,  1844. 
His  parents  were  Alexander  and  Margaret 
(Ellis)  Stuart.  He  emigrated  with  his  family 
to  Canada,  in  childhood,  where  he  learned  the  black- 
smith and  carriage  trade,  at  Mitchell,  Canada  West, 
at  which  he  served  a  regular  apprenticeship  of  three 
years.  His  compensation  was  limited,  and  increased 
slowly.  For  the  first  year  he  received  the  princely 
sum  of  $25,  the  second  $35,  and  the  last  year  $45. 
But,  strange  as  it  may  sound  to  modern  apprentices, 
he  had  every  dollar  of  his  three  years'  wages  at  the 
close  of  his  apprenticeship.  He  continued  with  his 
employer  a  half  year  longer,  and  in  March,  1859, 
came  to  the  United  States.  He  first  tried  his  fortunes 
in  Missouri,  but  was  obliged  to  abandon  that  field  on 
account  of  the  climate;  he  then  came  to  Fulton,  111., 
July  8,  1859,  and  engaged  as  journeyman  black- 
smith with  Mr.  James  Broadhead,  at  50  cents  a  day. 
He  continued  to  work  as  journeyman  till  March, 
1862,  when,  having  accumulated  a  cash  capital  of  $65, 
he  opened  a  blacksmith  shop  of  his  own.  'Three 
years  later  he  began  the  carriage  business  in  a  small 
way  at  his  present  stand.  The  superior  quality  of 
his  work,  together  with  a  reputation  for  fair  dealing, 
soon  increased  his  trade  till  he  was  obliged  to  erect 
additional  buildings  and  to  increase  his  force.  This 
he  has  been  doing  from  time  to  time,  till  he  now  has 
commodious  quarters,  and  employs  a  force  of  from  12 
to  16  men.  His  works  turn  out  from  75  to  100  single 
and  double  carriages  yearly,  of  various  styles  and  of 
the  finest  workmanship.  Mr.  Stuart  uses  Ohio  tim- 
ber, and  builds  his  work  up  from  the  rough  to  the 
last  touch  of  the  painter's  brush,  or  the  final  stitch  of 
the  upholsterer.  His  market  is  principally  in  Iowa, 
although  his  trade,  to  a  considerable  extent,  extends 
to  California  and  the  Territories. 

In  1873  William  Stuart,   a  younger  brother,  pur- 


chased an  interest  in  the  business,  and  the  firm  be- 
came J.  &  W.  Stuart.  This  connection  continued  till 
Feb.  29,  1884,  when  John  bought  him  out  and  now 
operates  his  factory  alone. 

Mr.  Stuart  was  married  at  Fulton,  111.,  Nov.  12, 
1863,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Stevenson,  daughter  of  Simon 
and  Mary  (Irwin)  Stevenson.  They  have  had  six 
children, — four  sons  and  two  daughters,  John  A., 
Simon,  William,  Mary,  Fanny  and  Arthur, — all  of 
whom  are  living  except  Fanny,  who  died  aged  seven 
years. 

Mr.  Stuart  is  a  member  of  the  present  City  Council 
from  the  First  Ward,  and  has  been  Alderman  once 
before  from  the  same.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
Fulton  City  Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  since 
1872,  and  is  also  a  member  of  Fulton  Chapter,  No. 
108,  R.  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  Treasurer.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican. 


Jilliam  Annan,  miller,  located  in  Union- 
ville,  was  born  Nov.  2,  1848,  in  Scotland, 
and  is  the  oldest  son  of  William  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Murray)  Annan,  who  were  natives  of 
the  same  country  and  of  Scotch  descent, 
through  a  long  line  of  ancestors.  They  came- 
directly  from  the  "  land  of  heather  "  to  Whiteside 
County,  and  fixed  their  residence  soon  after  in 
Unionville,  where  the  former  died,  Jan.  n,  1882. 
The  mother  is  still  living,  as  are  three  of  the  four 
children, — Barbara,  William,  Catherine  and  James. 
The  last  named  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Annan  was  scarcely  a  year  old  when  his  par- 
ents came,  with  two  children,  to  the  United  States. 
He  obtained  a  good  common-school  education  at 
Unionville,  and  afterwards  attended  the  commercial 
college  at  Davenport,  Iowa.  His  father,  associated 
with  John  A.  Robertson,  built  a  grist-mill  on  Rock 
Creek  in  1859-60,  and  in  the  intervals  of  school  he 
assisted  in  its  management,  continuing  to  act  in  some 
capacity  connected  therewith  until  the  decease  of 
his  father,  when  he  assumed  charge  of  the  estab- 
lishment and  has  since  conducted  its  business.  Its 
producing  capacity  is  75  barrels  of  flour  daily,  and 
the  trade  is  chiefly  custom  work. 

In  political  affiliation  Mr.  Annan  is  a  Republican. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Marian   Ely,  at 


v 


c 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


239 


' 


Cortland,  De  Kalb  Co.,  111.,  May  16,  1878,  and  to 
them  three  children  have  been  born,  who  are  named 
Frank  W.,  George  and  Floyd  J.  Mrs.  Annan  was 
born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  C.  F.  and  Lydia  M.  Ely. 


eorge  B.  Adams,  editor  and  proprietor  of 
the   Herald,    at    Morrison,  was    born    in 
Lyndon,  Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  7,  1855, 
being  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  eight  children 
of  A.  D.    and  Mary  E.  (Snyder)  Adams,  and 
has  always  been  a  resident  of  the  county. 
From    Lyndon    the    family   moved    to    Portland, 
where  they  lived  several  years,  afterward   removing 
again   to   Spring     Hill,    and    in     1865    locating   in 
Prophetstown,  the  present  home.  •  In  each  of  these 
locations  the  father  pursued  his  vocation  of  black- 
sm'th,  a  trade  in  which  he  was  a  superior  workman. 
He  also  purchased  a  farm  in  Prophetstown  Town- 
ship, on  which  the  family  lived  a  few  years,  finally 
returning  to  the  village  and  subsequently  disposing 
of  the  farm. 

Mr.  Adams'  education  was  acquired  by  studious 
attendance  at  the  public  school  until  18  years  of  age, 


when  he  engaged  as  a  teacher  in  one  of  tjie  rural 
districts  of  the  county.  Not  finding  the  calling  a 
congenial  one,  however,  he  abandoned  the  teacher's 
profession,  and  in  1875  entered  the  general  store  of 
D.  K.  Smith,  Prophetstown,  as  clerk,  remaining  un- 
til 1877.  In  March  of  that  year  he  went  to  Mor- 
rison and  became  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  F. 
D.  Ramsay,  varying  the  monotony  of  constant  read- 
ing by  writing  an  occasional  contribution  for  the 
county  press,  as  well  as  for  more  remote  publications. 

In  April,  1878,  A.  D.  Hill  founded  7 he  Wiiteside 
Herald  in  Morrison,  and,  being  aware  of  Mr. 
Adams'  newspaper  inclinations,  secured  his  services 
as  local  editor.  He  continued  his  legal  studies,  in 
connection  with  reportorial  work,  until  the  fall  of 
1878,  when  he  finally  abandoned  the  former  and  de- 
voted himself  exclusively  to  the  latter,  soon  becom- 
ing a  partner  in  the  publication  of  the  Herald,  the 
firm  being  Hill  &  Adams.  Three  years  later  the 
junior  partner  withdrew  from  the  enterprise,  and  on 
the  first  of  July,  1882,  leased  the  Herald  of  Mr. 
Hill,  and  the  following  April  purchased  the  office 

®> 


and  business  where  he  is  still  engaged.  The  Herald 
is  an  independent  paper,  devoted  to  the  local  news 
of  the  city  and  county.  Mr.  Adams  is  also  man- 
ager of  the  Telephone  Exchange  at  Morrison. 

Nov.  19,  1879,  Mr.  Adams  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Lucy  Euphemia,  youngest  daughter  of 
Luther  B.  and  Caroline  M.  (Smith)  Ramsay,  of 
Prophetstown.  They  have  one  child,  Frank  Ram- 
say, born  July  7,  1883. 


f 

j^phraim  Summers,  of  Fulton,  and  a  pioneer 

of  Whiteside  County  of  1838,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Barnet,  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt., 
Sept.  4,  1812,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and 
Y  Emma  (Pierce)  Summers.  He  worked  at  the 
carpenter  and  joiner's  trade,  and  was  also  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  married  in  February, 
1833,  in  Vermont,  to  Mary  L.  Dickson,  daughter  of 
John  and  Jane  (Lindsey)  Dickson. 

He  came  to  Illinois  in  1838  and  made  his  home 
at  Portland,  this  county,  for  awhile,  but  soon  located 
at  Sterling,  to  which  place  he  removed  his  family 
from  the  East  in  1840.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade  in  the  West,  and  opened  a  shop  at  Sterling, 
which  he  continued  till  1847.  He  then  removed  to 
Fulton,  where  he  worked  at  blacksmithing  till  1850, 
when  he  joined  a  party  bound  for  the  gold  fields  of 
California.  He  left  Fulton  April  9,  crossed  the 
plains  and  arrived  at  Hangtown,  Cal.,  early  in 
August  following.  He  spent  two  years  in  the  Golden 
State,  and  returned  to  his  home  via  the  Panama 
and  New  York  route.  In  1853  he  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  at  Fulton,  which  he  continued  till 
1857.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  several 
times,  and  served  in  all  20  years.  In  1873  he  was 
appointed  United  States  Ganger  and  served  as  such 
two  years,  or  until  by  a  change  in  the  law  the  office 
was  abolished.  He  also  held  various  local  offices. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Summers  had  seven  children, — font 
sons  and  three  daughters  :  Cloys,  the  eldest  son, 
was  a  soldier  of  the  late  war,  and  is  now  a  merchant 
of  Fulton.  He  married  Margaret  Joyce.  Morris 
died  in  infancy.  Oscar  married  Lizzie  Exley  and  is 
in  partnership  with  his  elder  brother.  Cyrus  is 
single  and  lives  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.  Sophia  is  the 


(i) 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


wife  of  Hiram  Noble,  of  Fulton.  Orilla  is  the  wife 
of  George  Hartford,  of  Boone,  Iowa;  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Herman  Jordan,  of  Newton  Township,  this 
county. 

.  Mr.  Summers  gave  up  active  business  several 
years  since,  and  is  living  in  comfortable  retirement 
with  several  of  his  children  near  by,  and  in  the  en- 
joyment of  the  highest  respect  and  esteem  of  neigh- 
bors and  friends.  He  is  now  with  his  eldest  son. 
Mrs.  Summers  died  July  23,  1879. 


ehemiah  Grubb,  farmer,  section  33,  Gen- 
esee  Township,  was  born  Dec.  4,  1840,  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  He  is  the  oldest  of 
two  sons  born  to  Samuel  and  Mary  (Row) 
Grubb,  of  whom  a  sketch  appears  on  other 
pages  of  this  work,  and  that  of  Elam  R.,  the 
younger  son,  appearing  elsewhere,  gives  a  complete 
record  of  the  Grubb  family  in  Genesee  Township. 

Mr.  Grubb  was  about  14  years  of  age  when  the 
family  abandoned  their  native  State  and  came  to 
Illinois.  They  came  at  once  to  Whiteside  County 
and  settled  for  the  first  year  in  Sterling.  In  the 
second  year  (1855)  the  parents  bought  a  farm  on 
section  33,  Genesee  Township.  The  sons  had  ob- 
tained a  fair  education,  and  on  taking  possession  of 
their  homestead  the  father  and  sons  gave  their  un- 
divided attention  to  the  conversion  of  the  hitherto 
unfilled  prairie  into  a  valuable  and  fertile  farm. 

Mr.  Grubb  became  the  possessor  of  40  acres  of 
land  previous  to  his  marriage,  which  was  situated  on 
the  same  section  as  that  purchased  by  his  father, 
and  on  which  he  began  to  make  improvements.  He 
was  married  July  7,  1870,  in  Hopkins  Township,  to 
Amanda,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Charlotte  (Mellen- 
gar)  Gara.  The  family  of  the  wife  were  natives  of 
Lancaster  County,  and  were  of  German  ancestry  and 
descent.  They  were  farmers  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1865.  Mrs.  Grubb  is  the  oldest  child  and  was  born 
in  Lancaster  County,  Nov.  7,  1850,  and  she  was  15 
years  of  age  when  she  came  with  her  father's  family 
to  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grubb  have  one  child, — 
Frank  R., — who  was  born  Jan.  2,  1871.  After  their 
marriage  they  took  possession  of  the  small  farm 
where  Mr.  Grubb  had  prepared  a  home  for  his  fam- 
,ily.  It  has  been  enlarged  and  now  contains  80 


acres,  all  of  which  is  under  improvements,  with  ' 
buildings  and  equipments  suited  to  a  farmer  who  is  ' 
making  a  substantial  start  in  the  world. 

• 

Mr.  Grubb  is  a  Republican  of  decided  type. 


(r.  Daniel  Reed,  deceased,  the  pioneer  phy- 
sician of  Fulton  of  1838,  was  born  in 
Camillus,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  4, 
1803.  His  parents  were  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (Mix)  Reed.  His  mother  was  a  relative  of 
ex-President  Hayes.  He  was  educated  at  Fair- 
field  College,  New  York,  and  studied  medicine  with 
Dr.  Daniel  T.  Jones,  then  a  popular  physician  of 
Central  Nsw  York.  Having  taken  his  degree,  he  be- 
gan practice  at  Auburn,  N.  Y. 

He  was  married  at  Sandy  Creek,  Oswego  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  May  r,  1828,  to  Miss  Cinda  T.  Meigs,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Jesse  and  Hannah  (Pritchard)  Meigs.  Mrs. 
Reed  was  born  in  Bethlehem,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn., 
May  T3,  1801.  Dr.  Reed  pursued  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  New  York  till  the  fall  of  1836,  when 
he  removed  to  Joliet,  111.  Two  years  later  he  came 
to  Fulton  (in  the  fall  of  1838),  and  engaged  in  prac- 
tice at  this  place.  A  great  deal  of  sickness  pre- 
vailed here  the  following  year,  and  the  Doctor, 
assisted  by  his  wife,  who  was  also  a  doctor,  had  their 
hands  full. 

The  Doctor  had  an  extensive  practice  for  a  few 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Galesburg,  111.,  in  order 
to  afford  his  children  better  advantages  of  education. 
Five  years  later  he  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he 
spent  one  year.  He  next  went  to  Belvidere,  and  af- 
ter three  years  spent  at  that  place  they  returned  to 
Fulton.  On  his  return  to  Fulton  he  retired  from 
practice,  but  made  this  his  home  till  his  death,  which 
occurred  Feb.  16,  1882. 

Dr.  Reed  was  chosen  to  fill  various  public  offices. 
He  served  as  Assessor  in  1863,  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  1866,  Coroner  of  Whiteside  County  from  1856  to 
1858,  and  held  other  minor  offices.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  took  an  active 
and  prominent  part  in  the  building  of  the  church  at 
Fulton. 

In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 

Dr.   and  Mrs.   Reed  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
four  girls   and   two  boys:    William  died    April    17 
1872  ;  Helen  M.  was  the  wife  of  Wm.  P.  Culbertson 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


and  died  Nov.  6,  1857;  Athalia,  wife  of  J.  B.  Hall, 
of  Columbus,  Ohio;  James  H.  married  Annie  Pome- 
roy  and  is  a  photographer  at  Clinton ;  Cynthia  J.  is 
the  widow  of  Wm.  E.  Baldwin  and  lives  at  Lyons; 
Harriet  died  Sept.  6,  1841,  in  childhood. 


• 


• 


illiam  Wahl,  farmer,  section  35,  Genesee 
Township,  was  born  Feb.  26,  1843,  in 
,  Wurternberg,  Germany.  His  parents,  Mat- 
!>  thew  and  Rosena  (Schwartz)  Wahl,  were 
also  natives  of  the  "  father-land,"  and  were 
weavers  and  flax-hatchelers  in  Germany.  The 
family  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1854,  ar- 
riving in  April.  They  located  in  Warren,  Trumbull 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  were  engaged  in  farming  until 
the  fall  of  1856,  when  they  proceeded  farther  West 
and  located  on  a  farm  four  miles  north  of  Sterling. 
The  family  included  six  children,  who  are  all  living, 
surviving  the  mother,  who  died  in  Genesee  Town- 
ship, about  1862.  Since  1882,  the  senior  vVahl  has 
resided  in  Sterling. 

Mr.  Wahl  is  the  fourth  child,  and  he  spent  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  at  home,  obtaining  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  public  schools  of  the  township  of 
Sterling.  March  n,  1866,  he  was  married  in  the 
city  of  that  name  to  Dora,  daughter  of  Michael 
Smith.  Mrs.  Wahl  was  born  in  Germany  about 
1845,  and  came  with  her  parents  when  she  was  two 
years  of  age  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  whence  they  subsequently  came  to 
Tecumseh,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  settling  there  about 
1860.  Her  parents  are  still  resident  there.  She 
came  to  Sterling  to  spend  a  short  lime  with  relatives, 
and  was  married  there.  She  died  at  her  home  in 
Genesee  Township,  Dec.  10,  1876.  Her  six  chil- 
dren were  born  as  follows  :  C.  Henry,  Nov.  r,  1866; 
Carrie  L.,  Jan.  28,  1868;  Emma,  July  13,  1871  ;  Al- 
bert A.,  Aug.  27,  1872;  Nettie  M.,  June  23,  1874; 
William  M.,  March  n,  1876.  Mr.  Wahl  was  again 
married  March  i,  188.1,  in  the  village  of  Empire, 
Hopkins  Township,  to  Mary  C.,  daughter  of  Lewis 
and  Susannah  ( Etter )  Diehl,  descendants  from 
the  sturdy  class  known  as  "  Pennsylvania  Dutch." 
They  were  farmers  and  were  residents  of  St.  Thomas, 
Franklin  Co.,  Pa.  Mrs.  Wahl  was  born  Aug.  31, 


1857,  near  Chambersburg.  She  was  nearly  18  years 
of  age  when  she  accompanied  her  parents  to  Illinois, 
who  fixed  their  residence  at  Empire,  in  Whiteside 
County.  They  have  since  moved  to  Clark  Co.,  D. 
T.,  where  her  father  is  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness. Mrs.  Wahl  is  the  oldest  child  of  her  parents 
and  is  the  mother  of  one  daughter,  Lydia  A.,  born 
March  20,  1882. 

Mr.  Wahl  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in  Gen- 
esee Township  in  April,  1867.  The  tract  at  first 
comprised  80  acres,  and  he  has  since  added  80 
acres  more,  which  he  purchased  in  1876.  The  home- 
stead exhibits  the  best  quality  of  agricultural  effort. 
Mrs.  Wahl  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
In  political  affiliation  Mr.  Wahl  is  a  Republican. 


ooster  Y.  Ives,  of  Fulton,  one  of  the  ear- 
liest pioneers  of  Whiteside  County  and 
a  noted  hunter  of  the  Mississippi  River 
its  tributaries,  was  born  in  Meriden, 
Conn.,  July  8,  i8ro,  and  is  the  son  of  Wat- 
rous  and  Polly  (Yale)  Ives. 

He  was  brought  up  in  his  native  State  and  began 
business  as  a  peddler  of  Yankee  clocks  and  notions. 
In  the  spring  of  r836  he  made  an  unsuccessful  at- 
tempt to  come  West  via  the  Great  Lakes.  He  was 
shipwrecked  on  Lake  Erie  and  returned  to  the 
East.  In  the  spring  of  1837  he  came  to  Whiteside 
Co.,  111.,  and  made  a  claim  in  the  western  part  of 
the  town  of  Ustick,  where  he  built  the  first  house  in 
the  township.  He  finally  had  600  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Ives  sold  his  farm  and  since  1868  has  made 
his  permanent  residence  in  the  city  of  Fulton. 

Mr.  Ives,  from  early  boyhood,  was  passionately 
fond  of  the  chase,  and  when  15  years  old  was  an  ex- 
pert with  the  rifle.  He  killed  the  first  deer  and  bear 
he  saw  running  wild.  This  occurred  before  leaving 
New  England.  After  reaching  the  Mississippi  he 
found  a  field  worthy  of  his  ambition.  Wild  deer 
abounded  in  this  region  in  those  early  days,  while 
small  game  was*  to  be  found  in  abundance.  Choice 
furred  animals,  such  as  the  otter,  beaver  and  mink, 
were  to  be  found  in  considerable  numbers  along  the 
great  river  and  its  tributaries.  Mr.  Ives  could  not 
content  himself  with  the  dull  routine  of  the  farm 
while  such  tempting  game  was  so  near  at  hand.  Ac- 


XV 


WHITESIDK  COUNTY. 


• 


cordingly,  help  was  hired  to  cultivate  the  farm,  and 
during  the  hunting  and  trapping  season  Mr.  Ives 
was  killing  deer  or  trapping  otter.  He  ranged  the 
Mississippi  and  its  tributaries,  between  St.  Louis 
and  St.  Paul,  with  marked  success.  He  performed 
the  unusual  feat  of  killing  eight  deer  in  four  shots 
in  one  season.  The  number  of  deer  killed  by  him 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  aggregated  between 
900  and  1,000.  Wild  turkeys  and  small  game  were 
taken  in  proportion.  He  fell  in  with  a  great  South- 
western trapper  in  an  early  day,  from  whom  he 
learned  some  valuable  secrets  in  relation  to  trapping, 
and  soon  became  so  proficient  in  the  art  that  the 
otter  and  beaver  were  almost  taken  at  will.  There 
was  one  occasion  when  he  took  nine  otter  in  one 
morning  from  a  setting  of  eleven  traps.  He  has 
caught  upwards  of  500  otter,  between  St.  Louis  and 
and  St.  Paul.  Mink  and  the  smaller  furred  animals 
seldom  occupied  his  attention.  While  he  enjoyed 
the  sport  hugely,  he  made  it  a  source  of  profit  far 
greater  than  his  labor  on  the  farm  would  have  been. 
So  sure  was  he  of  his  skill  that  he  would  contract 
loads  of  deer  for  delivery  on  certain  days,  just  as  a 
man  now  would  contract  a  car  load  of  hogs  or  cattle 
from  his  pens;  and  he  was  never  known  to  fail  to  fill 
his  orders. 

In  April,  1850,  he  joined  a  party  of  his  friends 
from  Fulton  and  went  overland  to  California.  They 
left  Fulton  April  9  and  reached  Hangtown,  Cal., 
Aug.  i,  following.  On  the  very  day  that  he  reached 
his  destination,  his  wife  died  at  Fulton,  although  it 
was  some  weeks  before  he  learned  the  sad  news! 
He  undertook  working  in  the  mines  in  California,  but 
the  plentiful  supply  of  game  about  and  the  good 
prices  paid  in  that  section,  soon  tempted  him  to  the 
mountains  with  his  trusty  rifle.  As  his  game  was 
principally  marketed,  he  kept  a  pretty  good  record 
of  it.  During  the  three  years  spent  in  that  region 
he  bagged  about  $400  worth  of  game  a  month.  The 
list  included  about  300  antelope,  r25  elk,  5  grizzly 
bears,  9  black  and  brown  bears  and  a  large  number 
of  deer  of  a  smaller  species.  He  returned  to  his 
hpme  in  the  spring  of  1853,  via  Panama  and  New 
York. 

Mr.  Ives  resumed  farming  and  hunting,  in  this 
county,  which  he  continued  till  the  spring  of  1862, 
when,  having  leased  his  farm,  he  accompanied  a 
friend  on  a  trip  through  Oregon  and  California. 
While  on  their  way  over  the  mountains  their  wagon 
.  •  •  —  * 


train  was  attacked  by  the  Indians,  his  friend  was 
shot  through  the  arm  with  an  arrow  and  nearly  lost 
his  life  from  loss  of  blood.  Mr.  Ives  succeeded  in 
shooting  two  of  the  Indians,  one  of  whom  he  killed  : 
the  others  retreated.  He  spent  two  and  a  half  years 
traveling  in  Oregon  and  California,  and  returned  to 
his  home  via  Panama  and  New  York. 

During  his  hunting  and  trapping  excursions  Mr. 
Ives  has  had  many  exciting  adventures  and  endured 
many  hardships,  and  several  times  has  barely  escaped 
with  his  life.  The  history  of  his  life,  properly  told, 
would  afford  material  for  an  interesting  book  of  itself : 
our  space  will  only  admit  of  this  brief  mention.  His 
fame  as  a  most  successful  hunter  is  known  from  the 
Mississippi  to  the  Pacific.  He  made  his  last  hunt- 
ing excursion  in  1882,  to  Northern  Wisconsin,  when 
72  years  old,  and  in  the  5ist  year  of  his  active  life 
as  a  hunter. 

Mr.  Ives  was  first  married  in  Connecticut,  Jan.  i, 
1837,  to  Elizabeth  Blake,  a  native  of  New  York  City. 
His  second  marriage  took  place,  in  the  same  State. 
Aug.  2r,  1853,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Parrish,  daughter 
of  John  and  Polly  (Gun)  Parrish.  Mrs.  Ives  was 
born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn. 

In   politics  he  is  a    Democrat. 


( 
'i: 

: 


ohn  Kent,  who  has  been  for  many  years  a 
prominent  agriculturist  of  Whiteside  Coun- 
ty, is  living  in  retirement  from  active  busi- 
ness life  at  Morrison.     He  has  been  associated 
with  the  development  and  general   progress  of 
the    county   since    1839,  when    he   became  a 
land-holder  in  the  township  of  Union  Grove. 

He  was  born  in  Morris  Co.,  N.  J.,  June  18,  1816 
and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Blackford)  Kent, 
both  being  natives  of  the  same  State  where  the  son 
was  born.  His  father  was  a  tanner  and  currier 
and  also  a  shoemaker,  as  the  custom  prevailed  in 
those  days  of  combining  the  three  callings.  The 
family  removed  from  New  Jersey,  in  1827,  to  Knox 
Co.,  Ohio.  Late  in  life,  the  parents  came  to  Illinois 
to  pass  the  remainder  of  their  lives  with  their  chil- 
dren. The  father  died  in  Carroll  County,  Dec.  16, 
1859,  aged  74  years  and  26  days.  The  demise  of 
the  mother  occurred  June  26,  1869,  when  she  had 


-  ,.  .- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


readied  the  age  of  73  years,  i  month  and  12  days. 
They  had  1 1  children,  and  only  five  survive  to  the 
present.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Chamberlain,  of  Morrison, 
is  the  oldest.  Mr.  Kent  is  the  second  who  is  living. 
Levi  is  a  fanner  in  Douglas  Co.,  Oregon;  James  L. 
is  a  farmer  in  Kansas;  William  is  pursuing  the  same 
business  in  Nebraska,  and  is  by  trade  a  carpenter. 

Mr.  Kent  was  thoroughly  trained  in  the  theory  and 
practice  of  farming,  which  he  has  made  his  life -long 
pursuit.  He  came  to  Union  Grove,  Whiteside  Coun- 
ty, in  the  full  flush  of  the  strength  and  ambition  of 
his  young  manhood,  and  took  a  claim  of  80  acres, 
which  he  secured  when  the  land  came  into  market 
and  to  which  he  added  by  further  purchase  until  his 
property  on  section  3  aggregated  1 60  acres,  of  which 
he  made  a  valuable  farm.  He  attended  diligently  to 
his  interests,  and  as  he  prospered  he  made  further 
purchases,  and  now  owns  1 60  acres  of  land  on  section 
9,  in  the  township  where  he  first  located,  114  acres 
on  section  3,  20  acres  of  timber  on  section  i,  10  acres 
of  timber  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  and  20  acres  of 
the  same  valuable  variety  of  real  estate  in  Carroll 
Co.,  111.,  situated  in  the  township  of  York.  He  is 
also  the  owner  of  his  residence,  the  lot  therewith  con- 
nected and  two  vacant  lots  in  Morrison. 

At  the  date  of  Mr.  Kent's  arrival  in  Whiteside 
County,  a  condition  of  almost  primeval  nature  reigned. 
Claims  were  held  by  right  of  possession,  households 
were  like  angels'  visits,  few  and  far  between,  and 
glimpses  of  humanity  were  more  welcome  than  the 
glow  of  the  summer  sun  or  the  kiss  of  the  prairie 
breeze  on  the  cheek  of  the  laborer  who  turned  the 
soil  with  his  plow,  and  dreamed  wild  dreams  of  the 
plentiful  harvest,  promised  by  the  rich  mold  which 
had  lain  fallow  since  the  continent  rose  from  the 
depths  of  the  sea.  There  were  privations,  toil  and 
hardships,  but  the  season  of  prosperity  was  too  near 
at  hand  and  too  certain  for  the  admission  of  discour- 
agement, and  the  lovely  prairie  acres  of  to-day  fully 
attest  the  quality  of  the  energies  brought  to  bear  on 
their  reclamation  and  conversion  into  fruitful  fields. 

Mr.  Kent  was  married  Oct.  7,  1841,  in  Union 
Grove  Township,  to  Mary  Jeflers.  Eight  children 
were  Iwrn  to  them  in  that  township,  of  whom  five  are 
yet  living.  Following  is  the  record  :  Sarah  was  born 
June  10,  1844,  and  died  Sept.  17,  1875;  Mary  M. 
was  born  April  9,  1848,  and  married  Volney  Twitchr:!, 
a  tanner  in  the  township  where  she  was  born  ;  Ella 


A.,  born  May  25,  1850,  is  the  wife  of  John  Blue,  a 
farmer  in  Nebraska.  Omar  was  born  Jan.  18,  1852, 
and  is  engaged  in  farn.ing  in  Nebraska.  Lewis  H., 
born  June  n,  1854,  is  a  practicing  attorney  in  Ne- 
braska. John  W.,  a  farmer  in  Union  Grove  Town- 
ship, was  born  April  27,  1859.  Their  mother,  a  na- 
tive of  the  State  of  New  York,  died  July  13,  1876. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Kent,  to  Mrs.  Diana 
Green,  occurred  March  14,  1878,  near  Tomson,  Car- 
roll Co.,  111.  Her  first  husband,  John  Green,  was  a 
native  of  Johnstown,  Licking  Co.,  Ohio,  and  died 
March  18,  1870,  in  Tomson.  Their  children  were 
three  in  number.  Sarah,  wife  of  Jasper  Whitney,  a 
farmer  of  Tomson,  was  born  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio. 
Horton,  also  a  native  of  Ohio,  is  a  traveling  salesman 
in  the  employment  of  the  Union  Knife  Company  of 
Chicago.  Francis  M.  was  born  in  Carroll  County, 
and  is  a  farmer  in  Dakota. 


,apt.  Havilah  Pease,  weighmaster  of  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway  elevator 
at  Fulton,  111.  The  elevator  was  built  in 
1866,  and  has  a  storing  capacity  of  65,000 
bushels  of  grain.  It  is  operated  by  an  en- 
gine of  loo-horse  power.  Mr.  Pease  has 
held  his  present  position  since  the  completion  of  the 
elevator  in  1867. 

He  was  born  at  Albion,  Kennebec  Co.,  Me  ,  April 
1 8,  1825,  and  is  the  son  of  Seba  and  Mary  C. 
(Ripley)  Pease.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Rockland,  Knox  Co.,  Me. 
When  2 1  years  old  he  went  to  sea  engaging  in  the  New 
York,  West  India,  European  and  coast  trade.  He 
was  made  master  and  sailed  as  such  in  the  Amer- 
ican coasting  trade  till  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  war,  when  he  enlisted,  in  April,  1861,  as  a 
private  of  Co.  B,  4th  Maine  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served 
in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  participated  in  the 
following  named  battles  ^nd  skirmishes :  First  Bull 
Run,  siege  of  Yorktown,  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks, 
Peach  Orchard,  White  Oak  Swamp,  Glendale,  Mal- 
vern  Hill,  Mouth  of  the  Monocacy,  Fredericksburg, 
battle  of  Chancellorville,  Gettysburg,  Wapping 
Heights,  Kelly's  Ford,  Orange  Grove,  Mine  Run,  bat- 
tles of  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania  Conrt-House, 
Taylor's  Bridge,  Hanover  Junction,  Cold  Harbor  and 


(5) 


.:     •—_ 


-  .. 


244 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


other  minor  engagements,  till  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  enlistment.  He  was  commissioned  Second 
Lieutenant  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service 
July  1 8,  1864. 

On  his  return  from  the  war  Capt.  Pease  resumed 
sailing,  and  continued  to  follow  the  sea  till  the 
spring  of  1867,  when  he  came  to  Fulton,  III.,  to  ac- 
cept the  position  he  now  occupies  with  the  Chicago 
&  Northwestern  Railway  Company. 

Captain  Pease  voted  with  the  Republican  party 
from  the  time  of  its  organization  till  1884,  when  he 
identified  himself  with  the  Prohibition  party.  He 
is  a  member  of  Fulton  City  Lodge,  No.  189  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  of  the  G.  W.  Baker  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Clinton,  la.  He  is  actively  interested  in  the  cause 
of  temperance,  and  is  a  member  of  Leota  Lodge, 
No.  428,  I.  O.  G.  T.  He  has  served  two  years  as 
Alderman  in  the  Fulton  Common  Council,  and  was 
once  elected  Mayor,  on  the  Prohibition  ticket,  but 
resigned. 

He  was  married  Dec.  28,  1869,  in  Rockland, 
Maine,  to  Miss  Hannah  I.  Gould,  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward Gould.  Mrs.  Pease  was  born  in  Ellsworth, 
Maine. 


ewis  Wetzel,  farmer,  section  17,  Hopkins 
Township,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Margaret 
(Reese)  Wetzel,  who  were  natives  of  Frank- 
lin Co.,  Pa.,  of  German  and  English  descent. 
They  first  settled  in  Ohio  and  lived  there  till 
1855,  when  they  came  to  Whiteside  County  and 
settled  in  the  township  of  Genesee,  where  they  lived 
till  their  death.  He  died  Sept.  18,  1860,  and  she 
Feb.  2,  1882.  They  had  a  family  of  12  children, 
namely  :  Catherine,  Daniel,  Jacob,  John,  George, 
Elizabeth,  David,  Andrew,  Hannah,  Joseph,  Margaret 
and  Lewis. 

Mr.  Wetzel  was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  June  3, 
1837.  He  received  a  common-school  education  and 
came  to  Whiteside  County  with  his  father  when  he 
was  18  years  old.  He  lived  in  Genesee  Township 
till  the  fall  of  1861,  when  he  purchased  a  farm  of 
160  acres  on  section  17,  Hopkins  Township,  where 
he  settled  and  has  since  lived.  He  is  now  the  owner 
of  206  acres,  most  of  which  is  tillable.  He  has 
erected  some  very  fine  buildings  on  his  farm. 


• 


Mr.  Wetzel  was  married  in  Sterling,  111.,  March 
25,  1858,10  Mary,  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Cath- 
arine Lawyer,  natives  of  Germany,  who  had  four 
children, — Jacob,  Mary,  William  and  Frank.  Mary 
(Mrs.  W.)  was  born  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  March  i, 
1836.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  are  the  parents  of  four 
children — Rebecca  E.,  Delilah  J.,  John  G.  and  Rol- 
lin  E. 

Mr.  Wetzel  has  been  Overseer  of  Highways  and 
School  Director.  In  politics  he  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party. 


ev.  George  W.  Perry,  editor  and  pub- 
lisher of  the  Fulton  Star.  The  Star  was 
established  in  January,  1883,  and  the  first 
number  issued  on  the  4th  of  that  month.  It 
is  an  eight- page,  five-column  quarto.  Mrs. 
E.  M.  Perry  is  associate  editor.  The  Star 
was  established  as  a  Republican  paper  but  took  no 
active  part  in  politics  till  March  25,  1885,  when  it 
was  adopted  as  the  official  organ  of  the  Prohibition 
party  of  Whiteside  County. 

Mr.  Perry  was  born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April 
15,  1830,  and  is  the  son  of  George  and  Catharine 
(Shultz)  Perry.  When  seven  years  of  age  he  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Kane  Co.,  111.  He  pre- 
pared for  college  by  taking  a  course  at  Greenfield 
Academy,  Ohio,  and  entered  the  Ohio  University  at 
Athens.  He  left  the  University  before  completing 
the  course  and  went  to  Charlottesville,  N.  Y.  After 
a  short  time  spent  there  he  went  to  Madison,  Wis., 
and  attended  the  Wisconsin  University  and  was 
matriculated  into  the  Senior  class  of  that  institution. 
One  year  later  he  entered  the  Lane  Theological 
Seminary  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  a  Presbyterian  insti- 
tution, at  which  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1858, 
after  a  three  years' course,  and  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Cincinnati  Presbytery.  He  began  his  career 
as  a  clergyman  by  preaching  as  a  Congregationalist 
at  Harrington,  Cook  Co., '111.,  in  1860.  He  continued 
at  that  place  till  April,  1861,  when  he  went  to 
Campion,  111.  He  was  married  at  the  latter  place 
Oct.  20,  1860,  to  Miss  Emma  M.  Atwood,  daughter 
of  Luke  and  Emily  (Duucklee)  Atwood.  Mrs.  Perry 
wa,s  born  in  Sullivan  Co.,  N.  H.,  town  of  Newport. 
They  have  four  children,  all  sons :  Marcus  L., 
George  T.,  Warren  F.  and  Jesse  G. 


: 


I 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Perry  continued  at  Campion  till  1865.  In 
1866  he  transferred  his  ecclesiastical  relations  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  assigned  to 
Wyanet,  Bureau  Co.,  111.  He  was  ordained  a  Dea- 
con at  Freeport,  111.,  Oct.  10,  1869,  by  Bishop  D. 
W.  Clark,  and  was  ordained  an  Elder  at  Aurora,  111., 
Oct.  15,  1871,  by  Bishop  Edward  R.  Ames.  He 
labored  within  the  limits  of  the  Rock  River  Con- 
ference till  October,  i879,when  he  was  superannuated 
on  account  of  failing  health.  He  came  to  Fulton  in 
September,  1880,  and  in  January,  1883,  established 
the  Star,  as  before  mentioned.  His  second  son, 
George  T.,  is  the  local  editor  and  business  manager 
of  the  Star. 

P.  S.— On  May.  19,  1885,  since  the  above  was  in 
type,  the  Star  was  transferred  to  the  sons  George  T. 
and  Warren  F.  Perry. 


tavid  G.  Proctor,  farmer,  section  6,  Gene- 
see  Township,  was  born  July  23,  1840,  in 
Shawswick  Township,  Lawrence  Co.,  Ind. 
George  R.  Proctor,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  near  Lexington,  and  was  the  son 
of  Ezekiel  Proctor.  The  latter  removed  from 
Kentucky  with  his  family  to  Southern  Indiana  and 
located  near  the  line  of  Jackson  County,  a  part  of  the 
State  that  was  still  in  heavy  timber.  George  R. 
Proctor  married  Mary  W.  Green.  She  was  born  in 
Lawrence  Co.,  Ind.,  where  she  was  brought  up  and 
where  her  marriage  took  place.  Later  on,  after  three 
children  had  been  added  to  the  family,  they  removed 
to  Martin,  where  the  father  was  made  Sheriff,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  officials  of  the  county  after  its 
organization.  He  was  a  man  of  good  judgment  and 
fair  education,  and  in  early  manhood  he  had  spent 
some  years  in  teaching  in  the  public  schools.  He 
officiated  as  Sheriff  two  years.  In  1850  he  returned 
to  Lawrence  County  and  left  his  wife  and  children 
on  the  Green  homestead,  the  estate  of  her  father. 
He  engaged  one  season  in  running  a  flat-boat  on. the 
Mississippi  Ri/er  to  New  Orleans.  He  set  out  from 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  with  the  Beck  brothers  (his  brothers- 
in-law  by  a  former  marriage),  for  California.  They 
drove  across  the  plains  with  oxen  and  mules,  the 
journey  consuming  six  months.  Mr.  Proctor  spent 
three  years  in  the  land  of  gold,  with  satisfactory  re- 


suits;  but,  returning  in  the  same  manner  in  which  he 
went  out,  he  was  taken  sick  while  making  the  transit, 
and  his  accumulations  disappeared.  He  reached  his 
family  in  Lawrence  County,  whence*  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois two  years  later,  locating  in  Whiteside  County  in 
October,  1855.  This  portion  of  Illinois  was  then 
comparatively  unorganized  and  unsettled,  and  in  the 
year  following  Mr.  Proctor,  senior,  went  to  Carroll 
County,  where  he  died.  The  mother  is  69  years  old 
(1885).  The  first  wife  lived  but  two  years  after  mar- 
riage and  had  no  children. 

Mr.  Proctor  of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest  living  child 
of  his  parents,  and  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of 
the  family,  which  included  seven  children.  He  is 
the  only  son,  and  his  father's  death  left  the  family, 
consisting  of  his  mother  and  six  young  daughters, 
dependent  on  him  for  support ;  and  by  effort  and 
economy  he  was  enabled  to  fulfill  the  trust.  His 
oldest  sister  married  William  Moxley,  one  of  the  first 
white  children  born  in  Genesee  Township.  He  died 
and  left  his  wife  his  property,  which  consisted  chiefly 
of  a  farm  on  section  6,  and  which  she  gave  to  her 
mother  when  she  died,  two  years  later.  This  prop- 
erty is  still  held  by  the  mother  and  that  owned  by 
the  son  lies  adjoining.  The  combined  acreage  con- 
stitutes a  fine  and  well  located  farm.  That  owned 
by  Mr.  Proctor  includes  66  acres  and  lies  in  Carroll 
County. 

His  marriage  to  Sarah  A.  Hurless  took  place  in 
Genesee  Township,  Dec.  17,  1865.  She  was  l>orn 
April  11,  1849,  in  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Rev.  Cephas  Hurless,  deceased,  of  whom 
a  full  account  is  presented  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
Her  parents  removed  to  Illinois  when  she  was  five 
years  of  age.  She  was  reared  to  womanhood  in 
Genesee  Township,  receiving  a  good  education,  and 
when  she  reached  suitable  age  and  degree  of  quali- 
fication, she  engaged  in  teaching.  The  six  children 
now  included  in  the  family  circle  were  born  as  fol- 
lows:  Cephas  E.,  April  29,  1867;  George  R.,  May 
25,  1869;  R.  Ira,  March  i,  1872.  (This  child  is  a 
dwarf.  His  height  is  three  feet  and  four  inches,  or 
40  inches,  and  his  weight  is  39  pounds.  He  is  per- 
fectly and  symmetrically  formed.)  Minnie  J.  was 
born  Dec.  10,  1876;  Richard,  Sept.  13,  1881  ;  Lizzie, 
Aug.  19,  1883.  Mr.  Proctor  is  a  Democrat  in  politi- 
cal persuasion.  He  has  been  prominent  in  local 
official  positions,  and  has  served  in  the  capacities  of 


I 


v§) 


I 

:: 


fa) 


'$£  Tax  Collector  and  those  of  the  several  school  offices. 
j    Mrs.    Proctor  is  a  member  of  the   United  Brethren 


Church. 


-iet- — 


ra.  Dr.  Cinda  T.  Reed,  cf  Fulton,  and 
widow  of  Dr.  Daniel  Reed,  is  deserving 
of  appropriate  mention  in  the  biographi- 
cal department  of  this  work.  She  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  Litchfield  Co., 
Conn.,  May  13,  1801,  is  the  daughter  of  Dr. 
Jesse  and  Hannah  Pritchard  Meigs,  and  a  cousin  of 
ex-Governor  John  R.  Meigs,  of  Ohio,  and  of  Dr. 
Charles  D.  Meigs,  President  of  the  Philadelphia 
Medical  College. 

Her  father  was  a  popular  physician  of  Litchfield 
Co.,  Conn.,  and  she,  while  a  child,  accompanied  him 
in  his  professional  visits,  and  soon  evinced  a  marked 
interest  in  the  nature  of  medicines  and  the  method 
of  treatment  of  the  cases  under  his  care,  so  much 
so  that  her  father,  in  answer  to  her  numerous  ques- 
tions, incidentally  imparted  to  her  much  valuable 
information.  She  married  a  physician,  Dr.  Daniel 
Reed,  at  Sandy  Creek,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  i, 
1828.  She  often  accompanied  her  husband,  as  she 
had  her  father,  in  his  professional  rounds,  and,  hav- 
ing access  to  his  books,  she  availed  herself  of  them 
to  perfect  her  knowledge  of  medicine. 

On  coming  to  Fulton  with  her  husband  in  1838, 
she  rendered  valuable  assistance  to  Dr.  Reed  in  the 
care  of  his  patients,  especially  during  the  sickly 
seasons  so  common  in  the  early  settlement  of  this 
region.  At  one  time,  during  the  absence  of  the 
Doctor  from  the  city,  the  care  of  a  large  number  of 
sick  fell  to  her  charge.  She  turned  her  house  into 
a  hospital,  and  several  of  the  leading  business  men 
of  Fulton  were  thankful  to  be  under  her  skillful 
treatment.  Her  husband  retired  from  practice  about 
1860,  and  she  became  the  doctor  in  earnest.  She 
went  to  every  call,  at  all  times  of  day  or  night,  in 
storm  or  sunshine.  Many  a  cold  wintry  night  she 
was  called  out  of  her  bed  to  traverse  snow-drifted 
streets  to  attend  some  patient.  She  was  successful 
to  a  remarkable  degree,  and  continued  to  practice 
upward  of  20  years. 

An  adventure  that  befell  Mrs.  Reed  many  years 
ago  is  deserving  of  mention.  She  had  been  visit- 


ing  Dr.  Bassett's  family  at  Lyons  with  her  husband 
in  early  spring,  before  the  break-up  began,  and  was 
returning  in  the  evening  on  the  ice  on  foot  to  Fulton. 
Her  husband  carried  a  pole  with  which  to  test  the 
ice,  but  in  spite  of  his  caution,  when  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  distance  had  been  traversed,  the  ice 
gave  way  and  they  found  themselves  in  the  river  and 
in  imminent  danger  of  being  carried  under  the  ice 
by  the  strong  current.  Mrs.  Reed  worked  herself 
around  to  the  strongest  part  of  the  ice  where  by  a 
desperate  effort  she  succeeded  in  raising  herself  upon 
it ;  then,  by  the  aid  of  the  pole  which  her  husband 
had  carried,  she  pulled  him  out!  He  was  in  favor 
of  returning  to  the  Iowa  side,  but  Mrs.  Reed  had 
left  a  family  of  children  at  home  and  was  determined 
to  make  the  crossing,  which  they  did,  in  safety,  al- 
though with  clothes  frozen  stiff.  This  incident  goes 
to  prove  the  heroic  energy  of  the  lady,  who  by  her 
cool  courage  and  nerve  saved  her  own  life  as  well 
as  that  of  her  husband. 

During  the  late  war  Mrs.  Reed' was  President  of 
the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  and  did  noble  service  in 
the  sanitary  cause. 

She  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
when  1 6  years  of  age,  and  has  been  a  consistent 
member  of  that  denomination  continuously  since. 
She  is  now  84  years  of  age,  but  with  eyes  as  bright 
and  faculties  as  perfect  as  many  a  lady  of  half  her 
years.  She  is  a  remarkably  bright  and  intelligent 
lady,  possessed  of  many  estimable  qualities  of  mind 
and  heart.  Her  life  has  been  rich  in  acts  of  useful- 
ness and  kindness,  and  now,  as  the  shadows  lengthen 
she  is  happy  in  the  assurance  of  a  safe  place  in  the 
love  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances 
and  friends.  She  reared  a  family  of  six  children,  of 
whom  mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  her  hus 
band. 


rancis  M.  Harrison,  farmer,  section  36, 
Union  Grove  Township,  was  born  Jan.  i, 
1839,  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ohio.  He  accom- 
panied his  parents,  Michael  and  Rachel  (Ru- 
pert) Harrison,  to  White-side  County  when  he 
was  12  years  of  age.  His  father  was  born  in 
Tennessee,  and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
They  were  respectively  of  German  and  English  an- 
cestry. They  settled  in  Union  Grove  Township  in 


WHITESIDh  COUNTY. 


1852,  and  the  father  died  Dec.  i,  1863.  The  de- 
mise of  the  mother  occurred  Jan.  28,  1878.  Follow- 
ing are  the  names  of  their  1 1  children, — George, 
Lucy  L.,  William,  John,  Andrew  J.,  Rachel,  Michael, 
Jr.,  Louisa  J.,  Francis  M.,  Henry  and  Isabella. 

Mr.  Harrison  received  his  educational  training  in 
the  common  schools  of  Ohio  and  Illinois,  and  he  has 
been  a  continuous  resident  of  the  township  of  Union 
Grove,  and  he  is  one  of  its  prominent  agriculturists. 
His  farm  on  section  36  contains  187  acres  of  land, 
which  is  under  good  cultivation.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  he  has  held  various  local  official 
positions. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Harrison  to  Amanda  M.  Bell 
was  celebrated  Nov.  8,  1861,  in  the  township  of 
Union  Grove,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
five  children,  whose  names  are  Eli  S.,  Augusta  A., 
Leona  S.,  Clara  B.  and  Cora  M.  Mrs.  Harrison  was 
born  Feb.  13,  1846,  in  Logan  Co.,  Ohio,  and  she  is 
the  only  child  of  her  parents,  Joseph  and  Harriet 
(Wells)  Bell. 


evi  Houghton,  retired  farmer  of  Fulton,  and 
an  early  settler  of  Whiteside  County,  was 
born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  March  26, 
1805,  and  is  the  son  of  Elijah  and  Martha 
(Oaks)  Houghton.  He  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  childhood,  and 
from  there  to  Herkimer  County  when  he  was  13 
years  of  age,  where  he  was  married  Sept.  30,  1830,10 
Clarissa  Jackson,  daughter  of  Samuel  Jackson,  whose 
father  was  a  cousin  of  Gen.  Jackson.  They  had 
live  sons  and  two  daughters  :  Harrison  mar- 
ried Clarissa  Blodgett  and  lives  in  Ustick ;  George 
died  in  childhood  ;  Amelia  C.  is  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Conkey,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. ;  Samuel  N.  mar- 
ried May  McDaniels  and  lives  in  Nebraska ;  Clar- 
ence B.  married  Mary  French  and  lives  in  Ustick; 
Sedate  W.  is  the  wife  of  James  F.  Ward,  of  Fulton  ; 
and  Daniel  S.  is  single  and  lives  in  Dakota. 

Mr.  Houghton  moved  from  Herkimer  to  Lewis  Co., 
N.  Y.,  soon  after  his  marriage,  and  from  there  to 
Ustick,  Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  in  1845.  He  had  a  fine 
farm  of  400  acres  in  that  township,  which  he  has 
deeded  to  his  two  youngest  sons,  reserving  the  in- 
come while  he  lives.  Mrs.  Houghton  died  Oct.  25, 


1861.  Mr.  Houghton  was  married  again  April  15, 

1862,  and  in  the  town  of  Ustick,  to   Miss  Elizabeth 
Todd,  daughter  of  Moses   Todd,   of  Newburyport, 
Mass.  Mrs.  Houghton  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Mr.  Houghton  retired  from  farming  in  1872  and 
came  to  Fulton,  since  which  time  he  has  resided  in 
this  city.  He  was  a  Democrat -up  to  1860,  when  he 
joined  the  Republican  party.  Mrs.  Houghton  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Fulton. 


ev.  Oliver  Beach,  of  Union vi lie,  has  been 
a  resident  of  Whiteside  County  since  1853. 
His.  parents,  David  and  Mary  (Peck) 
Beach,  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and  re- 
moved thence  to  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1825. 
In  1839  they  made  another  removal  to  Iowa, 
where  they  resided  as  long  as  they  lived.  They  had 
six  children:  Oliver,  Eliada,  David,  Bernice,  Calvin 
and  Elizor. 

Mr.  Beach  is  the  eldest  child  of  his  parents,  and 
was  born  Jan.  26,  1827,  in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  began  the  acquisition  of  his  education  in  the 
common  schools.  He  was  12  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  continued  to  attend 
school  and  also  engaged  in  farm  labor  at  home  un- 
til he  was  20  years  of  age.  He  then  engaged  as  a 
farm  laborer  and  operated  in  his  own  interests  about 
three  years.  About  1850  he  purchased  a  limited 
number  of  acres  of  land  in  Iowa,  which  he  ex- 
changed in  1853  for  land  in  Whiteside  County.  In 
the  spring  of  that  year  he  came  hither  and  located 
on  his  property  in  the  township  of  Newton,  where  he 
was  a  resident  until  his  removal  to  Garden  Plain 
Township,  where  he  owns  129  acres  of  land,  which 
is  all  under  tillage. 

Mr.  Beach  is  an  adherent  of  the  political  element 
known  as  Prohibitionists. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Oct.  26,  1854,  to  Mar- 
garet McNeil,  and  they  had  three  children  :  James 
O.,  David  E.  and  William.  Their  mother  was  lx>rn 
in  Ireland  and  was  brought  in  infancy  by  her  par- 
ents to  the  United  States.  She  died  Aug.  7,  1873, 
in  the  township  of  Garden  Plain.  Mr.  Beach  formed 
a  second  matrimonial  alliance,  with  Mrs.  Mary  (Nev- 
itt)  Gibler.  Their  marriage  took  place  July  15, 
1876,  in  the  township  of  Garden  Plain.  Mrs.  Beach 

•-;•  v:<- 


I 


. 


-  ..  - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


(2; 


«  ' 

*     r 

^!S 


is  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Rhoda  (Johnson)  Nev- 
itt,  and  was  the  widow  of  Jeremiah  Gibler.  Her 
parents  were  born  in  Ohio.  Her  first  husband  died 
in  November,  1872,  and  by  him  she  became  the 
mother  of  n  children  :  Amanda  J.,  Isaac  M.,  Chris- 
tine, Amos,  James,  Rhoda,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Car- 
rie, Disbury  and  John.  Mrs.  Beach  was  born  May 
13,  1825,  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  religious  body  known  as  the  United  Brethren. 
Mr.  Beach  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  In  1860  he  received  a  license  as  an 
exhorter,  and  since  1876  he  has  been  a  local  preacher. 
Feeling  that  he  is  called  to  preach,  he  has  tried  as 
well  as  he  could  to  preach,  the  gospel  in  school- 
houses  as  opportunity  presented  itself.  He  has  also 
taken  great  interest  in  Sabbath-schools,  organizing 
and  superintending  schools  in  school-houses  in  the 
country  in  the  afternoon,  after  taking  part  in  one  in 
forenoon  in  the  church  where  he  holds  his  member- 
ship. Often  he  has  been  a  member  of  two  schools 
at  once,  laboring  earnestly  for  the  religious  instruc- 
tion of  children. 


t"  "Wscar  Summers,    of  the  firm   of  O.   &   C. 
f:f.   Summers,  grocers  at  Fulton,  was  born  in 

Sterling,  111.,  June  5,  1842,  and  is  the  son 
of    Ephraim    and  Mary    L.   (Dickson)   Sum- 
mers.    He  came  to   Fulton  with  his  parents 
in  1846,  and  was  educated  in  the  city  schools 
of  this  place. 

He  enlisted  Oct.  8,  1861,  as  a  private  of  Co.  F, 
52d  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  was  promoted  Corporal,  Ser- 
geant and  finally  commissioned  Captain.  He  re-en- 
listed as  a  veteran  Jan.  i,  1864,  and  served  till  the 
close  of  the  war,  being  in  the  151)1  and  i6th  Army 
Corps  and  participating  in  all  battles  and  engage- 
ments in  which  his  regiment  was  represented.  He 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  siege  of  Corinth, 
battle  of  Corinth,  Atlanta  campaign,  Sherman's 
march  to  the  sea,  battle  of  Bentonville  and  other 
minor  engagements. 

In  1869  he  formed  a  partnership,  in  the  grocery 
business,  with  Mr.  John  L.  Knight,  at  Fulton, 
which  connection  continued  till  the  spring  of  1871, 
when  his  brother  Cloys  bought  out  Mr.  Knight  and 
the  present  firm  was  established.  The  Summers 


Bros,  carry  a  well  assorted  stock  of  general  groceries, 
provisions    and  crockery,   of    an  average    value   of 

$2,000. 

Mr.  Summers  was  married  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa, 
April  2,  1877,10  Miss  Elizabeth  Exley,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  B.  M.  Exley.  Mrs.  Summers  was  born 
in  Clyde  Township,  this  county.  They  have  two 
children  (daughters),  Ruby  E.  and  Margery  A. 


illiam  Lovett,  farmer,  section  8,  Union 
Grove  Township,  has  been  a  land-holder 
in  Whiteside  County  since  1858.  He  was 
born  Nov.  3,  1829,  in  New  Jersey,  of  which 
State  his  parents,  John  and  Beulah  (Harvey) 
Lovett,  were  natives,  and  where  they  passed 
their  entire  lives.  Their  five  children  were  named 
Isaac,  John,  Samuel,  William  and  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  Lovett  was  sent  to  the  public  schools  until  he 
was  14  years  of  age,  when  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
blacksmith,  and  served  six  years,  acquiring  a  thor- 
oughly practical  knowledge  of  the  business  in  all  its 
details,  and  he  made  it  the  vocation  of  his  life  in  his 
native  State  until  1858,  the  year  in  which  he  re- 
moved to  Unionville,  where  he  was  similarly  occu- 
pied for  a  year.  Meanwhile  he  determined  to 
become  a  farmer,  and,  in  the  following  year,  he  pur- 
chased a  small  farm  in  the  township  of  Union  Grove. 
He  continued  its  proprietor  seven  years,  when  he 
sold  it  and  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  section  8, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  His  farm  is  in  creditable 
agricultural  condition,  and  the  owner  has'materially 
added  to  its  value  by  erecting  substantial  farm 
buildings.  Mr.  Lovett  is  a  Republican  in  political 
faith  and  connections. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emmeline  Russell, 
March  23,  1859,  in  Mt.  Holly,  N.  J.,  and  they  have 
had  four  children.  Anna  E.,  Emma  A.  and  William 
A.  still  survive.  Mary  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Lovett 
is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Harriet  (Lovett)  Rus- 
sell. Her  parents  were  natives  of  New  Jersey  and 
had  four  children,  all  girls, — Rachel,  Emmeline, 
Louisa  and  Jane.  Mrs.  Lovett  was  born  Sept.  18, 
1827,  in  Springfield,  N.  J.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 


Lit" 

UNIVERSITY  of 
Ui&ANA 


i  f 


I 
- 
\ 


VV-;  H  H  XI>  M  H  •"  yv 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


jj^enry  D.  Pond,  general  farmer,  section  31, 
Genesee  Township,  was  born  Oct.  r2,  1840, 
in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  He  is  the  son  of 
Stephen  and  Abiah  (Bristol)  Pond,  whose  rec- 
ord, together  with  a  statement  of  the  genealogy 
of  the  family  in  America,  is  presented  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  He  was  an  infant  of  a  few  months 
when  his  parents  changed  their  residence  to  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  when  he  was  1 1  years  of  age  they 
made  a  final  transfer  of  their  interests  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Genesee  Township. 

Mr.  Pond  grew  to  manhood  in  Whiteside  County, 
passing  the  successive  years  in  working  on  the  home 
estate  and  obtaining  such  education  as  the  common 
schools  of  the  place  and  period  afforded.  The  same 
blood  that  flowed  in  the  veins  of  his  ancestors,  in 
both  lines  of  descent,  and  impelled  them  to  unite  in 
the  common  cause  and  struggle  for  the  independ- 
ence of  the  Colonies,  furnished  the  impetus  under 
whose  influence  he  identified  himself  with  the  cause 
of'  the  Union,  when  the  echoes  from  the  rebel  guns 
of  April  14,  i86r,  sounded  the  knell  of  peace.  He 
determined  to  enroll  himself  among  the  defenders  of 
the  principles  which  had  protected  him,  and  he  en- 
listed at  Chicago,  Aug.  28,  i86r,  in  the  391)1  Regt. 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  G, 
under  Captain  Slaughter.  The  regiment  was  under 
the  command  of  Col.  Light  and  was  assigned  to  the 
Department  of  the  South.  During  the  first  portion 
of  its  period  of  service  it  was  attached  to  the  com- 
mand of  General  Grant  and  afterwards  to  that  of 
General  Butler.  Among  the  more  important  actions 
in  which  Mr.  Pond  was  a  participant,  were  the  siege 
of  Charleston,  Deep  Bottoms  and  the  action  before 
Petersburg.  He  was  in  numerous  smaller  engage- 
ments and  skirmishes,  and  was  the  only  one  out  of 
1 6  that  enlisted  from  his  vicinity  who  went  through 
three  years  of  military  service  without  dying  or  suf- 
fering from  wounds  or  sickness.  He  received  hon- 
forable  discharge  Sept.  10,  1864,  at  Petersburg.  He 
served  all  the  time  in  the  ranks  and  was  never  cap- 
tured by  the  rebels.  He  was  nearly  2 1  years  of  age 
when  he  became  a  soldier,  and  on  his  return  to 
Genesee  Township  he  engaged  in  farming. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to   Margaret  Fleming, 


March  15,  1866,  at  Mt.  Carroll,  111.  Mrs.  Pond  is 
the  daughter  of  Robert  L.  and  Jane  (Wilson)  Flem- 
ing. Her  parents  were  natives  respectively  of  Phil- 
adelphia and  of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  families 
to  which  they  belonged  removed  to  Indiana,  where 
they  met  and  were  married  in  Lawrence  County- 
The  daughter  was  born  there  Jan.  13,  r842,  and  she 
came  with  her  parents  to  Carroll  County  in  1848, 
and  grew  to  womanhood  in  that  county.  Her  father 
died  Feb.  27, 1878  ;  the  death  of  her  mother  occurred 
Nov.  9,  1880.  They  had  ten  children  and  Mrs. 
Pond  is  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  She  is  the  mother 
of  one  child,  Abiah  D.,  born  Dec.  24,  1873. 

Mr.  Pond  settled  in  his  new  capacity  of  the  head 
of  a  family,  on  a  farm  containing  80  acres  of  land, 
of  which  40  acres  lay  in  Genesee  Township  and  the 
other  half  in  the  township  of  Hopkins.  It  was 
partly  improved  but  had  no  buildings.  These  have 
since  been  supplied  and  are  of  a  creditable  character. 
The  horses  and  cattle  on  the  place  are  of  excellent 
grade. 

Mr.  Pond  is  such  a  Republican  as  his  war  record 
evinces,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  local  politics. 
Mrs.  Pond  accepts  the  views  of  Spiritualism. 


enry  L.  Birdsall,  farmer,  section  4,  Hop- 
kins Township,  is  a  son  of  James  and  Lydia 
(De  Germo)  Birdsall,  natives  of  New  York 
State,  who  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  the 
spring  of  1845,  settling  in  Sterling  Township, 
where  they  lived  until  their  death.  They  had 
five  children,  named  Edmund  N.,  Elias  D.,  Henry 
L.,  George  A.  and  Harriet. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Mendon, 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  n,  1834.  He  received  a 
common-school  education  and  came  when  he  was 
ten  years  old,  with  his  father,  to  this  county,  where 
he  has  since  lived,  engaged  in  farming.  He  first 
bought  a  farm  on  section  8,  Hopkins  Township, 
where  he  settled  and  lived  about  eight  years,  when 
he  sold  and  bought  r47  acres  on  section  4,  where  he 
at  present  resides.  He  has  erected  fine  buildings  on 
his  farm,  and  most  of  his  land  is  in  a  state  of  good 
cultivation. 

He  was  married  first  in  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  19, 
1857,  to  Mary  A.  Flemming,  a  native  of  Indiana. 

/*— ^  ^TH. 


I 
®l 


- 


•254 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


i 


They  have  had  one  child,  C.lara  J.,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  Henry  Stevens,  and  resides  in  Stephenson 
Co.,  111.  Mrs.  B.  died  in  Hopkins  Township,  Jan. 
28,  1863,  and  Mr.  Birdsall  was  again  married  March 
15,  1864,  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.  to  Joanna  Wood, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Ann  (Moran)  Wood,  natives 
of  Ireland,  who  married  and  settled  in  Rochester,  N. 
Y.  Mr.  Wood  was  a  member  of  the  r4oth  N.  Y. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  died  in  the  army,  in  the  fall  of  1863  ; 
Mrs.  Wood  died  Dec.  18,  1883,  in  Mendon,  Monroe 
Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
namely,  John,  Mary  A.,  Joanna,  Thomas,  Frank, 
Margaret  and!  Anna;  one  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  B. 
was  born  in  Monroe  Co  ,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  3,  1843.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  B.  are  the  parents  of  four  children :  Alonzo 
G.,  Loren  E.,  Estella  and  Harry  L. 

Mr.  Birdsall  has  been  School  Director  and  Over- 
seer of  Highways.  In  politics  he  is  identified  with 
the  National  party. 

As  a  prominent  citizen  of  Whiteside  County,  and  one 
who  has  been  intimately  identified  with  the  best 
interests  and  growth  of  the  county,  we  take  pleas- 
ure in  placing  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Birdsall  in  this 
ALBUM.  Coming  to  the  county  when  a  mere  boy,  he 
has  grown  and  developed  in  all  that  goes  to  make  a 
representative  citizen  of  this  splendid  portion  of  the 
great  Prairie  State.  As  a  fitting  'companion  picture 
we  place  beside  his  that  of  his  estimable  wife.  These 
pictures  were  made  from  photographs  taken  in  1885. 


A.  Hardin,  of  the  banking  house  of  T. 
A.  Hardin   &   Co.,    Fulton,    was   born   in 
McDonough  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  14,  1845,  and  is 
the  son  of  Victor  M.  and  Nancy  A.  (Purdy) 
Hardin.     His  parents  were  born  in  Kentucky 
and  settled  in  Illinois  in  1831,  being  among 
the  earliest  pioneers  of  this  State. 

T.  A.  received  a  common-school  education,  and 
began  his  business  life  as  Deputy  Clerk  of  Mc- 
Donough Co.,  111.  He  remained  in  that  position 
only  a  short  time  when  he  went  to  Quincy,  where  he 
was  employed  in  the  money  department  of  the 
Farmers  &  Merchants'  Insurance  Company.  He 
was  made  cashier  and  served  the  company  five  years. 
In  1871  he  established  the  banking  house  of  T.  A. 
Hardin  &  Co.,  at  Blandinsville,  111.,  which?he  con- 


ducted  till  January,  1876,  when  he  sold  for  profit. 
He  then  came  to  Fulton  and  established  the  present 
banking  house  of  T.  A.  Hardin  &  Co.,  Aug.  i,  1876. 
He  had  associated  with  him  at  that  time  Messrs. 
Quinton  C.  Ward,  John  H.  Hungate  and  N.  W. 
MeGee.  The  last  named  gentleman  sold  his  inter- 
est to  Mr.  Hardin  Aug.  i,  1882.  This  bank  does  a 
general  banking  business,  and  represents  a  capital  of 
$100,000.  Mr.  Hardin's  partners,  Ward  &  Hungate, 
reside  at  La  Harpe,  111.,  while  Mr.  Hardin  is  the 
resident  partner  and  manager  of  the  bank  at  Fulton. 

Mr.  Hardin  was  married  at  Rock  Island,  111., 
Feb.  7,  1878,  to  Miss  Ida  C.  Eckert,  daughter  of 
George  and  Caroline  (Dennis)  Eckert.  Mrs.  Hardin 
was  born  in  Fulton,  111.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hardin  have  one 
child,  Mary  Alice,  born  at  Fulton,  April  2,  1879. 

Mr.  Hardin  is  a  thoroughgoing  business  man, 
whose  ability  as  a  financier  and  unquestioned  in- 
tegrity commands  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
customers  and  the  business  public.  He  was  made  a 
Mason  in  Bodley  Lodge,  No.  i,  of  Quincy,  111.,  in 
1866.  He  is  now  a  member  of  Fulton  City  Lodge, 
No.  189,  and  of  the  Fulton  Chapter,  No.  108,  R.  A. 
M.,  and  of  Sterling  Commandery,  K.  T. 


dmund  Bowman,  jeweler  on  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Mulberry  Streets,  Sterling,  was 
born  in  Strasburg,  Pa.,  Oct.  14,  1824,  and 
is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Ann  Bowman,  who 
were  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  He 
remained  at  his  parental  home  until  the  age  of 
20,  receiving  a  common-school  education  and  learn- 
ing of  his  father  the  jewelry  business. 

After  leaving  home,  he  worked  at  his  trade  as 
journeyman  in  Kennett  Square,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.  He 
opened  business  for  himself  the  first  time  in  1853, 
but  subsequently  he  closed  business  there,  brought 
his  stock  of  goods  to  Sterling,  opened  a  jewelry  house 
and  has  since  prosecuted  his  business  here.  His 
success  in  this  line,  as  might  be  expected,  has  been 
marked.  He  has  a  farm  of  204  acres  three  miles 
from  Sterling,  besides  the  corner  he  occupies  in  busi- 
ness and  two  dwelling-houses  in  Sterling.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  the  community  he  enjoys 
a  high  and  honorable  standing. 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


255 


I 


May  13,  1857,  is  the  date  of  his  marriage  lo  Maria 
P.  Adams,  and  they  have  five  children  living, 
namely,  Frank  J.,  Grant  J.,  Edward,  Jennie  and 
Louise. 


t'ames  Lynch,  a  farmer  of  Genesee  Town- 
^  ship,  located  on  section  34,  was  born  Dec.- 
10,  1837,  in  County  Kilkenny,  Province  of 
Leinster,  Ireland.  His  parents,  James  and 
Honora  (Sullivan)  Lynch,  were  Irish  by  birth 
and  long  descent,  their  ancestors  having  lived 
in  Ireland  as  far  back  as  the  generations  can  be 
traced.  Mr.  Lynch's  father  died  some  months  be- 
fore the  son's  birth,  and  before  the  latter  was  five 
years  of  age  he  was  in  possession  of  a  step-father. 
He  had  two  step-sisters,  one  of  whom  died  young, 
and  the  other  is  living  in  Clinton,  Iowa.  An  elder 
sister  of  Mr.  Lynch  is  still  living  in  Ireland. 

He  remained  in  his  native  country  until  he  was 
nearly  of  age,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1857,  landing  in  Boston  on  the  ist  day  of  June. 
He  came  direct  to  Chicago,  where  he  obtained  em- 
ploy in  a  shingle  factory,  working  for  a  Mr.  Oliver. 
He  came  thence  to  Lee  Co.,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year,  and  worked  at  Franklin  Grove  for  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  corporation.  In 
the  spring  following,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  &  Rock  Island  Company,  going  to  Minne- 
sota in  their  interests.  In  1859  he  returned  to.  the 
employ  of  the  former  corporation.  A  few  months 
later  he  went  to  Arkansas,  where  he  worked  on  the 
levees. 

He  came  back  to  Whiteside  County  in  the  spring 
of  1860,  and  July  8,  1863,  he  was  married,  in  that 
city,  to  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Mark  and  M.ary  (Tay- 
lor) Harrison,  pioneers  of  Whiteside  County  and 
represented  in  the  personal  account  of  James  H. 
Harrison,  the  brother  of  Mrs.  Lynch.  She  was 
born  March  3,  1844,  on  the  homestead  of  her  father 
in  Genesee  Township.  She  was  educated  and 
grew  to  womanhood  in  the  same  township  in  which 
she  was  born,  and  where  she  has  passed  her  entire 
life.  She  had  the  advantage  of  two  years'  instruc- 
tion by  a  private  teacher  in  her  father's  house.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lynch  six  children  have  been  born, 
all  of  whom  are  living  but  one.  James  M.  was 


born  Aug.  18,  1864;  Joseph  T.,  June  15,  1869; 
Olive  A.,  born  Sept.  19, 1870,  died  in  1873  ;  Edward 
M.,  Aug.  6,  1872  ;  Mary  E.,  Ju^y  24,  1874  ;  William 
H.,  April  8,  1877.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lynch  resided  for  a  time  at  Sterling,  and  the 
husband  was  there  employed  on  the  line  of  railroad 
then  being  built.  A  year  later  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  S.  T.  Hosmer,  a  brewer,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  1866.  In  July  of  that  year  Mr. 
Lynch  became  a  farmer  in  the  township  of  Genesee 
and  operated  some  years  as  a  renter.  They  finally 
settled  on  40  acres  of  land  which  became  the  prop- 
erty of  Mrs.  Lynch  by  inheritance  from  her  father's 
estate.  It  is  in  excellent  condition  with  fine  barn 
and  residence,  which  have  been  erected  by  Mr. 
Lynch.  He  is  a  believer  in  the  Catholic  faith ;  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr. 
Lynch  is  an  active  and  earnest  Republican. 


tr.  N.  W.  Hubbard,  deceased,  formerly  a 
resident  of  Fulton,  possessed  a  national 
reputation  with  the  medical  profession  as 
the  inventor  of  the  world-renowned  "  Hubbard 
Truss  "  and  the  originator  of  the  successful 
system  of  hernia  treatment  which  bears  his 
name.  The  use  of  the  ingenious  appliances  invent- 
ed by  Dr.  Hubbard  and  the  application  of  his  sys- 
tem of  treatment  in  cases  of  hernia,  has  resulted  in 
saving  many  lives  and  in  affording  relief  to  thousands 
of  sufferers. 

Dr.  Hubbard  was  the  eldest  son  in  a  family  of  ten 
children,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Randolph, 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  April  10,  1810.  His  parents, 
Bela  F.  and  Clarissa  (Ward)  Hubbard,  were  natives 
of  Connecticut  and  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  the  Western  Reserve  of  Ohio.  Dr.  Hubbard  took 
a  regular  course  at  the  Medical  College  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  graduated  with  honor  in  the  class  of  1840. 
He  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Newark,  Licking  Co.,  Ohio.  Being  a  sufferer  from 
hernia,  he  was  led  to  an  investigation  of  the  current 
methods  of  treatment  and  the  mechanical  appliances 
in  use  in  such  cases.  He  made  a  thorough  study  of 
the  subject,  that  resulted  in  valuable  discoveries, 
which  were  presented  to  the  profession  through  a 
paper  read  by  him  before  the  State  Medical  Associa- 


i* 
I 


-    .  - 


V 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


K 


tion  of  Ohio,  and  which  was  printed  and  circulated 
extensively  by  order  of  the  Association.  During  his 
long  and  useful  career  as  a  physician,  his  services 
and  advice  were  often  sought,  in  consultation,  by 
such  teachers  of  surgery  as  Girdon  Buck  and  Wil- 
lard  Parker,  of  New  York,  and  R.  L.  Howard,  of 
Ohio. 

Dr.  Hubbard  was  married  at  Rootstown,  Portage 
Co.,  Ohio,  July  6,  1837,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Coe,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Lucy  (Lester)  Coe.  Mrs.  Hub- 
bard  is  a  native  of  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  Her  parents 
were  born  and  brought  up  in  Massachusetts,  and 
were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Western  Ohio.  The 
Doctor  removed  to  Elyria,  Ohio,  in  1 85 1 ,  and  from 
that  time  out  he  devoted  his  efforts  entirely  to  his 
specialty,  the  treatment  of  hernia  in  its  various 
phases.  He  came  to  Fulton,  111.,  in  1855,  and  made 
this  his  home  till  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred May  14,  1883.  While  Fulton  was  his  place 
of  residence,  his  professional  services  were  in  demand 
throughout  the  States  and  Territories,  and  for  some 
years  he  maintained  an  office  in  New  York  city. 

He  was  an  earnest  supporter  of  a  free  and  liberal 
educational  system,  and  for  several  years  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Northern  Illinois 
College.  He  was  enterprising  and  public-spirited, 
taking  an  active  part  in  matters  of  local  improve- 
ment. He  was  active  in  organizing  the  Agricultural 
Society  of  Whiteside  County,  and  was  chosen  its  first 
President.  In  politics  he  was  an  ardent  Republican, 
of  strong  anti-slavery  sympathies  in  the  early  history 
of  the  party  and  of  as  strong  Prohibition  sympathies 
in  later  years.  Withal,  he  was  conservative  and  ad- 
vocated only  legitimate,  legal  measures  of  redress, 
always  opposing  extreme  or  radical  views. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard  had  four  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters, — Frances,  Lester  C.,  Frederick 
H.  and  Grace.  Frances,  the  eldest,  is  the  widow  of 
Harry  Bellard,  and  resides  at  Hannibal,  Mo.  Lester 
C.  was  a  Captain  in  the  volunteer  service  in  the  late 
war,  and  is  now  employed  as  editor  on  a  Boston 
paper.  Frederick  H.  studied  medicine  and  graduated 
at  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  of  New  York, 
and  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Brooklyn.  He  married  Miss  Emma  Owen,  of  Han- 
nibal, Mo.  Grace,  the  youngest  child,  resides  with 
her  mother  at  the  old  homestead  in  Fulton,  111. 

Dr.  Hubbard  was  a  true  and  affectionate  husband 


and  father,  a  worthy  brother  of  the  Masonic  Order, 
being  a  member  of  Fulton  City  Lodge,  No.  189,  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.  As  a  neighbor  and  citizen,  he  was  held 
in  high  esteem,  while  in  the  medical  profession, 
where  his  great  services  were  best  appreciated,  he 
won  a  place  of  which  his  friends  may  well  be  proud. 


-5- 


Solomon  Eshleman,  a  farmer  of  Clyde 
Township,  established  on  section  24,  was 
one  of  the  first  mechanics  to  locate  at 
Morrison,  where  he  started  a  blacksmith  shop 
in  1855.  He  was  born  March  i,  1827,  in 
Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  almost  wholly  without 
knowledge  of  his  parents.  His  father  died  before 
his  birth,  and  all  the  inheritance  left  was  his  name, 
which  was  bestowed  upon  his  son.  The  mother  was 
unable  to  give  her  child  proper  care  and  rearing,  and 
she  confided  him,  when  only  a  few  weeks  old,  to 
strangers,  who  did  not  desire  to  have  him  retain  any 
knowledge  of  his  origin,  and  he  has  never  known  her 
name.  He  became  a  laborer  on  arriving  at  a  suit- 
able age,  and  remained  in  his  native  State  until  he 
was  22  years  of  age.  In  1850  he  came  to  Freeport, 
111.,  and  worked  as  a  blacksmith,  having  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  that  business  at  Goodstown,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  under  the  training  of  Daniel  Grooninger.  He 
went  from  Freeport  to  Sabula,  Jackson  Co.,  Iowa, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  18  months.  He  came 
thence  to  Savanna,  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  and  was  simi- 
larly occupied  about  one  year  at  that  place.  In 
1855,  associated  with  Thomas  McClelland,  he  es- 
tablished a  shop  at  Morrison  for  general  work.  Their 
business  relations  existed  four  years,  terminating  in 
1860. 

Mr.  Eshleman  was  married  in  December,  1860,  to 
Louisa  Siddles.  She  was  born  June  27,  1837,  in 
New  Jersey.  Her  parents  were  of  New  England 
origin  and  came  to  Illinois  in  the  '40*5,  locating  in 
Whiteside  County,  north  of  the  city  of  Sterling.  Her 
father  and  mother  have  both  been  dead  some  years. 
Mr.  Eshleman  continued  to  prosecute  the  busi- 
ness of  a  blacksmith  at  Morrison  about  ten  years  af- 
ter his  marriage.  In  1870  he  purchased  82  acres  of 
land  in  Clyde  Township,  of  which  he  took  possession 
the  same  year.  The  place  had  been  improved  to 
some  extent,  and  it  has  since  been  placed  by  its 


•... 


A 


-2$&KT 


> 


^X^.HHX^HH-'v^V 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


proprietor  in  complete  agricultural  condition,  and  has 
constituted  the  family  homestead.  The  acreage  has 
been  increased  until  it  includes  151  acres.  Mr. 
Eshleman  is  a  Democrat  and  was  brought  up  in  the 
German  Lutheran  faith. 

Five  children  have  been  born  to  him  and  his  wife. 
William  F.  died  in  infancy.  Emma  E.,  Joseph  H., 
Benjamin  and  Cora  M.  are  the  names  of  the  four 
who  are  now  living. 


r.  J.  Frank  Keefer,  practicing  physician  at 
Sterling,  was  born  May  10,  1856,  in  Hop- 
kins Township,  this  county.  His  parents, 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Strickler)  Keefer,  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1854-5  came 
West,  settling  in  Empire,  Hopkins  Township, 
where  Mr.  Keefer  purchased  a  farm  of  80  acres  and 
followed  farming  until  1875,  when  he  sold  and 
moved  into  Sterling.  In  the  spring  of  1878  he  pur- 
chased Dr.  Gait's  drug-store  on  the  corner  of  Locust 
and  Third  Streets,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
business  there. 

Mr.  Keefer,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared 
as  a  farmer's  son  until  17  years  of  age,  when  he  en- 
tered the  Carthage  (111.)  College  and  continued  there 
until  the  spring  of  1878,  graduating  ;  then,  attending 
Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago  two  winter  terms 
and  one  spring,  he  received  his  medical  diploma, 
Feb.  22,  1 88 1 ;  and  finally  located  in  Sterling,  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  a  rising 
popularity.  He  is  also  a  partner  of  his  father  in  the 
drug-store,  which  also  is  a  leading  business  estab- 
lishment of  the  place. 


ddison  S.  Melvin,  merchant  on  Third  Street, 
Sterling,  was  born  Sept.  22,  1828,  in 
Geauga  Co.,  Ohio.  His  parents,  Alonzo 
and  Roenna  (Lyman)  Melvin,  were  natives  of 
Massachusetts  and  descendants  of  the  old 
Puritan  stock.  They  came  to  Ohio  when 
young,  married  in  1819,  and  had  nine  sons  and  four 
daughters,  all  of  whom  excepting  one  son  lived  to 
be  grown ;  the  son  died  when  four  years  and  six 
months  old. 

Addison  remained  with  his  parents  until  22  years 

Kfri ^^ ^M 


of  age,  passing  his  youth  on  the  farm,  at  the  district 
school  and  two  years  (17  to  19  years  old)  at  the 
Western  Reserve  Teachers'  Seminary  at  Kirkland, 
Ohio.  He  then  taught  school  one  season,  but,  his 
health  failing,  he  returned  to  farm  labor  in  New  York 
State.  Two  years  afterward  he  went  to  Southern 
Indiana,  where  he  followed  carpentering  for  nine 
years.  He  came  from  there  to  Sterling  and  engaged 
in  coopering,  employing  r  2  men,  and  continued  in 
the  same  line  for  16  years;  then,  in  1882,  he  started 
in  the  grocery  business,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Melvin  &  Son,  and  is  now  prosecuting  a  successful 
trade  in  that  line. 

Mr.  Melvin  was  married  Sept.  7,  1856,  to  Miss 
Cordelia  McKinney,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  they 
have  had  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living : 
Arthur  N.,  Addison  S.,  Jr.,  and  Alonzo  D.  Arthur 
married  Gussie  Roberts,  of  Lyndon,  111.,  March  16, 
1882. 

In  political  matters  Mr.  Melvin  is  a  Republican, 
and  in  religious  he  is  connected  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  as  is  also  Mrs.  M. 


—5- 


bram  D.  Mitchell,  dealer  in  groceries, 
provisions  and  crockery,  at  Fulton,  estab- 
lished his  present  business  in  January, 
1866.  Average  value  of  stock  about  $3,500. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Adams 
Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  10,  1835,  and  is  the  son  of 
David  and  Harriet  (Murphy)  Mitchell.  His  parents 
are  natives  of  Ohio.  The  family  removed  to  Mar- 
shall Co.,  111.,  in  1836,  making  their  home  on  a  farm 
near  Lacon.  He  remained  in  Illinois  about  four  or 
five  years  and  returned  to  Ohio.  In  1843  he  came 
to  Whiteside  County  and  located  in  Albany. 

Abram  D.  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  the  township 
of  Garden  Plain,  Whiteside  County,  till  2 1  years  of 
age.  He  then  went  to  Northern  Iowa  and  in  1858 
to  Colorado  with  a  wagon  train.  In  185 9  he  went 
to  Pike's  Peak  and  spent  three  years  as  a  miner  in 
the  gold  regions.  In  1862  he  went  to  Montana  Ter- 
ritory and  participated  in  the  pioneer  gold-mining  of 
that  region.  He  returned  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of 
1865,  and  located  at  Fulton.  In  January,  1866,  he 
established  his  present  business  in  company  with 
John  Hudson.  Two  years  later  he  purchased  his 


.r  •• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


(3; 


partner's  interest  and  has  carried  on  the  business 
alone  since. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  married  in  Garden  Plain,  White- 
side  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  n,  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Murphy,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Diana  (Jewett) 
Murphy.  Mrs.  Mitchell  was  born  in  Adams  Co., 
Ohio.  They  have  had  four  children,  two  boys  and 
two  girls,  all  born  at  Fulton  :  Charles  J.,  born  Sept. 
21,  1868;  William  H.,  born  Oct.  16,  1873;  Mary  A., 
born  July  9,  1875;  Irene  H.,  born  Jan.  i,  1879.  The 
last  named  died  Oct.  5,  1882.  Mr.  Mitchell  is  a 
member  of  Fulton  City  Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  &.  A. 
M.,  and  has  been  connected  with  that  lodge  since 
1866.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Fulton  Chapter  No. 
1 08. 

Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  As  a 
business  man  he  is  widely  and  favorably  known  as  a 
man  of  strict  integrity,  who  by  fair  dealing  and  earn- 
est attention  to  business  has  succeeded  in  building 
up  an  extensive  trade  from  Fulton  and  surrounding 
country. 


acob  Bailey,  farmer  and  carpenter,  sec- 
tion 5,  Hopkins  Township,  is  a  son  of  Elias 
and  Elizabeth  (Trueax)  Bailey,  natives  re- 
spectively of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania, 
who  settled  in  Fulton  Co.,  Pa.,  where  they  re- 
sided until  their  death.  They  had  a  family  of 
eight  children,  viz. :  Sarah,  Levi,  Ellen,  John,  Jacob, 
Elizabeth,  Job  and  Jessee. 

Mr.  Bailey,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Fulton  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  28,  1828,  and  lived  in  his  na- 
tive county  till  28  years  of  age.  At  the  age  of  20  he 
was  apprenticed  for  two  years  to  learn  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  joiner,  which  he  followed  till  he  came 
West.  He  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  1857  and 
remained  for  two  years,  engaged  at  his  trade,  and 
then  went  to  Central  City,  Col.,  where  he  remained 
for  nine  years  working  at  his  trade  and  in  mill- 
wright business.  He  then  returned  to  Whiteside 
County,  and  purchased  60  acres  of  land  in  section 
5,  Hopkins  Township,  where  he  settled  and  has 
since  lived.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  140  acres, 
most  of  which  is  in  a  good  tillable  condition.  Since 
his  return  from  Colorado  he  has  engaged  extensively 
in  farming.  He  keeps  about  20  head  of  short-horn 


cattle,  four  head    of    horses,   and  fattens    annually 
from  30  to  40  head  of  hogs. 

In  politics  Mr.  Bailey  is  a  Republican. 


..0*0..- 


mos  A.  Hulett,  fanner  on  section  26, 
Union  Grove  Township,  was  born  April  7, 
1812,  in  Chester,  Vt.  He  is  the  son  of 
Benjamin  G.  and  Lydia  (Pollard)  Hulett,  and 
his  father  was  also  born  in  Chester,  March  31, 
1787.  The  latter  died  in  Union  Grove 
Township,  April  10,  1877,  a  few  days  after  he  be- 
came 90  years  old.  The  father  of  B.  G.  Hulett  was 
born  in  Rhode  Island,  Nov.  2,  1751,  and  died  Oct. 
i,  1850,  lacking  one  month  of  being  99  years  of  age. 
Lydia  Hulett  was  born  April  9,  1795,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  died  April  12,  1879,  in  Union  Grove 
Township,  two  years  after  the  decease  of  her  hus- 
band and  in  her  8sth  year. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Hulett  located  after  marriage 
in  Chester,  whence  they  came  in  1865  to  Whiteside 
County,  fixing  their  residence  in  the  township  where 
they  died,  as  stated.  Their  children  were  Amos  A., 
Lucius  A.,  William  L.,  Elias  H.,  Louisa  H.,  John 
P.,  Lydia  A.  and  Sarah  J.  Mr.  Hulett  was  a  resi- 
dent in  his  native  State  until  he  was  23  years  of  age. 
He  obtained  a  good  education  and  learned  the  trade 
of  a  carpenter  before  he  reached  the  age  of  man- 
hood. He  followed  that  as  a  business  until  June, 
1853,  when  he  removed  with  his  family,  consisting 
of  his  wife  and  three  children,  to  Whiteside  County. 
He  located  on  section  26,  where  he  made  a  claim  of 
120  acres  of  land.  To  this  he  has  added  by  later 
purchase,  and  now  owns  160  acres.  The  first  tract  is 
all  under  an  excellent  order  of  cultivation.  Mr. 
Hulett  is  a  prominent  Republican,  and  is  holding 
the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  to  which  he  has 
been  successively  re-elected  several  terms.  He  has 
also  been  elected  School  Director,  Collector  and 
Assessor. 

He  was  married  May  20,  1838,  in  Preble  Co., 
Ohio,  to  Sarah  W.  White,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren :  Ansel  S.,  James  H.,  William,  Robert  G.  and 
John  W.  The  oldest  child  is  deceased.  Mrs.  Hu- 
lett was  born  Sept.  6,  18(8,  in  Reading,  Vt.,  and  she 
is  the  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Johnson) 
White.  Her  parents  were  born  in  New  England. 


-.     ..      - 


JSLvsCXsX/^ 

•$t®3\<§) 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


In  1856  they  came  to  Whiteside  County,  where  they 
remained  through  the  last  years  of  their  lives.  The 
mother  died  at  Morrison,  Sept.  27,  1866.  The  death 
of  the  father  took  place  Aug.  28,  1870.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain.  In 
the  battle  at  Fort  Erie,  both  his  arms  were  shot  away 
by  the  same  ball,  one  arm  being  carried  some  dis- 
tance from  him  before  he  realized  his  situation. 
His  children  were  1 3  in  number,  and  all  lived  to 
mature  age.  They  were  born  in  the  following  order  : 
Priscilla,  Joseph,  Sarah,  Mary,  Susan,  James  G., 
Elizabeth,  John  W.,  Lorenzo  J.,  David,  Jonathan, 
Caroline  and  Thomas. 


enjamin  Burgess,  Jr.,  retired  fanner,  liv- 
ing  on  section  30,  Genesee  Township,  was 
born  July  3,  1809,  in  the  town  of  Fort 
Ann,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is  the  only 
son  of  Benjamin  and  Jerusha  (Chase)  Bur- 
gess, and,  in  the  paternal  line  of  descent,  is 
of  mixed  Irish  and  English  blood,  while  the  mother's 
ancestors  were  English.  They  were  farmers;  and 
the  mother  died  about  1844,  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
when  she  had  passed  the  age  of  60  years.  Benja- 
min Burgess,  senior,  came  to  Genesee  Township  and 
died  at  the  house  of  his  son.  He  has  been  dead 
some  years,  and  was  about  80  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  decease. 

The  family  settled  in  Cayuga  County  about  1819. 
That  section  of  the  Empire  State  was  in  a  dense 
wilderness  of  original  forest.  Mr.  Burgess  was  there 
reared,  and  before  he  separated  from  the  parental 
household  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Sarah  A.  Annable.  She  was  born  Jan.  23,  1809,  in 
Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  her  parents,  Prince  and 
Ruth  (Hovvland)  Annable,  were  also  natives  of  that 
State  and  were  respectively  of  French  and  English 
descent.  They  were  farmers  and  the  families  from 
which  they  came  were  for  a  long  period  of  years 
identified  with  the  history  of  the  United  States,  hav- 
ing come  here  prior  to  the  Revolution.  Mrs.  Bur- 
gess was  eight  years  old  when  her  father  became  a 
citizen  of  Cayuga  County.  There  she  grew  to  ma- 
turity and  was  married  Dec.  17,  1831.  Later,  her 
parents  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Jo  Daviess 
County,  where  their  lives  terminated.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


Burgess  located  on  50  acres  of  land  in  the  township 
of  Fort  Edward  in  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  which 
they  afterward  added  25  acres,  and,  after  making  im- 
portant improvements,  sold  out  to  buy  another  farm 
containing  100  acres,  which  was  all  cultivated.  This 
constituted  the  homestead  until  their  removal  to 
Illinois  in  1841.  They  located  on  a  claim  on  which 
a  settlement  had  been  made  and  which  they  pur- 
chased of  its  original  claimant  previous  to  the  land's 
coining  into  market.  Three  years  later  Mr.  Burgess 
sold  his  title  and  bought  80  acres  on  the  section 
which  has  since  been  his  field  of  operation.  He  has 
put  his  son  in  possession  of  40  acres  of  the  original 
purchase,  and  has  bought  40  acres  of  timber,  three- 
fourths  of  which  still  belongs  to  the  estate. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burgess  are  the  parents  of  three  sons 
and  two  daughters  :  Caleb  married  Rosanna  Col- 
cord  and  they  reside  at  Sterling,  where  the  former  is 
a  mechanic ;  James  married  Lavina  Switzer,  and  is 
a  farmer  in  Jones  Co.,  Iowa.  Lucy  married  John 
Cutting,  a  farmer  in  Gage  Co.,  Neb.  William  mar- 
ried Margaret  Vest,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
Tama  Co.,  Iowa.  Ruth  was  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  which  was  the  native  State  of  her  broth- 
ers and  sister,  and  married  James  Siddles.  His 
parents  were  Joseph  and  Jane  (Courtright)  Siddles, 
and  he  was  born  Sept.  25,  1827,  in  Sussex  Co..  N.  J. 
When  he  was  six  years  of  age  his  parents  removed 
to  Susquehanna  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was  brought  up 
and  educated.  In  1854  they  came  to  Whiteside 
County  and  settled  at  Sterling.  The  mother  died 
within  the  year  of  their  arrival  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Siddles  have  had  three  children,— Milan,  who  died 
Feb.  n,  1872;  Charles  C.,  and  Dora  V. 

Mr.  Burgess  is  a  Republican  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


since. 


S 

i 


,loys  Summers,  of  the  firm  of  O.  &  C. 
Summers,  dealers  in  groceries,  provisions 
3*'  and  crockery  at  Fulton,  was  born  in  Bar- 
net,  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt,  Dec.  9,  1833,  came  to 
Sterling,  111 ,  with  his  parents  in  1840,  and 
has  made  Whiteside  County  his  home  ever 
He  has  spent  several  years  away,  but  never 
established  a  residence  elsewhere.  He  took  part  in 
the  so-called  "  Kansas  War  "  of  1854.  From  there 


» 

=3 
S 


he  went  with  a  Government  train  to  Albuquerque, 
New  Mexico,  in  1855.  He  next  entered  the  service 
of  the  Hockaday  Stage  Company,  and  ran  a  pony 
express  from  South  Pass  to  Salt  Lake  Cily.  He  was 
in  Utah  at  the  time  of  the  Mormon  War,  and  par- 
ticipated in  some  wild  border  scenes.  He  returned 
to  Fulton  after  spending  about  four  years  on  the 
plains  and  in  the  mountains. 

He  enlisted  in  the  late  war,  in  September,  1861, 
in  Co.  A,  34th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  promoted  Cor- 
poral and  Sergeant.  He  served  three  years,  and  re- 
enlisted  in  September,  1864.  He  was  appointed 
Commissary  Sergeant  immediately  and  served  till 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  in  the  i4th  Army 
Corps,  and  with  his  company  and  regiment  in  every 
battle  in  which  they  participated,  among  them  the 
battles  of  Shiloh,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  siege 
of  Atlanta  and  Jonesborough,  siege  of  Savannah  and 
other  minor  engagements. 

Mr.  Summers  was  married  at  Fulton,  111.,  Dec.  9, 
1866,  to  Miss  Margaret  Joyce,  daughter  of  Clayton 
and  Margaret  E.  Joyce.  Mrs.  Summers  was  born 
in  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J.  They  have  had  four  chil- 
dren,— three  daughters  and  a  son, — as  follows:  Belle, 
born  Dec.  4,  1868,  died  Sept.  14,  1879;  Myron  D., 
born  Feb.  12,  1870,  died  Aug.  7,  1870;  Aetna  E., 
born  Aug.  n,  1873,  died  Aug.  7,  1875;  and  Mary 
Alice,  born  Oct.  7,  1875. 

Soon  after  his  return  from  the  war  Mr.  Summers 
engaged  as  clerk  and  salesman  for  the  lumber  firm 
of  Langford  &  Hall,  and  continued  with  them  till 
the  spring  of  1871,  when  he  formed  the  existing 
partnership  with  his  brother  Oscar. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  S.  is  a  Republican. 


£  '« 
("$ 

i 


rank  H.  Robinson,  of  the  firm  of  S.  W. 
Robinson  &  Brother,  dealers  in  hardware 
and  agricultural  implements  at  Morrison, 
was  born  March  5,  1837,  in   Zanesville,  Ohio, 
and  is  the  youngest  surviving  child  of  his  par- 
ents, Robert  P.  and  Mary  J.  (Culbertson)  Rob- 
inson.    His  father,  whose  business  career  is  outlined 
in  the  sketch  of  S.  W.  Robinson  on  other  pages  of 
this  work,  put  him  when  14  years  of  age  in  the  posi- 
tion of  an  assistant  in  the  hardware  store,  of  which 


the  former  was  proprietor  at  Zanesville  for  more  than 
20  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1856  he  came  to  Sterling  in  this 
county,  and  continued  in  the  capacity  of  salesman 
there  until  the  subsequent  autumn,  when  he  came  to 
Morrison  and  opened  a  branch  hardware  store  in  the 
interest  of  his  father.  He  conducted  its  relations 
singly  until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he  was  joined 
by  his  brother,  Samuel  W.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  the  latter  became  the  owner  of  the  stock  and 
business  interests  by  purchase,  Mr.  F.  H.  Robinson 
continuing  to  operate  as  a  clerk  until  he  became  in- 
terested in  the  progress  and  issues  of  the  Civil  War. 

The  awakening  of  his  zeal  and  enthusiasm  re- 
sulted in  his  enrollment  as  a  soldier  of  the  Union 
Army.  In  July,  1861,  he  enlisted  at  Lyons,  Iowa, 
as  private  in  Co.  B.,  First  Iowa  Cav.,  under  Capt. 
Wm.  E.  Leffingwell.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to 
the  Army  of  the  Frontier  in  Missouri.  Mr.  Robin- 
son remained  a  member  of  the  "  First  Iowa  "  two 
years.  He  was  mustered  out  July  14,  1863,  to  ac- 
cept a  commission  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  H. 
nth  Mo.  Cav.  He  entered  upon  the  work  of  re- 
cruiting, and  after  enlisting  57  men  at  Rolla,  Mo., 
he  was  made  Captain,  his  commission  dating  Dec. 
27,  1864.  He  continued  to  hold  his  command  until 
his  discharge.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  mili- 
tary service  of  the  United  States  in  August,  1865, 
at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  returned  to  Morrison.  He 
purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  business  of  his 
brother,  and  the  firm  of  S.  W.  Robinson  &  Brother 
have  since  continued  their  operations  as  dealers  in 
hardware  and  agricultural  implements  without  inter- 
ruption. They  carry  a  stock  of  extensive  value  and 
well  assorted,  making  a  speciality  of  agricultural 
machinery.  Their  business  requires  three  regular 
assistants,  and  at  times  necessitates  the  employment 
of  a  force  of  double  that  number.  In  addition  to 
the  avenues  of  business  named  they  do  all  varieties  of 
work  as  tinners,  a^  roofing,  spouting,  the  manufacture 
of  creamery  goods,  etc. 

Mr.  Robinson  is  connected  with  the  Order  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

His  marriage  to  Carrie  E.  Clark  took  place  Dec. 
23,  1873,  at  Morrison,  and  their  three  children  were 
born  as  follows  :  Frank  C.,  Jan.  5,  1877  ;  Minnie  B., 
April  i,  1880;  Edith  A.,  born  April  7,  1882,  died 
Sept.  5,  1883.  Mrs.  Robinson  was  bprn  in  Lyndon 


I!.  RAKY 
UNIVERSITY  Of 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Township.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Alpheus  and 
Augusta  Clark,  and  her  parents  were  among  the 
earliest  of  the  permanent  white  settlers  of  Whiteside 
County.  Her  father  was  a  Major  in  the  Eighth  111. 
Vol.  Cav.,  and  died  from  the  effects  of  a  wound  re- 
ceived at  Beverly  Ford.  Post  Alpheus  Clark,  No. 
1 1 6,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Morrison,  is  named  in  honor  of  his 
devotion  to  the  Union  cause  and  gallant  services  in 
its  defense. 


Hlliam  Tyson,  resident  on  section  18,  Clyde 
Township,  has  been  a  farmer  where  he  is 

g^/;""'  now  located  for  more  than  30  years,  hav- 
[>  ing  entered  his  claim  in  1854.  He  was  born 
April  15,  r824,  in  Lancastershire,  England. 
John  Tyson,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  York- 
shire and  was  a  cutler  by  trade,  having  learned  that 
business  in  Sheffield,  where  he  was  born.  He  mar- 
ried Martha  Wilby,  who  was  born  in  the  same  city, 
and  a  few  years  later  they  went  to  Lancastershire, 
where  he  was  employed  in  the  mills.  In  1845' the 
father,  mother  and  four  younger  children  came  to 
the  United  States,  landing  at  the  port  of  New  York. 
They  left  two  children  in  England.  The  father  died 
1 8  days  after  reaching  New  York,  and  the  family 
were  supported  some  time  by  the  efforts  of  the  sons. 

Mr.  Tyson  was  occupied  in  various  ways  until  he 
went  to  New  Jersey,  where  he  was  employed  in  farm 
labor,  and  he  went  thence  to  Columbia,  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.  From  there  he  returned  to  the  city  of  New 
York,  whence,  after  a  brief  stay,  he  proceeded  to 
Connecticut.  In  his  native  country  he  had  acquired 
and  followed  the  business  of  a  cotton-twister  in  the 
factories  of  the  place  where  he  was  born,  in  which 
he  was  occupied  from  12  to  20  years  of  age.  When 
he  left  his  native  land  he  brought  away  with  him  a 
determination  never  to  work  in  a  factory,  to  which 
resolution  he  faithfully  adhered. 

On  coining  to  Illinois  he  fixed  on  Whiteside  County 
as  a  suitable  place  to  locate,  and  he  bought  74  acres 
of  land  situated  near  the  farm  of  John  Sykes,  his 
brother-in-law.  (See  sketch.)  The  place  was  un- 
improved, and  the  entire  acreage  is  still  in  his  pos- 
session, all  of  which  is  under  cultivation  and  sup- 
plied with  necessary  and  suitable  buildings. 

Xr*x  '•> " 


Mr.  Tyson  was  married  May  19,  1851,  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  to  Mary  Sykes.  She  was  born  Oct.  28, 
1822,  in  Yorkshire,  England,  and  lived  in  her  native 
country  until  after  the  death  of  her  mother.  She 
came  to  America  in  1847,  and  from  that  time  until 
her  marriage  she  maintained  herself.  She  has  been 
the  mother  of  nine  children,  two  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. Josephine  W.  is  married  and  has  one  child, 
Mary  L.  Mary  S.  married  George  W.  Holcomb,  a 
liveryman  at  Morrison,  Whiteside  Co.,  111.  Alice  S. 
is  the  wife  of  Paul  Remkes,  a  farmer  in  Colorado. 
Hattie  E.  married  Frank  W.  White,  and  resides  at 
Idaho  Springs,  Col.  Charles  W.  is  the  next  in  order 
of  birth  and  lives  at  Miller,  Hand  Co.,  D.  T.  George 
H.  lives  in  Colorado.  Olive  P.  is  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  Whiteside  County.  Sarah  and  Ira 
J.  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Tyson  is  a  Republican  in  political  fath. 


avid  R.  Wetzel  is  a  retired  farmer  of 
Hopkins  Township,  and  resides  on  section 
27.  His  parents,  John  and  Margaret 
(Reese)  Wetzel,  were  born  in  Pennsylvania 
and  were  of  German  lineage.  They  went 
thence  in  1814  to  Ohio,  whence  they  came  in 
1855  to  Whiteside  County.  The  father,  a  direct 
descendant  of  Lewis  Wetzel,  the  Indian  hunter,  died 
in  Genesee  Township,  Sept.  18,  1860.  The  death  of 
the  mother  occurred  Feb.  2,  1882.  Their  children 
were  born  in  the  order  named  :  Catherine,  Daniel, 
Jacob,  John,  George,  Elizabeth,  David  R.,  Andrew, 
Joseph,  Hannah,  Margaret  and  Louis. 

Mri  Wetzel  was  born  April  7,  1823,  in  Summit 
Co.,  Ohio.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  State,  and  afterwards  was  interested  in  farm- 
ing there  until  his  removal  in  the  fall  of  1855  to 
Whiteside  County.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Genesee 
Township  until  the  spring  of  1883,  when  he  changed 
his  residence  to  Hopkins  Township,  where  he  had 
bought  a  farm  during  the  previous  fall.  The  com- 
bined area  of  his  land  in  the  townships  of  Genesee 
and  Hopkins  is  640  acres,  and  the  entire  extent  is 
under  tillage.  He  has  rented  his  estate  and  is  living 
in  quiet  retirement.  He  has  built  up  his  possessions 
by  industry  and  economy,  having  begun  in  the  world 


» 

3 

d) 


•^ 


by  small  means,  and  has  made  his  way  unaided.  He 
is  one  of  the  heaviest  land-holders  in  Whiteside 
County,  and  in  politics  is  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can party. 

The  publishers  of  this  ALBUM  take  pleasure  in 
presenting  a  fine  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Wetzel 
in  connection  with  this  sketch. 


radford  C.  Church,  Jr.,  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  Sterling  Roller  Flouring 
Mill,  was  born  June  20, 1860,  atKankakee, 
111.  He  came  to  Sterling  with  his  father  in 
1868,  where  he  received  a  practical  education, 
and  in  the  year  1 88 1  accepted  a  position  as 
book-keeper  in  Church  &  Patterson's  mills.  After 
his  father's  death  he  purchased  his  half  interest  in 
the  mill  from  the  other  heirs,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  conducting  that  establishment.  He  is 
one  of  the  young  and  leading  men  of  Sterling,  is  a 
Republican  in  his  political  action,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  of  the  Order  of  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America. 

Mr.  Church's  marriage  to  Mary  Patterson  occurred 
Oct.  17,  1883.  Her  parents  were  William  L.  and 
Isabel  (Wallace)  Patterson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Church 
have  one  child,  John  L.,  born  Aug.  6,  1884. 


|f  ohn  Downs,  dealer  in  hardware,  stoves  and 
tinware,  manufacturer  and  repairer  of  tin- 
ware, at  Fulton,  established  his  present 
business  in  February,  1875,  and  carries  an 
average  stock  of  $2,500  value.  Mr,  Downs 
was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Sept.  23,  1839, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Ann  (Gilmore)  Downs. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland  and  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1835.  John  served  a  regular 
apprenticeship  to  the  tinner's  trade,  in  Cleveland, 
and  came  to  Fulton,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  1858.  He 
was  employed  as  a  journeyman  in  this  city  till  Feb- 
ruary, 1875,  when  he  engaged  in  his  present  business 
and  has  carried  it  on  continuously  since. 

He  was  married  in  September,  1862,  at  Dixon,  111., 
to  Miss  Annie  Mahony.  Mrs.  Downs  was  born 
in  Limerick,  Ireland,  in  1842,  and  is  a  daughter  of 


Daniel  and  Margaret  (Ring)  Mahony.  They  have 
four  children,  three  boys  and  a  girl  :  Edward,  l>orn 
Aug.  28,  1864;  William,  June  25,  1867  ;  Nellie,  Sept. 
26,  1872,  and  John,  Dec.  16,  1874. 

Mr.  Downs  has  been  a  member  of  the  Fulton  City 
Council  eight  years.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  temperance  organization  entitled  the  "  R. 
C.  B.  &  T.  Society."  Mr.  Downs,  his  wife  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  Fulton. 

Mr.  Downs  has  now  been  in  business  for  himself  a 
little  over  ten  years,  and  has  built  up  a  very  satis- 
factory trade.  He  aims  to  do  good  work,  keep  good 
goods,  and  give  his  customers  the  value  of  their 
money. 


=ezekiah  Brink,  farmer  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  22,  Sterling  Township, 
was  born  May  21,  1809,  in  Vermont.  His 
father,  Isaiah  Brink,  a  native  of  Germany, 
adopted  this  as  his  country  in  an  early  period 
of  his  life  and  became  a  soldier  in  our  war  with 
Great  Britain  in  1812-4,  losing  his  life.  His  widow, 
nee  Anna  Murdock,  a  native  of  New  York  State,  after- 
ward married  Samuel  S.  Geere,  in  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Having  received  a  common-school  education,  Mr. 
Brink,  at  the  age  of  16  years,  left  home  and  went  to 
Madison,  Ind.,  to  learn  the  hatter's  trade,  extending 
his  period  of  apprenticeship  until  he  was  20  years 
old.  He  then  opened  a  shop  in  Ripley  Co.,  Ind., 
and  carried  on  business  there  and  in  Coventry  until 
1834.  Selling  out,  he  came  to  what  is  now  the  city 
of  Sterling,  entering,  in  June,  1834,  the  quarter-section 
which  he  still  owns  and  occupies.  During  the  sum- 
mer and  fall  he  broke  a  piece  of  ground  and  built  a 
log  house  18x20  feet  in  dimensions,  and  with  a 
puncheon  floor.  The  one  room  it  comprised  was 
parlor,  kitchen  and  bed-room.  This  was  his  resi- 
dence until  1841.  The  following  December  (1834) 
he  returned  to  Indiana  and  brought  out  his  family  to 
their  new  home,  arriving  May  i,  1835. 

In  1836  he  built  a  saw-mill  in  Milledgeville,  and 
the  next  year  he  erected  a  frame  for  a  grist-mill,  and 
purchased  the  buhrs  and  machinery,  but  sold  out  be- 
fore completing  the  mill.  In  May,  1836,  he  sold  an 
interest  in  his  farm  to  Capt.  Harris  &  Bros,  for  a  part 
of  a  cargo  of  provisions,  which  they  brought  up  Rock 


- 


- 


River  by  steamer  from  Galena.  Their  complete 
cargo  comprised  about  $600  or  $700  worth  of  pro- 
visions. After  this  exchange,  Mr.  Brink  erected  a 
building  18  x  20  feet  for  a  store.  Being  of  hewn  logs, 
it  was  considered  in  those  days  a  very  fine  structure. 
It  was  built  on  what  is  now  Block  41,  in  the  city  of 
Sterling,  where  it  still  remains,  occupied  as  a  dwell- 
ing. After  conducting  the  store  here  for  four  years, 
Mr.  Brink  disposed  of  it  by  sale.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  built  saw,  grist  and  carding  mills  at  Empire. 
connected  with  one  power,  which  he  ran  until  1847, 
when  he  sold  them. 

Returning  then  to  Sterling,  he  put  up  a  saw-mill 
at  Elkhorn,  three  miles  above  Empire,  and  after  run- 
ning it  about  one  year  he  sold  it  ;  and,  renting  a 
mill  at  Coe's  Grove,  he  operated  that-a  year.  Then 
he  followed  farming  until  1854.  About  this  time  he 
went  to  Canada  and  purchased  from  Theodore  Wynn 
his  undivided  interest  in  Sterling.  Returning  home, 
he  built  a  stone  house  and  rented  it  to  the  School 
District  for  a  public  school.  In  1855  he  engaged  in 
general  building,  contracting  for  and  erecting  most  of 
the  brick  houses  in  Sterling  up  to  1870,  and  often 
having  as  many  as  65  men  in  his  employ  at  one  time. 
He  manufactured  all  his  brick  and  stone.  During 
this  time  he  also  conducted  a  store  for  five  years.  In 
1870  he  returned  to  his  farm. 

Mr.  Brink  did  the  first  "  breaking  "  in  Como  and 
in  the  county,  in  1834,  with  three  yoke  of  oxen.  He 
also  did  "  breaking  "  for  the  neighbors  for  miles 
around,  at  $5  a  day.  In  1835  he  broke  40  acres  of 
land  where  the  village  of  Sterling  now  stands,  and 
raised  crops  upon  it  for  several  years.  At  present  he 
is  devoting  his  attention  principally  to  the  culture  of 
small  fruits,  having  in  all  four  acres,  three  acres  of 
which  consist  of  black  and  red  .raspberries.  This 
fruit  is  put  up  chiefly  by  the  canning  factories  of 
Sterling.  He  also  raises,  apples,  pears,  plums,  etc. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  B.  is  a  Republican,  and 
in  his  religious  relations  he  has  belonged  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ever  since  he  was  15 
years  old. 

He  was  first  married  Sept.  25,  1829,  to  Miss 
Martha  Buchanan,  a  native  of  Indiana,  who  died 
Oct.  16,  1839,  after  having  become  the  mother  of  four 
children,  —  Thomas,  Samuel,  Margery  and  David. 
Oct.  i,  1840,  Mr.  Brink  was  again  married,  to 
Sophronia  L.  Griffin,  a  native  .of  Ohio.  She  died 


Dec.  23,  1866.    By  this  marriage  there  were  n  chil- 
dren,  namely,   Harvey,   Charles,    Caroline,   Albert, 
Julia,   Newton,  Alona,   Ada,   Ella,   Martha  B.   and    ' 
Allen. 


radford  C.  Church,  Sr.,  deceased,  in  his 
life-time  a  highly  respected  business  man 
of  Sterling,  was  born  in  Portageville,  Wy- 
oming Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  28,  1834.  In  1854 
he  came  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  employed 
in  a  store  for  five  years;  then,  until  1862,  he 
was  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  Kankakee, 
111. ;  then,  for  five  years,  in  the  same  business  at 
Morris,  Grundy  Co.,  111. ;  and  finally,  in  the  spring 
of  1868,  he  came  to  Sterling  and  engaged  in  the 
milling  business.  In  1871  he  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  Samuel  Patterson,  the  firm  name  being 
Church  &  Patterson.  In  1875  he  was  elected  Mayor 
of  the  city  of  Sterling,  and  in  1876  was  re-elected. 
In  his  political  action  he  was  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Church  died  of  apoplexy  on  the  cars,  on  his 
way  home  from  St.  Louis,  Sept.  20,  1883.  He  was 
one  of  Sterling's  most  respected  citizens. 


illiam  Topping,  retired  farmer,  Union 
Grove  Tp.,  was  born  in  Lowville,  Lewis 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  6,  1802.  His  parents, 
Jared  and  Judith  (Prentiss)  Topping,  were 
born  in  Connecticut.  William  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  and  was  married  in  his  native 
town  Jan.  i,  1823,  to  Miss  Sarah  Weaver.  They 
had  eight  children,  four  of  whom  lived  to  be  men 
and  women  ;  the  others  died  in  childhood.  Of  the 
former,  the  eldest  was  Harriet,  wife  of  W.  G.  Hitch- 
cock, of  Morrison.  The  second  is  Edwin  G.,  who 
married  Rose  Chapman  and  resides  in  Harvey  Co., 
Kan.  The  third,  Oscar  F.,  married  Ellen  Powell, 
and  lives  in  Oregon.  The  fourth,  George,  died  aged 
41  years,  leaving  a  wife  and  five  children,  residents 
of  Morrison. 

Mr.  Topping  removed  to  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
1834,  where  he  was  engaged  in  milling  and  farming 
till  1855,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  on 
section  16,  Union  Grove  Township,  this  county,  where 


•*v 

V/ 


I 


he  had  a  finely  improved  farm  of  100  acres.  Mrs. 
Topping  died  Aug.  7,  1882,  and  Mr.  Topping  was 
married  again  Nov.  26,  1882,  at  Morrison,  to  Mrs. 
Rosina  Burwell,  widow  of  Abram  Burwell,  and  only 
daughter  of  Reynolds  and  Lucy  (Powers)  Vaughn. 
She  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ferrisburg,  Addison 
Co.,  Vt.  She  had  three  children  by  her  former 
marriage :  Martha  E.  Burwell,  of  Morrison,  the  eld- 
est ;  Charles  H.  died  aged  aged  five  years  ;  and  Silas 
A.  married  Anna  Bull,  and  resides  in  Polo,  111. 

Mr.  Topping  served  as  Assessor  of  Union  Grove 
Township  two  years.  In  early  life  he  was  a  staunch 
Democrat,  but  of  strong  anti-slavery  sympathies. 
He  joined  the  Republican  party  on  its  organization, 
and  has  been  an  earnest  advocate  of  Republican 
principles  continuously  since.  Mr.  Topping  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Universalist  Church.  Mr. 
T.  is  a  remarkably  well  preserved  man  at  83  years  of 
age,  in  full  possession  of  his  faculties  ;  and  active 
and  energetic  as  many  a  man  at  50.  He  sold  his 
farm,  and  since  Christmas,  1883,  has  made  his  home 
at  Morrison. 


Lf  mar  E.  Fanning,  farmer,  section  14,  Hop- 
^kins  Township,  is  a  son  of  Asa  and   Phebe 
A.  (Cole)  Fanning,  natives  of  New  England, 
who  first  settled  in  Cheuango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
afterwards  removed  to  Broome  County,  that 
State,  where  he  died  in  the  summer  of  1863  ; 
she  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  1883  and  now  re- 
sides in  Sterling.     They  had  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren,— Omar  E.,  Franklin  and  Wallace. 

Mr.  Fanning,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  out- 
line, was  born  in  Oxford,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
2,  1829,  received  a  common-school  education,  in 
Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  lived  there  till  he  was  22 
years  of  age.  He  then  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
in  August,  1851,  and  engaged  as  a  clerk  for  Joel 
Harvey  at  Empire.  He  was  in  his  employment 
about  three  years  at  that  time.  He  then  engaged 
in  carriage  and  wagon  making  at  Empire,  having 
learned  that  trade  in  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  about  one  and  a  half 
years.  He  continued  in  that  vocation  at  Empire, 
about  two  and  a  half  years,  when  he  sold  that  business 
and  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  mercantile  establish- 

v 


ment  at  Empire,  with  Joel  Harvey,  and  the  company 
was  known  as  Harvey  &  Fanning.  They  continued 
together  about  three  years,  when  Mr.  Fanning  sold 
out  his  interest  to  Mr.  Harvey.  In  the  spring  of  1860 
he  rented  a  farm  in  Hopkins  Township,  which  he 
carried  on  one  season,  and  in  the  meantime  he  pur- 
chased 40  acres  on  section  r4,  which  he  afterwards 
sold.  He  has  been  engaged  in  farming  since  1860, 
with  the  exception  of  four  years,  during  which  time 
he  has  bought  and  sold  various  tracts  of  land.  He 
is  now  the  owner  of  160  acres  in  Hopkins  Township 
all  of  which  is  tillable. 

Mr.  Fanning  was  first  married  in  Round  Grove, 
Hopkins  Township,  in  March,  1855,  to  Miss  Louisa 
Simonson,  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Sabrina  (Har- 
vey) Simonson^  who  were  natives  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  Mrs.  F.  was  born  in  Tioga  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  died  in  Hopkins  Township,  Nov.  8,  1868. 
Mr.  F.  was  again  married  Nov.  22,  1870,  to  Mary  J., 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  A.  (Stackhouse)  Lefferts, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to  Whiteside 
County  in  the  spring  of  1855  and  settled  in  Hopkins 
Township,  where  they  lived  till  their  death.  He 
died  March  8,  1871,  and  she  April  29,  1884.  They 
had  a  family  of  six  children,  —  Mary  J.,  Carrie  E., 
Anna  J.,  Sarah  E.,  Charles  H.  and  Susanna.  Mary  J, 
(Mrs.  F.)  was  born  in  Newtown,  Pa.,  Aug.  20,  1840, 
and  came  to  Whiteside  County  when  about  15  years 
old,  with  her  parents.  She  taught  school  a  number 
of  years,  commencing  in  1859,  in  Hopkins  Township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  — 
Phebe,  Frank  C.,  Jessie  and  Omar  A. 

Mr.  Fanning  was  an  active  member  of  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry,  having  been  Secretary  of  the  State 
organization  four  years.  He  has  held  many  of  the 
township  offices,  as  Commissioner  of  Highways  one 
term,  Collector  two  years,  Township  Assessor  12 
years,  Township  Trustee,  etc.  In  politics  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party  and  its  inter- 
ests. 


heodore  S.  Barrett,  a  retired   farmer  liv- 
ing on  section   25,  Hopkins  Township,  was 
born  April  17,  1808,  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  which 
he  attended  until  he  was  about   18   years  old, 
and  at  that  age  entered  the  academy  at  Caze- 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  a  student  two  years. 


nova, 


. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


After  becoming  his  own  master,  he  engaged  in  dairy 
farming  and  operated  in  his  native  State  until  1856, 
when  he  came  to  Whiteside  County.  After  a  stay  of 
two  years  at  Sterling  he  bought  100  acres  of  land  on 
sections  25  and  26  in  Hopkins  Township.  On  this 
he  fixed  his  place  of  residence,  and  it  has  since  been 
his  home.  His  estate  includes  125  acres  of  land, 
which  is  chiefly  under  tillage. 

Mr.  Barrett  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  officiated  as  Township  Clerk  and  in 
other  minor  offices. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Barrett,  to  Caroline  Da- 
mon, took  place  Nov.  14;  1830,  in  Madison  Co.,  N. 
Y.  Frances  G.,  Theodore  H.,  Lorenzo  M.  and 
Lucia  C.  are  the  names  of  the  children  of  whom 
they  became  the  parents.  The  mother  died  July 
8,  1860,  in  Hopkins  Township.  Mr.  Barrett  formed 
a  second  matrimonial  alliance  Oct.  10,  1864,  at  Ster- 
ling, with  Jerusha  B.  (McCune)  Eggleston.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Stephen  and  Polly  (Davenport)  McCune, 
and  was  the  widow  of  Daniel  Eggleston,  who  died  in 
Indiana  in  1858,  leaving  two  children,  Adella  and 
George  W.  Mrs.  Barrett  was  born  May  16,  1822, 
in  Oswegp  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 


illiam  P.  Palmer,  grain,  coal  and  lumber 
merchant,  at  Sterling,  was  born  in  Frank- 
lin Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  9,  1846.  His  parents, 
Jonas  C.  and  Catharine  (Fleck)  Palmer, 
were  also  natives  of  that  State  ;  his" father 
was  a  farmer  by  vocation. 
After  obtaining  a  district-school  education,  the 
subject  of  this  notice,  at  the  age  of  19  years,  attend- 
ed the  Iron  City  College  at  Pittsburg  for  a  period  of 
six  months.  At  the  age  of  20  he  left  home  and  for 
a  year  was  clerk  in  a  grain  house  at  Chambersburg, 
then  until  1877  he  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Keefer,  Palmer  &  Co.,  dealing  in  grain,  coal  and  ag- 
ricultural implements.  Then  selling  out  his  inter- 
est in  the  latter  business,  he  came  to  Sterling  and 
assumed  charge  of  the  interests  of  the  Langford  & 
Hall  Lumber  Company.  Two  years  afterward  he 
bought  them  out,  and  since  then  he  has  managed 
the  business  alone.  He  is  a  successful  and  enter- 
prising business  man,  shrewd  and  well  qualified  for 


public  trusts.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
religiously  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Sterling,  as  is  also  his  wife :  both  were  members  of 
the  First  Reformed  Church  in  Chambersburg,  Pa. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Orders  of  Masonry,  Legion 
of  Honor  and  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Wallace  School  Board,  and  in  the  muni- 
cipality he  is  at  present  the  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Streets  and  Alleys. 

In  the  spring  of  1865  he  married  Maggie  B.,  a 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary  (Bear)  Rutt,  and  of 
Pennsylvania!!  nativity,  born  in  1866.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Palmer  have  four  children  :  Bertie,  Minnie,  John  G. 
and  Bessie.  The  last  named  died  at  three  years  of 
age. 


|'|:urrell  V.  Daniels,  farmer,  section  5,  Union 
Grove  Township,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Whiteside  County  since  1849.  He  was 
born  in  Canada,  Feb.  14,  1833.  His  father 
and  mother,  Asa  and  Almira  (Vance)  Daniels, 
were  natives  of  Vermont.  They  were  resi- 
dents of  Canada  after  they  were  married,  and  re- 
turned to  Vermont,  whence  the  father  came,  in  1846, 
to  the  township  of  Ustick  and  located  on  section  32. 
In  1850  his  family  joined  him.  The  senior  Daniels 
met  his  death  April  15,  1874,  by  a  fall  from  aloadof 
hay.  The  mother  is  living  in  Ustick  Township. 
Their  family  included  seven  children, — David,  War- 
ner, Amos  and  Asahel  (twins),  Sylvia,  Burrell  V.  and 
Martha. 

Mr.  Daniels  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  June, 
1849,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  He 
is  now  the  owner  of  310  acres  of  land  in  the  town- 
ship of  Union  Grove  and  has  placed  250  acres  under 
tillage.  His  stock  includes  18  horses,  20  head  of 
cattle  and  he  fattens  an  average  of  40  hogs  annually. 
He  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  in  polit- 
ical sentiment  and  action. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Daniels  to  Mary  E.  Cass 
took  place  Feb.  14,  1855,  in  Ustick  Township,  and 
they  have  had  three  sons,—  Wallace  M.,  Wyman  F. 
and  Adelbert  W.  The  second  child  died  when  one 
year  and  eight  months  old.  Mrs.  Daniels  is  the 
daughter  of  Jehiel  and  Sally  (Scott)  Cass.  Her  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Vermont  and  had  nine  children, 
— Cynthia,  Rosina,  Maria,  Mary  E.,  Sarah,  George, 

-f*i^£ 


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Alonzo,  Emily  and  Estella.  Mrs.  Daniels  was  born 
June  4,  1836,  in  Canada  ;  at  the  age  of  3  years,  her 
parents  moved  to  Irasburg-,  Orleans  Co.,  Vt.,  where 
they  lived  until  they  came  to  Whiteside  County  in 
1854.  Her  mother  died  July  26,  1869,  in  Union 
Grove  Township.  Her  father  is  a  farmer  in  Dakota, 
where  he  went  in  the  fall  of  1883.  He  is  in  his 
79th  year. 

Mr.  Daniels,  and  also  his  children,  are  zealous  and 
able  Republicans,  advocates  of  temperance  and  op- 
ponents of  secret  societies. 


-t- 


-5- 


,,enry  C.  Donaldson,  M.  D.,  of  Morrison,  one 
of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  Whiteside 
County  of  1847,  was  born  in  Guilford,  Che- 
"l^  nango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  19, 1825,  and  is  the  son 
of  the  Rev.  Asa  and  Delia  (Allen)  Donaldson. 
His  father  was  born  at  Munson,  Hampshire 
Co.,  Mass.,  Sept.  4,  1788,  was  a  Presbyterian  clergy- 
man and  died  at  Chariton,  Iowa,  Feb.  3,  1876,  aged 
88  years.  His  mother  died  at  Maiden,  111.,  July  4, 

1862,  aged  61  years. 

Henry  C.  went  to  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1831,  with  his 
parents,  and  from  there  to  Bureau  Co.,  111.,  in  1839. 
He  was  educated  at  Princeton  Academy,  and  entered 
Rush  Medical  College  in  1846,  took  a  regular  course 
and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1849-50.  He  began 
practice  in  Whiteside  County  in  1847,  and  has  pur- 
sued it  continuously  to  this  date,  covering  a  period  of 
38  years,  and  has  made  his  home  at  Morrison  since 

1863.  He  is  a  member  of  the   State  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, and  also  of  the  County  Medical  Society,  of 
which  he  has  been  President  several  years.     During 
the  existence  of  the  Rock  River  Medical  Association 
he  was  a  member  of  that  society  and  for  some  time 
its  Secretary.     He  was  elected  Coroner  of  Whiteside 
County  in  i88i,and  has  held  that  office  continuously 
since. 

Dr.  Donaldson  was  married  in  Prophetstown,  111., 
Jan.  14,  1849,  to  Miss  Bethiah  Ellithorp,  daughter  of 
Sampson  and  Eliza  (Wight)  Ellithorp.  Mrs.  Donald- 
son was  born  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  have  had 
four  children  :  Ira  B.  married  Ella  Smith  and  lives  in 
Exeter,.  Neb.;  Evelyn  E.  was  the  wife  of  Dr.  W.  L. 
Duffin,  and  died  aged  25  years;  Lizzie  married  Dr. 
W.  L.  Duffin,  the  husband  of  her  deceased  sister, 


and  resides  in  Guttenburg,  Iowa;  Earl  S.  is  a  physi-  i 
cian  in  practice  at  Hudson,  Iowa.  Dr.  Donaldson,  <; 
wife  and  children  are  members  of  the  Congregational  * 
Church.  The  Doctor  has  served  as  Deacon  of  the 
Church  since  1864.  He  is  a  member  of  Dunlap  V. 
Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  No.  321,  and  votes  the  Re- 
publican ticket. 


ohn  H.  filey,  farmer,  section  18,  Hopkins 
Township,  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Maria 
Bley,  who  were  natives  of  Germany,  where 
they  died.  They  had  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren,— John  H.,  Elizabeth  and  Frederick.  Mr. 
Bley,  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Germany,  July 
3,  1835,  lived  in  his  native  land  till  1860,  when  he 
came  to  America  and  direct  to  Whiteside  County, 
locating  in  Hopkins  Township.  Soon  afterward  he 
purchased  160  acres  of  land,  where  he  settled  and 
has  since  lived.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  215  acres 
in  the  township,  most  of  which  is  cultivated. 

Mr.  Bley  was  married  in  Hopkins  Township, 
March  15,  1869,  to  Margaret  Staassen,  who  was  born 
in  Germany,  July  9,  1843.  They  have  had  eight 
children,  six  of  whom  are  surviving,  viz.:  Johanna 
E.,  Emily  M,,  Frederick  G.,  William  M.,  Anna  H. 
and  John  H.,  Jr.;  two  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church.  In  politics  he  is  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party. 


'ohn  Fieldsend,  farmer,  resident  on  section 
15,  Clyde  Township,  was  born  April  30, 
1828,  in  the  town  of  Thurston,  Yorkshire, 
England.  Benjamin  Fieldsend,  his  father, 
was  a  tailor  by  profession  and  instructed  his 
son  in  the  details  of  that  business,  which  he 
followed  from  the  age  of  14  years  to  that  of  21.  He 
also  worked  as  a  "jour"  one  year. 

He  was  married  Aug.  5,  1850,  in  Yorkshire,  to 
Ann,  daughter  of  William  and  Lucy  A.  (Askam) 
Greaves.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Fieldsend  were  born 
in  Yorkshire  and  were  residents  there  throughout 
their  entire  lives.  Her  father  died  Oct.  23,  1881 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


when  he  was  77  years  old.  The  demise  of  the 
mother  occurred  in  June,  1851.  Mrs.  Fieldsend 
was  born  in  Snowdenhill,  Yorkshire,  June  24,  1826. 
To  her  and  her  husband  eight  children  have  been 
born,  two  of  whom  are  deceased.  William  M.,  born 
in  England,  March  ii,  1852,  married  Agnes  Platt 
and  is  a  farmer  in  Dakota;  Ben,  born  Nov.  19,  1853, 
in  England,  is  deceased;  Sarah,  born  Aug.  12,  1855. 
in  Wisconsin,  is  the  wife  of  James  Davis,  a  farmer  in 
Plymouth  Co.,  Iowa;  Lucy  A.,  born  Sept.  6,  1857,  in 
Wisconsin,  is  the  wife  of  Win.  West,  a  farmer  in  Clyde 
Tp. ;  Martha,  born  Dec.  30,  18*0,  also  in  Wiscon- 
sin, married  William  Comady,  a  farmer  of  Clyde ; 
Isabella  was  born  Aug.  19,  1863,  in  Wisconsin; 
Mary,  March  27,  1866,  in  Illinois;  and  Caroline, 
born  July  n,  1868,  also  in  this  State,  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Fieldsend  followed  his  business  as  a  tailor 
four  years  subsequent  to  his  marriage.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1854  he  removed  his  family  to  the  United 
States  and  remained  one  season  in  Poughkeepsie,  in 
the  State  of  New  York.  From  there  they  went  to 
Dodgeville,  Iowa  Co.,  Wis.  He  passed  some  time 
working  as  a  tailor  and  later  purchased  Government 
land,  on  which  he  "farmed"  until  1864.  In  that 
year  he  settled  in  Illinois  on  the  tract  of  land  which 
has  since  constituted  his  homestead.  His  farm  in- 
cluded 80  acres  at  the  date  of  purchase,  but  he  has 
made  additional  purchases  until  it  now  comprises 
231  acres  of  well  improved  land,  under  the  best  kind 
of  cultivation.  He  owns  some  fine  stock  and  is  in- 
terested in  its  improvement. 

Mr.  Fieldsend  and  his  wife  were  reared  in  the 
English  Church.  Politically,  he  is  a  decided  Dem- 
ocrat. 


(artin  Ryerson,  carpenter  and  farmer,  sec- 
tion 14,  Hopkins  Township,  is  a  son  of 
David  and  Esther  (Burr)  Ryerson,  who 
were  natives  respectively  of  New  Jersey 
and  New  York  State.  They  married  and  set- 
tled in  that  State  and  lived  there,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming,  till  their  death.  They  had  a 
family  of  seven  children,  namely  :  Martin,  Harriet, 
Lilah,  John,  Mary,  George  and  Sarah. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
Sept.  28,  1824.     He  received  a  common-school  edu- 


cation, and  at  the  age  of  16  was  apprenticed  for  four 
years,  at  ten  cents  per  day,  to  learn  the  carpenter's 
trade,  which  vocation  he  has  followed  mostly  up  to 
the  present  time.  In  the  spring  of  1850  he  came  to 
Whiteside  County  and  engaged  in  carpentering,  and 
soon  afterward  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  section 
14,  on  which  he  has  erected  fine  buildings.  He  owns 
125  acres  of  land  in  Hopkins  Township,  120.  acres 
of  which  is  tillable. 

He  was  married  in  Sterling  to  Margaret  Johnson, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Rebecca  (Truax)  John- 
son, who  were  natives  respectively  of  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  R..was  born  in  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  are  the  parents  of  four  children, — 
Sarah,  Esther,  Martin  J.  and  John.  John  is  deceased 
and  Esther  is  now  the  wife  of  Pardon  Angel  and 
resides  in  Como. 

Mr.  Ryerson  has  been  Overseer  of  Highways.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  In  politics  he  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party. 


Fenry  M.  Grinnold,  deceased,  a  pioneer  of 
Whiteside  County,  and  in  his  life-time  a 
resident  of  Fulton,  was  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  Jan.  i,  1813,  and  removed  in  his 
youth  with  his  parents  to  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass. 
He  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  in  the  toivn 
of  Egremont,  of  that  county,  and  in  1838  came  to 
Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  settling  near  Thompson. 

He  was  married  July  18,  1839,  in  the  township  of 
Garden  Plain,  to  Miss  Eliza  T.  Parker,  daughter  of 
Abel  and  Eleanor  (Howe)  Parker.  Mrs.  Grinnold 
was  born  in  Wells  Township,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt, 
March  10,  1823.  Her  people  were  from  Connecti- 
cut, and  had  moved  to  Wells  about  the  time  of  the 
war  of  1812-14.  Her  father  carried  on  milling  ex- 
tensively at  Wells,  and  emigrated  to  Garden  Plain, 
this  county,  in  1836.  Mr.  G.  had  a  fine  farm  of  160 
acres  at  Garden  Plain  Corners,  but  he  worked  at  his 
trade  more  or  less,  and  in  1854  opened  a  general 
store  at  Fulton.  In  1855  he  moved  his  family  to 
the  city,  where  they  have  continued  to  reside.  He 
continued  in  business  till  October,  1858,  when  he 
was  burned  out,  sustaining  a  heavy  loss.  In.  the 
spring  of  1859,  when  the  Pike's  Peak  gold  fever  was 


c!) 


^_ /-\   l*^*. 


x  • 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


* 


beginning  to  rage,  Mr.  Grinnotd  became  infected 
with  it  and  made  a  trip  to  the  mountains,  hoping 
also  to  improve  his  health,  which  was  greatly  im- 
paired. He  returned  in  the  fall  of  that  year  some- 
what encouraged,  spent  the  winter  at  home,  and  the 
following  spring  set  out  for  Pike's  Peak  again.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  his  health  failed  rapidly,  and  he 
started- for  the  home  which  he  was  never  destined  to 
reach,  his  death  occurring  on  the  road  Aug.  n, 
1860. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grinnold  had  eight  children : 
Henry,  the  eldest,  was  accidentally  shot  on  the  cars, 
while  traveling  in  the  West,  and  killed;  John  died 
aged  1 6  years;  Jones  and  Lydia  E.  died  in  infancy; 
Mellie  A.  is  residing  with  her  mother  at  Fulton  ; 
William  S.  died  aged  five  years;  Mary  E.  died  aged 
21  years;  and  Hattie  M.,  the  youngest,  resides  with 
her  mother. 

Mr.  Grinnold  was  a  Republican,  and  while  a  resi- 
dent of  Garden  Plain  held  the  offices  of  Justice  of 
the  Peace  and  Town  Clerk. 

Mrs.  G.  and  daughters  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 


P.  Royer,  farmer,  section  7,  Hopkins 
Township,  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Mary 
(Whitmer)  Royer,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  still  reside  in  their  native  State.  They 
had  a  family  of  13  children,  whose  names  are 
Jacob  W.,  George  A.,  David  and  Christian 
(twins),  Cyrus  E.,  C.  F.,  Washington,  Ellie  C.,  Mary 
E.,  Alice  G.,  Elam  and  Ezra  (twins)  and  Ida  F. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Franklin 
Co.,  Pa.,  June  24,  1856,  received  his  education  mostly 
in  the  common  schools  and  remained  at  home  till  the 
spring  of  1877,  when  he  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
and  for  three  years  worked  out  by  the  month,  farm- 
ing, and  then  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  remained 
one  year  and  then  resided  alsj  a  year  in  Iowa,  most 
of  the  time  dealing  in  stock.  He  finally  returned  to 
this  county,  where  he  rented  a  farm  of  200  acres  on 
section  7,  where  he  now  resides. 

He  was  married  in  Coleta,  Jan.  5,  1882,  to  Clara, 
daughter  of  James  S.  and  Hester  (Hanawalt)  Mc- 
Cauley,  who  were  natives  of  Virginia  and  Ohio. 
They  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  the  year  1853, 


settling  in  Hopkins  Township,  where  they  have 
since  lived.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
namely:  Marcellus,  Mary  C.,  John  W.,  Alice  A.,  Ida 
R.,  Clara  and  Willie  ;  one  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  R. 
was  born  in  Hopkins  Township,  April  6,  1861.  She 
and  her  husband  are  the  parents  of  two  children, — 
Bertha  M.,  born  Jan.  22,  1883,  and  James  Chris- 
tian, born  April  20,  1885.  They  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  political  mat- 
ters, Mr.  Royer  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party. 


^*VJ»^^ 


homas  Mathew  has  been  a  resident  in  the 
township  of  Hopkins  since  1836.  In  this 
year  he  is  recorded  among  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  the  township  to  which  he  came  one 
year  after  the  first  permanent  resident  took  up 
his  abode  here.  He  owns  525  acres  of  land 
in  the  township,  and  500  acres  are  under  good  im- 
provements, and  well  furnished  with  excellent  and 
necessary  buildings.  He  first  purchased  80  acres  of 
land,  on  which  he  operated  two  years,  and  sold  it  in 
1838,  buying  80  acres  on  the  section  where  he  has 
resided  since,  and  which  forms  the  nucleus  of  his 
present  large  estate. 

He  was  born  in  Scotland,  where  his  parents, 
Thomas  and  Margaret  (Thompson)  Mathew,  were 
born,  lived  and  died.  Their  children,  seven  in  num- 
ber, were  born  in  the  following  order:  Andrew, 
Robert,  Thomas,  Margaret,  Euphemia,  Elizabeth,  Ag- 
nes and  Jane.  Mr.  Mathew's  birth  occurred  July 
15,  1808.  He  came  from  Scotland  to  the  United 
States  in  1835,  and  passed  his  first  year  on  the  soil 
of  the  New  World  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  whence 
he  came  to  Illinois. 

He  was  married  Nov.  28,  1862,  in  Hopkins  Town- 
ship, to  Margaret,  daughter  of  William  and  Jeannette 
Mathew,  and  widow  of  Reuben  Dumire.  By  her 
first  husband  she  became  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren,— Jeannette,  Mary  C.,  William  T.  and  Reuben. 
The  children  born  of  the  second  marriage  are  named 
Thomas  and  Robert.  The  mother  died  Sept.  25, 
1865.  Mr.  Mathew  was  a  second  time  married  July 
9,  1868,  in  Hopkins  Township,  to  Anna  B.  Thomp- 
son. She  was  born  Feb.  28,  1849,  'n  Scotland.  Jean- 
nie  B.,  William  A.,  Robert  A.  and  Elizabeth  G.  arc 


- 


- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


the  names  of  the  children  of  which  she  became  the 
mother.  Mr.  Mat  hew  is  again  a  widower,  his  wife 
having  died  July  7,  1876. 

In  his  political  connection  Mr.  M.  is  a  Republican, 
and  he  has  held  various  official  positions ;  and,  be- 
ing a  prominent  and  representative  citizen,  as  well 
?s  one  of  the  oldest  pioneers  of  the  county,  his  por- 
trait, on  a  preceding  page,  will  naturally  be  expected 
in  this  connection  by  the  reading  public. 


R.  Cobb,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the 
(ASK  Sterling  Gazette  Company  and  its  manag- 
ing editor,  was  born  in  Elizabeth  City,  N. 
C.,  Oct.  4,  1846.  The  greater  part  of  his 
life  since  reaching  manhood  has  been  given 
to  his  newspaper  profession.  He  was  for  four 
years  an  officer  in  the  United  States  Navy.  He 
came  West  in  the  fall  of  1876;  taught  a  country 
school  for  a  year  and  a  half;  assumed  editorial 
charge  of  the  Fulton  (Whiteside  Co.)  Journal  in 
1879;  became  editor  and  secretary  of  the  Sterling 
Gazette  in  1880;  and  upon  the  reorganization  of  that 
institution  in  1882  was  made  its  general  business 
manager  and  editor. 

Although  a  Southern  man  and  a  slave-holder  by 
birth,  Mr.  Cobb's  sympathies  and  "material  aid" 
were  with  and  for  the  Union  during  the  late  war.  In 
polities  he  has  always  been  a  Republican:  His  peo- 
ple are  among  the  oldest  of  the  settlers  of  the  "  Old 
North  State,"  the  old  homestead  having  been  in  the 
possession  of  his  family  for  over  200  years.  His 
mother  and  brother  yet  live  in  the  ancestral  home. 
Mr.  Cobb  married  Laura  E.  John,  of  Elizabeth  City, 
N.  C.,  in  1869.  There  have  been  seven  children  by 
this  marriage,  three  of  whom,  two  daughters  and  a 
son,  are  living. 


!=*=— 


ames  A.  Wessel,  farmer,  section  8,  Union 
ji-  Grove   Tp.,  bought  40  acres   of  land  on 
^   the  same  section  on   which  he  is  now   re- 
siding, where  he  pursued  the  vocation  of  farm- 
ing, to  which  he  had  been  bred  in  his   native 
State.     In  February,  1876,  he  sold  the  land  of 
his  original  purchase,  and  bought  120  acres  on  the 




same  section  (8),  where  he  has  since  prosecuted  his 
agricultural  projects. 

Mr.  Wessel  was  born  Jan.  31,  1835,  in  Oswego 
Co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents,  Luke  and  Nancy  (Allen) 
Wessel,  were  natives  of  the  Empire  State  and  lived 
for  some  time  after  their  marriage  in  Oswego  County, 
removing  thence,  in  1842,  to  Jefferson  County  in  the 
same  State,  where  they  both  died.  They  had  eight 
children,— John,  Maria,  Belinda,  Jane,  Mary,  Char- 
lotte, James  A.  and  Henry. 

Mr.  Wessel  was  seven  years  of  age  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  He 
there  received  his  education  and  was  brought  up  a 
farmer  by  his  father,  removing  when  he  was  30  years 
of  age  to  Whiteside  County.  His  entire  farm  is  un- 
der the  plow  and  compares  favorably  as  to  value 
with  the  farms  by  which  it  is  surrounded. 

Mr.  Wessel  is  a  Republican  in  political  views  and 
connections. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Esther  J.  Gooden- 
ough,  Jan.  8,  1863,  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  was 
married  the  same  day  of  the  month,  and  in  the  same 
town,  county,  house  and  room  in  which  his  wife's 
father  and  mother  were  married.  She  was  born  in 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  9,  1845,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Willard  A.  and  Nancy  J.  Goodenough,  who 
are  now  residents  of  Union  Grove  Township  and 
whose  sketch  may  be  found  on  another  page  of  this 
work. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wessel  have  four  children, — Frank 
E.,  Gertie  J..  Bessie  E.  and  Myrtle  L. 


ichard  Alldritt,  general  farmer,   resident 
on  section   20,  Clyde  Township,  was  born 
Jan.  4,    1819,   in    Staffordshire,   England, 
and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Ann  Alldritt> 
an  account  of  whose  lives  may  be  found  in 
the  sketch  of  W.  Alldritt  in  another  portion  of 
this  work. 

He  is  the  fifth  son  and  fifth  child  of  his  parents, 
who  had  12  children,  and  he  was  six  years  of  age 
when  they  came  with  their  family  to  America,  land- 
ing at  the  port  of  Boston.  Two  years  later  they 
went  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  the  father  died  about 

\ •^fcjiBia.jp^  M&itffi> 

^^ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


four  years  later.  He  was  a  manufacturer  of  earthen- 
ware  in  his  native  country.  Mr.  Alldritt  lived  in 
Massachusetts  until  1844,  when  he  came  West  and 
settled  in  Clyde  Township,  where  he  entered  a  claim 
of  200  acres  of  land  on  which  he  interested  himself 
vigorously  in  establishing  a  home.  The  entire  town- 
ship was  chiefly  in  an  unsettled  condition.  He  is 
still  a  resident  on  the  place  of  which  he  holds  163 
acres,  and  chiefly  under  the  plow.. 

He  was  married  Dec.  31,  1848,  in  Union ville,  in 
Whiteside  County,  to  Orrilla,  daughter  of  Elisha  and 
Clarissa  (VVilber)  Bosley.  Her  parents  were  born 
respectively  in  Pennsylvania  and  Vermont,  and  after 
their  marriage  they  settled  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  her  father  followed  the  profession  of  a  mill- 
wright for  many  years,  and  where  Mrs.  Alldritt  was 
born  in  Farmington,  April  9,  1828.  She  was  in  early 
womanhood  when  her  parents  settled  in  Whiteside 
Co.,  111.  She  became  the  mother  of  nine  children, 
three  of  whom  are  deceased.  Emma  is  the  wife  of 
Julius  Elftman,  and  resides  in  Canton,  Minnesota. 
Her  husband  is  a  preacher  in  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Albert  married  Anna  Heacock,  and  is  a  stock-buyer 
at  Friendville,  Neb.  Alonzo  E.  is  a  butcher  by 
calling.  Henry  and  Orrilla,  and  Frank  also,  live  at 
home.  The  mother  died  March  21,  1875.  Lucy 
died  aged  six  years.  Edward  died  at  the  age  of  18 
months.  Mr.  Alldritt  is  a  member  of  the  Wesleyan 
Church,  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political  connection, 
and  has  been  Poor  Master  and  Road  Commissioner. 


Imer   Perault,  farmer,   section    28,  Union 
Grove  Township,  was  born  June  17,  1843, 
in  Canada,  and  his  parents,  Peter  and  Betsey 
(Conkling)  Perault,  were  also  born  in  the  Do- 
minion.    They  are  still   living   there.     When 
Mr.  Perault  was  18  years  of  age,  he  left  Can- 
ada, where  he  had  hitherto  passed  his  life,  and  went 
to  Vermont.     He  was  employed  one  year  in  a  tan- 
nery and  went  thence  to  Massachusetts,  where  he 
continued  until  1866,  engaged  in  the  same  occupa- 
tion.    In  the  winter  of  that  year  he  transferred  his 
•esidence  to  Whiteside  County  and  bought  141  acres 


of  land  where  he  has  since  been  occupied  in  farming. 
He  has  added  several  acres  by  later  purchase,  and 
owns  185  acres,  constituting  a  farm  which  in  pro- 
ductive value  ranks  fairly  with  surrounding  estates. 
In  political  connections  and  opinions  Mr.  Perault 
adopts  the  principles  and  issues  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  he  has  held  the  offices  of  Highway  Over- 
seer and  School  Director.  He  belongs  to  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Perault  to  Martha  R.  J.  Coe 
occurred  Dec.  4,  1867,  in  Union  Grove  Township. 
John  I.  and  Rebecca  (Moon)  Coe,  her  parents,  were 
natives  of  Ohio.  They  came  to  Whiteside  County  in 
1841  and  settled  in  the  township  of  Union  Grove, 
where  they  both  died.  Mrs.  Perault  was  born  in 
October,  1847,  in  Erie  Co.,  Ohio.  She  has  been  the 
mother  of  four  children,  one  dying  in  infancy.  Jen- 
nie E.,  Charles  O.  and  Eva  A.  are  still  living. 


i Ilium  Mensch,  farmer,  section  18,  Hopkins 
Township,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Chribtiun- 
,  na  (Heinbach)  Mensch,  who  were  natives 
('  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German  descent,  and 
passed  their  entire  lives  in  that  State.  They 
had  a  family  of  nine  children  who  lived  to  grow 
up,  namely  :  Sarah,  Michael,  Eliza,  Jesse,  Christian, 
Maria,  William,  Catherine  and  Abby. 

William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  April  3,  1826.  He  lived  in  his 
native  State  till  1860,  where  he  followed  farming,  and 
in  the  spring  of  that  year  came  to  Whiteside  County 
and  bought  165  acres  of  land  in  Hopkins  Township, 
on  section  18,  where  he  settled  and  has  since  lived. 
He  is  now  the  owner  of  337  acres,  most  of  which  is 
well  cultivated.  He  has  erected  fine  buildings  on 
his  farm,  and  in  many  ways  enhanced  its  value.  He 
was  married  in  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  about  Dec.  26, 
1847,  to  Anna  C.  Leiby,  who  was  born  in  Columbia 
Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  9,  1826.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  (Harmon)  Leiby,  who  were  also  natives  of 
the  Keystone  State.  They  had  a  family  of  12  chil- 
dren, namely:  Reuben,  Mary,  David,  Rebecca, 
Jacob,  Isaac,  Samuel,  Anna  C.,  John,  Emeline,  Har- 
riet and  Ira  Jackson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  have  had  16 
>tiH-^v>,  ^ 


« 


">rv-;»4HXD»MM.'y"v  w 
WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


children,  ten  surviving:  Martin  L.,  William  A.,  Eva, 
John  H.,  Alice,  Harriet,  Jacob  M.,  Clarence  H., 
Laura  J.  and  Ida  are  living,  and  Maria,  Emeline, 
Lovina,  Mary  M.,  Sarah  C.  and  Ellen  M.  are 
deceased. 

Mr.  Mensch  has  been  Overseer  of  Highways, School 
Director  and  Highway  Commissioner.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
M.  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Mensch  is  identified  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 


teiram  P.  Smith,  a  farmer  of  Clyde  Townshipj 
resident  on  section  7,  was  born  in  Black 
Creek  Township,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  May 
20,  1834.  His  parents,  Abraham  and  Cath- 
erine (McMurtrie)  Smith,  were  born  in  New 
Jersey.  Their  parents  were  natives  of  New 
England  and  were  of  Irish  extraction.  His  paternal 
ancestors  emigrated  to  New  England  previous  to  the 
days  of  the  Revolution.  His  father  and  mother 
were  married  in  Black  Creek  Township,  and  they 
lived  there  all  the  years  of  their  united  lives,  attain- 
ing a  respected  and  useful  position  in  society.  The 
father  was  prominent  in  military  affairs  and  held  the 
rank  of  Major  in  the  militia  alxnit  17  years.  He 
died  Sept.  30,  1876,' aged  79  years.  The  mother  is 
84  years  of  age  and  is  still  resident  on  the  home- 
stead. Five  of  their  nine  children  are  living. 

Mr.  Smith  is  the  fifth  child  in  order  of  birth  and 
until  he  reached  his  majority  lived  at  home,  mean- 
while obtaining  such  education  as  was  possible  at 
that  period,  and  also  acquiring  a  complete  knowledge 
of  agricultural  arts.  On  obtaining  the  control  and 
direction  of  his  own  time  he  attended  Wyoming 
Seminary  for  some  time,  and  completed  an  entire 
course  of  study.  He  afterwards  engaged  in  teach- 
ing in  his  native  county,  passing  the  alternate  sum- 
mer seasons  in  agricultural  labors.  He  passed  six 
years  in  this  manner  and  meanwhile  came  West,  ar- 
riving in  Lee  Co.,  111.,  in  October,  1858.  Nov.  19, 
1861,  he  was  married  to  Catherine,  daughter  of  John 
and  Jane  (Flick)  Smith.  Mrs.  Smith  is  of  German 
descent,  her  grandparents  having  emigrated  from 
Germany  to  Pennsylvania.  Her  parents  were  mar- 
.  ried  in  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  and  afterwards  located  in 


Lycoming  County,  in  that  State,  whence  they  came, 
some  years  later,  to  Clyde  Township  and  are  now 
living  on  a  farm  on  section  18.  Mrs.  Smith  was  born 
in  Briar  Creek  Township,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov. 
19,  1841.  She  was  about  two  years  old  when  her 
parents  went  to  Lycoming  County,  where  she  was 
principally  educated.  She  was  1 7  years  of  age  when 
her  father  removed  to  Illinois.  The  family  first  lo- 
cated in  Ogle  County,  removing  later  to  Lee  County, 
fixing  their  residence  near  Dixon.  She  became  a 
teacher  and  taught  school  two  terms  in  Lee  County 
and  was  married  there.  The  family  circle  now  in- 
cludes six  children, — Wellington  L.,  Emma  J.,  Mary 
A.,  Clement  R.,  Eva  M.  and  Hiram  P.,  Jr. 

Soon  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  set- 
tled in  Fair  Haven  Township,  Carroll  County,  this 
State,  whence  they  removed,  two  years  afterward, 
to  Clyde  Township.  They  managed  a  farm  two 
years  in  the  interests  of  John  F.  Demmon,  after 
which  they  purchased  80  acres  of  land  on  section  7, 
Clyde  Township.  The  property  is  finely  located 
and  the  homestead  no rV  contains  1 60  acres  of  land, 
all  under  good  improvement  and  well  stocked.  At 
the  time  it  came  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Smith  it 
was  all  unbroken  prairie.  The  cattle  or.  the  place 
are  valuable  grades  of  Short-Horns. 

Mr.  Smith  affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party  and 
has  held  the  minor  offices  of  the  township.  With 
his  wife,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


Joseph  W.  Bump,  farmer,  Clyde  Township, 
resident  on  section  27,  was  born  June  16, 
1831,  in  De  Ruyter  Township,  Madison 
Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father  and  mother,  Marcus 
and  Mary  A.  (Winegar)  Bump,  were  natives 
respectively  of  New  England  and  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  were  both  of  New  England  origin. 
They  were  farmers  and  resided  after  their  marriage 
in  Madison  County  until  their  death.  They  were 
both  members  of  the  Friends,  a  society  of  Quakers. 
The  father  was  about  70  years  of  age  when  he  died, 
in  1871.  The  mother  died  in  1858  and  was  nearly 
60  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Bump  remained  at  home  until  he  was  18  years 
of  age,  engaged  principally  in   obtaining  his   educa- 


VJ> 
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tion.  In  1849  he  went  to  Cayuga  County,  in  his 
native  State,  where  he  entered  into  an  apprenticeship 
with  his  uncle,  Edward  Mitchell,  to  learn  the  busi- 
ness of  a  blacksmith.  He  remained  under  his 
instructions  three  years,  removing  meanwhile  to 
Onondaga  County  in  the  same  State.  He  pursued 
his  trade  in  his  native  State  until  he  was  23  years  of 
age. 

In  March,  1855,  he  came,  unaccompanied,  to  Illi- 
nois and  at  once  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in 
Clyde  Township.  The  broad  acres  of  the  prairie 
were  still  unbroken  by  the  plow  and  stretched  away 
under  the  summer  sun  and  the  wintry  snows  in 
glorious  promise,  which  the  energetic,  industrious  and 
judicious  farmer  has  brought  to  realization.  He  gave 
little  attention  to  his  farm  for  a  few  years,  but  began 
to  prepare  for  his  future  success  by  working  at  various 
points  at  his  trade  and  as  a  farm  laborer. 

He  was  married  Dec.  27,  1865,  in  Fairview,  Mer- 
cer Co.,  Pa.,  whither  he  went  to  accomplish  that 
purpose,  to  Alvira  L.  Converse.  She  was  born  Aug. 
4,  1836,  in  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Winthrop  and  Laura  (Wentworth)  Converse.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer  and  was  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts. Her  mother  was  born  in  Canada.  Both  par- 
ents were  of  English  descent  and  of  New  England 
origin.  The  former  died  in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  in 
August,  1868,  and  was  66  years  of  age.  After  that 
event  the  mother  went  to  livxe  with  her  son  in  Iowa, 
and  died  in  September,  1882.  She  was  81  years  of 
age.  "Mrs.  Bump  was  five  years  old  when  her  parents 
went  to  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  where  she  was  educated. 

The  children  belonging  to  the  household  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bump  were  born  as  follows:  Myron  C., 
Sept.  2,  1866;  Winthrop  M.,  March  26,  1869;  Mar- 
cus S.,  Nov.  1 6,  1873. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bump  settled 
on  the  farm  in  Clyde  Township,  which  has  since 
been  the  field  of  their  labors  and  where  they  have 
reared  their  children.  The  improvements  include  a 
fine  residence  and  good  farm  buildings,  and  the 
place  is  well  stocked  with  a  good  grade  of  Durham 
cattle.  Mrs.  Bump  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  of  which  her  father  was  at  one  time  a  minis- 
ter. Mr.  Bump  is  a  believer  in  the  tenets  of  the 
Friends,  in  which  he  was  brought  up.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican of  vigorous  views. 

In  August,  1862,  he  entered  the  Union  army,  lay- 


ing aside  his  peace  principles  in  the  cause  of  his 
country.  He  enlisted  in  the  751)1  Regiment  of  Illi- 
nois Volunteers,  enrolling  in  Company  C,  under 
Captain  Altman,  of  Morrison.  He  was  with  his  reg- 
iment in  the  battle  of  Perrysville,  Ky.,  Sept.  8,  1862, 
and,  six  days  later,  was  engagad  in  a  lively  skirmish 
with  the  rebels  at  a  point  between  Lancaster  and 
Danville,  Ky.  Soon  after  he  contracted  camp  diar- 
rhea which  was  attended  with  typhoid  fever,  and 
was  placed  on  the  sick  list  at  Danville,  where  he  was 
sent  to  the  hospital.  He  was  removed  to  the  hos- 
pital at  Lexington,  Ky.,  and  received  honorable  dis- 
charge from  thence  in  the  spring  of  1863.  He 
escaped  the  risks  of  the  battlefields  to  encounter 
those  of  the  army  hospitals. 


Bwsro  W.  Terpenning,  general  farmer,  resi- 
itM:f  dent  at  Coleta,  Genesee  Township,  was 
born  May  22,  1842,  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Peter  Terpenning,  his  father,  was  born  in  the 
same  State,  and  was  of  New  England  parent- 
age and  German  descent.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  married  Lydia  Anable,  also  a  native  of  New 
York  and  of  mixed  English  and  French  extraction. 
They  removed  after  some  years  to  Lenawee  Co., 
Mich.,  settling  in  the  township  of  Addison.  The 
father  died  there  March  16,  1857,  at  the  age  of  46 
years.  The  mother  died  in  April,  1884,  aged  78. 
They  were  prosperous  and  became  prominent  in  the 
community  where  they  resided.  They  had  ten  chil- 
dren. 

Mr.  Terpenning  is  the  eighth  child,  and  he  was 
tow  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  Michigan. 
When  he  was  ten  years  old  he  came  to  Genesee 
Township,  and  lived  with  relatives.  He  obtained  a 
good  fundamental  education  and  was  sent  to  Mt. 
Carroll  Seminary,  where  he  completed  a  more  thor- 
ough course  of  study. 

He  was  married  Nov.  22,  1865,  to  Angelina. 
daughter  of  Ivory  and  Alzina  (White)  Colcord.  (See 
sketch  of  W.  H.  Colcord.)  She  was  born  Nov.  22, 
1847,  in  Genesee  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Terpen- 
ning have  three  children  :  Frank  I.  was  born  Jan. 
i,  1868;  Harry  E.  was  born  Jan.  24,  1869;  Aeolia 
V.,  Sept.  3,  1871. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Terpenning  re- 


' 


- 
, 


- 

_:.7^V£Tv 


j  ••  -. 


-  ..  - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


sided  five  years  on  a  farm,  which  at  that  time  con- 
tained 40  acres,  and  in  1876  they  settled  on  the 
Colcord  estate,  where  they  were  residents  until  1883, 
the  date  of  their  removal  to  the  village  of  Coleta, 
where  they  own  24  acres  of  land  on  the  south  bound- 
ary. Mr.  Terpenning  is  also  the  owner  of  260  acres 
of  land  in  Genesee  Township,  nearly  all  under  im- 
provement. 

Mr.  Terpenning  is  Steward  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  also  a  member. 
He  is  a  Republican  of  consistent  and  honorable 
record. 


B.  Shirk,  of  the  mercantile  firm  of 
Shirk  Bros.,  at  Morrison,  dealers  in  cloth- 
ing and  furnishing  goods  for  gentlemen, 
was  born  May  23d,  1840,  in  Clarion  Co^ 
Pa.  He  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Sarah  (Gal- 
braith)  Shirk,  residents  of  Morrison,  of  whom 
an  extended  sketch,  with  a  record  of  their  several 
children,  may  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Shirk  has  been  and  is  still  an 
extensive  land  proprietor  of  Whiteside  County,  and 
the  son  was  reared  on  a  farm.  He  lived  on  a  farm 
until  the  fall  of  1878,  when,  in  company  with  his 
brother  William,  he  came  to  Morrison  and  embarked 
in  the  business  in  which  they  have  since  been  en- 
gaged, and  have  operated  with  success. 

Mr.  Shirk  formed  a  matrimonial  Alliance  with 
Jennie  G.  Gates  Dec.  20,  1864,  at  Cooperstown, 
Venango  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  have  had  three  children, 
namely  :  Elizabeth,  George  and  Mary. 

Mrs.  Shirk  was  born  in  Clarion  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Gates. 


i  illiam  Alldritt  is  a  farmer  of  prominence 
on  section   29,  Clyde  Township,  and  was 
born  Oct.  6,    1823,  in  Bradley,   Stafford- 
shire, England.     His  parents,  Thomas  and 
Ann  (Jackson)  Alldritt,  were  natives  of  the 
/same  country  and  of  unmixed  English  descent, 
and  his  father  was  engaged  in  active  business  life  in 
his  own  country  until  1824,  when  he  left  England  to 
found  a  home  in  the  New  World. 


Mr.  Alldritt  is  the  seventh  son  and  was  less  than  a 
year  old  when  the  family  emigrated  to  America.  He 
was  too  young  to  walk  alone,  but  he  learned  while 
on  ship-board,  and  made  his  first  trip  on  fool  across 
the  cabin  of  the  captain.  They  made  port  in  Bos- 
ton harbor,  and  went  from  that  city,  after  a  short 
residence,  to  Lowell,  in  the  same  State.  In  that 
place  Mr.  Alldritt  grew  to  a  suitable  size  and  age  to 
attend  school.  His  father  died  there  in  February, 
1831,  and  when  he  was  12  years  of  age  his  mother 
removed  to  a  farm  in  the  country.  The  family  re- 
mained there  until  1845.  I'1  May  °f  tnat  year  the 
mother,  with  four  children,  came  to  Whiteside 
County,  whither  Richard,  an  elder  son,  had  come  pre- 
vious. They  located  on  a  farm  which  included  180 
acres  situated  on  sections  20,  29  and  33,  and  bought 
by  the  mother  and  her  son  Richard. 

William  Alldritt  was  an  inmate  of  his  mother's 
home  until  his  first  marriage,  which  occurred  Jan. 
24,  1855,  to  Mary  C.  Griffin.  She  was  .born  in  1827 
in  Methuen,  Mass.,  and  her  parents  were  of  New 
England  origin.  They  have  been  dead  some  years. 
After  their  decease  she  came  to  the  township  of 
Clyde  with  an  elder  brother,  and  she  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Mr.  Alldritt.  She  died  Dec.  25,  1855,  sur- 
viving her  marriage  but  about  one  year.  She  was  a 
lady  of  prominent  Christian  character,  and  was 
highly  respected.  Mr.  Alldritt  was  a  second  time 
married  March  4,  1860,  in  Clyde  Township,  to  Julia 
A.,  daughter  of  Leonard  and  Mary  (Sparr)  Hiner. 
Her  parents  were  born  in  Pennsylvania  of  German 
ancestors,  and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
Keystone  State.  The  daughter  was  born  Jan.  2, 
1841,  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  whither  her  parents  had 
removed  several  years  before  her  birth.  When  she 
was  seven  years  of  age  her  parents  went  to  Mercer 
Co.,  Ohio,  remaining  there  seven  years.  The  fam- 
ily came  to  Illinois  in  1855  and  located  in  the  east 
part  of  Whiteside  County.  Later  they  settled  in 
Clyde  Township,  where  the  mother  died  in  the  fall 
of  1878,  aged  nearly  71  years.  The  father  is  yet 
living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alldritt  have  had  six  children  : 
Charles  J.,  lx>rn  May  u,  1864;  William  R.,  June  4, 
1866;  Benjamin  F.,  Aug.  10,  1868;  Nathan  G., 
July  31,  1870;  William  was  born  Feb.  2,  1861,  and 
died  July  19,  1863;  Minnie  M.  was  born  Aug.  15, 
1862,  and  died  July  13,  1863.  But  six  days  inter- 
vened between  their  deaths. 

At  the  date  of  his  second  marriage,  Mr.   Alldritt 


_-.-, 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


became  a  resident  on  the  homestead  in  Clyde-Town- 
ship, which  he  has  since  occupied.  It  contains  145 
acres,  all  under  cultivation,  except  ten  acres,  which 
is  in  timber.  The  buildings  on  the  place  are  credit- 
able  to  its  proprietor  and  a  great  addition  to  the 
general  appearance.  His  stock  is  valuable,  and  in- 
cludes excellent  grades.  He  is  a  practical  apicul- 
turist,  and  has  about  30  stands  of  bees  in  his  yard 
on  an  average.  He  is  a  Republican  of  liberal  views, 
and  has  officiated  in  various  town  offices. 


fohn  S.  Green,  dealer  in  drugs,  books  and 
stationery,  at  Morrison,  and  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  J.  S.  Green  &  Co.,  grain, 
lumber  and  coal  merchants  at  the  same  place, 
was  born  Dec.  13,  1831,111  Walton,  Delaware 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  J.  and 
Delilah  N.  (Fitch)  Green.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Vermont,  where  he  was  born  Feb.  10,  1810.  He 
went  in  early  life  to  Walton,  where  he  was  married, 
his  wife  being  a  native  of  that  place  (born  in  July, 
1812).  In  1842  the  family  removed  to  Deposit,  in 
the  same  State,  where  the  demise  of  both  parents 
occurred, — that  of  the  mother  being  in  1870,  and 
that  of  the  father  in  May,  1877.  They  had  eight 
children,  of  whom  six  survive.  Mr.  Green  of  this 
sketch  is  the  oldest.  Sherman  K.  is  a.  boot  and 
shoe  dealer  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.  Charles  H.  is  a 
salesman  with  the  latter.  Elizabeth  N.  is  the  wife 
of  Lyman  M.  Fitch,  a  farmer  of  Walton,  N.  Y. 
Emma  M.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  H.  Bradshaw,  of 
Galesburg,  111.  Eliza  J.  is  unmarried. 

Mr.  Green  was  about  ten  years  of  age  when  his  par- 
ents removed  from  his  native  place  to  Deposit. 
His  education  was  conducted  with  the  judgment 
which  characterizes  the  better  classes  in  the  mental 
training  of  their  children,  and  he  was  sent  for  sev- 
eral years  to  an  academy.  After  completing  his 
course  of  study,'  he  obtained  a  position  as  clerk  and 
later  as  a  station  agent  on  the  line  of  the  Erie  Rail- 
road, in  which  capacity  he  operated  until  he  was 
about  25  years  of  age.' 

In  1857  he  went  to  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  where  he 
was  occupied  as  a  book-keeper,  and  also  became  in- 
terested in  speculations  in  real  estate,  in  which  he 
was  occupied  until  the  war  between  the  North  and 
South  destroyed  all  business  relations  in  the  latter 
section.  In  April,  1862,  Mr.  Green  closed  his  affairs 


in  Missouri  and  came  to  Morrison.  He  formed  a 
business  opening  in  the  drug  trade,  in  which  he  has 
since  been  interested,  purchasing  the  stock  of  Dr. 
VV.  L.  Coe.  His  business  has  been  uniformly  pros- 
perous and  the  average  value  of  the  stock  he  carries 
is  about  $10,000.  He  employs  three  assistants  and 
occupies  the  two  lower  stories  and  cellar  of  the 
building  of  which  he  is  the  proprietor.  It  is  con- 
structed of  brick  and  is  21  by  52  feet  in  size. 

In  December,  1883,  the  business  firm  of  J.  S. 
Green  &  Co.  was  formed,  comprising  Mr.  Green, 
W.  F.  Johnson,  a  commission  merchant  of  Chicago, 
and  M.  H.  Potter,  of  Morrison.  The  business  trans- 
actions of  the  house  are  extensive  and  include  traffic 
in  grain,  coal,  lumber,  lime,  salt,  cement  and  all 
other  building  materials..  In  the  last  named  com- 
modities (builders'  supplies)  they  hold  a  monopoly 
at  Morrison,  no  other  establishment  in  the  city  being 
similarly  engaged.  Their  facilities  for  the  transac- 
tion of  their  business  are  complete  and  consist  of  an 
elevator,  lumber  and  coal-yard  with  sheds,  lime- 
house  and  a  dry-lumber  room  50  by  98  feet  in  extent, 
the  whole  occupying  an  area  of  about  two  acres. 
Mr.  Green  has  been  actively  interested  in  municipal 
affairs  since  his  location  at  Morrison  and  has  served 
1 2  years  as  City  Treasurer.  He  has  been  Alderman 
two  terms  and  officiated  in  other  minor  positions. 

Jan.  5,  1864,  Mr.  Green  formed  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Nellie  A.,  daughter  of  Harvey  E.  and 
Wealthy  A.  Williams.  Their  marriage  took  place  at 
Dixon,  111.  Mrs.  Green  was  born  Oct  31,  1844,  in 
Genesee  Co  ,  N.  Y.  Four  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  as  follows:  Harvey  S.,  April 
9,  1866;  Ivy,  July  6,  1869;  Olive,  June  28,  1877; 
and  Florence  M.,  Feb.  18,  1881. 


form  Gsell,  deceased,  was  formerly  a  resi- 
£?•  dent  upon  section  30,  Clyde  Township,  and 
was  born  Feb.  21,  1842,  in  Franklin  Co., 
Pa.  The  full  biographical  sketch  of  his  par- 
ents may  be  found  in  the  account  of  William 
Gsell,  which  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
Mr.  Gsell  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  was  carefully  trained  in  a  knowledge  of  the  de- 
tails of  agriculture,  in  which  he  was  engaged  all  his 
life.  He  lived  at  home  until  he  was  21  years  of  age, 
and,  a.  few  months  after  reaching  that  period,  he  be- 
came a  householder. 


WHITBSIDE  COUNTY. 


His  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Elter  took  place  in 
Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  25,  1863.  She  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Mary  (Huber)  Elter.  Her  father 
was  a  German  by  birth  and  was  educated  in  his  na- 
tive laud.  He  came  in  young  manhood  to  the 
United  States,  and  his  passage  across  the  ocean  was 
memorable  for  its  length  and  hardships.  The  scarcity 
f  food  necessitated  the  use  of  bread  which  had  be- 
come so  moldy  from  age  that  clouds  of  dust  would 
fly  from  it  when  the  pieces  were  bitten.  Mr.  Elter 
located  in  Pennsylvania  and  married  his  wife  at 
Rocky  Springs  in  the  same  State.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and,  after  their  marriage,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Gsell 
always  lived  in  the  same  place.  The  mother  died 
in  1841,  when  her  daughter  was  but  five  years  of 
age.  The  father  was  a  second  time  married,  and 
died  of  paralysis  about  1 86 1,  after  he  had  attained 
to  a  great  age.  Their  family  included  four  daugh- 
ters and  two  sons. 

The  surviving  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gsell 
were  born  as  follows:  Aaron,  May  25,  1865; 
Maria,  Jan.  20,  1867;  Barbara,  July  23,  1868;  Sarah, 
June  13,  .1870;  William  John,  Oct.  8,  1873.  They 
have  all  been  educated  with  care  in  the  public 
schools.  Two  children  died  in  infancy. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gsell  lived  on 
a  farm  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  about  two  years,  when 
they  removed  to  Illinois.  They  settled  on  one  of  the 
best  located  farms  in  Clyde  Township,  which  they 
improved  in  the  best  possible  way  until  it  was  greatly 
increased  in  value  by  the  character  of  the  buildings, 
stock  and  fixtures. 

Mr.  Gsell  died  Sept.  8,  1880.  He  was  a  Republi- 
can and  a  member  of  the  Mennonite  Church. 

Mrs.  Gsell  retains  in  her  own  right  133  acres  of  the 
original  homestead  estate,  and  is  its  manager.  She 
belongs  to  the  Dunkard  Church. 


likamuel  W.  Robinson,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  S.  W.  Robinson  &  Bro.,  hardware 
merchants  and  dealers  in  agricultural  im- 
plements at  Morrison,  was  born  Jan.  5,  1835, 
in  Zanesville,  Ohio.  Robert  P.  Robinson,  his 
father,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1809,  and 
acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  business  of  a  foundry- 
man  and  hardware  merchant.  He  married  Mary  J. 
^Culbertson,  who  was  born  in  1812  near  the  city  of 

•_ 

v 


Zanesville,  Ohio,  and  was  raised  in  Pittsburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  a  few  years  after  transferred  his  fam- 
ily and  business  interests  to  Zanesville,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  sale  of  hardware,  and  operated  there 
more  than  20  years.  In  1857  he  came  to  Dixon,  111., 
and  passed  about  four  years  in  the  foundry  business. 
About  1 86 1  he  went  to  Sterling  and  established  a 
trade  in  agricultural  implements,  in  which  he  was 
interested  to  the  time  of  his  death.  The  mother  died 
at  Zanesville.  Of  their  seven  children  only  the 
brothers  who  are  conducting  a  joint  business  at  Mor- 
rison are  living. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  placed  at  school  as  soon  as  he 
reached  a  suitable  age,  and  his  education  was  con- 
ducted with  care  in  the  best  schools  at  Zanes- 
ville until  he  was  1 6  years  of  age,  when  he  became 
an  assistant  in  his  father's  hardware  business.  This 
he  has  made  the  vocation  of  his  life,  and  he  has 
pursued  it  without  intermission  for  34  years  (1885). 
It  is  probably  safe  to  venture  the  statement  that  he 
is  the  senior  hardware  merchant  in  the  county  of 
Whiteside.  Entering  his  father's  store  in  1851,  he 
continued  in  the  position  of  salesman  and  assistant 
six  years,  and  in  1857  came  to  Morrison  and  began 
business  independently  on  the  site  now  occupied  by 
the  Revere  House.  Almost  simultaneously  he  be- 
gan to  make  arrangements  to  establish  himself  per- 
manently, and  in  the  same  year  he  built  the  store  he 
now  occupies.  It  is  constructed  of  brick,  is  three 
stories  in  height  above  the  cellar,  and  is  connected 
with  a  large  warehouse,  of  brick,  located  on  the  rail- 
road. In  1859  he  admitted  his  brother,  Frank  H., 
to  a  partnership.  (A  biographical  sketch  of  the 
latter  may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.)  The 
business  of  the  Robinson  brothers  is  extensive,  and 
includes  all  the  branches  common  to  establishments 
of  similar  scope  and  purpose.  Their  stcck  comprises 
full  and  complete  lines  of  hardware  and  agricultural 
implements  and  machinery.  They  make  a  specialty 
of  farm  machinery  of  every  description.  Their  busi- 
ness requires  the  aid  of  three  assistants. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  united  in  marriage,  Dec.  6, 
1859,  to  Anna  Gibbs,  and  they  have  had  six  chil- 
children  :  William  G.  was  born  Sept.  6,  1860,  and 
is  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store;  Paul,  born  Jan.  29, 
1862,  is  engaged  in  the  same  capacity  ;  Mary  C.  was 
born  May  2,  1864;  Maud  was  born  May  6,  1870. 
Two  children  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Robinson  was 

: 


& 
*• 


f 


I 


born  in  1841,  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Alanson  and  Sophronia  Gibbs.  She  was 
v  ?»  brought  up  at  Lyndon,  this  county,  to  which  place 
her  parents  moved  from  New  York  when  she  was 
about  six  years  of  age.  Her  education  was  com- 
pleted at  the  seminaries  of  Mt.  Carroll  and  Rock- 
ford,  111. 


»   *• 

i 




aniel  Long,  retired  farmer,  residing  at 
Morrison,  was  born  in  Somersetshire,  Eng- 
land, Sept.  26,  1821.  His  father  was  Wil- 
liam Long,  a  miller  and  baker  by  trade ;  his 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Susanna  Follett. 
His  father  died  in  June,  1870.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  brought  up  in  his  father's  busi- 
ness, and  was  Married  in  1848  to  Miss  Susan  Chap- 
man. They  had  but  one  child,  Frederick  D.,  now 
a  resident  of  England.  Mrs.  Long  died  in  185  r,  and 
the  following  spring  Mr.  Long  emigrated  to  America. 
He  spent  a  few  months  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and 
then  went  to  Lyons,  Iowa,  where  he  resided  one  year. 
He  next  removed  to  Clinton,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
butchering  business.  He  was  an  early  settler  of 
Clinton  and  continued  in  business  there  six  years, 
and  then  engaged  in  farming,  in  Spring  Valley,  this 
county. 

He  was  married  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  Dec. 
8,  1854,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Church,  widow  of  Edward 
Church  and  daughter  of  John  and  Ann  Link. 
Mrs.  Long's  paternal  grandfather  was  John  Link, 
and  her  paternal  grandmother  was  Penelope  Link, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Edward  Beeks.  Her  maternal 
grandfather  was  Joseph  Tyler,  and  her  maternal 
grandmother  was  Mary  Kollett.  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Long  was  born  in  Tarrington,  Herefordshire,  Eng- 
land, and  emigrated  to  America  in  1852.  She  had 
one  child  by  her  former  marriage,  Alfred  A.,  who 
married  Mary  Lourcher  and  resides  in  Spring  Valley, 
Ustick  Township,  Whiteside  County.  They  have 
three  children, — Arthur  A.,  Elizabeth  A.  and  Lizzie 
M.  Mrs.  Long  lost  her  former  husband  in  1848. 
Mrs.  Ann  Link  died  in  November,  1870. 

Mr.  Long  and  wife  continued  to  reside  on  their 
fine  farm  in  Spring  Valley  till  1883,  when  they 
moved  to  Morrison,  their  present  home.  Mr.  Long 
till  owns  a  well  improved  farm  in  Ustick,  of  160 


acres,  situated  on  sections  3  and  4.  He  also  has  two 
dwelling-houses  and  five  and  a  half  city  lots  in  Mor- 
rison, besides  city  property  in  Clinton,  Iowa,  and  a 
quarter-section  of  farming  land  in  Northern  Dakota. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long  have  had  one  child,  Alice  A., 
who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Long  is  a  Democrat,  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
He  has  made  two  visits  to  his  native  country  since 
coming  to  America,  on  one  of  which  his  wife  accom- 
panied him.  During  his  last  visit,  his  father  died,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  89  years. 


illiam  C.  Page,  of  Sterling,  is  a  hatter  by 
trade,  but  is  now  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness. He  was  born  in  York  Co.,  Maine, 
July  31,  1810,  his  parents  being  Samuel 
and  Sophia  (  Goddard  )  Page.  He  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education,  and  at  the 
age  of  17  years  left  home  and  served  a  four-years 
apprenticeship  in  learning  the  hatter's  trade.  Shortly 
after  the  expiration  of  this  term,  he  opened  a  shop  at 
New  Market,  N.  H.,  where  he  followed  his  trade  six 
years ;  selling  out,  he  removed  to  Exeter,  that  State, 
and  followed  the  business  four  years;  went  next  to 
Kennebec,  Maine,  purchased  a  farm  and  managed 
that  for  ii  years,  in  connection  with  following  his 
trade;  selling  out,  he  went  to  Haverhill,  Mass., 
where  he  was  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  flannel 
three  years ;  then  he  went  to  North  Berwick  and  in 
company  with  two  others  purchased  a  factory,  which 
they  ran  for  three  years,  manufacturing  woolen 
blankets  for  calico  printers  ;  selling  out  his  interest  in 
the  latter,  in  1857,  he  came  to  Sterling  and  opened  a 
lumber-yard,  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged 
in  milling  and  farming.  He  is  succeeding  well  in  his 
business,  and  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  county. 

Politically,  he  indorses  Republican  politics,  and 
religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 

Mr.  Page  was  married  in  January,  1833,  to  Miss 
Dorcas  Felker,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  they 
have  had  six  children,  two  only  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing,— Harriet  N.  and  Soviah.  Mrs.  Page  died  Dec. 
20,  1872,  and  in  1874  Mr.  Page  married  again,  this 
time  wedding  Jane  Stackpole,  also  a  native  of  the 
old  Granite  State.  She  died  in  August,  1884. 
O 


UNIVERSITY  of  ILUN01S 
UKKANA 


,rank  D.  Ramsay,  attorney  at  Morrison,  is 
one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  Whiteside 
County,  of  which  he  is  a  native.  Luther 
B.  Ramsay,  his  father,  is  a  pioneer  of  the 
county,  and  came  here  from  his  native  State 
when  he  was  at  the  threshold  of  manhood.  He 
was  born  Sept.  19,  1818,  and  in  1839  came  to  the 
township  of  Coloma,  as  an  assistant  of  Leonard  H. 
Woodworth,  chief  engineer  in  the  construction  of  the 
canal  around  the  rapids  in  the  river  above  Rock 
Falls.  He  spent  six  months  in  the  work,  meanwhile 
securing  a  claim  in  territory  that  is  now  included  in 
the  township  of  Hume. 

In  the  fall  of  1839  he  went  back  to  his  native 
State,  returning  in  the  autumn  of  the  succeeding 
year  to  take  possession  of  his  property  in  Hume 
Township.  He  removed  thence  in  1843  to  Prophets- 
town,  and  has  since  been  a  resident  of  that  township. 
He  has  been  prominent  in  its  agricultural  develop- 
ment, and  is  the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  magnificent 
fanns  which  gives  Whiteside  County  its  prestige 
among  the  agricultural  districts  of  Illinois.  The 
farm  contains  320  acres  and  is  contiguous  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Prophetstown,  where  Mr.  Ramsay  is  now  liv- 
ing in  retirement,  after  a  life  of  unusual  activity.  He 
spent  some  years  in  mercantile  business  at  Prophets- 
town. 

Caroline  M.  (Smith)  Ramsay,  his  wife,  was  born  in 
May,  1827,  in  Poultney,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.  Her  par- 
ents, Stephen  D.  and  Tilly  (Manly)  Smith,  settled 
at  Prophetstown  in  1840,  where  they  are  still  living. 
Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  1798,  and  is  87  years  of  age. 
In  1855  he  purchased  a  farm  adjoining  the  village  of 
Prophetstown,  in  which  he  then  resided ;  and  in 
1871  it  was  platted  and  a  portion  of  the  village  is 
now  located  thereon.  The  families  of  Smith  and 
Ramsay  are  inseparably  connected  with  the  history 
of  the  early  days  of  progress  and  improvement  in 
Whiteside  County. 

Mr.  Ra  nsay  is  the  oldest  child  of  his  parents,  arid 
he  has  one  sister,  Lucy  E.,  who  is  the  wife  of  George 
B.  A  lams,  editor  of  the  Morrison  Herald.  Christine 
is  the  adopted  daughter  of  the  senior  Ramsay  and 
his  wife,  and  lives  with  them  at  Prophetstown. 

Mr.  Ramsay  was  born  in  Prophetstown,  Whiteside 
Co.,  IU.f'Sept/»7,  1846.  He  obtained  his  elementary 


education^in  his  native  county  and  completed  his 
course  of  study  at  Dixon  University.  After  leaving 
school  he  engaged  as  a  clerk  and  also  became  inter- 
ested in  various  other  avenues  of  employment  until 
1867,  when  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Frederick 
Sackett  at  Sterling,  to  fulfill  a  long  cherished  pur- 
pose and  obtain  a  comprehensive  knowledge  of  law 
and  familiarity  with  office  routine  under  competent 
instruction.  He  had,  by  previous  study  and  reading 
at  odd  intervals,  obtained  a  general  knowledge  of  the 
profession  he  purposed  to  enter ;  and,  after  a  course 
of  diligent  application  under  the  preceptorship  of  Mr. 
Sackett,  he  was  admitted,  in  the  spring  of  1868,  to 
practice  in  all  the  State  Courts  of  Illinois.  He  has 
since  been  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  the  Federal 
Courts. 

On  obtaining  his  credentials,  he  came  to  Morrison 
and  opened  an  office  in  company  with  O.  F.  Wood- 
ruff. After  a  partnership  of  a  year's  duration,  they 
severed  their  business  relations.  During  the  con-- 
struction  of  the  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad  through  Whiteside  County,  Mr. 
Ramsay  officiated  as  attorney  for  the  corporation 
and  acted  in  the  same  capacity  for  some  years  sub- 
sequent. His  practice  has  gradually  extended  and 
is  one  of  the  largest  in  White.side  County. 

The  rank  of  Mr.  Ramsay  in  his  profession  is  sucli 
as  might  be  expected  of  a  man  of  his  caliber,  pos- 
sessing a  disciplined  mind,  combined  with  persever- 
ance, energy  and  unimpeachable  integrity.  He 
inherits  the  directness,  clear  foresight  and  sturdy 
adherence  to  purpose  which  distinctively  characterize 
the  \  ancestral  stock  to  which  he  traces  his  origin. 
The  Scotch-Irish,  who  came  from  Londonderry  to 
escape  interference  with  what  they  considered  their 
religious  liberty,  have  given  to  this  country  an  ele- 
ment which  manifests  as  little  deterioration  through 
descending  generations  as  any  other  which  enters 
into  our  composite  nationality.  It  is  noted  for  inde- 
pendence of  character  and  freedom  from  ostentation; 
and  while  its  representatives  possess  a  laudable  and 
normal  ambition  to  rank  fairly  with  others  in  the 
world's  contest,  they  covet  no  place  or  position  which 
involves  sacrifice  of  others.  They  are  champions  of 
common  rights  and  arrogate  to  themselves  no  privi- 
leges save  those  which  secure  their  right  to  lead  pure 
and  honorable  lives  of  effort  and  usefulness.  Of  this 
class  Mr.  Ramsay  is  a  representative.  In  his  pro- 


284 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


fessional  relations  he  holds  a  degree  of  confidence 
which  is  in  itself  the  best  possible  evidence  of  the 
quality  of  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  his  clients. 
He  is  fitted  by  nature  and  training  for  an  effect- 
ive advocate;  he  is  direct  in  method,  imbued  with 
an  earnest  belief  in  his  work,  and  formulates  his 
comprehension  of  points  at  issue  in  language  that  is 
chiefly  noticeable  for  its  pertinence  to  the  case,  and 
its  entire  freedom  from  effort  to  produce  oratorical 
effect.  He  is  a  clear  logician  and  is  able  to  present 
the  course  of  an  argument  with  a  perspicuity  that  is 
far  more  effective  than  rhetorical  display.  Mr.  Ram- 
say is  still  a  young  man,  but  has  achieved  through 
hard  work  and  a  persistent  determination,  a  position 
in  his  profession  and  in  his  relations  generally,  which 
is  a  safeguard  to  his  future.  A  determination  to  do 
well  that  which  is  to  be  done,  leaves  little  possibility 
of  retrogression. 

He  was  united  in  marriage,  Feb.  i,  1872,  at 
Prophetstown,  to  Lovisa  McKenzie.  Their  two  chil- 
dren were  born  as  follows:  Luther  R.,  May  i8( 
1876;  Robert  M.,  Feb.  14,  1879.  Mrs.  Ramsay 
was  born  Aug.  7,  1848,  in  Prophetstown.  Her  par- 
ents, William  R.  and  Harriet  (Martin)  McKenzie, 
came  to  that  township  in  1837. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Ramsay  appears  on  a  previous 
page.  It  is  copied  from  a  likeness  taken  in  1885. 


oyal  C.  Twitchell,  farmer,  section  i,  Union 
Grove  Township,  was  born  Dec.  8,  1812, 
in  New  Haven,  Addison  Co.,  Vt.  His 
parents,  Daniel  and  Lura  (Clark)  Twitchell, 
were  also  natives  of  the  Green  Mountain  State, 
where  they  remained  all  their  lives.  Mr. 
Twitchell  is  the  oldest  of  their  children, — ten  in 
number.  Following  are  the  names  of  his  brothers 
and  sisters  in  the  order  of  their  birth  :  Edith,  Lucius, 
Clark,  Almeda,  Ira,  Urial,  Francis  and  Damon.  One 
child  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Twitchell  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  at  the  age  of  17  years  he  began  to  acquire 
a  practical  knowledge  of  the  trade  of  his  father,  who 
was  a  mason  and  also  a  farmer.  He  pursued  the 
former  line  of  business  in  hie  native  State  until  1854. 
In  December  of  that  year  he  came  to  Whiteside 


County,  where  he  joined  the  army  of  Western  agri- 
culturists, purchasing  86  acres  in  the  township  of 
which  he  has  since  been  a  resident,  and  has  labored 
successfully  as  a  farmer.  He  has  made  a  later  pur- 
chase of  40  acres  additional,  and  his  homestead  now 
contains  126  acres  of  valuable  land,  nearly  all  of 
which  is  in  good  agricultural  condition. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment  and 
sustains  the  general  and  local  issues  of  the  party. 
He  has  held  the  several  minor  offices  of  the  town- 
ship. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Twitchell  to  Mary  Harring- 
ton took  place  Nov.  2,  1834,  at  Weybridge,  Vt.,  and 
they  have  three  children, — Alzina  L.,  Alice  A.  and 
Volney  M.  Mrs.  Twitchell  was  born  in  New  Haven, 
Addison  Co.,  Vt.,  Feb.  21,  1814.  She  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Silas  and  Betsey  (Dickinson)  Harrington,  and 
had  seven  brothers  and  sisters.  The  children  of  her 
parents  were  born  as  follows:  Earl,  Sophia,  Nelson, 
Noble,  Mary,  Lovisa,  Lewis  and  Amelia. 


ev.  Adelford  J.  Brown,  Pastor  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Sterling,  was  born 
in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  i,  1850.  His 
parents  were  William  (a  mason  by  trade)  and 
Elizabeth  (Belknap)  Brown.  At  the  age  of 
13  years  he  was  "  bound  out  "  to  Amos  Hera- 
street,  a  farmer,  until  of  age,  with  the  understanding 
that  he  should  then  receive  $150  and  two  suits  of 
clothes ;  but  his  behavior  was  so  good  that  he  was 
set  free  at  18  with  this  bonus.  The  reason  that  he 
was  "bound  out"  was  his  father's  entering  the  United 
States  Army  in  1862,  when  the  family  was  too  large 
and  dependent  to  remain  together  at  home.  Two  of 
the  children  were  accordingly  indentured. 

When  Mr.  Brown  left  Mr.  Hemstreet,  he  attended 
the  Cazenovia  (N.  Y.)  Seminary  three  years  and 
graduated,  and  then  attended  the  Syracuse  (N.  Y.) 
University  two  years.  Making  a  profession  of  religion 
at  the  age  of  17,  he  continued  his  Christian  career 
with  zeal  and  began  to  preach  the  gospel  while  a 
student  at  Syracuse,  having  his  appointment  at  Col- 
mar,  six  miles  distant.  He  was  Pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  the  latter  place,  and  while  sustaining  this 
relation  he  was  blest  with  a  revival,  resulting  in  104 
conversions.  After  leaving  Colmar  he  taught  scl 


* 


• 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


285 


m 

I 


at  Upper  Lisle,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  next,  by  the 
advice  of  his  father-in-law,  he  purchased  a  farm  in 
Chenango  County,  and  followed  agriculture  three 
years:  then,  receiving  a  call  from  West  Danby, 
Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  he  sold  his  farm  and  engaged 
in  the  ministry  as  a  "  supply  "  at  that  place.  He  was 
ordained  May  7, 1879,  at  Scott's  Corners,  Seneca^Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  accepted  a  call  from  the  Baptist  Church 
at  that  place  and  was  in  their  service  three  years. 
Next,  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Sennett,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  served  two 
years;  then  he  served  the  Church  at  Dansville,  N. 
Y.,  about  two  years;  and  finally,  in  January,  1885, 
he  received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the  Sterling 
(111.)  Baptist  Church,  and  he  removed  here  and  com- 
nienced  his  pastoral  labors  on  the  i5th  day  of  Feb- 
ruary following.  His  flock  numbers  240.  An  account 
of  the  Church  is  given  on  a  subsequent  page,  under 
the  heading  of  "  Sterling." 

Oct.  28,  1873,  Mr.  Brown  married  Miss  Hattie  R. 
Eaton,  a  native  of  Willett,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  a 
daughter  of  Peter  Eaton,  a  Methodist  clergyman. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  hive  two  children, — Earl  O. 
and  Hattie  E. 


;  ames  McCue,  general  farmer  on  section 
[^  32,  Hopkins  Township,  was  born  Sept.  24, 
1834,  in  the  parish  of  Balanakiln,  County 
Galway,  Ireland.  He  emigrated  thence  in 
1854,  arriving  in  the  United  States  in  Novem- 
ber after  he  was  20  years  old.  He  worked 
by  the  month  until  the  spring  of  1859,  when  he 
rented  a  farm.  He  continued  its  management  three 
years,  after  which  he  bought  a  farm  in  Hopkins 
Township,  containing  80  acres,  where  he  fixed  his 
homestead.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  460  acres  in 
the  townships  of  Hopkins  and  Lyndon,  which  in- 
cludes about  300  acres  under  the  plow.  His  place 
is  well  stocked  with  an  average  number  of  90  head 
of  cattle  and  18  horses,  and  he  fattens  an  annual 
average  of  60  hogs. 

His  parents,  Thomas  and  Honora  (Ternon)  Mc- 
Cue, lived  and  died  in  Ireland.  They  had  four 
children :  William,  James,  Mary  and  Ann. 

Mr.  McCuc  was  married  at  Dixon,  Lee  Co.,  111.,  by 
Rev.  Father  Kinady,  C.  P.,  March  i,  1859,  to  Mar- 


garet, daughter  of  James  and  Ellen  (Kirk)  Doyle. 
She  is  one  of  their  nine  children  :  Michael,  James, 
Mary,  Margaret,  John,  Patrick,  Catherine,  Sarah  and 
Ellen.  Mrs.  McCue  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  is  the 
mother  of  six  children,  named  William,  James,  Mary, 
Thomas,  John  and  Edward. 

Politically,  Mr.  McCue  is  a  Democrat.  He  has 
held  several  official  positions  in  local  affairs.  The 
family  are  Catholics. 


ouis  Oltmanns,  editor  of  the  Sterling  Be- 
obachter,  was  born  in  Jever,  Oldenburg, 
Germany,  April  30,  1836,  his  parents  being 
(j  Gerhard  W.  and  Anna  M.  (Luemmen)  Olt- 
manns, natives  of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  1867  and  settled  in  Sterling. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  private  school, 
and  college  a  short  time,  left  his  parental  home  at 
the  age  of  15  years  and  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness for  14  years;  then,  in  1865,  he  came  to  America 
and  first  was  employed  by  R.  B.  Witmer  at  Sterling, 
until  Feb.  i,  1883,  when  he  assumed  his  present 
position.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  to  which  latter  body  his  wife  also  belongs. 
Mr.  Oltmanns  was  married  in  1868  to  Miss  Annie 
Lederer,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  they  have  had 
four  children, — William,  Anna,  Louisa  and  Mary. 

-* £H|» *- 


ichard  S.  W.  Ely,  dealer  in  real  estate  at 
Morrison,  is  a  native  of  Connecticut  and 
was  born  in   Mansfield,  Oct.  27,  1834,  the 
son  of  the  Rev.  William  and  Harriet  (Whiting) 
Ely.     His  parents  were  born  in  Connecticut. 
His  father  was  a  well  known  Congregational 
minister  of  that  State. 

Richard  was  left  an  orphan  in  his  boyhood,  and  in 
such  limited  circumstances  that  he  was  obliged  to 
depend  entirely  upon  his  own  efforts  for  his  advance- 
ment in  life.  His  education  was  received  in  the 
public  schools,  and  when  21  years  of  age  he  sought 
his  fortune  in  the  West.  He  came  to  Illinois  in 
1851,  and  spent  one  year  at  Waukegan  as  a  sales- 
man in  a  mercantile  house.  From  there  he  went  to 

^M^%ce: K&^s^f/$> 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


De  Kalb,  where  he  engaged  in  real-estate  business. 
A  few  years  later  he  went  to  Columbus,  Wis.,  pursu- 
ing the  same  business.  Thence  he  went  to  Cedar 
Falls,  Iowa,  and  thence  to  Geneva,  111.  In  1864  tie 
came  to  Morrison,  where  he  engaged  in  the  grain 
business.  ~  He  also  bought  and  sold  real  estate,  and 
by  the  exercise  of  good  judgment  made  many  good 
investments,  and  acquired  property  rapidly.  About 
1867  he  formed  a  partnership  in  real-estate  business 
with  G.  A.  Whitcomb,  which  continued  about  two 
years.  In  1873  he  bought  out  the  Morrison  Carriage 
Works,  and  two  years  later  took  Mr.  Whitcomb  in  as 
an  equal  partner.  The  business  was  conducted 
under  the  firm  name  of  Ely  &  Whitcomb  till  Novem- 
ber, 1882,  when  they  sold  out.  The  Carriage  Works 
employed  an  average  force  of  22  men  and  turned  out 
from  250  to  300  carriages  annually.  Mr.  Ely  is  still 
connected  with  Mr.  Whitcomb  in  real-estate  business, 
their  transactions  extending  through  Illinois,  Wiscon- 
sin, Minnesota,  Iowa,  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  besides 
heavy  interests  in  city  property  in  Minneapolis  and 
other  cities.  Their  agricultural  lands  aggregate  up- 
ward of  7,000  acres,  and  are  valuable. 

Mr.  Ely  continues  to  make  his  home  at  Morrison, 
where  he  has  a  handsome  property.  He  formerly 
owned  and  remodeled  the  magnificent  residence  now 
the  property  of  O.  W.  Woodruff. 

He  was  married  at  Sycamore,  111.,  Oct.  5,  1858,  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Crawford,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Frances  (Billmeyer)  Crawford.  Mrs.  Ely  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania.  They  have  three  children, — two 
sons  and  a  daughter:  William  R.,  Spencer  C.  and 
Hattie  G.  Mr.  Ely  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  while  he 
and  his  estimable  wife  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Ely  began  the  race  of  life  an  orphan  boy  with- 
out means  or  influential  friends,  but  possessed  of 
shrewd  business  instincts,  sound  judgment  and  good 
executive  ability,  backed  by  pluck,  enterprise  and 
unquestioned  integrity.  With  these  qualifications, 
success  was  only  a  question  of  time.  At  this  writ- 
ing, having  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  24  years,  he 
has  acquired  the  large  property  interests  previously 
alluded  to,  and  is  reckoned  among  the  most  successful 
business  men  of  Morrison.  The  wide  range  of  his 
field  of  operations  and  the  magnitude  of  some  of  his 
successful  transactions  have  demonstrated  his  ac- 
curate judgment,  cool  nerve  and  keen  business 


sagacity.  Mr.  Ely  is  possessed  of  many  estimable 
qualities,  both  of  heart  and  mind,  while  he  is  no  more 
free  from  faults  than  many  other  good  citizens.  He 
is  a  frank,  candid  man,  who  says  what  he  means  and 
stands  by  what  he  says,  his  word  being  as  good  as 
his  bond.  Generous  and  free-hearted,  his  frequent 
and  liberal  aid  to  those  in  distress  has  often  led  to 
the  abuse  of  his  kindness.  Notwithstanding  such 
experience,  his  purse  opens  just  as  quickly  to  the 
next  seemingly  worthy  applicant  for  his  bounty. 
Friendship  with  him  is  sacred.  Once  having  won  his 
regard  and  confidence,  his  friends  have  always  found 
him  true  as  steel.  Trouble  or  misfortune  on  the  part 
of  a  friend,  with  him  only  strengthens  the  tie.  It  is 
often  the  case  where  one  is  so  firm  a  friend,  he  will, 
where  the  occasion  justifies  it,  prove  as  bitter  an 
enemy ;  but  with  the  subject  of  our  sketch  such  is 
not  the  case.  Once  having  had  his  quarrel  out,  he 
harbors  no  animosity,  but  seems  to  forget  the  entire 
matter. 

In  matters  of  public  interest  he  has  always  been 
found  liberal  and  enterprising.  There  are  but  few 
citizens  of  Morrison  entitled  to  more  credit  for  a  free 
and  generous  support  of  worthy  public  enterprises 
than  Mr.  Ely.  In  his  domestic  relations  he  is  known 
at  his  best.  His  unselfish  devotion  to  his  wife  and 
children  is  but  another  consistent  characteristic  of 
the  man. 


avid  B.  Denison,  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
the  Economy  Mill  at  Sterling,  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  6,  1840.  His 
parents,  David  and  Elizabeth  (Rhodes)  Den- 
ison, were  also  natives  of  that  State.  His  father 
$  was  a  millwright  and  miller,  and  followed  his 
trade  in  his  native  State  until  1857,  when  he  moved 
to  Princeton,  Bureau  Co.,  Ill,  and  for  a  short  time 
he  was  employed  at  farming  :  since  then  he  has  pur- 
sued his  chosen  vocation  as  a  mechanic  and  miller. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  third  of  a  family 
of  eight  children,  in  order  of  birth,  received  in  his 
youth  a  common-school  education  and  assisted  his 
father  at  farming  and  also  at  his  trade.  At  the  age 
of  20  he  left  home  and  took  a  farm  on  shares  near 
Princeton.  Next  he  resided  in  Nelson,  Lee  Co.,  111., 
for  a  time,  following  agriculture  there  for  five  years ; 


I 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


then  was  a  millwright  at  Dixon,  111.,  until  1871 ;  fol- 
lowed his  trade  three  years  in  Neosho  Co.,  Kan., 
and  in  1874  he  came  to  Sterling,  where  he  continued 
his  vocation  as  a  millwright  until  July,  1884,  since 
which  time  he  has  had  his  present  position.  In 
1882  he  purchased  a  residence  on  the  corner  of 
Fifth  and  Spruce  Streets. 

In  1862  Mr.  Denison  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  his 
country,  joining  Co.  A,  691)1  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  (100 
days).  His  regiment  was  sent  to  Vicksburg,  Miss., 
where  he  was  mostly  on  guard  duty  in  charge  of 
prisoners.  After  being  in  the  service  six  months,  he 
was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  at  Chicago,  re- 
ceiving an  honorable  discharge.  Politically,  Mr.  D. 
is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order,  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  To  the  latter,  his  wife  also  be- 
longs. 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Clara  S.  Richardson  took 
place  July  29,  1873.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Joseph  T.  and  Annie  (Dorman)  Richardson,  natives 
respectively  of  England  and  New  Jersey.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  D.  have  had  three  children ;  Roy  O.,  born  May 
8,  1874;  Grace  E.,  Feb.  5,  1879;  and  Myrtle  C., 
Jan.  5,  1884. 


a 

I  infield  W.  Woodruff,  deceased,  was  for- 
merly a  resident  of  Lyndon  Township, 
whither  he  removed  in  1852  from  his  na- 
tive State, — New  York.  He  "was  born  in 
Livonia,  Livingston  County,  in3the  Empire 
State,  in  1817.  His  father,  Landon  J.  Wood- 
ruff, M.  D.,  was  a  prominent  physician  and  surgeon 
of  Western  New  York,  and  was  desirous  that  his  son 
should  fit  himself  for  the  same  profession,  giving  him 
a  substantial  education  as  preparatory  to  that  pur- 
pose ;  but  the  young  man's  proclivities  led  him  in 
another  direction,  and  on  his  marriage  he  settled 
himself  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  in  his  native 
State. 

He  was  married  Jan.  i,  1839,  to  Solemma  F. 
Terry,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three  sons : 
Orr  F.,  of  whom  an  extended  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  work,  is  a  distinguished  lawyer  at  Mor- 
rison ;  William  M.  is  a  farmer  and  stock  dealer  at 
Kearney,  Neb. ;  and  John  J.  is  an  attorney  by  pro- 
fession and  possesses  uncommon  talent,  but  is  en- 


gaged  almost  exclusively  in  the  sheep  industry  at 
Kearney,  Neb.  They  are  all  worthy  citizens,  in 
whom  their  parents  felt  a  just  pride. 

The  condition  of  public  affairs  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  which  existed  when  Mr.  Woodruff  found  him- 
self qualified  to  enter  upon  the  duties  and  privileges 
of  citizenship,  was  such  as  to  develop  all  the  abilities 
with  which  he  was  endowed  by  nature.  His  boyish 
enthusiasm  had  been  quickened  and  kept  alive  by 
the  public  training  days,  and  he  became  an  active 
member  of  the  State  militia.  His  commission  as 
Ensign  in  the  2151)1  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  is  dated 
May  2,  1840,  and  bears  the  autograph  signature  of 
William  H.  Seward,  Governor 'of  New  York.  He 
was  a  Whig  of  intense  partisan  sentiment,  and  in  af- 
ter years  was  fond  of  rehearsing  the  incidents  of  the 
"good  old  log-cabin  times  of  1840."  He  was  stren- 
uously opposed  to  the  slave  element. 

He  resided  in  Lyndon  Township  nine  years  pre- 
vious to  the  culmination  of  the  discontent  and  dis- 
loyalty of  the  southern  portion  of  the  United  States, 
watching  the  succession  of  ominous  events  with  all 
the  interest  of  a  patriotic  citizen.  He  manifested 
the  stuff  of  which  he  was  made  and  the  quality  of 
his  loyalty,  by  enlisting  when  he  was  44  years  of 
age  as  a  private  in  the  Eighth  111.  Vol.  Cav.,  at  the 
time  of  the  organization  of  the  regiment  in  1861. 
His  military  career  was  in  conformity  with  his  char- 
acter, and  he  made  an  honorable  record.  After  the 
war  he  resided  in  Whiteside  County  until  October, 
1875,  when  he  went  to  Kearney,  Nebraska,  to  re- 
side. He  died  in  November,  1884,  from  the  re-* 
suit  of  injuries  received  while  attempting  to  manage 
a  powerful  sheep.  He  had  nearly  accomplished  the 
allotted  period  of  three-score  and  ten  years  and 
passed  to  his  reward  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  honors 
of  a  pure,  worthy  life  of  uprightness  and  usefulness. 
His  wife  survives  him. 


\:  ev.  N.  H.  G.  Fife,  for  the  past  12  years 
Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ster- 
ling, was  born  in  the  village  of  Elizabeth, 
Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  19,  1840:  both  his 
parents  were  natives  of  the  same  State.  His 
father,  Andrew  Fife,  was  a  farmer  and  attained 
the  age  of  89  years.  His  mother,  nee  Sarah  Robin- 
son, died  at  the  age  of  84  years. 


\ 
f 


288 


WHITEST DE  COUNTY. 


Rev.  Fife  received  his  academic  training  at  El- 
der's Ridge,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.,  and  entered  the  Junior 
class  in  Jefferson  College  in  September,  1857,  grad- 
uating when  19  years  of  age.  After  teaching  one 
year  at  Middletown,  Ky.,  he  entered  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary  in  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  at 
which  he  graduated  in  April,  1863.  Immediately  af- 
terward he  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry 
by  the  Redstone  Presbytery,  and  installed  Pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Connellsville,  Pa.,  which 
position  he  sustained  five  years.  He  then  took  charge 
of  the  Church  at  Long  Run,  in  the  same  Presbytery, 
where  he  remained  until  November,  1873,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  entered  upon  his  present  pastor- 
ate. (See  the  latter  part  of  this  volume  for  a  sketch 
of  the  Church.) 

June  9,  1869,  Mr.  F.  married  Miss  Maty  E.  Paull, 
of  Connellsville,  Pa.  Three  children  have  been 
born  to  them, — Eliza  P.,  Charles  A.  and  J.  Paull. 

Mr.  Fife  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views, 
and  his  long  service  in  such  an  intelligent  com- 
munity as  that  of  Sterling,  with  the  continued  ap- 
proval of  his  Church,  is  sufficient  evidence  of  his 
ability  and  faithfulness  in  the  gospel  ministry. 


• 

|  esley  Robinson,  a  prominent  farmer  on 

section  12,  Clyde  Township,  was  born 
March  20,  1820,  in  the  village  of  Man- 
chester, Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.  Stephen  Rob- 
inson, his  father,  was  a  native  of  Maine,  and 
was  of  mixed  English  and  Scotch  lineage.  He 
was  married  in  the  State  of  his  nativity  to  Mahitabel 
Plumer,  also  born  in  the  Pine-Tree  State.  She  was 
of  English  extraction.  Some  years  after  their  mar- 
liage  they  removed  to  Indiana,  where  the  mother 
died,  at  the  place  already  recorded  as  the  birthplace 
of  the  son,  in  the  spring  of  1842.  In  1850  the  father 
removed  to  Illinois  and  was  a  member  of  his  son's 
household  until  his  death,  about  1857,  when  he  was 
nearly  87  years  of  age.  They  had  six  children,  five 
sons  and  a  daughter. 

Mr.  Robinson  is  the  second  oldest  child,  and  re- 
mained under  the  authority  of  his  parents  until  1843, 
when  he  removed  to  Lee  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  spent 
some  years  as  a  general  laborer.  He  then  yielded 
to  a  fancy  to  try  life  on  the  river,  and  he  engaged  in 


boating.  His  route  terminated  at  New  Orleans, 
where  he  has  passed  several  winters  after  having 
been  occupied  as  a  boatman  through  the  summers. 

In  the  spring  of  1844,  he  came  to  Whiteside 
County  and  located  near  Sterling,  where  he  fixed  his 
residence.  In  April,  1847,  he  was  married  to  Maria, 
daughter  of  Martin  and  Lois  (Waite)  Montgomery. 
Her  father  was  of  Irish  extraction  and  was  born  in 
Vermont.  Her  mother  was  of  mixed  Welsh  and 
French  origin  and  was  born  in  Rhode  Island.  After 
their  marriage  they  settled  in  Roxbury,  Delaware 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  at  that  place  Mrs.  Robinson  was 
born,  Nov.  6,  1818.  In  1839  her  father  moved  his 
worldly  belongings  to  Illinois,  his  family  accompany- 
ing him,  with  the  exception  of  two  children.  The 
family  located  near  Sterling. 

Three  years  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robinson  removed  to  Clyde  Township,  where  they 
took  up  their  abode  on  241  acres  of  unbroken  prairie, 
situated  on  sections  n,  12,  13  and  14.  Nearly  all 
the  place  is  under  cultivation  and  it  is  fairly  stocked. 

Frank  C.  Robinson  is  the  only  child  of  his  parents, 
and  he  was  born  Sept.  4,  1855.  He  was  married 
March  20,  1878,  to  Millie  E.  Barrett.  They  located 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Whiteside,  where  she  became 
the  mother  of  a  child,  who  is  also  deceased.  She 
died  in  Wheaton,  111.,  in  1881,  where  she  went  for 
medical  treatment.  The  son  resides  on  the  home- 
stead. Father  and  son  are  Republicans  in  political 
principle. 


braham  Zook,  a  retired  farmer  of  Clyde 
Township,  resides  on  section  3.  He  was 
born  Dec.  2,  1820,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  the  son  of  Joseph  Zook,  who  was  born 
in  Chester  Co.,  Pa.  In  national  descent  Mr. 
Zook  is  of  Swiss  extraction,  and  records  him- 
self as  third  in  generation  from  three  brothers  in  the 
paternal  line  who  came  to  America  just  previous  to 
the  Revolutionary  War.  Joseph  Zook  was  a  woolen 
manufacturer  in  Pennsylvania  until  he  was  43  years 
of  age,  when  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He 
died  in  his  native  State  in  July,  1852,  aged  65  years. 
Anna  (Shuck)  Zook,  the  mother,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster County,  and  was  of  mixed  Swiss  and  Ger- 
man origin.  Her  progenitors  were  early  settlers  in 
the  United  States.  She  died  in  1826,  in  the  county 


where  she  was  born,  when  her  son  was  but  six  years 
of  age.  She  had  been  the  mother  of  six  children. 
The  father  married  again  after  the  death  of  his'wife, 
and  the  children  were'reared  at  home. 

Mr.  Zook  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  instructed  in  the  duties  of  farm  labor.  Feb.  18, 
1840,  he  was  married  in  JFranklin  Co.  Pa.,  to  Ann, 
daughter  of  John  and  Susanna  (Raiher)  Gsell."  Both 
the  latter  were  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  German 
descent.  They  were  farmers  and  died  in  Franklin 
County.  The  death  of  the  father  transpired  May 
10,  1873,  when  he  was  94  years  of  age.  The  mother 
died  in  1832.  They  were  the  parents  of  1 1  children. 
The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zook,  10  in  number, 
are  all  yet  living,  and  are  all  heads  of  families : 
Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Swisher,  a  farmer  in 
Adair  Co.,  Iowa ;  Sarah  married  Jacob  Garwick,  of 
whom  a  full  sketch  appears  on  another  page ;  Anna 
is  Mrs.  Henry  Garwick,  and  lives  In  the  township  of 
Clyde ;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Trump,  a  bishop 
in  what  is  designated  the  River  Brethren  Church, 
and  resides  at  Polo  in  Ogle  County ;  Joseph  S.  mar- 
ried" Adaline  Law,  and  is  a  farmer  in  Adair  Co., 
Iowa;  Amanda  is  Mrs.  George  Hiller  and  is  a  resi- 
dent on  a  farm  in  Clyde  Township  :  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried Jacob  Ditch,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Ogle  Co.,  111. ; 
Abraham  married  Rosa  Bowers  and  is  a  resident  of 
Clyde  Township. 

John  R.  Zook  was  born  Nov.  27,  r857,  in  the 
township  of  Newton.  When  he  was  20  years  of  age 
he  began  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  the  town- 
ship where  he  was  born,  and  after  spending  two 
years  in  that  vocation  he  went  to  the  college  at  Val- 
paraiso, Ind.,  where  he  passed  some  time  in  study. 
Subsequently  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  Ogle  County, 
but  passed  only  one  term  in  that  avenue  of  business, 
returning  at  its  expiration  to  the  family  homestead, 
of  which  he  has  since  been  the  superintendent.  He 
has  been  engaged  for  some  years  as  a  teacher  of 
vocal  music. 

Dec.  18,  1884,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah 
A.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Priscilla  (Holley)  George. 
She  was  born  Feb.  22,  1865,  in  Carroll  Co.,  111.  She 
was -only  two  years 'of  age"  when  her  father  and 
mother  came  to  the  township  of  Clyde,  where  she 
grew  to  womanhood,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  was  married  at  her  father's  house. 

Melissa  the  youngest  child  of  Abraham  and   Ann 


Zook,  married  John  H.  Gayman,  a  farmer  in  Fair- 
haven  Township,  Carroll  Co.,  111.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Zook  remained  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  after  their  mar- 
riage, until  1857.  In  that  year  they  removed  to  Illinois 
and  resided  between  two  and  three  years  in  the 
townships  of  Garden  Plain  and  Newton.  In  1860 
they  removed  to  Clyde  Township,  where  they  pur- 
chased 1 60  acres  of  unbroken  prairie.  They  pro- 
ceeded .with  vigorous  energy  to  make  the  usual 
improvements.  Their  efforts' resulted  in  a  fine  and 
valuable  farm,  all  under  cultivation,  well  stocked 
and  supplied  with  commodious  and  necessary  farm 
buildings.  The  present  manager  of  the  place  is 
interested  in  the  improvement  of  stock  and  is  the 
owner  of  fine  grades  of  Short-Horn  cattle.  All  the 
members  of  the  family,  with  one  exception,  belong  to 
the  River  Brethren  Church.  The  father  and  sons 
are  Republicans  of  pronounced  type. 


V. 


Ifred  Bayliss,  of  the  firm  of  Newcomer  & 
Bayliss,  publishers  of  the  Sterling  Standard, 
was  born  in  Bledington,  Gloucestershire, 
England,  March  22,  1847.  He  came  with  his 
parents,  John  and  Frances  (Blake)  Bayliss,  to 
this  country  in  March,  1854.  The  family  re- 
sided two  years  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  then  moved  to 
Hillsdale,  Mich.  He  was  educated  in  public  schools 
of  Cleveland  and  Hillsdale  and  at  Hillsdale  College  ; 
was  graduated  at  the  latter  institution  in  1870.  He 
served  from  October,  1863,  to  August,  1865,  in  Co. 
H  of  the  nth  Mich.  Cav.  Was  Superintendent  of 
Schools  at  La  Grange,  Ind.,  in  1871-3,  and  in  1872 
was  appointed  School  Examiner  for  the  County.  He 
was  afterwards  chosen  County  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  which  office  he  resigned  to  take  charge  of 
the  Second  Ward  School  in  Sterling  in  1874,  and  re- 
mained in  charge  of  that  school  for  ten  years.  Since 
June,  1884,  he  has  been  associated  with  James  W. 
Newcomer  in  the  publication  of  the  Sterling  Stand- 
ard, a  weekly  newspaper,  straight  Republican. 

Mr.  Bayliss  was  married  June  28,  1871,  to  Clara 
M.,  daughter  of  Manasseh  and  Caroline  Kern,  of 
Porter,  Van  Buren  Co.,  Mich.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren,— Clara  Kern,  born  Nov.  10,  1872,  and  Zoe, 
born  Aug.  14,  1879. 

>— ^fl 


© 

cy. 

1=3 


Y"V.  M  H  XD*  H  H  •  V'V^^ 

IVHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


- 


(fames  W.  Newcomer,  of  the  firm  of  New- 
Kf-  comer  &  Bayliss,  publishers  of  the  Sterling 
Standard,  was  born  in  Centre  Co.,  Pa., 
Nov.  23,  1841  ;  came  to  Illinois  {^1846  with 
his  parents,  and  settled  near  Freeport;  learned 
the  printer's  trade  in  the  Freeport  Journal 
office;  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  93d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  in  1862, 
and  served  three  years;  was  wounded  at  Altoona 
Pass  in  October,  1864;  was  commissioned  ist  Lieu- 
tenant in  1865. 

He  published  the  Lena  Star  from  1869  to  1878  ; 
was  United  States  Storekeeper  at  Sterling  from  1878 
to  1883.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  firm  of  Mack 
&  Newcomer,  which  in  June,  1884,  became  New- 
comer &  Bayliss,  publishers  of  the  Standard,  a 
straight  Republican  newspaper. 

Mr.  Newcomer  was  married  in  1870  to  Miss  Lola, 
daughter  of  Z.  Stover,  then  of  Lena,  now  of  Repub- 
lic, Kan.  They  have  one  daughter,  Lulu,  born  Jan. 
10,  1872. 


Tacob  Garwick,  a  farmer  on  section  2,  Clyde 
Township,  is  a  citizen  'of  the  United  States 
by  adoption,  and  was  born  Dec.  13,  1834, 
in  the  province  of  Alsace,  France.  (This  ter- 
ritory has  since  been  recovered  by  its  original 
owner,  Germany,  by  whom  it  is  still  held.) 
Jacob  Garwick,  senior,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  province  and  was  of  German  parentage.  He 
was  a  miller  by  vocation  and  married  Magdalene 
Wolff.  She  was  of  mixed  French  and  Swiss  ancestry. 
Both  her  grandsires  came  to  America  during  the 
progress  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Lafayette,  and  were  among  his 
corps  of  officers.  Several  other  male  relatives  were 
among  the  French  soldiery  who  came  to  assist  in  the 
Colonial  struggle. 

The  senior  Garwick  removed  to  the  United  States 
with  his  wife  and  children,  the  family  locating  on  a 
farm  in  Butler  Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Garwick,  of  this  sketch, 
is  the  oldest  of  his  parents'  children,  and  he  left  his 
native  province  in  November,  1852,"  arriving  ;in 
Pennsylvania  a  year  before  his  parents.  He  made 


a'home  for  them,  and  after  seeing  them  comfort- 
ably settled  he  set  out  for  Illinois,  locating,  in  1854, 
in  Clyde  Township,  this  county.  Three  years  later 
his  father's  family  followed  and  fixed  their  residence 
in  Fair  Haven,  Carroll  County,  locating  on  a  farm. 
The  father  died  in  June,  1878,  and  in  May,  1884, 
the  mother  followed  him  to  the  world  of  the  here- 
after. 

Mr.  Garwick  operated  as  a  general  laborer  after 
coming  to  Illinois,  but  while  in  Pennsylvania  had 
followed  the  calling  of  a  miller,  in  which  he  had  been 
trained  by  his  father  in  his  native  country.  He  had 
not  sufficient  money  to  pay  for  his  breakfast  on  the 
morning  of  his  arrival  in  Chicago,  but  he  made  his 
way  to  friends  in  Du  Page  County,  where  he  ob- 
tained aid  and  employment.  His  life,  to  the  age  of 
27  years,  was  one  of  continued  experience  of  toil  and 
hardship.  He  spent  three  months  on  board  the 
ship  on  his  way  to  America,  not  knowing  a  soul  on 
the  vessel.  The  entire  period  was  one  of  storm  and 
peril  by  sea.  Food  was  exhausted  and  distress  sig- 
nals were  flown  from  the  masthead  three  successive 
days  before  their  condition  was  discovered.  They 
anchored  near  an  island  belonging  to  Portugal,  in 
the  South  Sea,  and  secured  supplies  sufficient  to  en- 
able them  to  proceed  on  their  voyage.  After  his 
arrival  in  Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  he  became  a  farm 
laborer. 

He  was  married  Feb.  27,  1 86 1,  in  Clyde  Township, 
to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Anna  (Gsell) 
Zook.  Her  parents  were  of  Swiss  and  German 
orgin,  and  were  natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  Their 
ancestors  settled  in  America  about  the  date  of  the 
Colonial  struggle  for  independence.  They  were  farm- 
ers and  were  married  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  where  the 
daughter  was  born  Jan.  19,  1843.  She  is  one  of  a 
family  of  eight  children  and  accompanied  her  par- 
ents when  she  was  13  years  of  age  to  Illinois.  They 
located  at  first  in  Newton  Township.  Two  years 
later  they  came  to  the  township  of  Clyde  and  located 
on  the  section  which  has  since  been  their  home. 
Three  of  nine  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gar- 
wick are  deceased.  Those  who  survive  are  named 
George  E.,  Anna,  Sarah,  Lizzie,  Dora  and  Katie. 
The  son  was  a  student  at  college  and  all  have  received 
careful  educational  instruction.  William  H.  died  at 
the  age  of  17  years.  Abraham  and  Lena  were  aged 
respectively  five  and  two  years  at  the  time  of  their 
decease.  The  parents  at  first  fixed  their  residence 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


on  70  acres  of  land,  and  Mr.  Garwick  expended  his 
last  dollar  to  secure  his  place.  (He  had  but  $25.) 
In  a  few  years  he  was  free  from  debt  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  300  acres  of  land,  which  is  all  in  the  best 
agricultural  condition.  Mr.  Garwick  is  also  inter- 
ested in  improved  cattle,  and  makes  a  specialty  of 
the  Short- Horn  breed.  His  farm  is  as  well  stocked  as 
any  other  of  similar  grade  in  Clyde  Township  and 
the  farm  buildings  are  of  an  excellent  and  creditable 
type.  His  entire  acreage  was  wholly  unbroken  at 
the  date  of  purchase. 

He  has  been  for  many  years  a  minister  in  the 
River  Brethren  Church.  In  his  native  country 
he  was  educated  in  German  and  French  and  acted 
for  some  time  as  an  assistant  teacher  in  the  schools 
where  he  had  been  a  student. 


euben  Davis,  physician  and  farmer,  resid- 
ing on  section  3,  Hahnaman  Township,  is 
"  one  of  the  extensive  land-holders  and  truly 
practical  and  representative  men  of  Whiteside 
County.  The  parents  of  Dr.  Davis,  William 
and  Hannah  (Appleton)  Davis,  were  natives 
of  Maine,  from  which  State  they  moved  to  Ohio, 
where  they  resided  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
They  were  the  parents  of  13  children,  namely : 
Eliphalet,  John  A.,  Mary  A.,  Rhoda,  Hannah,  Reu- 
ben, Sarah,  Francis  A.,  Isaac,  William,  JanTes  E.  and 
Joshua  C.  One  died  in  infancy. 

Reuben  Davis,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
is  a  native  of  Ohio,  where,  in  Morgan  County,  he  was 
born  Ott.  17,  1819.  The  country  was  new  in  the 
locality  of  his  birth  at  that  date,  and  his  early  educa- 
tion was  consequently  limited.  His  early  years 
were  passed  on  the  farm  and  in  working  on  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers  .which  vocation  he  fol- 
lowed, more  or  less,  until  the  date  of  his  emigrating 
to  this  State. 

In  1845  Dr.  Davis  matriculated  at  the  Medical 
College  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  followed  the  entire 
curriculum  of  that  institution,  graduating  with  hon- 
ors in  March,  1849. 

Soon  after  leaving  the  college,  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
followed  the  same  with  a  flattering  degree  of  success 
until  February,  1853.  He  then  came  to  this  county 


and  settled  in  Como,  Hopkins  Township,  where  he 
continued  to  practice  medicine  over  two  years, 
when  he  purchased  land  in  Montmorency  Township. 
He  moved  upon  his  land  and  began  to  cultivate  it 
extensively,  alternating  his  labors  thereon  by  the 
practice  of  his  profession. 

In  the  fall  of  1858  Dr.  Davis  moved  into  Hahna- 
man Township  and  settled  on  section  3,  his  present 
residence.  He  determined  to  make  this  his  perma- 
nent home,  and  at  once  entered  on  the  improvement 
of  the  land,  erected  good  buildings  and  otherwise 
ornamented  and  improved  his  homestead,  and  at  the 
present  time  he  has  a  home  for  himself  and  family 
in  which  they  all  take  pride,  realizing  it  was  procured 
through  arduous  toil  and  untiring  energy  and  deter- 
mination. The  Doctor  has  been  a  very  extensive 
land-holder  in  the  county,  owning  at  one  time  some 
1,400  acres.  His  landed  possessions  in  the  county 
at  present  comprise  some  645  acres,  all  improved, 
and  for  his  success  in  life  he  has  none  to  thank  ex- 
cept his  own  good  judgment  and  energy,  coupled 
with  the  hearty  co-operation  of  his  good  helpmeets. 

Dr.  Davis  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Geddes  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  17,  1839.  She 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  State  she 
was  born  in  March,  1819.  The  issue  of  their  union 
was  five  children.  Two  died  in  infancy  and  those 
surviving  are  Naomi  W.,  Martha  J.  and  Thomas 
H.  B. 

The  wife  and  mother  died  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio, 
March  28,  r848.  In  the  same  county  Dr.  Davis  was 
again  married.  This  wedding  occurred  Oct.  2,  1849, 
and  Miss  Elizabeth  H.  Work  was  the  bride.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  (Ross)  Work,  na- 
tives of  Ohio,  and  in  which  State  she  was  born 
May  6,  i83r.  By  the  latter  union  12  children 
have  been  born,  namely :  Francis  C.,  Sarah  X., 
Robert  L.,  Thaddeus  C.,  Hannah  A.,  Mary  G.,  W. 
Alice,  T.  McClellan,  Dora  S.,  Reuben  H.,  Jessie  L. 
and  J.  Darwin  :  ten  of  these  are  living. 

Dr.  Davis,  although  not  seeking  office,  has  almost 
constantly  been  honored  by  the  citizens  of  his  town- 
ship with  some  office.  He  was  Supervisor  six  years, 
Justice  of  the  Peace  12  years  and  Assessor  and  Col- 
lector several  years.  In  fact,  he  has  held  almost 
every  office  in  the  township,  and  at  this  writing  is 
performing  the  functions  of  the  office  of  Township 
Clerk  and  School  Trustee.  Politically,  Dr.  Davis 


:• 


WHITES  IDE  COUNTY. 


™-   a  supporter  of  and  believer  in  the   principles  of  the 
)   Democratic  party  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Martin 
•  .»  Van  Buren  in  1840. 

As  a  truly  representative  man  of  Whiteside  County, 
and  as  one  the  citizens  can  but  feel  pleased  to  see 
represented  among  the  portraits  we  give  in  this  work, 
we  give  that  of  the  subject  of  this  biography.  It  is 
engraved  from  a  photograph  taken  in  1884. 


,  nines  Houseman  .  is  a  farmer  on  section 
14,  Ml.  Pleasant  Township,  where  he  has 
prosecuted  his  agricultural  projects  since 
his  removal  to  Whiteside  County,  in  1856.  He 
was  born  April  7,  1825,  in  Montgomery  Co., 
N.  Y.  He  was  reared  to  the  vocation  in  which 
he  is  now  engaged,  and  which  he  pursued  in  his 
native  State.  His  farm  of  160  acres  is  all  under 
tillage. 

His  parents,  John  and  Ann  (Scribner)  Houseman, 
were  lx>rn  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  they 
reared  a  family  of  five  children,  named  George, 
James,  William,  John  and  Emmett.  The  marriage 
of  Mr.  Houseman  to  Elizabeth  Van  Wagner  took 
place  June  10,  1856,  in  the  township  where  they 
have  since  lived.  She  was  born  July  19,  1830,  in 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  Gilbert  and  Lydia  (Knox)  Van 
Wagner,  her  parents^  were  bom  in  that  state,  and 
their  children  are  Edgar,  Mary  and  Elizabeth.  Fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Houseman  :  Emmett  P.,  Nora,  Edgar  M.,  Arthur  and 
Emma  A. 

Mr.  Houseman  is  an  adherent  of  the  Democratic 
party  in  politics. 


•(&• — 


eorge  Pittman,  farmer,  section  3,  Hopkins 
Township,  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Mary 
(Alexander)    Pittman,   who   were    natives 
respectively  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
came  to  Whiteside   County  in   the   spring  of 
I       1864  and  settled  in  Hopkins  Township,  where 
they  lived  the  remainder  of  their  days.     They  had  a 
family  of  seven  children,  viz.:  George,  James,  Esther, 
Catherine,  David,  Rebecca  and  Caroline. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Fulton  Co., 

• *&* & 


Pa.,  Dec.  14,  1835.  He  lived  in  that  State  till  1864, 
when  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  He  is  the  owner  of  70  acres  of  land,  in 
Hopkins  Township,  all  of  which  is  in  a  good  tillable 
condition,  and  he  has  a  valuable  stone  quarry  on  his 
farm. 

He  was  married  in  Fulton  Co.,  Pa,  Feb.  5,  1859, 
to  Elizabeth  Clevenger,  daughter  of  John  and  Julia 
A.  (Carbol)  Clevenger,  natives  of  the  Keystone  State. 
They  had  a  family  of  four  children,  as  follows : 
Elizabeth,  Ann,  John  and  Catherine.  Mrs.  Pittman 
was  born  in  Fulton  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  12,  1841.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  P.  are  the  parents  of  seven  living  children, 
namely:  Martha  E.,  Sophia  J.,  James  H.,  John  H., 
Charles  M.,  Mary  M.  and  Homer.  Sophia  J.  died 
when  five  years,  five  months  and  eleven  days  old. 

In  politics  Mr.  Pittman  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party. 


illiam  H.  Maxfleld,  farmer,  section  24, 
Mount  Pleasant  Township,  was  born  Oct. 
21,  1841,  in  Bristol,  R.  I.  Nathaniel  and 
Susan  (Sherman)  Maxfield,  his  father  and 
mother,  were  born  in  New  England.  After 
their  marriage  they  located  at  Bristol,  whence 
they  came  in  1855  to  Whiteside  County,  settling  at 
Como.  The  mother  died  in  February,  1870,  in  Hop- 
kins Township.  The  father  lives  in  the  township  of 
Mount  Pleasant.  Their  ten  children  were  named 
William  H.,  Frank  S.,  Mary  A.,  Maria  W.,  Georgi- 
anna,  Nathaniel,  Eva  H  ,  Elizabeth,  Harriet  and 
Winnifred  L. 

Mr.  Maxfield  was  13  years  of  age  when  he  came 
to  Whiteside  County,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He 
is  now  one  of  the  heavy  land-holders  of  Mount 
Pleasant  Township,  owning  240  acres,  which  lie 
partly  in  section  24  of  the  township,  on  which  his  resi- 
dence is  located,  and  on  section  1 9  of  Hopkins  Town- 
ship. The  entire  area  is  practically  all  under  tillage. 
Mr.  Maxfield  deals  quite  extensively  in  stock,  his 
herds  containing  60  head  of  cattle  and  nine  horses, 
and  he  raises  an  annual  average  of  100  hogs. 

His  marriage  to  Jennie  McElrath  took  place  in 
Como,  July  4,  1864.  Their  children  were  named 
Minnie  E.,  William  H.,  Jr.,  and  Walter  I.  Mrs. 
Maxfield  is  of  Irish  and  Scotch  origin,  her  parents, 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


John  and  Jane  (Jackson)  McElrath,  having  been 
natives  respectively  of  Ireland  and  Scotland.  They 
became  residents  of  Whiteside  County  about  1856, 
locating  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  where  they  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  days.  The  demise  of  the 
mother  occurred  June  i,  1872,  and  that  of  the  fa- 
ther in  the  month  of  October  following.  Margaret, 
Thomas,  John,  Eliza,  Jennie  and  William  W.  are 
the  names  of  their  children.  Mrs.  Maxfield  was 
bom  in  Ireland,  April  20,  1843,  and  was  about  five 
years  old  when  her  parents  emigrated  to  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Maxfield  is  a  Republican  in  political  connec- 
tion and  views.  He  has  officiated  in  several  local 
offices. 


rohn  Harpham,  dealer  in  harness  and  sad- 
fc  dlery  hardware,  Third  Street,  Sterling,  was 
rborn  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  27,  1828, 
being  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  ten  children, — 
four  sons  and  six  daughters.  His  parents  were 
Septibah  and  Jane  (McAlpine)  Harpham,  na- 
tives respectively  of  England  and  Scotland.  The 
senior  Harpham  \vas  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
died  |an.  11,  1840:  the  widow  survived  until  1863. 
John  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  in  the  common 
school  until  19  years  of  age,  when  he  left  home  and 
went  to  Chenango  Forks  to  learn  the  harness  trade, 
remaining  a  year  and  a  half.  He  then  engaged  in 
the  same  business  for  himself  at  Bridgport,  N.  Y.,  for 
one  and  a  half  years.  Then  he  sold  out  and  for 
about  three  years  attended  the  Fulton  and  Cazenovia 
Seminaries,  a  portion  of  this  time  teaching  school. 
Then  he  married  and  settled  in  Fayetteville,  Onon- 
daga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  followed  his  trade  a  year 
and  a  half.  Selling  out,  he  came  to  Sterling,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  the 
business  stated  at  the  beginning  of  this  sketch,  both 
wholesale  and  retail.  In  this  line  he  is  the  leading 
man  in  Sterling. 

Mr.  Harpham  is  a  Republican  and    a   Christian 

gentleman,  belonging  to  the  Congregational   Church 

at  Sterling.     He  was  married   May    22,    1853,   to 

Nancy  Terwilliger,  a  native  of  Onondaga  Co  ,  N.  Y., 


and  they  have  three  children, — Bertha  A.,  Fanny  E. 
and  John  L.  Mrs.  H.  is  also  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 


ihauncey  W.  Reynolds,  farmer,  section  2, 
Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  was  born  Nov.  12, 
1821,  in  Sudbury,  Vt.,  and  is  the  son  of  Allen 
and  Lydia  (Raymond)  Reynolds.  They  were 
natives  of  Vermont,  were  married  there,  and 
there  the  mother  died.  The  father  died  in 
'the  State  of  New  York.  Their  children,  three  in 
number,  were  named  Raymond  A.,  Oliver  L.  and 
Chauncey  W. 

The  youngest  child  was  brought  up  by  his  maternal 
grandfather,  with  whom  he  lived  until  he  was  22 
years  of  age.  For  about  five  years  after,  he  was  oc- 
cupied as  a  farm  assistant,  and  about  1848  he  became 
foreman  of  a  saw-mill  and  filled 'the  position  seven 
years.  In  1855  he  came  West  to  secure  a  broader 
and  more  hopeful  field  of  operation,  and  spent  one 
season  in  a  saw-mill  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  after  which 
he  prospected  in  Iowa,  Kansas  and  Missouri.  He 
decided  that  Whiteside  County  offered  as  much  in- 
ducement as  any  other  locality,  and  in  October,  1857, 
he  made  a  purchase  of  a  claim  which  included  1 20 
acres  of  unbroken  prairie,  situated  in  the  townships 
of  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Clyde.  His  homestead  build- 
ings are  in  the  township  first  named,  and  his  entire 
amount  of  land  includes  700  acres,  which  is  situated 
in  the  two  townships  and  is  practically  all  under 
tillage.  Mr.  Reynolds  is  identified  with  and  supports 
the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 

He  formed  a  matrimonial  union  with  Althea  Dean 
Dec.  24,  1856,  in  Kane  Co.,  Ill ,  and  they  have  five 
children, — Mary  A.,  Walter  D.,  Raymond  A.,  Lydia 
L.  and  Chauncey  W.,  Jr.  The  oldest  daughter  is  the 
wife  of  Samuel  McCune,  and  lives  in  Clyde  Town- 
ship.  Mrs.  Reynolds  was  born  July  10,  1833,  in 
Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  S.  A.  and 
Delilah  (Wright)  Dean.  The  parents  were  natives 
of  the  same  county  where  the  daughter  was  born. 
They  removed  thence  in  1846  to  Kane  Co.,  111., 
where  the  father  died,  in  April.  1849.  Late  in  life 
the  mother  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  became  a 
member  of  ;he  family  of  her  daughter,  and  died  at  her 


M* 

H 


1 

d) 


296 


WHITBSIDE  COUNTY. 


•$• 


home  Dec.  2,   1882.     She  had  been  the  mother  of 
fp>   eight  children, — Erastus,  Altliea,  John,  Ada,  Robert 
R.,  Lewis,  Marion  and  Smith  A. 


eter  A.  Quackenbush,  section  10,  Mt. 
Pleasant  Township,  has  been  a  farmer  in 
Whiteside  County  since  1856.  He  was 
born  June  25,  1828,  in  Montgomery  Co.,  N. 
Y.  His  parents,  Peter  P.  and  Magdalene 
(Speaker)  Quackenbush,  were  also  born  in  the 
Empire  State.  Mr.  Quackenbush  of  this  sketch  had 
one  sister,  Margaret  A.,  who  was  his  senior  in  birth. 
In  his  native  State  he  was  principally  interested  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  and  in  February  of  the  year 
named  as  that  in  which  he  removed  to  Whiteside 
County,  he  located  in  the  township  of  Mt.  Pleasant. 
His  first  farm  consisted  of  75  acres  of  land,  which  he 
purchased,  and  on  which  he  located,  putting  into 
effective  operation  the  purposes  of  his  change  of  lo- 
cation and  calling.'  He  has  added  by  subsequent 
purchase,  and  is  now  the  proprietor  of  a  valuable 
farm  of  160  acres  of  land,  which  is  all  under  tillage. 
Mr.  Quackenbush  is  identified  politically  with  the 
Republican  party. 

He  was  first  married  Dec.  12, 1850,  in  Montgomery 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Harriet  Becker.  She  was  born  in  the 
Empire  State  and  accompanied  her  husband  to  Illi- 
nois. She  died  Aug.  11,  1861,  in  the  township  of 
Mt.  Pleasant.  Mr.  Quackenbush  was  united  in 
marriage  Jan.  g,  1862,  to  Harriet  Drum,  at  Sterling. 
To  them  four  children  have  been  born,  who  are 
named  Maggif  M.,  Ainsley,  Estella  and  Edward  D. 
The  mother  was  born  Aug.  21,  1841,  in  Schoharie 
Co.,  N.  Y.  Her  parents,  John  and  Margaret  (Becker) 
Drum,  were  born  in  New  York,  and  they  had  1 1  chil- 
dren, named  Mary,  Julia,  Martha,  Delevan,  George, 
Melissa,  Harriet,  Lucy,  Clarissa,  Ellen  and  Nancy. 


acob  Kauffmann,  retired  farmer  and  a  resi- 
•~  dent  of  Sterling,  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  Jan.  26,  1820,  and   his   parents   were 
Rudolph    and  Elizabeth   (Summy)  Kauffman. 
Leaving  home  at  the  age  of  15  years,  he  was  a 
farm  laborer  for  18  months,  at  $4.50  per  month 
for  10  months,  and  $8  a  month  the  remainder  of  that 


period.  Next,  he  devoted  two  and  a  half  years  of 
his  time  to  learning  the  shoemaker's  trade,  then  one 
year  as  a  journeyman,  and  then  opened  a  shop  for 
himself  and  followed  the  business  for  eight  years. 
Next,  he  was  engaged  in  the  furnace  business  for  18 
months,  and  then  he  came  to  Sterling  Township, 
where  he  was  a  farm  laborer  for  three  years.  He 
then  bought  80  acres  in  Jordan  Township,  moved 
upon  the  place,  and  in  1855  purchased  40  acres  ad- 
joining, and  in  1 864  a  quarter-section  more  :  this  last 
he  afterward  sold.  At  one  time  he  owned  as  much 
as  440  acres.  In  1871  he  bought  a  lot  in  Sterling 
and  built  a  residence  upon  it,  where  he  now  lives. 

Mr.  Kauffman  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views,  and  has  held  local  offices  of  trust.  He  was 
School  Director  in  Jordan  Township  for  15  years. 
He  is  a  substantial  and  worthy  citizen. 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  E.  Snyder,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  took  place  Feb.  2,  1840,  and  they  have 
five  children  living,  namely:  Tobias,  who  married 
Hattie  Capp  and  has  six  children, — Minnie,  Lincoln, 
Frank,  George,  .Clarrie  and  Jessie ;  Leander,  who 
married  Beckie  Spivey  and  has  four  children, — Carrie 
Fred,  Florence  and  Grace ;  Jacob,  who  married  Flor- 
ence Robertson  and  has  two  children, — Benjamin 
and  Jesse;  and  the  two  other  children  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  are  Adam  and  Cora. 

Tobias  Kauffman,  of  the  above  family,  enlisted  in 
the  last  war,  in  1864,  in  the  cause  of  the  Union,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  34th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  under 
Gen.  Sherman.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Bentonville,  was  engaged  in  many  skirmishes,  and 
served  faithfully  to  the  end  of  that  great  contest, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged. 


ft  liver  S.  Oakley  is  a  farmer  of  Mt.  Pleasant 
SJfe  Township,  located  on  463  acres  of  land  on 


section  29,  which  is  all  under  advanced 
cultivation  excepting  about  too  acres.  Mr. 
Oakley  is  a  native  of  Sweden,  where  he  was 
born  Feb.  7,  1836.  His  father  and  mother, 
Swan  and  Christiana  (Jenson)  Oakley,  lived  and 
died  in  that  country.  Mr.  Oakley  was  brought  up 
by  his  parents  at  home,  and  when  he  was  18  years 
of  age  he  came  to  this  country.  The  track  of  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  was  being  laid, 


.  .  * 


;    -v^  /,  '. 

'\     ^ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


and  he  was  employed  as  a  laborer  in  the  vicinity  of 
Round  Grove  for  some  time.  He  next  engaged  by 
the  month  at  farm  labor,  in  which  capacity  he  oper- 
ated until  1862.  He  then  began  to  rent  farms,  and 
devoted  his  attention  to  agriculture  for  about  seven 
years,  pursuing  that  method  of  operation.  He  went 
to  Iowa  in  1869,  and  bought  160  acres  of  land,  which 
he  continued  to  own  and  operate  six  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1875,  having  sold  his  property  in  Iowa, 
he  returned  to  Whiteside  County,  where  he  obtained 
possession,  by  purchase,  of  the  fine  estate  he  now 
owns.  Since  obtaining  the  privileges  of  citizenship, 
Mr.  Oakley  has  supported  the  issues  of  the  Repub- 
lican party. 

Mr.  Oakley  was  united  in  marriage  Jan.  3,  1865, 
to  Jennie  L.  Maxwell.  Alice  M.,  Cora  A.,  Ida  S., 
Lottie  C.  and  Freddie  S.  are  the  names  of  their 
children.  Mrs.  Oakley  is  the  oldest  of  a  large 
family  of  children,  and  is  the  daughter  of  David  and 
Barbara  (Cassels)  Maxwell.  Her  parents  lived  and 
died  in  Scotland,  their  native  land.  She  was  about 
12  years  of  age  when  she  came  to  the  United  States. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


j  illiam  H.  Reed  is  a  farmer  on  section  13, 
Hopkins  Township.  He  was  born  Dec.  8, 
1831,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Isaac 
and  Ann  (Commerer)  Reed,  and  his  par- 
ents were  also  born  in  the  same  State,  where 
they  were  residents  until  1852.  In  that  year 
they  settled  in  Hopkins  Township.  In  August,  1881, 
they  went  to  Sterling,  where  they  are  now  resident. 
Their  children  were  born  and  named  as  follows : 
Elizabeth  C.,  William  H.,  Mary,  Anna  M.,  John  C., 
Martin  L.,  George  T.  and  Emma  R. 

•Mr.  Reed  is  the  oldest  son,  and  he  received  only 
a  common-school  education.  He  accompanied  his 
parents  and  their  family  to  Hopkins  Township,  lo- 
cating near  Empire,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
owns  41  acres  of  land,  which  is  under  partial  im- 
provements. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  J.  Hacker  took  place  Oct. 
26,  1856,  at  Sterling.  Her  parents,  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Jasper)  Hacker,  were  born  in  England 
and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1834,  settling  in 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  1845  they  came  to  Whiteside 


County,  settling  in  Elkhorn  Grove,  where  they  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren, born  in  the  following  order:  Richard  J.,  Na- 
thaniel S.,  Elizabeth  G.,  Annabella  V.,  Eliza  B.,  Jane 
H.,  Mary  J.,  Edward  W.  and  John  T. 

Mrs.  Reed  was  born  June  19,  1834,  on  Prince  Ed- 
ward's Island.  She  is  the  mother  of  seven  children, 
as  follows:  Nathaniel  J.,  Charles  H.,  Nettie  B., 
Daniel  E ,  Mary  E.,  Ida  L.  and  Lovie  D. 

Mr.  Reed  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  been  somewhat 
active  in  local  official  matters.  He  belongs  to  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  Lodge  No.  174,  at  Sterling. 


.dward  Scotchbrook  is  a  farmer  of  Mt. 
Pleasant  Township,  resident  on  section 
31.  He  is  a  citizen  of  the  United  States 
by  adoption,  having  been  born  Dec.  8,  1827,  in 
Lincolnshire,  England,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1851, 
when  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States.  He  first 
located  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  July,  1852,  he 
came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  in  the  autumn  fol- 
lowing he  bought  40  acres  of  land  in  Fenton  Town- 
ship. He  obtained  employment  as  a  farm  assistant 
in  Lyndon  Township,  where  he  worked  by  the 
month  until  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  rented  the 
farm  known  as  the  Gibbs  place,  which  he  managed 
a  year.  He  then  bought  100  acres  of  land  in  the 
township  of  Prophetstown,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
agriculture  two  years.  In  1856  he  exchanged  his 
property  for  another  farm  in  the  same  township,  on 
which  he  was  the  resident  proprietor  eight  years.  In 
1864  he  sold  the  place  and  bought  the  Patterson 
farm  near  the  village  of  Lyndon,  which  he  held  eight 
years.  In  1872  he  sold  it  and  bought  294  acres  in 
Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  which  is  situated  on  sections 
31  and  32.  On  this  place  he  established  his  home- 
stead. The  entire  acreage  is  practically  under  till- 
age, and  the  proprietor  stocks  his  place  on  an  average 
with  75  head  of  cattle  and  eight  horses,  and  he  fat- 
lens  about  50  hogs  annually. 

Politically,  Mr.  Scotchbrook  has  been  an  adherent 
of  the  Republican  party  since  he  became  in  fact  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States  until  the  spring  of  1884, 
when  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  independents. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Scotchbrook,  John  and  Char- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


*  * 

>  * 

i 


lotte  (Taylor)  Scotchbrook,  came  from  Lincolnshire, 
England,  to  the  United  States  in  1853.  They  lo- 
cated in  Whiteside  County,  where  they  both  died. 
The  date  of  the  decease  of  the  former  was  in  July, 
1872.  The  latter  died  May  6,  1882.  They  had 
three  children, — Mary  A.,  Edward  and  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  Scotchbrook  was  married  in  Lyndon  Township, 
March  27,  1854,  to  Mary  A.  Pope.  Of  their  union 
five  children  have  been  born, — Mary  E.,  George  P., 
Willard  A.,  John  T.  and  Sadie  E.  The  mother  was 
born  Dec.  25,  1830,  in  Lincolnshire,  England.  Her 
parents,  Abraham  and  Sarah  Crampton  Pope,  were 
natives  of  the  English  shire  where  their  daughter 
was  born,  and  whence  they  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1853.  They  came  to  Whiteside  County 
and  located  in  the  township  of  Lyndon.  In  1874 
they  made  another  removal,  to  the  western  borders 
of  the  continent,  to  Vancouver's  Island.  The  mother 
died  there,  Dec.  n,  1878.  Their  children  were 
named  Mary  A.,  Betsey,  Thomas,  Sarah,  Louisa, 
Eliza,  Emma  and  Aaron. 


harles  N.  Russell,  a  retired  merchant    of 
Sterling,  was  born  Feb.  3,  1826,  in  Green- 
field, Mass.     His  parents,  Charles  and  Ade- 
line (Nash)  Russell,  were  natives  respectively 
of  Massachusetts  and  Vermont  and  of  Eng- 
lish ancestry. 

From  the  age  of  15  to  20  Mr.  Russell  lived  with 
the  Rev.  A.  Harding,  of  New  Salem,  Mass.;  then 
coming  to  Como,  this  county,  he  worked  a  year 
on  the  farm  belonging  to  S.  B.  Harding;  then  for 
two  winters  he  taught  school  in  Princeton,  Bureau 
Co.,  111.;  next,  he  was  employed  at  farm  labor  until 
the  following  August,  when  he  went  with  a  survey- 
ing party  north  of  La  Crosse,  Wis.  The  next  four 
years  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  Holmes  &  Hap- 
good's  store  at  Como,  and  four  years  more  he  was 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with  A.  C.  Hap- 
good  at  Como ;  then  he  bought  out  Mr.  Hapgood 
and  conducted  the  business  alone  for  four  years, .and 
sold  out.  Two  years  subsequently  he  removed  to 
Sterling  and  purchased  a  house  and  lot  on  Spruce 
St.;  subsequently  built  on  the  corner  of  Seventh  and 
Spruce  streets,  which  he  now  occupies  as  a  resi- 


dence.  He  also  owns  a  farm  of  190  acres  at  Big 
Bend,  which  he  rents. 

Mr.  Russell  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  prin- 
ciples. He  takes  special  interest  in  public  im- 
provements and  institutions  for  the  public  welfare. 

He  was  married  Dec.  25,  1851,  to  Miss  Julia  T. 
Sampson,  a  native  of  Duxbury,  Mass.  She  came 
West  in  1836  with  her  parents,  Capt.  Henry  and 
Nancy  (Turner)  Sampson,  who  settled  in  Como,  kept 
a  hotel  for  a  time  and  finally  died  there.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Russell  have  two  children, — Annie  F.  and 
Charles  T. 


armon  E.  Burr,  farmer,  section  12,  Union 
Grove  Township,  was  born  Nov.  18,  1818, 
in  Winsted,  Connecticut.  He  is  the  son  of 
Solomon  and  Mary  (Ensign)  Burr,  and  they 
were  both  natives  and  life-long  residents  of 
that  State.  The  mother  died  Oct.  29,  1846  ; 
the  death  of  the  father  occurred  Dec.  19,  1851. 
Following  are  the  names  of  their  ten  children  :  Maria, 
Rufus,  Samuel,  Mary,  Rhoda,  Sarah,  Willard,  Hul- 
dah,  Harmon  and  Charlotte. 

Mr.  Burr  attended  the  common  schools  until  he 
was  15  years  of  age,  when  he  commenced  teaching. 
After  following  that  business  seven  years  without 
intermission,  he  entered  Oberlin  College  (Ohio), 
where  he  pursued  a  full  course  of  study  and  was 
graduated  in  1849.  He  taught  during  the'vacation 
seasons  to  obtain  means  to  defray  the  expense  of  his 
collegiate  course.  He  resumed  teaching  for  a  liveli- 
hood, and  resided  in  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  In  1850  he 
was  elected  Sheriff  and  served  a  full  term  of  tour 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  his  official  life  in  1865, 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Whiteside  County. 
Since  his  removal  to  Union  Grove  Township  he  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  and  in  teaching.  In  the 
latter  calling  he  is  the  senior  in  the  county,  having 
taught  50  years.  He  owns  200  acres  of  land  on 
the  section  where  he  resides,  which  is  principally  in 
a  good  agricultural  condition,  and  is  largely  devoted 
to  stock  purposes.  Mr.  Burr  has  48  head  of  cattle 
and  six  horses,  and  sends  to  market  about  60  swine 
annually. 

He  was  married  in  Columbia,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
May  i,  1849,  to  Ann  Squire,  and  they  have 


! 


.  • 


V"ViHHXrXHH--y^V    ^> 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


- 


three  children  :  Harmon  E.  was  bom  Jan.  12,  1851 ; 
Charlotte  A.,  born  March  13,  1856,  died  Feb.  27, 
1883:  John  W.,  born  Aug.  27,  1862,  died  July  23, 
1870.  Mrs.  Burr  was  born  March  2,  1825,  in  Devon- 
shire, England,  and  is  the 'daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Susannah  Squire.  Her  parents  were  born  in  Devon- 
shire, England,  and  in  1834  emigrated  with  their 
family  to  the  United  States.  They  located  in  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio.  The  father  died  there  Dec.  14,  1856; 
the  mother  died  in  October,  1861.  Their  children, 
of  whom  they  had  ten,  lived  to  maturity.  Their 
names  were  Thomas,  John,  Jonas,  Hannah,  William, 
Susan,  Elizabeth,  Ann,Tamsen  and  Margaret. 

Mr.  Burr  is  identified  politically  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  In  the  fall  of  1884  he  was  elected 
Supervisor  of  his  township,  and  is  still  engaged  in  the 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  position.  He  and  his 
wife  are  communicants  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 


William  Bassett,  deceased,  formerly  a 
resident  of  Fulton,  and  one  of  the  pioneer 
physicians  of  Whiteside  County,  was  born 
in  Hinsdale,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  Sept.  20, 
1808,  and  was  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Knight) 
Bassett.  He  received  his  medical  education  at 
the  Berkshire  Medical  Institute,  of  Pittsfield,  Mass., 
and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1834. 

He  was  married  at  Granby,  Hampshire  Co., 
Mass.,  April  16,  1835,  to  Miss  Louisa  A.  Ayres, 
daughter  of  Chester  and  Lois  (Preston)  Ayres.  Mrs. 
Bassett's  people  for  many  generations  were  natives  of 
Massachusetts.  Dr.  Bassett  removed  to  Bertrand, 
Mich.,  and  began  practice  in  1836.  The  following 
year  he  removed  to  Sycamore,  De  Kalb  Co.,  111., 
where  he  was  in  practice  till  1842.  He  then  went 
to  Iowa,  and  from  Iowa  he  came  to  Fulton  in  1849. 
He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  profession  at  this 
place,  where  he  had  an  extensive  and  successful 
practice.  He  was  afflicted  with  lung  trouble  and 
was  often  obliged  to  decline  answering  calls  on  ac^ 
count  of  failing  health.  He  made  his  home  at  Ful- 
ton i  ontinuously  from  1849  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  June  23,  1867,  except  a  few  months 
at  a  time  spent  in  Colorado  and  in  Mt.  Morris  and 
Union  Grove,  111.,  for  his  health. 

Dr.  and   Mrs.   Bassett's   family  consisted  of  two 


sons  and  a  daughter:  William  E.  married  Geneva 
Estabrook  and  resides  in  Alabama;  Helen  S.  is  the 
wife  of  B.  F.  Woodward,  of  Denver,  Col. ;  and  Lang- 
don,  the  youngest  son,  died  aged  four  and  a  half 
years. 

Dr.  Bassett  was  a  Republican  and  one  of  Fulton's 
most  respected  citizens.  As  a  physician  he  was 
skillful  in  his  profession,  especially  in  the  diseases 
incident  to  the  early  settlement  of  this  country.  His 
wife,  an  estimable  lady,  survives  him  and  continues 
to  reside  at  Fulton.  She  is  a  respected  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 


eander  S.  Kauffman  is  a  farmer  on  sec- 
tion 25,  Hopkins  Township.  He  is  the 
son  of  Jacob  and  Ann  E.  (Snyder)  Kauff- 
man, who  were  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  Ger- 
man descent.  In  1850  they  removed  from  the 
Keystone  State  to  Whiteside  County,  locating 
primarily  at  Sterling  and  removing  thence  to  Jordan 
Township.  Later  on  they  again  settled  at  Sterling, 
their  present  place  of  abode,  where  they  are  living 
in  retirement.  Their  seven  children  were  born  in 
the  order  in  which  they  are  named:  Tobias,  Ben- 
jamin F.,  Leander  S.,  Jacob  S.,  Adam  E.,  Walter  N. 
and  Cora  M. 

Mr.  Kauffman  was  born  May  20,  1847,  in  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Pa.  He  was  three  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  removed  with  their  family  to  Whiteside 
County.  He  secured  a  common-school  education 
and  lived  at  home  under  the  care  and  authority  of 
his  parents  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He  then 
began  teaching  and  pursued  that  business  five  years 
in  Whiteside  County.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
entered  upon  the  prosecution  of  a  plan  he  had  pre- 
viously formed  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  bought 
80  acres  of  land  in  Jordan  Township,  which  he 
managed  five  years.  He  sold  his  property  at  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  of  time  and  bought  his 
present  estate  in  Hopkins  Township.  At  the  date 
of  purchase  it  included  no  acres,  and  it  now  em- 
braces  213  acres,  which  is  practically  all  under  culti- 
vation. Mr.  Kauffman  is  a  Republican  in  political 
preference  and  relations,  and  has  held  several  school 
and  local  township  offices. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Nov.   9,  1871,  in  Lee 


- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


I 


(S, 


Co.,  111.,  with  Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Robinson)  Spivey.  The  parents  were  born  in  Eng- 
land, and  the  mother  died  there  in  1850.  In  1853 
the  father  emigrated  with  his  family  to  the  United 
States,  settling  in  Ogle  Co.,  111.  The  father  died 
there  April  6,  1863.  Mrs.  Kauffman  had  two  sisters, 
Hannah  and  Sarah,  both  older  than  herself.  She 
was  born  April  20,  1849,  in  England.  She  has  been 
the  mother  of  four  children, — Carrie  M.,  Fred  W., 
Hattie  F.  and  Grace  L.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kauffman 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  belongs 
to  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 


ohn  Phelps,  deceased,  an  early  pioneer 
merchant  of  Fulton  and  one  of  her  most 
enterprising  and  respected  citizens,  was 
born  in  Greenfield,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  April 
8,  1819.  His  parents  were  John  and  Almeda 
(Newton)  Phelps,  of  English  descent. 
When  1 6  years  of  age  John  went  to  Hartford, 
Conn.,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  dry- 
goods  store  nine  years.  In  1844  he  came  to  Fulton, 
111.,  where  he  formed  a  partnership  with  an  elder 
brother,  Augustine  Phelps,  under  the  firm  name  of 
A.  and  J.  Phelps,  dealers  in  general  merchandise. 
The  firm  continued  to  do  business  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Augustine  Phelps,  after  which  Mr.  John  Phelps 
carried  on  the  business  alone  till  1855,  when  he  sold 
out  to  Patrick  &  Hollinshead.  He  then  built  the 
stone  warehouse  on  the.  levee,  and  was  engaged  in 
warehouse  business  for  some  years. 

He  was  married  at  Fulton,  in  June,  1848,  to  Miss 
Ellen  Humphries,  daughter  of  C.  and  Almira  Hum- 
phries, and  step-daughter  of  John  Baker,  the  first 
white  settler  at  Fulton.  Mrs.  Phelps  was  born  at 
Collinsviile,  Conn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phelps  had  two 
children,  a  daughter  and  son:  Hattie  N.  ,is  the 
widow  of  Robert  Robinson;  the  son,  Dwight,  mar- 
ried Louise  C.  Stetler,  and  is  a  resident  of  Iowa. 

In  the  fall  of  1853  Mr.  Phelps  and  Judge  James 
McCoy  purchased  a  printing-press  and  office  outfit 
in  St.  Louis;  but  as  the  steamer  having  the  press  on 
board  was  caught  in  the  ice  at  Rock  Island,  it  was 
not  until  the  following  spring  that  it  reached  its  des- 
nation.  The  first  paper  was  issued  in  May,  1854, 

'  ' 


and  was  called  the  Whiteside  Investigator.  This 
was  the  first  paper  published  at  Fulton. 

Mr.  Phelps  took  an  active  part  in  the  early  rail- 
road projects,  and  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  first 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Mississippi  &  Rock  River 
Junction  Railroad,  and  aided  materially  in  securing 
the  construction  of  the  first  railroad  to  Fulton.  He 
was  frequently  chosen  to  fill  public  positions,  and 
served  as  School  Director,  Assessor,  Township 
School  Treasurer,  Supervisor  of  the  town,  Alderman 
of  the  city  and  Township  Clerk.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent Freemason,  having  taken  the  highest  degree  in 
that  order,  being  a  member  of  Fulton  City  Lodge, 
No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  was  an  officer 
many  years.  He  was  also  a  member  and  officer  of 
Fulton  Chapter,  No.  108,  R.  A.  M.,  and  of  the  Dixon 
Commandery  and  Freeport  Consistory.  In  politics 
he  was  Republican. 

Mr.  Phelps  was  a  man  of  many  noble  qualities, 
and  remarkable  for  a  keen  sense  of  honor  and  the 
strictest  integrity.  His  word  was  considered  as 
good  as  his  bond.  While  among  his  fellow  citizens 
he  was  known  as  "  Honest  John  Phelps." 

He  lost  his  wife,  an  estimable  lady,  Oct.  10,  1877, 
and  for  several  years  prior  to  his  death  he  was  not 
in  business,  but  lived  quietly  at  his  old  homestead  in 
the  company  of  his  only  daughter,  Mrs.  Robinson. 
His  death  occurred  Feb.  5,  1884. 


.amuel    H.    Greenawalt,   dealer  in  grain, 
coal  and  lumber  at  Gait  and  Round  Grove, 
was  born  Jan.    18,  1841,  in   Franklin  Co., 
Pa.     His  father,  Jacob  Greenawalt,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  and  there  married  Mary  Diehl, 
I       also   a  native  of  the  same  State.      Their  12 
children  were  born  in  Franklin  County,  where  the 
father  died,  in  1865.     The  mother  survives. 

Mr.  Greenawalt  is  the  seventh  child  of  his  parents. 
He  received  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  county,  where  he  remained  during  his 
minority,  serving  meanwhile  two  years  in  the  shop  of 
his  father,  who  was  a  tailor.  On  arriving  at  the  age 
of  21  years  he  came  to  Illinois.  After  passing  a 
year  in  Lee  County,  where  tie  worked  on  a  farm,  he 
came  in  1863  to  Whiteside  County  and  passed  the 
first  season  as  a  farm  laborer.  In  the  winter  of 


UnrtMfi 

UNIVERSITY  W 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


1864-5  he  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  mercan- 
tile establishment,  and  afterwards  entered  the  ma- 
chine shop  of  Gait  &  Tracy.  He  continued  in  their 
employment  until  the  fall  of  1866,  when  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  J.  K.  Caro'lus,  the  firm  style  be- 
coming Carolus  &  Greenawalt.  They  transacled  a 
business  in  general  merchandise  at  Empire  until  the 
spring  of  1885,  when  they  disposed  of  their  stock, 
in  order  to  devote  themselves  exclusively  to  the 
management  of  the  trade  in  which  they  are  now 
operating,  and  which  they  inaugurated  in  1881  at 
Gait,  their  firm  style  being  transposed,  and  their 
business  has  since  been  managed  under  that  of 
Greenawalt  &  Carolus.  They  have  a  branch  estab- 
lishment at  Round  Grove.  Mr.  Greenawalt  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  sentiment,  and  he  has  been 
Clerk  of  Hopkins  Township  four  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  belongs  to  the 
English  Lutheran  Church,  with  which  his  wife  is  also 
connected. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  1866  at  Sterling, 
111.,  to  Melinda,  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Kuhn)  Carolus,  and  is  the  sister  of  the  business  as- 
sociate of  her  husband.  She  was  born  in  April, 
1842,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  came  in  April,  1862, 
to  Whiteside  County.  Ollie  M.  and  Frank  H.  are 
the  names  of  the  two  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Greenawalt. 


i  eander  Smith,  banker  at  Morrison,  is  one 

fof  the  most  prominent  business  men  in 
Northern  Illinois.  He  is  senior  member 
of  the  banking  firm  of  Smith  &  Mackay,  and 
has  been  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  at 
Morrison  since  its  organization  in  1865.  The 
ancestors  of  Mr.  Smith  belonged  to  the  old  Puritan 
stock  that  settled  in  Massachusetts,  and  his  imme- 
diate progenitors  located  at  and  near  Ipswich,  in  that 
State.  From  there,  Nathan  Smith,  his  father,  traced 
direct  lineal  descent.  The  grandparents  of  Mr. 
Smith  settled  in  Mount  Vernon,  N.  H.,  where  Na- 
than was  born  in  1777.  Nancy  Lamson,  who  became 
his  wife,  was  born  in  Mount  Vernon,  in  1^82,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  two  sons — .Nathan,  Jr., 

®5^ 


and  Leander.     The  former  died  in  Athol,  Mass.,  in 
January,  1879,  and  left  a  wife  and  three  children. 

Nathan  Smith,  senior,  was  by  vocation  a  manu- 
facturer of  woolen  cloth,  and,  after  marriage  went  to 
Templeton,  Mass.  In  1838  he  removed  to  Royals- 
ton,  in  the  same  State,  and  died  there  in  1849.  His 
wife  died  at  the  same  place,  in  1854. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  Feb.  10,  1819,  in  Templeton, 
Mass.  In  addition  to  the  business  of  a  manufacturer 
his  father  owned  and  conducted  a  farm,  where  his 
family  lived  and  where  his  sons  were  brought  up. 
Mr.  Smith  lived  on  the  farm  until  he  was  16  years 
of  age,  when  he  was  sent  to  an  academy  at  New 
Ipswich,  N.  H.,  where  he  obtained  a  substantial  ele- 
mentary education.  At  the  age  of  17  years  he  began 
teaching  and  spent  six  successive  winters  in  the  pur- 
suit of  that  vocation.  Meanwhile  he  was  engaged 
in  studious  preparation  for  a  professional  life,  and,  as 
opportunity  offered,  he  began  to  read  medicine.  He 
matriculated  in  the  Medical  Department  of  Dart- 
mouth College,  in  Hanover,  N.  H.,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1842, 
when  he  was  23  years  of  age.  He  entered  upon  his 
initiatory  career  as  a  physician  and  surgeon  at  Rich- 
mond, N.  H.,  where  he  practiced  with  success  for 
about  three  years.  He  was  not  content  with  the 
scope  and  acquisitions  of  his  life  as  a  professional 
man,  and  in  order  to  extend  his  business  relations  he 
left  Richmond  and  went  to  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  when  the 
rich  lumber  resources  of  that  section  was  being 
opened  and  which  afforded  a  promising  field  for  trie 
exercise  of  the  abilities  and  ambitions  of  Mr.  Smith. 
His  professional  skill  was  as  valuable  a  resource  as 
the  energies  and  financial  ability  he  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  situation,  and  he  conducted  his  business  as 
a  physician  with  all  the  interest  and  ardor  demanded 
by  the  exigencies  of  the  location.  He  entered 
heavily  into  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  lumber  and 
combined  therewith  a  mercantile  enterprise  of  con- 
siderable proportions.  His  location  was  at  Elkland, 
and  he  was  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  his  several 
business  interests  in  Tioga  County  from  1845  to  l853- 

Meanwhile,  the  glowing  and  exciting  accounts  of 
the  golden  harvest  on  the  Pacific  coast,  ripe  for  the 
reapers,  aroused  all  sections  of  the  New  World  and 
Mr.  Smith  joined  the  "Argonauts,"  as  the  earliest  im- 
migrants to  California  were  designated.  He  went  in 
March,  1849,  to  the  sunset  slope  of  the  Western 


v   Continent,  to  avail  himself  of  the  mining   resources. 

;  At  that  time  the  city  of  Sacramento  was  a  hamlet  of 
•  „"»  tents,  and  a  few  unpretentious  houses  occupied  the 
site  of  the  present  magnificent  city  of  the  Golden 
Gate.  The  local  government  was  in  a  state  of  chaos 
from  existing  circumstances ;  the  rapid  influx  of 
population  of  a  most  miscellaneous  character,  setting 
aside  all  regulations  of  law  and  order;  and,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  authority,  every  man  was  a  power  unto  him- 
self and  exercised  his  assumed  prerogatives  according 
to  his  own  interpretations  of  the  rights  and  privileges 

-  to  himself  accruing,  by  virtue  of  his,  understanding, 
his  interests,  or  his  pejudices,  or  whatever  his  stand- 
point might  be.  Mr.  Smith  engaged  in  prospecting 
on  the  North  Fork  of  the  American  River,  and  he 
remained  in  California  about  a  year.  He  was  an 
efficient  auxiliary  in  the  administration  of  measures 
to  secure  the  tranquillity  and  protection  of  the  people, 
the  government  being  in  a  formative  condition  and 
largely  dependent  on  the  efficiency  of  the  authorities 
constituted  irregularly  in  the  absence  of  systematized 
municipal  regulations. 

He  returned  to  Pennsylvania  in  1850,  after  a  year 
of  successful  operation  in  the  Golden  State,  and  re- 
sumed the  duties  of  his  former  business  connections. 
In  1853  he  went  to  Vinton,  Benton  Co.,  Iowa,  under 
the  same  impetus  which  had  led  him  to  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  established  his  practice  there  and  be- 
came speedily  and  extensively  identified  with  the 
general  interests  of  the  place.  He  acquired  the  pro- 
prietorship of  large  tracts  of  Government  land,  and 
he  platted  an  addition  to  the  village  of  Vinton,  which 
is  still  designated  by  his  name.  After  operating  at 
that  point  a  year,  he  went  to  Lyons,  in  Iowa,  and 
prosecuted  his  professional  business  and  other  inter- 
ests two  years. 

In  1856  he  came  to  Fulton,  Whiteside  Co.,  111., 
where  he  devoted  his  attention  to  the  prosecution  of 
financial  projects  and  enterprises,  and  also  engaged 
extensively  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  lumber. 
He  prosecuted  his  interests  in  that  direction  at  Ful- 
ton ten  years,  and  during  that  time  he  secured  large 
tracts  of  Government  land  in  Wisconsin  and  Min- 
nesota, covered  with  pine  timber,  the  latter  being  re- 
moved and  the  land  afterwards  sold  to  settlers  for 
farms. 

Mr.  Smith  inaugurated  the  private  banking  enter- 
prise of  Smith,  Root  &  Co.,  at  Fulton,  in  1856,  in 

*S*ft- — 


which  he  retained  a  controlling  interest  until  1864, 
in  which  year  the  financial  enterprise  under  the  style 
of  L.  Smith  &  Co.  was  established  at  Morrison.  In 
1865  the  latter  was  converted  into  the  First  National 
Bank,  with  Mr.  Smith  as  President  and  A.  J.  Jack- 
son, Cashier.  In  January,  1885,  the  bank  com- 
menced business  under  its  first  extension  of  franchise, 
its  original  charter  having  expired  at  the  end  of  20 
years. 

In  the  fall  of  1862,  while  a  resident  of  Fulton,  Mr- 
Smith  was  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the 
Legislature  of  Illinois,  and  in  the  fall  of  1864,  he  was 
re-elected  to  the  same  position.  He  served  on 
Committees  on  Banks,  Corporations  and  State  Insti- 
tutions, and  on  several  others  of  minor  importance. 
Hi  performed  his  duties  in  the  interests  of  his  con- 
stituency in  an  able  and  characteristic  manner.  He 
introduced  several  important  bills,  among  which  was 
that  providing  for  the  building  of  the  Rockford,  Rock 
Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  now  the  property  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  corporation. 

In  1868,  Mr.  Smith  visited  California  in  the  pur- 
suit of  health  and  relaxation  from  business  cares,  to 
find  a  wealthy  and  prosperous  commonwealth,  fair 
cities  thronged  with  the  most  cosmopolitan  popula- 
tion to  be  found  on  the  earth,  and  a  general  con- 
dition which  seemed  the  result  of  the  operations  of 
some  superhuman  instrumentality. 

In  1876  Mr.  Smith  became  a  resident  of  Morrison, 
ai  d  in  1878  he  founded  the  private  banking  house  of 
Smith  &  Mackay,  of  which  he  is  the  senior  member, 
and  which  has  been  from  the  outset  engaged  in  the 
transaction  of  extensive  and  satisfactory  financial 
operations.  He  has  continued  his  traffic  in  real 
estate  and  has  devoted  much  attention  to  the  general 
improvement  of  land  in  Whiteside  County,  where  he 
is  the  proprietor  of  2,000  acres  of  land  under  excel- 
lent cultivation.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  several 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  Iowa,  Nebraska,  Wisconsin 
and  Minnesota. 

Since  becoming  a  citizen  of  Whiteside  County,  he 
has  been  continuously  identified  with  the  local  inter- 
ests of  Fulton  and  Morrison.  He  officiated  several 
years  as  member  of  the  Council  in  the  former  place, 
and  also  served  that  municipality  some  years  as  City 
Treasurer.  On  the  organization  of  the  College  of 
Northern'  Illinois,  at  Fulton,  he  was  constituted  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and,  with  the  ex- 
^  r^  ^JJVSL.ir' 


! 
i 

• 

> 


; 


.  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


ception  of  an  interim  of  one  year,  he  has  acted  as  its 
Treasurer  continuously.  He  has  had  entire  charge 
of  its  endowment  fund.  Mr.  Smith  has  been  one  of 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  at  Morrison  six  years.  He 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Fulton. 

Whatever  political  faith  Mr.  Smith  possessed  on 
arriving  at  the  era  of  his  legal  freedom  he  had  im- 
bibed from  association  chiefly,  his  ancestors  having 
been  Democrats  of  the  Jacksonian  school,  and  he 
acted  in  accordance  with  his  transmitted  principles 
until  1848.  The  crowning  and  significant  events 
that  characterized  the  presidential  campaign  of  that 
year  had  a  weighty  influence  with  Mr.  Smith,  and  he 
had,  as  by  intuition,  a  comprehensive  understanding 
of  all  that  was  implied  by  the  term  "Free  Soil,"  and 
understood  the  responsibilities  which,  coming  exi- 
gencies laid  upon  his  manhood.  He  voted  for  Martin 
Van  Buren  as  the  exponent  of  his  new  faith  in  its 
embryo  state.  On  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  enlisted  earnestly  in  its  ranks,  and  has  ever 
since  accorded  to  its  issues  his  zealous  support. 

He  is  equally  sincere  in  religious  sentiment,  and 
although  he  favors  the  tenets  of  the  Baptist  creed,  he 
is  liberal  and  tolerant  of  all  denominational  bodies 
who  base  their  organization  upon  the  principles  of 
Christianity.  He  gives  to  all  generously  without  dis- 
tinction of  sect,  and  since  the  outset  of  his  career  of 
prosperity  he  has  been  known  as  the  helpful  assist- 
ant of  all  evangelical  projects.  He  was  one  of  the 
largest  contributors  to  the  new  church  edifice  built  by 
the  Presbyterian  society  at  Morrison,  in  1884. 

It  is  conceded  that  Mr.  Smith  is  at  the  head  of  the 
long  catalogue  of  financiers  in  Whiteside  County, 
which  presents  an  array  of  names  of  uncommon 
ability  and  success.  Men  are  born  with  the  Midas 
touch,  and  every  community  comprises  one  or  more 
in  its  category  of  types  of  business  pre-eminence. 

Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  marriage  Aug.  18,  1843, 
in  Richmond,  N.  H.,  to  Elizabeth  Parkhurst.  She 
was  born  in  Richmond  and  was  the  daughter  of  Dr. 
John  Parkhurst,  of  that  place.  She  died  Jan.  31, 
1851,  at  Elkland,  Pa.  Mr.  Smith  entered  into  a 
second  matrimonial  alliance  May  2,  1855,  with  Dolly 
Ann  Allen.  She  was  born  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  been  the  parents  of  six 
children.  Elizabeth,  second  child,  is  deceased. 
Alice  is  the  oldest.  Frank  L.  is  cashier  in  the  bank- 
ing house  of  Smith  &  Mackay.  Louis  W.  is  his  suc- 
-SM&-.  - ^-axa.^  ,-s  v^ 


cessor  in  the  order  of  birth.     Edward  A.  is  a  book-    ' 
keeper  in  the  bank.    Harry  W.  is  the  youngest  child. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Smith  is  presented  on  another   *• 
page.     It  will  be  welcomed  by  his  own   generation 
through  personal  motives  of  appreciation,  and  those   i§! 
of  the  future  will  cherish  it  as  the  likeness  of  one  who 
brought  his  abilities  and  resources  to  bear  upon  the 
permanent  foundation  of  Whiteside  County. 


r'ohn  Yager,  retired  farmer,  resident  at  Ster- 
'*•  ling,  was  born  in  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  30, 
1808,  his  parents  being  John  and  Mary  E. 
(Phillip)  Yager,  farmers,  of  German  ancestry. 
In  their  family  of  six  children,  the  subject 
whose  name  heads  this  paragraph  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth.  His  parents  moved  to 
Ohio  in  1812  and  lived  there  eight  years,  clearing 
and  improving  a  small  farm.  This  they  sold  and 
removed  to  Jackson  County,  that  State,  where  they 
purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres  and  then  retired,  in 
1837.  Mr.  Y.  died  Feb.  13,  1856. 

John  remained  at  home  until  2 1  years  of  age,  as- 
sisting on  the  farm  and  receiving  a  limited  education. 
After  leaving  home  he  purchased  80  acres  of  the 
Government,  which  he  improved  and  occupied  for 
seven  years.  He  then  sold  out,  and  in  1836  came 
to  Ogle  County,  this  State,  and  took  up  a  claim  that 
had  no  bounds,  as  "  Uncle  Sam  "  owned  all  the  land 
that  was  "joining  him!  "  Residing  there  until  1843, 
he  sold  out  his  interest  and  removed  to  Genesee 
Township,  this  county,  buying  600  acres,  which  he 
occupied  till  1880,  when  he  moved  to  his  present 
residence  in  Sterling.  He  still  owns  540  acres  of 
land. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Yager  is  a  Democrat, 
and  both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  of  which  he  has  also  been  a  min- 
ister. He  was  ordained  in  1836,  and  followed 
preaching  the  gospel,  as  well  as  farming,  up  to  1880. 
At  Coleta  he  built  a  house  of  worship,  at  his  own 
expense.  He  has,  accordingly,  exhibited  a  high  de- 
gree of  philanthropy ;  and,  being  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian, he  has  won  the  respect  and  maintained  the 
highest  esteem  of  the  community. 

April  19,  1829,  Mr.  Yager  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Ayers,  and  they  had  nine  children,  only  two  of  whom 

^@ 


. 

X 


•  v< 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


I 
(§> 


are  living, — Mary  and  Harriet.  The  first  named 
married  Henry  Miller,  and  they  have  six  children, — ' 
William,  Oran,  John,  Bell,  Hattie  and  Samuel.  Har- 
riet Yager  married  Ephraim  Brookfield,  and  has  three 
children  living, — Edwin,  Nellie  and  Helen.  Mr. 
Brookfield  died  in  Florida,  and  his  widow  afterward 
married  Henry  Green,  and  by  this  marriage  had  one 
child,  Charles  by  name.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Yager  married  Catharine  Nance,  Dec.  12,  1853,  and 
lived  with  her  nine  years. 

Nov.  1 6,  1863,  Mr.  Yager  married  for  his  present 
wife,  Mrs.  M.  A.  McCray. 


W.  Bastian,  of  the  firm  of  F.  K.  &  A.  W. 
Bastian,  publishers  and  proprietors  of  the 
Fulton  Journal,  a  semi-weekly  independent 
paper,  was  born '  in  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  June 
26,  1846,  and  is  the  son  of  Van  S.  and  Ann  E. 
Bastian.  He  removed  to  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
with  his  parents  in  1850,  and  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  schools  of  that  city.  In  1861  he 
came  to  Prophetstown,  this  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  and  teaching  school.  He  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Bureau  County,  this  State. 
Being  ambitious  to  acquire  a  thorough  education, 
while  his  circumstances  did  not  justify  the  necessary 
expense,  he  was  obliged  to  earn  the  money  with 
which  to  pay  his  way  through  college.  This  he  did 
in  teaching  school  and  working  on  a  farm  till  he 
succeeded  in  obtaining  three  terms  at  Dover  College 
and  two  at  Wheaton,  finally  receiving  a  State  certifi- 
cate. His  attendance  at  Wheaton  occurred  after  he 
was  married.  He  taught  the  Yorktown  school,  or- 
ganized the  Tampico  school,  graded  it  and  served  as 
Principal  seven  years. 

He  came  to  Fulton  in  August,  1881,  and  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  the  Journal  office,  and  has 
since  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  conducting  that 
business.  The  history  of  the  paper  under  the  man- 
agement of  the  Bastian  Brothers  proves  that  it  is 
ably  edited  and  that  the  office  is  conducted  on  sound 
business  principles. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Bastian  was  married  in  Yorktown,  111., 
March  4,  1872,  to  Miss  Eva  A.  Patterson,  daughter 
of  Orrin  and  Lucy  M.  (Chubbuck)  Patterson.  Mrs. 


Bastian  was  born  in  Bureau  Co.,  111.     They  have 
one  child,  Sidney  A.,  born  Dec.  13,  1875. 

Mr.  Bastian  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views. 


_dward  J.  Hempstead,  liveryman,  Sterling, 
was  born  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  28, 
1816,  his  parents  being  Col.  William  and 
Miriam  (Hyatt)  Hempstead,  natives  of  the  Em- 
pire State.  His  father  dying  in  1834,  he  as- 
sisted in  support  of  the  family  until  he  was  25 
years  of  age,  when  he  bought  a  small  farm  and  cul- 
tivated it  six  years.  He  then  sold  out  and  entered 
the  livery  business  at  Oswego  City,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  14  years.  Then  he  came  to  Sterling  and 
engaged  in  the  same  business,  in  which  he  is  enjoy- 
ing fair  success.  He  is  the  oldest  liveryman  in  the 
city. 

Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat  in  his  principles,  and 
religiously  he  is  in  sympathy  with  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church. 

He  was  married  Oct.  8,  1846,  to  Miss  Julia  King, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Frederick,  born  May  21, 
1848. 


red  K.  Bastian,  senior  partner  of  Bastian 
Bros.,  publishers  and  proprietors  of  the 
Fulton  Journal  (see  history  of  the  paper 
elsewhere  in  this  work),  was  born  in  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.,  Sept.  23,  1856,  and  is  the  son  of 
Van  S.  and  Ann  E.  Bastian.  He  came  to 
Illinois  with  his  parents  in  1861,  and  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm  near  Prophetstown,  this  county.  He 
received  his  primary  education  in  the  district  school, 
became  a  student  of  Princeton  (111.)  High  School 
and  of  Wheaton  (111.)  College,  and  subsequently  at- 
tended the  Whiteside  County  Normal  School  three 
terms.  He  received  a  first-grade  certificate  and 
taught  school  three  years.  He  was  engaged  in  vari- 
ous employments  till  October,  1879,  when  he  was 
employed  as  reporter  on  the  Sterling  Gazette.  That 
connection  continued  till  April,  1881,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  Journal  office  of  the  Sterling  Gazette 
Company.  He  changed  its  politics  from  Republican 
to  Independent-Democratic.  Aug.  21,  1881,  his 


-•N      X. 


^^^•V-MMxrXMM-:/^    W 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


-      ••       - 


elder  brother,  A.  W.,  purchased  a  half  interest  in 
the  office,  and  the  business  has  since  been  conducted 
under  the  firm  name  of  Bastian  Brothers.  In  Sep- 
tember of  that  year  they  changed  the  paper  from  an 
eight-column  folio  to  a  nine-column  folio,  weekly, 
patent  inside ;  and  in  November  following  the  patent 
business  was  discontinued  and  the  paper  wholly 
printed  at  home.  The  paper  was  issued  in  that 
form  till  October  30,  1882,  when  it  was  made  a 
seven-column  semi-weekly,  all  home  print,  and  pub- 
lished Tuesdays  and  Fridays.  The  Journal  was 
the  official  paper  of  the  county  during  the  years 
1883-4-5.  The  office  is  supplied  with  a  power  press 
and  good  outfit  of  material  for  all  sorts  of  job  work. 
Without  severing  his  connection  with  the  Journal, 
Mr.  Bastian  went  to  Grand  Forks,  Dak.,  in  July, 
1882,  and  engaged  as  a  reporter  on  the  Grand  Forks 
Daily  and  Weekly  News.  He  continued  on  the 
News  staff  until  November  of  that  year,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Fulton  and  the  Journal  office. 

Mr.  Bastian  has  served  one  year  as  City  Marshal 
of  Fulton.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

He  was  married  at  Mendota,  111.,  Aug.  21,  1884, 
to  Miss  Nellie  J.  Barton,  daughter  of  William  and 
Maria  L.  Barton.  Mrs.  Bastian  was  born  in  fcsr 

salience.,  111. 


i  ashington  Loomis,  deceased,  was  formerly 
a  farmer  on  section  34,  Hopkins  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  Feb.  9,  1827,  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  He  settled  at  Como,  in 
Hopkins  Township,  in  1854,  where  he  was 
resident  a  little  more  than  two  years.  He  then 
bought  1 60  acres  of  land  on  section  34,  Hopkins 
Township,  and  later  made  a  further  purchase  of  103 
acres.  He  continued  the  management  of  his  farm- 
ing interests  until  the  fall  of  1867,  when  he  removed 
to  Sterling.  In  the  spring  of  1868  he  went  to 
Waverly,  Iowa,  and  engaged  in  the  sale  of  agricul- 
tural implements,  and  was  occupied  in  that  business 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  30,  1870. 

While  a  resident  of  Hopkins  Township  he  was 
prominent  in  local  township  official  matters  and 
acted  in  the  capacity  of  Supervisor  nine  years,  be- 
sides filling  the  position  of  Treasurer  and  other 
minor  offices. 

He  was  married  Nov.  9,  1854,  to  Marcia  G.  Bur- 


dick,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  named  William 
H.,  Carlton  W.,  Frank  W.,  Carrie  A.,  Blanche  A.  and 
Henry  E.  The  three  last  named  are  deceased.  Mrs. 
Loomis  was  born  Aug.  7,  1831,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Joel  C.  and  Mary 
(Baker)  Burdick.  The  former  was  a  native  of  Mas- 
sachusetts and  the  latter  was  born  in  New  York. 
Their  children  were  Marcia  G.,  William  R.,  Joel  C., 
Alexis  C.  and  Clarence  A. 


enry  May,  farmer,  section  35,  Hopkins 
j  Township,  has  lived  in  Whiteside  County 
since  the  autumn  of  1854,  when  he  came 
hither  with  his  wife  and  two  children ;  and,  as- 
sociated with  his  brother,  bought  167  acres  on 
the  section  on  which  his  homestead  has  since 
been  established.  He  is  the  owner  of  70  acres  of 
land,  chiefly  under  tillage.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
political  choice  and  relations. 

Mr.  May  was  born  Oct.  19,  1815,  in  Massachu- 
setts. He  spent  his  youthful  years  in  obtaining  a 
common-school  education,  and  passed  the  time  in- 
tervening between  that  age  and  his  majority  in  ac- 
quiring a  knowledge  of  carriage-making  and  the 
trade  of  wheelwright.  He  followed  these  occupa- 
tions until  1840,  when  he  began  running  an  omnibus 
line  between  Roxbury  and  Boston,  in  which  he  was 
interested  four  years.  In  January,  185  r,  he  went  to 
California,  making  the  route  there  by  way  of  the  isth- 
mus of  Panama.  He  engaged  in  mining  in  the 
Golden  State,  and  was  occupied  in  that  business 
three  years,  meeting  partial  success.  He  returned 
to  Massachusetts  in  the  spring  of  1854;  and  in  the 
fall  came  to  Illinois. 

He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Martha 
Jane  Currier  Nov.  27,  1846,  in  Methuen,  Mass.  She 
was  born  Feb.  20,  1822,  in  that  place,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Harriet  (Burr)  Currier.  Her 
parents  lived  and  died  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 
She  is  the  oldest  of  their  six  children,  and  her  broth- 
ers and  sisters  were  named  Eunice  B.,  John  M., 
Jonathan  G.,  Ada  B.  and  Cynthia  E. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  May  have  been  four 
in  number,  and  they  were  born  in  the  following  order : 
Mary  H.,  Esther  E.,  William  A.  and  Henry  C.  Es- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


II 


ther  died  Oct.  14,  1853,  when  about  three  years  of 
age.  Mary  married  Delos  Olds  and  lives  at  Como. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  May  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 


Christian  Kurkholder,  proprietor  of  the 
general  agricultural  depot  on  Spruce 
Street,  Sterling,  was  born  Sept.  29,  1848, 
his  parents  being  Elias  and  Maria  (Blair)  Burk 
holder,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  moved 
to  Clinton  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1857,  and  to  Sterling 
in  the  fall  of  1859.  Mr.  Burkholder,  the  senior,  fol- 
lowed farming  until  1882,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  live-stock  business. 

Christian,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  attended 
the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris,  111., 
four  terms.  Then  he  started  out  in  business  by 
entering  the  employment  of  H.  S.  Street,  in  the  ag- 
ricultural warehouse,  and  was  with  him  until  1877, 
when  he  purchased  his  interest  and  has  since  then 
managed  the  business  alone. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  B.  is  a  Republican,  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  is 
a  consistent  Christian  gentleman,  being  liberal  and 
public-spirited. 

Mr.  Burkholder  married  Miss  Mary  P.  Irvine,  the 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Electa  S.  (Parsons)  Irvine, 
of  Rockford,  Oct.  7,  1869.  By  this  marriage  there 
have  been  six  children, — Nellie  M., Charles  J.,  Lotta 
A.,  Harry  E.,  Homer  S.  and  Alice  M. 

—H 

Naniga  &  Co.,  dealers  in  dry  goods,  gro- 
ceries, boots  and  shoes,  etc.  This  is  a 
new  mercantile  firm,  established  at  Fulton 
April  r,  1885,  with  a  fine  general  stock  valued 
at  $3,000.  The  members  comprising  the  firm 
are  Garrett  Naniga  and  Herman  Sikkema. 
The  senior  partner,  Garrett  Naniga,  was  born  in  Ful- 
ton Township,  this  county,  Feb.  18,  1861,  and  is  the 
son  of  George  and  Dereke  (Felt)  Naniga.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  and  in  1882  engaged  as  clerk  for 
George  DeBey,  a  general  merchant  of  Fulton,  and 
continued  with  him  till  April  i,  1885,  when  he  formed 
the  existing  partnership  with  Mr.  Sikkema.  He  was 


married  in  Ustick  Township,  this  county,  Oct.  15, 
1884,  to  Miss  Helen  Sikkema,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Sikkema.  Mrs.  Naniga  was  born  in  Holland  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1865.  Mr.  Naniga's 
parents  are  also  natives  of  Holland  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1855.  He  is  a  Republican  ;  he  and 
his  wife  attend  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Herman  Sikkema,  junior  partner  of  the  above  men- 
tioned firm,  is  a  native  of  Holland  and  was  born 
June  21,  1858.  He  is  the  son  of  William  and  Annie 
(Housenga)  Sikkema.  He  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1872  and  arrived  in  Fulton,  111.,  the  same 
year.  He  has  been  engaged  in  farming,  mill  work 
and  teaming  till  April,  1885,  when  he  formed  the  ex- 
isting partnership  with  Mr.  Naniga.  He  is  Repub- 
lican in  politics  and  attends  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Messrs.  Naniga  and  Sikkema  are  energetic  young 
business  men,  who  have  hosts  of  friends  who  will  re- 
joice to  see  them  prosper  in  their  newly  established 
business. 


eremiah  K.  Carolus,  member  of  the  firm  ot 
'£  Greenawalt  &  Carolus,  dealers  in  grain,  coal 
and  lumber,  at  Gait  and  Round  Grove, 
was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  July  23,  1844. 
and  he  is  the  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Kuhn)  Carolus.  His  father  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  died  there  July  15,  1856.  In 
1860  the  mother  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  has 
since  resided  at  Sterling.  Their  ten  children  were 
born  in  the  order  in  which  their  names  are  given,  as 
follows  :  John  F.,  Isaac,  Joanna,  Margaret,  Elizabeth, 
William,  Josiah,  Melinda,  Jeremiah  K.  and  Emanuel. 
In  1860  Mr.  Carolus  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
where  he  arrived  in  April.  He  engaged  as  a  farm 
laborer  at  various  points  and  spent  three  years  work- 
ing by  the  month,  after  which  he  operated  as  a  car- 
penter at  Sterling  about  the  same  length  of  time.  He 
then  came  to  Empire  in  Hopkins  Township,  and  in 
December,  1866,  entered  into  a  business  association 
with  Samuel  H.  Greeanwalt,  his  brother-in  law,  for  the 
purpose  of  prosecuting  mercantile  transactions.  They 
maintained  their  establishment  at  Empire  until  the 
spring  of  1885,  when  they  sold  their  stock. 

In  1 88 1  they  began  their  operations  in  coal,  grain 
and  lumber  at  Gait,  under  the  firm  name  of  Green- 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


3°9 


'  await  &  Carolus,  and  in  the  spring  of  1885  they 
started  a  branch  establishment,  at  Round  Grove. 
They  are  managing  their  business  relations  with 
profit  to  themselves  and  satisfaction  to  the  public 
generally. 

Mr.  Carolus  is  a  Republican  in  political  connec- 
tion, has  been  actively  interested  in  school  matters 
in  his  locality,  and  was  elected  Town  Clerkin  the 
spring  of  1885. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
and  Louisa  Lytle,  occurred  Nov.  28,  1872,  in  Hop- 
kins Township.  Her  parents  were  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  settled  about  1857  in  Whiteside  County. 
Her  father  died  in  1884.  Mrs.  Carolus  is  one  of  six 
children,  who  were  born  as  follows :  Joseph,  Lucy, 
Mary  A.,  Harry,  Maggie  and  Lizzie.  She  was  born 
Sept.  23,  1844,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  she  is  the 
mother  of  four  children— George  L.,  Bertie,  Herbert 
J.  and  Edith  M.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carolus  are  mem- 
bers of  the  English  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


i  ufus  E.  Dade,  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes, 
and  sewing-machines,  Fulton  City,  estab- 
lished his  business  Jan.  i,  1880.  He  was 
born  in  Ogdensburg,  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y., 
June  12,  1844.  When  three  years  of  age  he 
went -with  his  parents  to  Fulton,  N.  Y.;  six 
years  later  the  family  removed  to  Spring  Wells, 
Mich.,  where  Rufus  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war  he  enlisted, 
Sept.  10,  1861,  in  Co.  F,  5th  Mich.  Vol.  Inf.  He 
participated  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  Va.,  from  some 
time  in  April  to  Mays,  1862;  battles  of  Williams- 
burg,  May  5;  Fair  Oaks,  May  31,  and  June  i; 
Chickahominy,  June  26 ;  Malvern  Hill,  July  i ; 
second  Bull  Run,  Aug.  30;  Chantilly,  Sept.  i;  South 
Mountain,  Md.,  Sept.  14;  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17; 
Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13  ;  Chancellorsville,  May 
2,  1863;  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2  and  3;  Locust 
Grove,  Va.,  Dec.  27  and  30;  and  the  Wilderness, 
May  5,  and  6,  1864,  where  he  was  wounded.  He 
was  then  in  the  hospitals  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 
York,  Pa.,  and  was  sent  from  the  last  named  place  to 
Detroit,  Mich.,  where  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  ser- 
Oct.  27,  1864,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge. 


He  re-enlisted  June  6,  1866,  in  the  43d  Veteran  Re- 
serve Corps,  and  performed  duty  as  an  artificer,  with 
the  rank  of  a  non-commissioned  officer.  He  was 
stationed  at  Fort  Mackinaw  and  served  till  May  26, 
1868. 

He  then  came  to  Fulton,  111.,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  foreman  by  S.  B.  Boyer,  boot  and  shoe 
manufacturer,  until  he  closed  business  in  1877.  He 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  Fred  Fell  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  trade,  which  connection  continued  two 
years.  Jan.  i,  1880,  he  entered  upon  his  present 
business. 

He  was  married  at  Fulton,  111.,  Jan.  26,  1871,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  R.  Webb,  daughter  of  E.  K.  and 
Anna  M.  Webb.  Mrs.  Dade  was  born  in  Fulton,  111. 
They  have  four  children,  two  boys  and  two  girls: 
Myrtie  E.,  Laura  A.,  Edwin  R.  and  Bertie  A. 

Mr.  Dade  has  usually  voted  with  the  Republican 
party,  but  at  present  is  inclined  to  be  an  independent. 


ames  Drew,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
(f-  Economy  Mill,  Sterling,  was  born  in  the 
Dominion  of  Canada,  Dec.  3,  1832,  his  par- 
ents being  Elisha  and  Anna  (Dart)  Drew.  His 
father  was  by  trade  a  carpenter,  and  in  1852 
came  ^to  Stephenson  County,  this  State,  en- 
gaging in  agriculture;  but  he  is  at  present  a  resident 
of  Lena,  having  retired  from  active  business. 

James,  the  eldest  in  his  father's  family  of  nine 
children,  remained  at  home  until  21  years  of  age, 
assisting  his  father  at  his  trade  and  on  the  farm  and 
receiving  a  common-school  education.  He  left  Can- 
ada in  1851,  came  to  Stephenson  Co.,  111.,  worked  at 
the  carpenter's  trade  and  assisted  his  father  on  his 
farm  until  of  age.  Then  he  went  to  Lena  and 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  till  the  fall  of  1855, 
when  he  came  to  Sterling  and  followed  his  vocation 
until,  in  1861,  he  commenced  as  a  miller  for  a  man 
named  Ross ;  the  mill  changed  proprietors  at  the 
end  of  a  year,  and  Mr.  Drew  continued  in  his 
capacity  as  miller  several  years  longer,  for  the  new 
firm.  He  next  entered  the  employment  of  J.  McKen- 
ney  in  the  Sterling  Mills,  working  for  him  several 
years,  then  four  years  for  Church  &  Patterson.  In 
1880  he  purchased  a  third  interest  in  the  Economy 
Mill,  in  company  with  Dillon  &  Harris;  in  1881,  in 
company  with  Harris,  he  purchased  Mr.  Dillon's 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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^  f  interest ;  and  he  bought  out  Mr.  Harris  in  1883.     In 

\  1884  he  sold  a  half  interest  to  D.  R.  Denison.  They 
bought  the  building  lot  and  water  power,  and  have 
since  conducted  the  establishment  as  a  merchant 
(&j  and  custom  mill,  with  acceptability  to  their  patrons. 
Mr.  D.  owns  his  fine  residence  on  Pine  and  Sixth 
Streets. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Drew  is  a  Republican, 
and  in  his  religious  connections  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Sterling,  of  which  body  Mrs. 
Drew  is  also  a  member.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
v  Masonic  Order. 

June  4,  1856,  Mr.  Drew  was  married  to  Melinda 
Olinghouse,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they  have  had 
three  children,  namely,  Florence  E.,  Laura  F.  and 
Charles  E. 


.arius  Gould,  furniture  dealer  in  the  Far- 
well  Block,  on  Locust  Street,  Sterling,  was 
born  March  9,  1824,  in   Saratoga  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  was  one  year  old  when  his  parents, 
Tobias  and  Dinah  (Degroff)  Gould  (also  natives 
of  the  Empire  State),  moved  to  Bradford  Co., 
where  his  father,  a  farmer,  died,  in    1831  :  his 
mother  died  in  Georgia,  in  1875. 

On  the  death  of  his  father,  Mr.  Gould  went  with 
his  grandparents  to  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  remained 
with  them  until  17  years  of  age,  attending  school 
winters.  He  then  went  to  Tioga  County,  same  State, 
and  served  a  three  years'  apprenticeship  at  shoe- 
making.  His  health  failing,  he  returned  to  Cayuga 
County  and  worked  at  carpentry  three  years,  when 
he  came  to  Genesee,  this  county,  purchased  a  farm 
of  40  acres,  cultivated  it  and  also  worked  at  his 
trade.  This  farm  he  sold  in  1860,  and  purchased 
another  in  the  same  town,  comprising  120  acres. 
Two  years  afterward  he  sold  this  farm  also,  went  to 
Hickory  Grove,  bought  80  acres  and  followed  farm- 
ing there  until  1870,  when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to 
Sterling,  where  for  14  years  he  followed  building  by 
contracts,  being  very  successful.  Sometimes  he  had 
as  many  as  ten  men  in  his  employ.  Jan.  i,  1884,  he 
purchased  the  interest  of  Joshua  McKenny  in  the 
furniture  and  undertaking  business.  He  has  one 
partner,  and  now  the  firm  of  Stakemiller  .&  Gould 
enjoying  a  prosperous  trade.  Mr.  Gould  owns  a 


house  and  lot  on  Sixth  Street,  between  Locust  and 
B,  where  he  resides. 

Politically,  Mr.  Gould  is  a  Republican  ;  religiously, 
a  consistent  Christian  gentlemen,  being  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Sterling,  to  which  body  Mrs. 
G.  also  belongs.  He  is  also  a  Freemason. 

Mr.  Gould  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Ann  South- 
ard, of  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  17,  1848.  She 
died  in  1876,  leaving  four  children, — Francis  A.> 
William  L.,  Sarah  A.  and  Ida  A.  Mr.  Gould  was 
married  a  second  time,  Sept.  5,  1877,  to  Mrs.  E. 
S.  Phillips,  of  Sterling,  and  by  this  marriage  there  is 
one  daughter,  Jessie  by  name. 


jarlton  W.  Loomis  is  a  farmer  on  section 
34,  Hopkins  Township.  He  is  the  son  of 
Washington  and  Marcia  G.  (Burdick)  Loomis, 
of  whom  a  succinct  personal  narration  is  given 
on  another  page.  He  was  born  March  24, 
1  86  1,  in  Hopkins  Township.  He  obtained  as 
good  a  common-school  education  as  the  public 
schools  afforded,  which  he  attended  until  he  was  16 
years  of  age.  He  then  went  to  Valparaiso,  Ind., 
where  he  attended  the  Normal  School  six  months. 
Later  he  entered  the  Iowa  Business  College  at  Cedar 
Rapids,  where  he  was  graduated  in  February,  1878. 
He  is  engaged  in  farming  on  the  homestead  of  his 
father,  of  which  he  is  the  owner.  In  political  prefer- 
ence he  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Loomis  was  married  Feb.  22,  i88i,in  Sterling, 
to  Lydia,  daughter  of  Henry  S.  and  Elizabeth  (Eshle- 
man)  Williams.  Her  parents  are  natives  of  Lancas- 
ter Co.,  Pa,,  and  she  is  one  of  seven  children,  born  in 
the  following  order:  Benjamin  F.,  Albert  A.,  Jacob 
E.,  Lydia,  Henry  E.,  Ulysses  G.  and  Minnie  E. 
Mrs.  Loomis  was  born  March  3,  1864,  in  Sterling. 
She  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  William  W.  and 
Charles  E. 


"8 


!'  F.    Eastman,    now   connected    with    the 
Sterling  Gazette,  was  born  in  Ellisburg,  N. 
i/""'  Y.,    Nov.     u,     1844,    his    parents   being 
P  Charles  W.   and  Cynthia  (Fiske)   Eastman,      ijf 
'^      natives  of  New  England.     He  graduated  at 
Schenectady,  and  taught  school  at   Maquoketa, 
Iowa,  and   at  different  points  in   this  county   until 


£,.... 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


1872,  when  he  assumed  the  editorship  of  the  Red 
Oak  (Iowa)  Express.  In  a  few  months,  however,  he 
returned  to  Sterling,  and  was  connected  with  the 
Gazette,  as  editor  and  proprietor,  for  ten  years  ;  then 
was  engaged  in  banking  and  farming  in  Dakota  for 
two  and  a  half  years,  and  finally,  in  1885,  he  came 
to  Sterling  again  and  engaged  in  the  Gazette  office. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Eastman  is  a  zealous 
Republican  and  a  prohibitionist.  He  belongs  to 
the  Christian  Church  of  Sterling,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  founders  in  1875,  and  one  of  the  Elders 
and  Sunday-school  Superintendent  before  he  went 
to  Dakota.  He  is  a  member  also  of  the  Legion  of 
Honor,  and  is  an  influential  citizen  of  Whiteside 
County. 

Mr.  Eastman  was  married  July  23,  1872,  to  Miss 
Frances  Adams,  of  Sterling,  who  died  in  1877.  For 
his  second  wife  Mr.  E.  married  Myra  Christopher,  a 
native  of  Byron,  Ogle  Co.,  111.  They  have  one  child, 
born  in  the  month  of  October,  1881. 


["ohn  Wolfersperger,  retired  farmer,  resid- 
^  ing  at  Sterling,  was  born  in  Lebanon  Co., 
Pa.,  Oct.  14,  1820,  his  parents  being  John 
and  Margaret  E.  (Trautman)  Wolfersperger, 
natives  of  the  same  State.  Remaining  at  home 
until  31  years  of  age,  he  came  to  Jordan  Town- 
ship, this  county,  and  bought  a  saw-mill  and  100 
acres  of  land,  where  he  remained  three  and  a  half 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1853  he  entered  240  acres,  in 
the  same  township;  in  the  following  spring  he  en- 
tered 80  acres  more ;  and  in  the  fall  of  1854  he 
moved  upon  this  tract,  aggregating  at  the  time  320 
acres.  He  resided  upon  that  place  until  1883,  when 
he  went  to  Kansas  and  spent  a  winter  there  to  attend 
the  tract  of  960  acres  of  land  which  he  had  bought 
in  1873.  In  1884  he  returned  to  Sterling  and  pur- 
chased a  residence,  which  he  now  occupies.  He 
has,  since  his  first  purchases  of  land,  bought  and 
sold  real  estate,  so  that  he  is  now  the  proprietor  of  a 
total  amount  of  720  acres  in  Jordan  Township,  and 
i, 600  acres  in  Prairie  Co.,  Ark. 

In  his  political   principles,  Mr.  W.  is  a  Democrat. 
He  and  his  family  attend  the  Lutheran  Church. 

He  was  married  Oct.  20,  1844,  to  Lydia  A.  Kapp, 
a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  and  they  now  have 


four  children  living, — Henry  F.,  Aaron,  Cassie  and 
Margaret.  Henry  F.  married  Tillie  Duefflinger,  and 
they  live  in  Kansas,  with  a  family  of  six  children, — 
John,  Dan,  Lydia,  Maggie,  Maud  and  Bent.  Aaron 
married  Anna  Hendricks,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren,— Lelia  and  John  J.  Cassie  married  William 
Seidel  and  they  reside  in  Kansas.  Margaret  mar- 
ried W.  W.  Davis,  and  they  have  one  son, — John 
Davis. 


.dmund  N.  Birdsall,  farmer,  section  8, 
Hopkins  Township,  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Lydia  (De  Garmo)  Birdsall,  natives  of 
New  York  State,  who  married  and  resided 
there  till  1845,  when  they  came  to  Whiteside 
County  and  settled  in  Sterling  Township.  They 
died  in  fhe  city  of  Sterling, — he  July  n,  1866,  and 
she  June  27,  1868.  They  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows :  Edmund  N.,  Elias  D.,  Henry  L., 
Harriet  W.  and  George  A. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Dutchess 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  16,  1830,  and  was  15  years  old 
when  he  came  to  Whiteside  County.  He  received  a 
common-school  education  and  lived  at  home  till  he 
was  30  years  of  age,  although  he  was  married  some 
years  previously.  He  has  been  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  is  the  owner  of  154  acres  of  land 
in  Hopkins  and  Genesee  Townships,  besides  prop- 
erty in  the  village  of  Sterling;  140  acres  of  his  land 
is  tillable.  In  1876  he  erected  a  fine  frame  house, 
and  in  1881  built  a  fine  barn,  and  his  buildings  are 
second  to  none  in  the  county. 

He  was  first  married  in  Genesee  Township,  Feb. 
16,  1854,  to  Clarissa  Danes,  a  native  of  this  State, 
who  bore  him  one  child,  George  D.,  but  he  died  at 
the  age  of  five  months.  Mrs.  Birdsall  died  Aug. 
9.  t855>  a°d  Mr.  B.  was  again  married,  in  Carroll 
Co.,  111.,  Oct.  20,  1860,  to  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert L.  and  Jane  (Wilson)  Fleming:  her  parents  are 
natives  respectively  of  New  York  State  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  came  to  Carroll  County  in  1848,  where 
they  lived  till  their  deaths.  He  died  January  27, 
1879,  and  she  Sept.  9,  1881.  They  had  a  family  of 
eight  children  who  lived  to  grow  up,  namely :  Jas- 
per, Sarah  J.,  Hugh  M.,  Angeline,  Margaret,  Nancy, 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


\\ 


Bruce  and  Eveline.  Mrs.  B.  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Ind.,  Feb.  22,  1836.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are 
the  parents  of  two  children, — Charles  and  Pinkie. 
Charles  was  married  Sept  6,  1883,  to  Ida  Baker, 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Baker.  They  have 
one  child,  Edmund  G. 

In  politics  Mr.  Birdsall  is  an  Anti-monopolist. 

As  a  gentleman  worthy  to  be  classed  among  the 
representative  men  of  Whiteside  County,  we  place  a 
likeness  of  Mr.  Birdsall  in  the  gallery  of  portraits 
given  in  this  ALBUM.  Accompanying  his  we  also 
give  that  of  Mrs.  Birdsall.  Both  these  portraits  are 
made  from  photographs  recently  taken. 


ohn  Dyer,  retired  merchant,  Fulton,  was 
g  born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  6,  1824, 
the  son  of  John  and  Eunice  (Hurd)  Dyer. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  county  and  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade  in  the  city  of  Watertown.  In  May,  1842, 
he  went  to  Lockport,  Niagara  County,  where  he  was 
first  employed  as  journeyman  and  subsequently  as 
foreman  in  a  large  boot  and  shoe  making  establish- 
ment. 

He  was  married  in  Lockport,  March  12,  1843,  to 
Miss  Sarah  A.  Webb.  The  ceremony  was  performed 
by  the  Rev.  Elon  Galusha,  son  of  ex-Gov.  Galusha, 
of  Vermont.  Mrs.  Dyer  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Perry,  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Lea- 
mon  and  Eunice  (Anderson)  Webb,  and  is  a  cousin 
of  the  well-known  Baptist  minister  and  college  presi- 
dent, Galusha  Anderson,  of  Chicago. 

In  April,  1856,  Mr.  Dyer  went  to  Wisconsin,  and 
a  few  months  later  to  Clinton,  Iowa.  He  spent  one 
year  in  Clinton  and  came  to  Fulton,  Oct.  7,  1857, 
opening  at  once  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade,  which 
he  continued  till  1861,  when  he  closed. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war  he  enlisted,  in 
September,  1861 ;  was  commissioned  Second  Lieu- 
tenant of  Co.  F,  52d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  mustered 
into  the  service  in  November  following.  He  con- 
tinued in  active  service  till  March,  1862,  when  he 
was  compelled  to  resign  on  account  of  physical  dis- 
ability caused  by  exposure  in  the  field.  In  August, 
following  the  President's  call  of  July,  1862,  for  addi- 
tional troops,  he  assisted  in  recruiting  Co.  F  of  the 




93d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  of  which  he  was  commissioned 
First  Lieutenant.  The  regiment  went  into  active 
service  early  that  fall,  under  Sherman's  command. 
The  following  spring  Lieutenant  Dyer  was  again 
prostrated  by  a  serious  illness,  and  was  obliged  to 
resign,  in  April,  1863,  on  account  of  physical  dis- 
ability brought  on  in  the  service.  His  health  im- 
proved slowly,  and  he  was  unable  to  resume  business 
till  the  beginning  of  1864,  when  he  again  engaged  in 
his  former  business  at  Fulton.  He  continued  in  trade 
till  1873,  when  he  sold  out  and  retired  from  business. 

Mr.  Dyer  has  held  various  public  positions  of 
honor  and  trust  since  a  resident  of  Fulton.  He  has 
served  as  Alderman  one  term,  Collector  of  the  town- 
ship in  1860,  Supervisor  five  years,  three  of  which 
were  in  succession.  He  was  elected  Police  Justice 
and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  has  held  the  latter 
office  12  years,  and  has  just  been  re-elected  this 
spring  (1885).  He  has  also  been  Township  School 
Trustee  six  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dyer  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Fulton.  Mr.  Dyer  was  a  Free-Soil  Demo- 
crat in  Van  Buren's  time,  and  on  the  organization  of 
the  Republicans  he  joined  that  party,  and  has  voted 
that  ticket  continuously  since,  excepting  the  cam- 
paign of  1872,  when  he  voted  for  Greeley. 

Mr.  Dyer's  family  was  represented  in  Illinois  in  a 
very  early  day,  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Sidney  Dyer, 
Ph.  D.,  a  popular  Baptist  minister,  now  of  Philadel- 
phia, having  explored  the  territory  as  early  as  1832. 


|j  oswell  Champion,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Sterling,  was  born  in  Lyme,  New  London 
Co  ,  Conn.,  May  26,  1827,  his  parents  be- 
ing John  and  Sophia  (Lay)  Champion,  natives 
of  Connecticut  and  of  the  old  Puritan  stock. 
When  he  was  nine  years  old  his  mother  moved 
with  the  family  to  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they 
lived  until  their  death,  that  of  his  mother  occurring 
in  1875,  and  that  of  his  father  in  October,  1884. 

He  lived  at  the  parental  home  until  2 1  years  of 
age,  having  the  usual  experiences  of  farm  and  school 
life  (of  the  common  district  school,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  term  at  the  Institute  in  Clinton,  Oneida 
County,  being  a  teacher  the  last  two  years  of  the  above 
period.)  Next  he  was  employed  four  years  in  a  mer- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


cantile  house  at  Albion,  Mich.  In  1855  he  came  to 
Sterling,  continuing  in  the  mercantile  business,  and 
soon  purchased  a  grocery  house,  which  he  conducted 
a  short  time.  Selling  out  the  latter,  he  then  engaged 
as  book-keeper  for  the  firm  of  Gait  &  Brother,  then 
in  the  same  capacity  for  the  firm  of  Patterson,  Witmer 
&  Co.,  and  continued  for  some  time  with  Mr.  Wit- 
mer after  the  old  firm  was  dissolved.  His  health 
failing,  he  accepted  an  agency  for  the  ^Etna  Fire 
Insurance  Company  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  subse- 
quently for  other  fire  insurance  companies,  in  which 
business  he  still  continues.  In  1869  he  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  has  held  the  office  ever  since. 
In  1873  he  accepted  a  position  as  cashier  in  one  of 
the  banks  at  Sterling,  which  he  fulfilled  for  three 
years.  In  the  same  year  he  was  appointed  School 
Treasurer,  and  he  still  holds  the  office.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  his  political  views,  and  as  to  religious 
views  he  favors  the  Swedenborgian  explanation  of 
the  Word,  believing  it  to  be  the  most  reasonable. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  is 
also  his  wife. 

In  December,  1869,  Mr.  Champion  married  Agnes 
Wallace,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to 
Sterling  with  her  parents,  Hugh  and  Mary  (Gait) 
Wallace.  Mr.  Wallace  was  a  lawyer  here  for  many 
years,  retired  from  the  profession  and  devoted  his 
attention  to  his  real  estate  until  his  death,  in  August, 
1864.  Since  the  spring  of  1879  the  interests  of  his 
estate  have  been  in  the  charge  of  Mr.  Champion. 


Y.  Jackson,  farmer,  section  25,  Union 
Grove  Township,  is  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Whiteside  County,  where  he  has  been  a 
land-holder  since  1856.  His  parents,  Aaron 
C.  and  Charity  A.  (Young)  Jackson,  were  na- 
tives of  New  Jersey,  and  were  married  and 
settled  in  Ohio.  They  came  thence  about  1837,  and 
purchased  a  claim  in  the  township  of  Mt.  Pleasant, 
which  had  been  located  in  the  year  previous.  The. 
senior  Jackson  was  an  able  and  influential  man,  and 
was  active  in  promoting  the  general  welfare  of  the 
community.  The  township  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  which 
was  organized  in  1852,  received  its  name  from  him. 
The  farm  on  which  he  settled  was  situated  near  the 
city  of  Morrison,  and  included  160  acres  of  land, 

i 


with  40  acres  of  timber.  His  local  public  life  com- 
prised his  operations  as  president  of  a  society  of 
settlers  to  prevent  claim-jumping,  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  as  Supervisor.  In  1842  he  was  elected 
Representative  on  the  Whig  ticket,  and  served  two 
years  in  the  Legislature  of  Illinois.  In  1847  he  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention. 
He  officiated  as  Postmaster  at  Morrison  during  the 
administration  of  President  Lincoln.  His  wife  died 
Sept.  5,  1855.  His  demise  occurred  June  10,  1879. 
Their  children  were  n  in  number,  and  were  born  as 
follows:  Daniel  B.,  Flavius  J.,  Susan  L.,  John  Y., 
Tryphena,  Elizabeth,  Silas,  Phebe,  Amanda  and 
Lafayette  ;  one  child  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Jackson  was  born  September  14,  1829,  in 
Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  where  his  father  was  a  pioneer.  He 
was  about  eight  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  he  passed  the  years  of 
his  minority  in  attendance  at  the  district  school  and 
in  farm  labor.  On  reaching  his  majority  he  engaged 
in  efforts  in  his  own  interest,  working  out  by  the 
month  one  year  on  a  farm.  In  1852  he  went  to 
California,  making  his  way  there  overland,  with  the 
purpose  of  operating  as  a  miner.  He  spent  four 
years  in  that  vocation,  with  reasonable  success, 
although  he  was  unable  to  work  during  the  first 
;winter. 

He  returned  to  Whiteside  County  in  1856,  and 
purchased  120  acres  of  land  on  section  25,  Union 
Grove  Township.  The  prairie  sod  was  still  lying 
under  the  skies  as  it  had  lain  through  the  centuries 
of  the  past,  and  was  first  broken  by  Mr.  Jackson,  by 
whom  the  farm  has  been  put  in  first-class  agricul- 
tural condition.  It  is  now  all  under  the  plow,  and 
five  acres  of  timber  belong  to  the  estate.  It  has 
been  supplied  with  an  excellent  class  of  buildings. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Cordelia  Huntley, 
Dec.  17,  1857,  at  Morrison.  She  was  born  in  Ogden, 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  it,  1830,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Erastus  L.  and  Phebe  (Eldridge)  Huntley. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  New  England,  were 
married  and  settled  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
whence  they  removed  to  Michigan,  where  her  father 
died.  Her  motherwas  born  Jan.  15, 1803,  in  Sharon, 
N.  Y.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  she  returned 
to  the  home  and  associations  of  her  earlier  years  in 
the  Empire  State,  where  her  life  terminated,  at  War- 
saw, Aug.  29,  1849.  Her  father,  Seth  Eldridge,  was 


(3) 

«  • 


.. 


'IT  V-.  M  H  «Z>  M  M  ;j/V^ 

WHJTESIDE  COUNTY. 


-  ..  - 


1 

*l » 


born  Oct.  2,  1773,  and  died  May  20,  1865,  in  Yates, 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.  March  u,  1826,  she  married 
Erastus  Little  Huntley,  who  was  born  Dec.  21,  1797, 
and  died  Nov.  14,  1848,  in  Hartland,  Livingston  Co., 
Mich.  They  had  nine  children.  Following  are  their 
names  in  the  order  of  their  birth  :  Rebecca  E.,  Hen- 
rietta S.,  Cordelia,  Phebe  A.,  John  E.,  Erastus  L., 
Edwin,  Seth  E.  and  Robert  A. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  have  no  children.  In  1869 
they  adopted  Lillie  M.  Weaver,  who  was  born  May 
28,  1864,  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township. 

Mr.  Jackson  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  in  political  relations,  and  he  has  officiated 
through  a  long  series  of  years  in  local  positions  of 
trust.  He  acted  in  the  capacity  of  Magistrate  nine 
years,  as  Commissioner  eight  years,  and  seven  years 
as  Assessor.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


eslie   Williams,   druggist,   established   his 
present  business  at  Fulton  in  August,  1872. 
He  is  a  native  of  Boston,  Mass.,  was  born 
Feb.    17,  1848,  and  is  the  son  of  George  and 

Catharine  (Ravis)  Williams,  of  Welsh  descent. 

He  was  adopted  by  John  L.  Thompson,  with 
whom  he  went  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  in  April,  1856. 
He  came  to  Fulton  the  following  June,  and  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools  of  this  city.  When  15 
years  of  age  he  began  business  as  a  clerk  with  his 
half-brother,  H.  J.  Ravis,  dealer  in  general  merchan- 
dise, and  remained  with  him  till  1867.  He  spent 
the  next  two  years  as  a  salesman  in  a  hardware  store 
at  Fulton.  In  1869  he  bought  out  a  stock  of  fancy 
goods,  books  and  stationery,  and  started  in  business 
for  himself.  He  was  doing  well  until  a  fire  occurred, 
Jan.  2,  1872,  that  swept  away  his  entire  stock,  by 
which  he  suffered  a  loss  of  $1,500,  and  on  which  he 
only  realized  by  insurance  $500.  In  1872  he  opened 
in  the  drug  business.  He  has  conducted  this  es- 
tablishment about  13  years  with  marked  success, 
and  now  has  a  large,  tasteful  and  well  stocked  store 
in  his  line.  His  stock  averages  in  value  about 
$5,000,  and  includes  everything  usually  found  in  a 
first-class  drug  store. 

He  was  married  at  Fulton,  Nov.  22,  1872,  to  Miss 


Anna  Gerrish,  daughter  of  B.  S.  Gerrish.  Mrs. 
Williams  was  born  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

Mr.  Williams  has  held  various  offices  of  local  im- 
portance, and  is  the  present  Township  Clerk  and 
Township  School  Treasurer.  He  has  held  the  for- 
mer office  six  years  and  the  latter  eight.  He  has 
always  taken  a  warm  interest  in  politics,  is  an  earn- 
est Democrat,  and  in  1880  was  a  Delegate  to  the 
Illinois  State  Democratic  Convention. 

He  was  made  a  Freemason  immediately  after  be- 
coming of  age,  and  is  a  member  of  Fulton  City 
Lodge,  No.  189.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Fulton 
Chapter,  No.  108,  R.  A.  M. 

With  his  characteristic  earnestness,  Mr.  Williams 
applied  himself  to  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  Masonry, 
and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  efficient  mem- 
bers of  the  order.  He  is  a  man  of  good  executive 
ability,  quick  perception  and  sound  judgment,  sup- 
ported by  a  habit  of  earnest  application  to  the  mat- 
ter in  hand,  which  assures  a  prompt  and  correct 
discharge  of  public  and  private  duties  that  may  de- 
volve upon  him. 


ra  Heath,  farmer,  section  30,  Hopkins 
Township,  has  been  identified  with  the  ag- 
ricultural development  of  Whiteside  County 
since  1846.  He  passed  the  first  year  of  his 
residence  within  its  limits  in  the  township  of 
Mt.  Pleasant,  and  in  1847  bought  53  acres, 
which  is  now  a  part  of  his  homestead  estate,  which 
includes  100  acres,  nine-tenths  being  in  tillage.  In 
political  conviction  and  connections  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican ;  has  officiated  as  School  Director  in  his  dis- 
trict about  30  years,  and  has  held  other  offices. 

Mr.  Heath  was  born  May  22,  1818,  in  Berkshire 
Co.,  Mass.  His  father,  William  Heath,  was  also  a 
native  of  the  Bay  State,  and  married  Olive  Brown. 
After  their  marriage  they  located  in  Berkshire 
County,  where  they  became  the  parents  of  12  chil- 
dren,— Alvin,  Samantha,  Caroline,  Laura,  Ransom, 
Thetis,  Lucian  R.,  William,  Ira,  Russell  B.,  Philena 
and  Heman.  Their  father  died  March  i,  1853,  and 
their  mother  survived  until  Dec.  14,  1859. 

Mr.  Heath  spent  the  years  of  his  childhood  and 
earlier  youth  in  obtaining  a  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  at  19  years  of  age  began  to  work  as  a  farm 


:•: 


-  ..  - 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


laborer,  which  vocation  he  pursued  until  he  was  22 
years  old,  when  he  built  a  saw-mill.  He  conducted 
its  affairs  three  years,  after  which  he  sold  it  and 
again  engaged  in  farming  in  his  native  State  until 
the  year  in  which  lie  moved  to  Whiteside  County  as 
stated  (1846). 

He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Berkshire 
Co.,  Mass.,  May  21,  1840,  with  Mary  A.  Harmon. 
She  was  born  in  that  county  Feb.  22,  1822,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Walter  and  Azubah  (Hyde)  Har- 
mon. Both  her  parents  were  born  in  Massachusetts 
and  were  residents  there  until  1848,  when  they  set- 
tled in  Hopkins  Township,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
maining years  of  their  lives.  The  father  died  Aug. 
30,  1865;  the  mother  survived  until  Nov.  27,  1875. 
Their  children  were  five  in  number, — Porter  J.,  Mary 
A.,  George  W.,  Truman.  W.  and  William  M.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Heath  have  had  five  children,  but  only 
one  survives,  Henry  D.  George  W.,  Samantha  C., 
Rosella  A.  and  Frank  W.  are  deceased. 


i;  obert  B.  Johnson,  farmer,  section  9,  Hop- 
kins Township,  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and  Sally 
*   (Law)  Johnson,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  removed  to  Ohio,  where  they  lived  till 
their  death.     They  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, as  follows  :  Rachel,  Mary  A.,  Robert  R., 
Margaret,  Ephraim,   Rebecca,  Thomas,  Aaron  and 
Samuel. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Washington 
Co.,  Pa.,  June  16,  1819,  and  was  17  years  old  when 
his  father  removed  to  Ohio  ;  he  continued  to  live  at 
home  till  24  years  of  age.  He  engaged  in  farming  in 
Ohio  till  the  fall  of  1854,  when  he  came  to  Whiteside 
County  and  lived  in  Jordan  Township  about  nine 
months,  and  since  then  has  lived  in  Hopkins  Town- 
ship. In  1856  he  settled  on  section  9,  where  he 
had  bought  400  acres  previous  to  his  coming  to  the 
county  to  reside.  He  has  disposed  of  all  but  165 
acres,  and  all  this  except  five  acres  is  in  a  state  of 
good  cultivation. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  married  in  Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  May 
12,  1852,  to  Susan,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Nellie 
(Chenoweth)  Brown.  The  former  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, and  at  the  age  of  three  years  moved  to  Virginia; 
he  was  an  Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  a 

$. S«^        n  *< 


number  of  years.  Mrs.  Johnson's  mother  was  a 
native  of  Virginia.  They  settled  in  the  State  of  Ohio, 
where  they  finally  died.  They  had  a  family  of  nine 
children,  viz.:  Ellen,  Margaret,  Susan,  Eliza,  Isa- 
bella, Absalom,  Matilda,  Martha  and  Harriet.  Mrs. 
J.  was  born  in  Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  15,  1827,  and 
has  become  the  mother  of  eight  children,  as  follows  : 
Alice  C.,  Sarah  E.,  Monroe,  Julius  A.,  Herbert  H., 
Hattie  E.,  Effie  E.  and  Ida  B.  Monroe  died  Dec. 
13,  1872,  when  14  years  old. 

Mr.  Johnson  in  his  political  views  is  a  Democrat. 
Mrs.  J.  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


havid  Mathew  is  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists of  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  and 
a  resident  on  section  r.  He  was  born  in 
Fifeshire,  Scotland,  June  3,  1824,  and  was  a 
resident  of  his  native  country  until  he  was 
24  years  of  age.  He  emigrated  thence  in 
1848  and  landed  at  New  York.  He  spent  six 
months  in  the  State  of  Maryland,  going  thence  to 
West  Virginia,  where  he  continued  his  stay  12  years. 
He  came  from  that  State  to  Illinois  in  1860,  and  lo- 
cated in  Whiteside  County.  His  estate  includes  572 
acres,  lying  in  the  townships  of  Mt.  Pleasant  and 
Hopkins.  It  is  chiefly  under  cultivation. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Mathew,  William  and  Jean- 
nette (Wylie)  Mathews,  were  natives  of  Scotland, 
who  about  1851  came  to  the  United  States,  first  lo- 
cating in  Tucker  Co.,  W.  Va. ;  and  six  years  later 
they  made  a  change  of  their  residence  to  Whiteside 
County,  settling  in  Hopkins  Township.  The  death 
of  the  mother  took  place  in  that  township  and  the 
father  died  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township.  Their  chil- 
dren were  named  Thomas,  David,  William,  Jeannette, 
Andrew,  Margaret,  Ann,  Jane,  Robert  and  Alex- 
ander. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Mathew  to  Ann  Wolf  took 
place  in  November,  1857,  in  West  Virginia.  Mrs. 
Mathew  is  the  daughter  of  George  and  Catharine 
(Barb)  Wolf,  and  they  were  natives  of  Virginia. 
Their  seven  children  were. named:  Isaac,  George 
A.,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Ann,  Catharine  and  Israel. 
Mrs.  Mathew  was  born  July  4,  1830,  in  West  Vir- 
ginia. To  her  and  her  husband  have  been  born  13 
children,  named  as  follows  :  William  B.,  Jeannette 


5 

M 


and  George  (twins),  Catharine,  Robert,  Mary,  Anna, 
David  W.  and  George  W.  (twins),  James  A.,  Ezra, 
Simon  and  Samuel  (twins.)  One  child  is  deceased, 
George,  twin  brother  of  Jeannette.  Mrs.  Mathew 
belongs  to  the  family  from  which  the  celebrated  hero 
of  Quebec  descended.  Mr.  M.  is  an  adherent 
of  the  Republican  party  and  belongs  to  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  He  has  held  several  offices. 


ohn  Phinney,  a  citizen  of  Union  Grove 
Township,  located  on  a  farm  on  section  13, 
is  engaged  in  the  twofold  calling  of  agri- 
culturist and  teacher.  He  was  born  April 
29,  1825,  in  Monkton,  Addison  Co.,  Vt,  where 
he  obtained  a  common-school  education,  and 
he  extended  the  scope  of  his  intellectual  attainments 
at  the  academy  at  Bakersfield,  Vt.  His  parents, 
Martin  and  Sally  (Mallory)  Phinney,  were  natives  of 
Vermont  and  were  of  Scotch  and  English  lineage. 
They  remained  in  the  State  of  their  nativity  through- 
out their  lives.  They  had  three  children. — John, 
Harris  and  Sally.  The  mother  died  in  1830  and 
the  father  contracted  a  second  marriage,  with  Mercy 
Brown.  To  them  two  children  were  born, — Dan  A. 
and  Ellen  M.  The  former  died  near  Iowa  City,  of  ty- 
phoid fever,  in  1856,  and  is  buried  in  the  Quaker 
burying-ground  near  that  city. 

On  completing  his  education  Mr.  Phinney  applied 
himself  to  the  occupation  of  teaching,  which  he  fol- 
lowed in  Vermont  between  two  and  three  years.  In 
April,  1854,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  first 
located  in  the  township  of  Union  Grove,  where  he 
pursued  the  vocation  of  teacher  two  years.  In  1856 
he  went  to  Como,  and  was  there  occupied  in  the 
same  capacity  four  years.  In  1860  he  bought  a 
farm  in  the  township  of  Montmorency,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  two  years,  spending  the  winters  in 
teaching.  In  1862  he  sold  his  farm  and  went  to 
Sterling,  where  he  taught  one  year.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  he  made  an  engagement  to  take 
charge  of  the  school  at  Unionville,  where  he  was 
employed  three  years.  He  then  returned  to  Sterling 
to  enter  upon  an  engagement  as  teacher,  which  ex- 
isted five  years,  after  which  he  taught  two  years  in 
Unionville.  From  there  he  went  to  Hopkins  Town- 
ship, and  after  teaching  there  two  years  he  engaged 


in  the  same  capacity  at  Como,  where  he  continued 
to  operate  four  years.  In  the  fall  of  1883  he  began 
to  teach  in  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged seven  months.  The  aggregate  of  his  teach- 
ing in  Whiteside  County  covers  a  period  of  31  years. 
He  bought  his  farm  in  Union  Grove  Township  in 
the  fall  of  1872,  consisting  of  88  acres,  and  where 
he  has  maintained  his  residence  since  the  property 
came  into  his  possession.  It  is  nearly  all  under  cul- 
tivation. In  political  relations  Mr.  Phinney  is  inde- 
pendent. 

He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Alzina  L. 
Twitchell,  April  18,  1855,  and  they  have  had  three 
children, — Burritt  E.,  Martin  Loyal  and  Effie  B. 
The  oldest  son  died  Oct.  20,  1883,  in  Union  Grove 
Township,  at  the  age  of  25  years.  He  fixed  upon 
the  calling  of  a  jeweler,  and  spent  four  years  in 
preparation  for  making  that  the  business  of  his  life, 
serving  his  apprenticeship  at  Morrison.  He  con- 
tracted consumption  and  went  to  California  in  the 
vain  hope  of  recovery.  He  returned  home  and  died 
at  the  home  of  his  parents  in  Union  Grove.  He 
lies  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Morrison.  The  second 
son  is  a  student  at  Oberlin,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Phinney 
was  born  in  New  Haven,  Vt.,  May  i,  1836.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  L.  C.  Twitchell,  of  whom  a  sketcli 
appears  on  another  page. 


eter  Kitchen,  manufacturer  of  and  dealer 
in  harness  and  saddlery  at  Fulton,  began 
business  here  in  June,  1858,  and  has  the 
oldest  established  house  in  his  line  in  the  city. 
He  was  born  in  Ithaca,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  15,  1837,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Mar- 
tha (Van  Buskirk)  Kitchen.  He  learned  his  trade 
in  his  native  town,  and  in  1856  went  to  Pennsyl- 
vania. Two  years  later  he  came  to  Fulton,  111.,  and 
established  his  present  business.  He  has  carried  it 
on  continuously,  since,  at  this  place,  covering  a 
period  of  27  years.  Starting  in  a  moderate  way, 
he  has  increased  his  stock  and  facilities  for  manu- 
facturing till  he  now  has  an  extensive  establishment, 
well  stocked  with  everything  in  his  line  and  most 
complete  in  its  appointments. 

Mr.  Kitchen  has  been  twice  married,  first  at  Ful- 
ton, 111.,  March  24,  1860,  to  Miss  Letitia  Fitzpatrick 


( 


,  • 

\ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


by  the  Rev.  Ben.  Close.  Two  children  were  born  of 
this  union,  namely  :  Frank,  the  eldest,  is  employed 
on  the  Mississippi  River  ;  the  younger  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mrs.  K.  died  Dec.  13,  1862,  and  Mr.  Kitchen 
was  married  again,  at  Fulton,  Nov.  ir,  1863,  to  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Price,  by  the  Rev.  J.  B.  McClure.  Mrs. 
K.  is  the  daughter  of  William  Price,  and  was  born 
in  Monroeville,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Kitchen  is  a  member  of  Fulton  City  Lodge, 
No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 


Lamuel  S.  Keefer,  liveryman,  Sterling,  was 
born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  2,  1845, 
his  parents  being  John  (a  farmer)  and 
Ann  M.  (Grove)  Keefer.  Receiving  a  com- 
mon-school education  and  being  brought  up 
at  farm  labor,  he  emigrated  West  in  1865,  and 
in  1866  he  left  home,  worked  at  the  occupation  of 
carpenter  two  years,  then  was  engaged  in  the  grocery 
trade  in  Sterling  the  same  length  of  time;  next  he 
resided  on  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Genesee  Township 
12  years,  and  returned  to  Sterling  in  1882.  In 
March,  1883,  he  bought  out  the  stock  of  F.  M.  May- 
nard  in  the  livery  business,  and  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  that  line,  now  having  about  12  horses.  His 
livery  equipment  is  the  largest  in  Sterling. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Keefer  is  a  Republican, 
and  in  his  social  relations  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

He  was  married  Sept.  n,  1866,  to  Miss  Anna  M. 
Kurtz,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  have  two 
children,  —  Emma  F.  and  Ida  May. 


y  illard   A.    Goodenough,    farmer,  section 
10,   Union  Grove  Township,  has  been  a 
resident  on  the  same  farm  which  he  now 
occupies  since  he  first  took  possession  of  it 
at  the  time  of  his  settling  in  the  county  in 
J    1865. 

He  is  the  third  child  of  John  and  Betsey  (Cob- 
leigh)  Goodenough.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
Vermont,  and  removed  from  there  to  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  they  were  farmers  and  reared  their 
children,  1 1  in  number. 

Mr.  Goodenough  was  born   March  24,    1822,    in 


Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
there  obtained  a  good  common-school  education. 
About  the  time  he  arrived  at  the  period  of  his  legal 
freedom,  he  bought  a  farm  in  his  native  county,  on 
which  he  labored  until  his  removal  to  Illinois  in  the 
year  named.  He  made  a  purchase  of  120  acres  of 
land  on  the  section  where  he  has  since  maintained 
his  homestead.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  230  acres 
of  the  valuable  land  which  is  the  source  of  the 
wealth  and  prosperity  of  Whiteside  County.  It  is 
chiefly  under  cultivation.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist  in 
his  political  views. 

His  marriage  to  Nancy  J.  Hull  took  place  Jan. 
13,  1842,  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  been 
the  parents  of  five  children  :  George  E.,  Esther  J., 
Lewis  E.,  Emma  L.  and  Ella  L.  (twins).  Lewis  died 
at  the  age  of  16  months.  Mrs.  Goodenough  was 
born  Aug.  22,  1820,  in  Morristown,  St.  Lawrence 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and 
Prudence  (Fish)  Hull.  Her  mother  was  born  in 
Massachusetts,  and  her  father  in  Connecticut.  They 
had  four  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodenough  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


aron  A.  Wolfersperger,  attorney  at  law, 
Sterling,  was  born  in  Jordan  Township. 
Whiteside,  Co.,  111.,  March  22,  1856.  His 
parents,  John  and  Lydia  (Kapp)  Wolfersperger, 
natives  of  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.,  came  from  the 
Keystone  State  in  1851  to  Jordan  Township, 
Mr.  W.  purchased  land  at  different  times,  so  that  he 
is  now  the  proprietor  of  640  acres. 

Aaron,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  remained  at  his 
parental  home  until  15  years  of  age,  laboring  upon 
the  farm  and  attending  the  district  school ;  then, 
leaving  home,  he  attended  a  college  at  Naperville, 
111.,  one  year,  an  institution  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Evangelical  Church ;  then  four  years  at  the  col- 
lege at  Carthage,  111.,  where  he  graduated ;  next,  a 
term  of  six  months  at  Eastman's  Business  College  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  receiving  a  diploma;  followed 
farming  the  next  summer;  and  the  ensuing  fall  he 
went  to  Chicago  and  attended  the  Union  College  of 
Law  for  two  years,  receiving  a  diploma :  finally,  in 
the  spring  of  1879,  he  came  to  Sterling  and  com- 
menced the  practice  of  law.  In  1881  he  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  has  held  the  office  since. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


*£f    In    1884    he    was    elected    City   Attorney,  and   re- 
&    elected  in  the  spring  of  1885.      He    is   one  of  the 
**,   leading  and  rising  lawyers  of  Sterling.     Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  his  social  relations  he  is   a 
member  of  the  Orders  of  Odd  Fellows,   Knights   of 
Pythias,  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Mr.  Wolfenperger  was  married  Nov.  4,  1880,  to 
Miss  Anna  Hendrick,  a  native  of  this  State.  They 
have  had  two  children;  Lelia  S.,  born  Aug.  4,  1882  ; 
and  John  J.,  Aug.  26,  1884. 


>rs.  Phebe  Worthington,  a  resident  of 
Coloma,  and  a  widow  of  Artemas  W. 
Worthington,  deceased,  was  born  in  Col- 
chester, Conn.,  in  1813,  and  was  married 
Oct.  9,  1837.  She  came  West  and  settled  in 
Harrisburg,  this  county,  July  3,  1839,  and 
afterward  moved  across  the  river  and  located  on 
what  is  now  called  Coloma,  where  Mr.  Worthington 
died  in  1855. 

She  has  had  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  still 
living.  Isabella  was  born  in  1839;  Robert,  1845; 
Alfred,  1847  ;  Alice,  1849;  and  Robert  E.,  1853.  She 
has  a  farm  of  160  acres,  on  which  she  resides,  and 
which  is  managed  by  her  son  Alfred.  The  latter 
married  Martha  Wright,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  she  was  born  March  3,  1873.  They  have 
five  children,  namely — Mabel,  Ollie  M.,  Artemas  W., 
Edgar  S.  and  one  not  yet  named. 

Mrs.  W.'s  parents  were  Richard  and  Phebe 
(Ketchum)  Sammis,  natives  of  Long  Island  and 
members  of  the  agricultural  community. 


obert  S.  Norrish,  an  extensive  farmer  of 
Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  located  on   sec- 
tion 2,  is  a  representative  of  a  large  class 
-N    in    Whiteside   County,   who   have    been    in- 
strumental  in   its    development,   though  he 
was  born    under  another   government.     His 
farming  interests  also  demonstrate  the  results  of  a 
life  of  honorable,  judicious  effort  under  the  protec- 
tion  of   a  republican  form  of  government.     He  is 
the  owner  of  680  acres  of  land,  which  is  all  under 


cultivation  with  the  exception  of  about  one-sixth. 
His  farm  is  stocked  with  about  100  head  of  cattle 
and  1 6  horses,  and  he  fattens  for  market  an  annual 
average  of  75  hogs. 

Mr.  Norrish  was  born  Oct.  i,  1826,  in  Devon- 
shire, England,  and  he  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and 
Frances  (Snow)  Norrish.  His  parents  lived  and 
died  in  their  native  shire.  Their  children  were 
named  Samuel,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Francis,  Edward, 
Robert  S.,  John,  Jane  and  Ann.  Mr.  Norrish  was 
educated  in  his  native  country  and  lived  there  until 
1850,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States.  He  went 
at  first  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  married,  July  6,  1852, 
in  Lorain  County,  to  Tamzin  Squire.  They  remained 
in  Ohio  until  1853,  when  they  removed  thence  to 
Mt.  Pleasant  Township.  The  wife  died  there  in 
October,  1863,  having  borne  two  children,  who  were 
named  Samuel  and  Margaret  A.  The  plder  child 
died  in  infancy.  March  2,  1865,  Mr.  Norrish  was 
again  married,  in  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  to  Ann  Adams. 
Their  three  children  were  named  Robert  A.,  Mary 
and  John  W.  The  daughter  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Norrish  was  born  Feb.  17,  1827,  in  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, and  is  the  daughter  of  George  and  Martha 
(Hargate)  Adams.  Her  parents  came  to  the  United 
States  in  July,  1846,  and  located  in  Ohio.  They 
had  four  children,  named  James,  Ann,  William 
and  Maiy. 

Mr.  Norrish  is  in  sympathy  with  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  is.  active  in  township  lo- 
cal interests.  Mrs.  Norrish  is  a  communicant  in  the 
Episcopal  Church. 


eorge  W.  Clendenen,  M.  D.,  Fulton,  is  a 
native  of  Boone  Co.,  Va.  (now  West  Vir- 
ginia), and  was  born  Dec.  4,  1844.  His 
parents  were  Robert  A.  and  Amanda  (Hinch- 
man)  Clendenen.  George  W.  came  to  Cass  Co., 
Mich.,  with  his  parents  in  childhood,  and  when 
six  years  of  age  his  father  died,  leaving  his  family  in 
indigent  circumstances. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  left  to  shift  for  him- 
self at  an  early  age.  He  began  by  working  out  sum- 
mers to  earn  money  to  pay  his  way  through  school  in 
the  winters.  He  attended  the  union  school  of  Niles, 
Mich.,  till  he  fitted  himself  to  enter  the  State  Normal 


. 
UNIVERSITY  or 


WHITES 'IDE  COUNTY. 


School  at  Ypsilanti,  which  he  did,  and  passed  exam- 
ination in  the  literary  department  and  entered  upon 
the  classic  course.  He  then  became  a  school-teach- 
er, to  provide  means  of  support  while  he  should 
be  engaged  in  the  study  of  medicine,  he  having  de- 
termined to  adopt  that  profession  as  his  calling.  He 
began  to  read  medicine  in  1872,  with  his  brother,  Dr. 
Floyd  Clendenen,  of  Dowagiac,  Mich.,  now  of  La- 
Salle,  111.  He  soon  afterward  became  a  traveling 
salesman  for  a  wooden-ware  establishment.  Carry- 
ing medical  books  on  the  various  branches  with  him 
in  his  travels,  he  read  and  studied  them  as  he  could 
find  opportunity.  He  came  to  Fulton  in  1874,  and  has 
since  made  this  his  home.  He  continued  on  the  road 
till  1876,  since  which  time  he  has  devoted  himself  to 
the  study  and  practice  of  medicine.  He  took  a 
regular  course  of  lectures  at  the  Bennett  College  of 
Eclectic  Medicine  and  Surgery,  of  Chicago,  from 
which  he  received  his  degree  of  M.  D.,  March  25, 
1884;  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Fulton,  with  the  very 
best  of  success. 

He  was  married  in  Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  Jan.  15,  1869, 
to  Miss  Ellen  A.  Ferriss,  daughter  of  E.  W.  Ferriss. 
Mrs.  Clendenen  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich- 
They  had  four  children :  Blanch,  who  died  aged  two 
years;  Gracie,  who  died  aged  one  year;  Eddie  W. 
and  Kittie  G.,  who  are  living. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Clendenen  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  in  politics  is  a  Democrat. 

Although  young  in  the  profession,  Dr.  Clendenen  is 
securing  a  rapidly  increasing  practice  as  a  reward  for 
a  zealous  and  faithful  discharge  of  his  professional 
duties. 


|rr  F.  Woodruff,  attorney    at  law  at  Mor- 
li  rison,  was  born  June  30,  1840,  in  the  town- 
s'  ship    of    Clarendon,   Orleans    Co.,     N.     Y. 


Winfield  Woodruff,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
the  State  of  New  York  and  was  a  farmer  by 
vocation.  He  married  Sole m ma  Terry,  who 
was  also  born  in  New  York.  Of  their  three  chil- 
dren, Mr.  Woodruff  of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest. 
William  M.  is  an  agriculturist  and  dealer  in  stock 
near  Kearney,  Neb.  John  J.,  resident  at  Kearney, 


was  formerly  an  attorney  and  is  now  interested  in 
sheep  industry.  In  1875  the  parents  went  to  Kear- 
ney, where  the  father  died  in  November,  1884.  The 
mother  survives. 

Until  he  was  19  years  of  age,  Mr.  Woodruff  con- 
tinued under  the  direction  of  his  parents  on  the 
homestead  farm  and  acquired  a  high-school  educa- 
tion. He  came  to  Morrison  in  November,  1859, 
where  he  became  a  student  of  law  in  the  office  of 
Hon.  Henry  M.  Teller,  Secretary  of  the  Interior 
under  President  Arthur.  Mr.  Teller  was  then  en- 
gaged in  legal  practice  at  Morrison,  and  under  his 
preceptorship  Mr.  Woodruff  enjoyed  unusual  ad- 
vantages and  derived  much  practical  benefit  from 
the  associations  of  the  office.  In  May,  1861,  he 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  all  the  courts  of  Illinois, 
and  on  receiving  his  credentials  he  established  his 
business  in  the  former  office  of  Mr.  Teller,  who 
went  to  Colorado.  Mr.  Woodruff  has  since  con- 
ducted the  relations  of  an  extensive  and  popular 
law  practice  with  success,  and  chieflly  unaided.  He 
has  risen  through  ability,  industry  and  undeviating 
devotion  to  his  business  interests,  as  well  as  through 
high-minded  integrity,  to  distinction  in  his  profes- 
sion. He  is  still  engaged  in  the  management  of  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice  in  the  County,  Appellate 
and  Supreme  Courts  of  Illinois  and  in  the  Federal 
Courts  at  Chicago. 

Mr.  Woodruff  has  won  an  honorable  and  enviable 
position  at  the  Bar  as  a  criminal  lawyer ;  and  has 
been  connected  with  a  number  of  prominent  cases 
involving  the  liberty  and  sometimes  the  lives  of  in- 
dividuals. He  is  a  logical  and  effective  advocate, 
and  possesses  an  exhaustive  comprehension  of  legal 
principles.  He  is  noted  for  keenness  of  perception 
and  discrimination  in  presenting  his  argument,  and 
when  fully  aroused  to  his  work,  exercises  a  magnetic 
influence  which  proves  a  controlling  element  in  the 
courts  where  he  pleads.  He  possesses  the  rare-quality 
of  sinking  his  own  personality  in  the  merits  of  his 
case,  and  fully  imbuing  himself  with  its  justice  and 
equity,  a  trait  which  rarely  fails  to  achieve  a  purpose. 
He  is  a  thorough  student  of  human  nature  and  re- 
cognizes above  all  other  considerations  that  penal- 
ties are  designed  for  reformation  rather  than  punish- 
ment. Standing  firmly  on  the  fact  that  the  results 
of  crime  are  irretrievable  in  most  instances,  he  is 
just  as  inflexible  in  taking  the  humanitarian  view, 

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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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and  in  his  advocacy  presents  his  views  and  appeals, 
to  the  tribunals  before  which  his  clients  are  arraigned, 
in  the  strength  of  the  unwritten  code  of  mercy  and 
forbearance.  He  frames  his  argument  with  sagacity, 
and  clothes  it  in  simple,  effective  language  calcu- 
lated to  reach  the  better  part  of  the  human  heart, 
and  wields  a  masterly  power  over  the  sympathies 
and  emotions  of  both  court  and  jury.  The  late 
Judge  Heaton  once  said  of  him:  "When  Woodruff 
is  thoroughly  convinced  that  his  cause  is  just,  or 
that  his  client  should  win,  he  is  often  a  dangerous 
adversary  to  meet,  either  before  court  or  jury. " 
Before  the  court  in  argument,  he  never  fails  to  sup- 
port his  position  with  a  long  array  of  authorities,  and 
to  that  extent  that  victories  have  in  some  instances 
been  won  that  even  the  judge  had  doubts  about 
sustaining  upon  more  mature  deliberation. 

Mr.  Woodruff  finds  opportunity  for  the  exercise  of 
his  peculiar  abilities  in  the  cross-examination  of  wit- 
nesses, and  it  is  the  opinion  of  those  who  observe  his 
methods  and  admire  his  achievements,  that  his 
splendid  repute  as  an  attorney  is  due  to  the  tact  and 
shrewdness  with  which  he  manipulates  an  adverse 
witness,  rather  than  to  any  other  qualification  he 
may  possess.  His  ability  and  skill  are  universally 
conceded,  and  he  is  regarded  as  a  safe  counselor  and 
a  jurist  of  more  than  ordinary  claims.  He  will  al- 
ways be  a  leader  in  his  profession. 

In  connection  with  his  legal  business  he  has  ex- 
tensive agricultural  interests  in  Whueside  County, 
and  is  the  owner  of  1,000  acres  of  land  at  Alpena, 
Jerauld  Co.,  D.  T.  On  the  latter  he  is  making  a 
specialty  of  fine  stock.  His  herds  there  comprise 
150  head  of  short-horn  cattle  and  20  horses  of  Per- 
cheron  grades.  He  owns  two  farms  in  Whiteside 
County,  comprising  280  acres,  located  five  miles 
southwest  of  Morrison,  in  Fenton  Township,  and 
240  acres  situated  14  miles  distant  from  Morrison  in 
the  same  direction,  in  Newton  Township;  and  they 
are  stocked  with  about  40  head  of  thoroughbred 
Durham  cattle  and  30  horses. 

He  has  obeyed  the  obligations  of  his  citizenship 
at  Morrison  and  responded  to  the  demands  of  the 
general  public  by  serving  two  terms  as  Mayor  of  the 
city,  the  aggregated  period  of  his  official  career  as 
the  chief  executive  of  the  municipality  including  the 
years  1879  to  1882. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  be- 
longing to  Dunlap  Lodge,  No.  327,  at  Morrison. 


Mr.  Woodruff  has  been   married  twice.     He  first  ^ 
formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Victoria  O'Hara, 
Nov.  it,  1862,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  * 
children,  Maitland  J.  and  Maud,  both  now  deceased.    ' 
The  death  of  the  wife  and  mother  took  place  at  Mor-  , 
rison  in  October,   1867.     She  was  a  native  of  the 
Dominion  of  Canada.     Mr.  Woodruff  was  a  second 
time  married   Feb.  22,   1869,  at  Morrison,  to  Mary 
Lathrop.     She  was  born  in  August,  1843,  in  Canada. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Woodruff  presented  on  a  pre- 
ceding page  is  a  copy  of  a  likeness  taken  in  1882. 


.Isworth  Dill,  furniture  dealer  and  uphol- 
sterer, Sterling,  was  born  at  Hamden,  Vin- 
ton  Co.,  Ohio,  June  22,  1847,  and  is  a  son 
.Iji.   of  Benjamin  and  Armada  (Catlin)  Dill,  natives 
•  >     of  Ohio.     The  senior  Mr.  Dill,  who  was  en- 
gaged in  a  stove  manufactory  and  in  a  tannery, 
sold  out  in    1864   and  came  to  Coleta,  this  county, 
engaging  in  farming  and  stock-raising. 

Three  months  afterward  Elsworth  came  West, 
stopping  with  his  father  six  or  eight  months,  when, 
arriving  at  the  age  of  legal  freedom,  he  struck  out  in 
the  world  for  himself.  He  commenced  to  work  for 
Gait  &  Tracy  before  the  fire,  continuing  only  two 
months  ;  then  for  six  months  he  followed  the  butcher- 
ing business  with  his  father;  next,  he  was  an  em- 
ployee in  the  Boyington  Hotel  at  Sterling  for  ten 
months  ;  then  a  clerk  in  the  Wallace  Hotel  three 
months;  after  three  months  out  of  employment,  was 
clerk  at  the  Boyington  again,  four  months  ;  followed 
farming  one  season  in  Nebraska,  but  a  hail-storm 
nearly  ruined  his  crop;  returning  to  Sterling,  he 
engaged  again  as  clerk  at  the  Boyington  Hotel  for  a 
year;  put  in  and  attended  another  crop  in  Nebraska, 
this  time  with  success;  returned  to  Sterling  and  for 
three  months  was  engaged  in  the  coal  business  ;  sold 
out  and  for  a  time  worked  for  Mr.  Seely  in  his  res- 
taurant, and  then  went  with  him  into  the  Wallace 
Hotel  and  clerked  for  two  years;  employed  for  six 
months,  most  of  the  time  as  superintendent,  by  the 
Sterling  Gas  Company;  clerked  again  at  the  Wallace 
Hotel  until  the  Gait  House  was  opened,  where  he 
was  chief  clerk  a  year,  then  in  the  same  capacity  at 
the  Wallace  one  year;  ran  a  meat  market  for  six 
months;  sold  out  and  engaged  in  a  restaurant  a 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


month;  sold  again,  and  from  1878  to  1883  he  was 
employed  as  traveling  agent  by  the  Rock  Falls  Man- 
ufacturing Company ;  then  was  manager  of  the  Gait 
House  one  year;  and  finally,  June  i,  1884,  he  rented 
the  Sterling' Mercantile  Block  and  opened  out  with  a 
large  stock  of  furniture,  where  he  is  at  present  carry- 
ing on  a  prosperous  trade.  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson 
remarks  that  he  is  not  the  greatest  man  who  succeeds 
by  sticking  to  one  business,  but  he  who,  in  trying 
many  kinds,  falls  every  time  like  a  cat, — lighting 
upon  his  feet.  E.  Dill  &  Co.  now  carry  a  stock  of 
$5,000  worth  of  goods  and  have  a  large  aiid  increas- 
ing trade.  They  do  much  in  the  line  of  upholstering. 

Mr.  Dill  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  the 
Select  Knights  and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 

He  was  married  Feb.  12,  1872,  to  Miss  Addie  E. 
Bowen,  of  Rock  Falls,  and  they  have  two  sons, — 
Edwin  E.  and  E.  Leroy  T. 


eorge  Terwilliger,  attorney  at  law,  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  Notary  Public  and  insurance 
agent,  at  Fulton,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
New  Scotland,  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the 
son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Reid)  Terwilliger, 
his  father  being  of  Holland  descent  and  his 
mother  of  Scotch. 

At  the  age  of  nine  years  he  moved  with  his  par- 
ents to  De  Witt,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  remained 
with  his  father  on  the  farm,  receiving  the  ordinary 
common-school  education,  until  he  entered  the  Onon- 
daga Academy,  located  at  Onondaga  Hollow,  where 
he  took  a  four  years'  course  and  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1850.  He  then  commenced  the  study  of  the 
law  with  Forbes  &  Sheldon,  in  the  city  of  Syracuse, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  all  the  Courts  of  New 
York  State  on  the  5th  of  July,  1852.  During  the 
time  he  was  studying  law  he  frequently  assisted  in 
editing  the  Syracuse  Daily  Journal,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing newspapers  in  the  interior  of  New  York  State, 
and  after  his  admission  to  the  Bar  became  editor-in- 
chief  of  that  paper.  He  remained  in  this  position  for 
about  two  years,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  a 
change  in  the  proprietorship,  he  being  Free-Soil  in 
his  proclivities,  while  the  new  proprietors  were  pro- 
slavery  in  their  views.  Shortly  after  his  resigning  he 
was  elected  City  Attorney  of  the  city  of  Syracuse,  re- 


ceiving the  highest  vote  cast  for  any  one  on  his  ticket 
except  the  candidate  for  City  Treasurer.  In  1857 
he  removed  to  New  York  city,  where  he  practiced 
law,  and  was  also  honored  with  positions  in  the  Cus- 
tom House,  and  in  the  Tax  Commissioner's  office. 
While  a  resident  of  New  York  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  United  States  District  and  Circuit 
Courts. 

In  the  summer  of  1870  he  came  West  in  accord- 
ance with  a  long  considered  intention,  and  purchased 
the  Sterling  Gazette,  which  paper  he  conducted  with 
ability  and  success  until  March,  1872,  when  he  sold 
out  and  moved  to  Fulton,  purchasing  the  Fulton 
Journal.  In  the  fall  of  1872  he  sold  a  one-half  in- 
terest in  the  Journal  to  Dr.  W.  C.  Snyder,  now  State 
Senator,  he  taking  the  editorial  department,  and  Dr. 
Snyder  the  business  department.  In  1876  he  sold 
his  interest  in  the  Journal,  and  virtually  laid  aside 
the  editorial  quill.  When  the  Legislature  of  1877 
convened,  his  reputation  was  such  that  he  easily  se- 
cured a  clerkship  in  the  House  of  Representatives, 
and  served  during  the  session.  In  the  spring  of  that 
year  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Fulton( 
and  on  his  return  from  Springfield  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  his  office.  In  June,  1877,  he  was  employed 
in  editing  and  compiling  Bent's  History  of  Whiteside 
County,  and  completed  the  work  in  the  following 
January.  At  the  session  of  the  Legislature  in  1879 
he  was  elected  First  Assistant  Secretary  of  the 
Senate,  and  was  re-elected  at  the  session  of  1881,  the 
Senators  being  so  well  pleased  with  his  services  that 
at  this  session  they  presented  him  with  an  elegant 
gold  watch.  At  the  special  session  of  1881  he  was 
elected  Secretary  of  the  Senate.  During  the  years 
1874,  1875  and  1876,  he  was  City  Clerk  of  the  city  of 
Fulton.  He  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the 
town  of  Fulton  for  eight  years,  and  at  the  late  spring 
election  was  again  elected,  without  opposition,  for 
four  years  more. 

Mr.  Terwilliger  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order  since  1862,  having  been  made  a  Mason  in 
New  York  city.  He  was  married  while  editing  the 
Syracuse  Daily  Journal,  to  Miss  Matilda  B.  Fowler, 
daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  Fowler,  Mrs.  Terwilliger 
being  a  native  of  New  York  city.  They  have  two 
children,  both  girls :  Lillian,  wife  of  Henry  H.  Den- 
ton,  of  Newtown,  Queens  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  Georgiana, 
unmarried. 

Mr.  T.  is  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  been  an 

A  r* ?m£*&a^. ^Sig^sA 

W'^— <i'X 


1 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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active  member  of  the  party  since  its  organization. 
He  is  a  popular  Justice,  his  thorough  knowledge  of 
law  and  judicial  turn  of  mind  enabling  him  to  make 
his  rulings  and  decisions  in  accordance  with  law  and 
evidence,  so  that  his  judgments  are  seldom  reversed. 
As  a  writer  Mr.  Terwilliger  is  favorably  known 
throughout  Northern  and  Western  Illinois  by  his  con- 
nection with  the  press,  and  his  able  compilation  of 
tha  History  of  Whiteside  County  in  1877. 


f  doniram  Judson  Booth,  publisher  of  the 
Sterling  Blade,  is  a  son  of  Gifford  John 
and  Mary  A.  Booth,  and  was  born  in  Dun- 
dee, Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  3,  1846.  When 
three  years  old  he  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  and  resided  there  till  1855, 
when  his  farther 's  family  removed  to  Illinois,  resid- 
ing for  one  year  in  Rock  Island,  and  then  in  Fulton, 
Whiteside  County.  Here  he  completed  his  studies 
at  the  Fulton  High  School.  In  1859  his  father 
leased  (and  subsequently  bought)  the  material  of  the 
Fulton  Advertiser  and  commenced  the  publication 
of  the  Fulton  Courier;  he  entered  the  office  to 
learn  the  printing  trade,  and  remained  therein  till 
1866,  when  he  took  a  joint  interest  in  the  paper, 
which  had  in  1863  been  changed  in  name  to  "  Ful- 
ton Journal."  Mr.  Booth  and  his  father  continued 
the  business  till  March,  1872,  when  the  establish- 
ment was  purchased  by  George  Terwilliger,  of  Ster- 
ling. For  one  year  prior  to  the  above  sale  Mr. 
Booth  had  been  pursuing  a  special  course  of  medical 
instruction,  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  John  Eddy, 
a  thoroughly  educated  regular  physician  of  Fulton; 
he  subsequently  gave  his  entire  attention  to  his  med- 
ical studies  till  the  summer  of  1873,  when  he  went 
to  Chicago  and  attended  a  regular  course  of  med- 
ical lectures  at  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  in 
1873-4. 

While  home  from  college  in  1874  he  joined  his 
father  in  purchasing  the  Investigator  printing-office- 
at  Morrison,  this  county;  the  name  of  the  paper  was 
changed  to  Morrison  Times,  and  conducted  as  a 
Greenback  organ.  In  1876  this  office  was  removed 
to  Rock  Falls,  and  the  name  of  the  paper  changed 
to  Whiteside  Times ;  it  was  Democratic-Greenback  in 


ix)litics,  and  had  a  very  extensive  circulation  in  ev- 
ery township  in    Whiteside  County.     In  the  fall  of 

1877,  Mr.  Booth  successfully  issued  a  creditable  his- 
tory and  directory  of  the  two  cities, — Sterling  and 
Rock  Falls, — bound  in  cloth  and  gold  leaf.     In  May, 

1878,  A.   J.  Booth  &  Co.  leased  the  Whiteside  Times 
to  Messrs.  Hyde  &  Seade. 

In  June,  i88r,  Mr.  Booth  decided  to  commence 
the  publication  of  the  Daily  Blade,  a  morning  daily 
paper,  in  the  city  of  Sterling,  notwithstanding  four 
failures  in  that  line  by  former  parties.  This  enter- 
prise was  a  success,  and  was  continued  for  nearly 
three  years,—  until  Dec.  i,  1883,  when  impaired 
health  necessitated  a  change  of  business.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1884,  having  recovered  health,  Mr.  Booth  re- 
turned to  Sterling  and  resumed  the  publication  of 
the  Blade  as  a  weekly  paper,  Democratic  in  politics, 
six-column  quarto  in  size. 

Feb.  3,  1869,  Mr.  Booth  married  Miss  Alma  C. 
Sperry,  of  Lee  Center,  111.,  to  whom  were  born  five 
children,  to  wit:  Gifford  M.,  Harry  Judson,  Ida 
May,  Charles  Edwin  and  Anna  Maude.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Booth  are  both  members  of  the  Sterling  Bap- 
tist Church. 


— J- 


'ames  S.  McCauley,  farmer  on  section  5, 
Hopkins  Township,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Whiteside  County  since  185  3,  and  has  been 
identified  with  its  agricultural  development 
and  progress  for  more  than  30  years.  He  was 
born  Nov.  n,  1821,  in  West  Virginia.  Corne- 
lius McCauley,  his  father,  was  born  in  Scotland, 
whence  he  emigrated  and  came  to  Maryland,  where 
he  was  married  to  Mary  Butler,  after  which  they  set- 
tled in  Virginia.  James  was  an  infant  when  his 
parents  went  to  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  after  which  they 
moved  to  Pickaway  County  in  the  same  State.  The 
father  died  there  March  13,  1837.  The  death  of  the 
mother  occurred  in  Ross  County,  July  7,  1851.  Their 
children  were  n  in  number  and  were  naii'ed  as  fol- 
lows :  William,  Anna,  Sarah,  Susan,  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
John,  Rebecca,  Margaret,  Catherine  and  James  S. 

Mr.  McCauley  was  16  years  of  age  when  his  father 
died ;  and  until  that  event  he  remained  at  home  en- 
gaged in  obtaining  his  education  at  the  common 
schools.  Until  the  age  of  23  years  he  operated  as  a 


' 


: 


I 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


farm  assistant,  and  in  1848  rented  a  farm,  which  he 
continued  to  manage  five  successive  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1853  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  pur- 
chased 80  acres  on  section  8,  in  Hopkins  Township. 
It  was  wholly  unimproved,  and  he  rented  a  farm  in 
the  same  township,  which  he  conducted  four  years. 
He  then  purchased  1 20  acres  where  he  has  since  lived, 
and  the  buildings  he  has  since  erected  are  located  on 
the  home  place  on  that  section.  He  is  now  the 
owner  of  408  acres  of  land,  most  of  which  is  in  Hop- 
kins Township,  and  which  is  practically  all  under 
cultivation.  He  supports  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  has  officiated  in  several  local 
offices. 

Mr.  McCauley  was  married  Jan.  7,  1847,  in  Ross 
Co.,  Ohio,  to  Hester  A.,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary 
(Caug'hey)  Hanawalt.  They  were  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  located  in  Ohio  after  their  marriage.  The 
father  died  July  28,  1831,  and  the  mother  survived 
him  until  July  17,  1846.  The  brothers  and  sisters  of 
Mrs.  McCauley  were  named  Christopher,  Samuel, 
Jane,  George  and  John.  She  is  the  youngest  of  all, 
and  was  born  Jan.  10,  1822,  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio.  Only 
two  of  eight  children  of  which  she  has  been  the 
mother  are  living.  Mary  C.  and  Clara  still  survive. 
Marcellus,  John  W.,  Ida  R.,  Alice  A  ,  Willie  and  an 
infant  child  unnamed  are  deceased. 


F.  Strock,  member  of  the  firm  of  Dillon, 
'<•  Bowers  &  Strock,  proprietors  of  the  Rock 
Falls  Roller  Mills,  Sterling,  was  born 
in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  May  4,  1844,  his  parents 
being  Daniel  and  Mary  (Over)  Strock,  natives 
also  of  that  State.  Mr.  Strock,  senior,  a  man- 
ufacturer of  agricultural  implements,  came  to  Sterling 
in  1864. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch  remained 
at  his  parental  home  until  he  was  25  years  of  age, 
receiving  a  common-school  education.  At  the  age 
of  20  he  entered  a  hardware  store  at  Chambersburg, 
Pa.,  as  clerk,  remaining  one  year.  He  then  came  to 
Sterling  and  engaged  as  clerk  for  Patterson,  Witmer 
&  Co.,  continuing  for  three  years,  and  then  accepted 
a  position  in  the  interests  of  the  Sterling  School 
Furniture  Company,  continuing  for  eight  years.  He 


is  an  active  and  influential  business  man,  a  Repub- 
lican, a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  Select  Knights 
and  the  Lutheran  Church,  to  which  latter  organiza- 
tion his  wife  also  belongs. 

Mr.  Strock  was  married  Sept.  r4,  1869,  to  Miss 
Martha,  daughter  of  Joel  and  Rachel  (Cole)  Harvey, 
natives  of  New  York  and  early  immigrants  to  Sterl- 
ing. By  this  marriage  there  have  been  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  still  living, — Willoughby  C. 
and  John  F.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Harvey,  Mr. 
Strock  took  charge  of  his  estate  and  business  affairs, 
and  did  not  engage  in  any  other  business  until  1882, 
when  he  bought  a  third  interest  in  the  Rock  Falls 
Roller  Mills,  where  he  has  since  been  interested. 


illiam  Pratt,  general  farmer  in  the  Town- 
ship of  Hopkins,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Whiteside  County  since  1854,  and  a  citizen 
of  the  State  of  Illinois  since  1842,  when  he 
removed  from  New  York  to  Kane  County. 
After  a  stay  of  about  one  year's  duration  at 
Elgin,  he  went  to  McHenry  County,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming,  and  building  the  Fox  River  Val- 
ley Railroad.  On  coming  to  Wbiteside  Co.,  he  took 
a  contract  to  grade  the  railroad  from  Sterling  to  Ful- 
ton. While  fulfilling  his  obligations  with  the  build- 
ing corporation,  he  bought,  in  1856,  a  farm  in 
Hopkins  Township.  On  this  he  settled  on  the  ter- 
mination of  the  business  mentioned,  and  has  since 
pushed  his  agricultural  operations  with  profit. 

He  was  born  May  16,  1817,  in  Chenango  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Cynthia  (Case) 
Pratt,  who  were  born  in  the  State  of  Connecticut. 
He  is  one  of  a  family  of  four  children  named  Har- 
riet, Jerome,  William  and  Ralph. 

Mr.  Pratt  was  married  Oct.  8,  1855,  in  Prophets- 
town,  Whiteside  County,  to  Euphemia  J.,  daughter 
of  David  and  Lydia  (Butler)  Ramsay.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  New  England  and  were  of  Scotch 
lineage.  William,  Hannah  M.,  Luther  B.,  Euphemia 
J.  and  Lydia  A.  were  the  names  of  their  children. 
Mrs.  Pratt  was  born  Sept.  9,  1822,  in  Rome,  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  Y.  Le  Roi  W.  Pratt,  her  only  child,  was 
born  Jan  25,  1857,  and  graduated  in  1882,  at  the 
Union  College  of  Law,  Chicago. 

Mr.   Pratt  is  a  Democrat  in   political   preference 


vS 


- 


WHITESWE  COUNTY. 


^f   and  acts  in  local  and  general  issues  in  consonance 
with   the    principles  of  that  party.      Mrs.  Pratt  is  a 
!''j»  communicant  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 


Lrederick  B.  Hubbard,  of  the  firm  of  Dill 
&  Co.,  furniture  dealers  of  Sterling,  was 
born  Oct.  26,  1859,  in  Dover,  Bureau  Co., 
111.,  and  remained  at  home  until  18  years  of 
age,  receiving  a  fine  education.  He  then  went 
to  Yankton,  Dak.,  arriving  there  June  19,  1878, 
and  spending  a  year  and  a  half  in  the  jeweler's  busi- 
ness. Next,  he  engaged  in  the  same  business  for 
himself  in  Hiawatha,  Brown  Co.,  Kan.  A  year  and 
a  half  after,  he  sold  out,  came  to  Sterling  and  made 
a  commencement  in  the  same  line  of  business ;  but, 
his  health  failing,  he  sold  out,  and  engaged  with  his 
present  partner  in  the  furniture  trade,  which  they 
have  to  the  present  carried  on  with  success  to  them- 
selves and  satisfaction  to  their  patrons. 

Mr.  Hubbard  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  H. 
Brown,  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  March  27,  1881.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Ada  L  ,  who  was  born  May  24, 
1883.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Honor,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias. 

Mr.  Hubbard  is  a  liberal  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zen of  Sterling,  worthy  of  official  trusts. 


:enry  M.  Kennedy,  physician  and  surgeon, 
Head  Clerk  of  the  Order  of  Modern  Wood- 

f"~£~  men  of  America,  and  residing  at  Fulton, 
.  was  born  in  Mishawaka,  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Ind., 
Jan.  4,  1851,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  D.  and 
Charlotte  (Steere)  Kennedy.  He  came  to  Elgin, 
111.,  with  his  parents  in  infancy,  and  was  educated 
at  Wheaton  (111.)  College.  After  some  experience 
as  a  clerk  in  Chicago  he  spent  several  seasons  in  the 
the  fruit  business  at  Benton  Harbor,  Mich.,  teach- 
ing school  winters. 

He  took  a  regular 'three  years'  course  at  the  Hahn- 
emann  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  at  which  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  began  practice  in 


Jackson   Co.,  Iowa,  which    he  continued  till    1880, 


when  he  removed  to  Fulton,  111.,  and  has  pursued 
his  profession  in  this  city  continuously  since.  On  < 
the  organization  of  the  "  Modern  Woodmen,"  a  ben- 
eficiary fraternity,  he  was  chosen  Head  Physician, 
and  in  May,  1884,  he  was  elected  Head  Clerk,  or 
Grand  Secretary,  of  the  order.  He  is  also  Ihe  edi- 
tor of  the  Woodman's  Echo. 

He  was  married  Nov.  10,  1874,  at  St.  Joseph, 
Mich.,  to  Miss  Lillie  Overacker.  Mrs.  Kennedy 
was  born  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  14,  1854.  They 
have  three  children,  all  boys, — Harry,  Fred  and 
Clarence. 

The  Doctor  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics,  and 
served  as  City  Clerk  of  Fulton  in  1883-4.  He  is  an 
earnest  temperance  advocate,  and  a  member  of 
Leota  Lodge,  No.  428,  I.  O.  G.  T.  The  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  K.  are  members  of  tlie  Baptist  Church. 

Although  a  resident  of  Fulton  but  a  few  years,  Dr. 
Kennedy  has  made  many  warm  friends,  and  has  de- 
veloped a  very  satisfactory  practice. 


Cornelius   Bachellor,   farmer,  residing  on 
section  12,  Montmorency  Township,  is  a 
son   of    Ebenezer    and    Hannah    (Ellis) 
Bachellor.     They  were  married  and  settled 
in  Vermont,  where  the  mother  died. 

Cornelius  was  the  only  child  born  of  his 
parents'  union,  and  was  born  in  Essex,  Chittenden 
Co.,  Vt.,  Aug.  30,  1829.  Four  years  after  that 
event,  in  1833,  his  father  moved  to  Ohio,  his  mother 
having  previously  died.  In  the  latter  State  he 
passed  his  years  of  minority,  working  on  his  fathers 
farm  and  attending  the  common  schools. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Bachellor  purchased  80  acres  of 
land  in  Montmorency  Township,  this  county.  From 
1857  to  1861  he  resided  at  Rock  Falls,  and  during 
the  latter  year  moved  on  his  land  in  Montmor- 
ency Township.  He  erected  good  substantial  farm 
buildings  on  his  land,  and  entered  vigorously  and 
actively  upon  its  cultivation.  By  energetic  effort 
and  good  management  Mr.  Bachellor  has  increased 
his  landed  possessions  in  the  county  to  240  acres, 
one-half  of  which  is  in  a  good  tillable  condition. 

Mr.  Bachellor  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Licking 
Co.,  Ohio,  April  8,  1852,  to  Tabitha  MacClintic, 


' 


- 


-,  .   - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Frank)  MacClintic, 
natives  of  Ireland  and  Virginia.  The  parents  set- 
tled in  Ohio,  where  the  father  died.  The  mother 
afterward  came  to  this  county  and  died  in  Rock 
Falls,  Aug.  30,  1877.  The  issue  of  their  union  was 
one  child,  Mrs.  Bachellor.  She  was  born  in  Colum- 
biana  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  29,  1831.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bachellor  are  the  parents  of  eight  children,  namely: 
Mary  E.,  William  A.,  Cordelia,  Martin  R.,  Ida  M., 
Clarence,  Charles  and  Lewis.  The  two  latter  are 
deceased. 

Mr.  Bachellor  has  been  Highway  Commissioner, 
School  Trustee  and  Overseer  of  Highways  in  his 
township.  Politically,  he  is  identified  with  tenets  of 
the  Democratic  party. 


>,harles  Foster,  one  of  the  solid  business 
men  of  Whiteside  County,  resident  at 
Morrison,  has  been  for  30  years  connected 
with  its  leading  business  enterprises.  In 
1855  he  came  to  Sterling,  and  obtained  em- 
ployment as  a  clerk ;  but,  his  abilities  in  cer- 
tain lines  soon  becoming  apparent,  he  was  intrusted 
with  important  duties,  and  in  the  course  of  a  year  he 
began  to  operate  in  his  own  interests,  beginning  on  a 
moderate  scale,  and  regulating  his  efforts  as  oppor- 
tunity served  to  make  profitable  ventures,  until  he 
received  the  reward  of  his  energy,  thrift  and  exercise 
of  judgment  and  good  sense,  and  has  for  years 
ranked  as  one  of  the  most  deservedly  successful 
men  of  his  generation. 

He  was  born  Sept.  2,  1831,  near  Ithaca,  Tompkins 
Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father,  William  Foster,  was  born 
in  England,  Oct.  iq,  1807,  and  married  Catherine 
Chandler,  also  of  English  nativity,  having  been  born 
in  that  country,  Oct.  i,  1805.  On  coming  to  Amer- 
ica they  settled  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  the 
father  still  resides,  on  the  homestead,  and  where  his 
children  were  born  and  reared,  and  where,  also,  his 
wifa  and  mother  died.  Their  children  were  born  in 
the  following  order:  Henrietta  was  born  Jan.  8, 
1828,  and  married  John  Supplee,  of  Yates  Co.,N.  Y.; 
Mr.  Foster  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth ;  James  E. 
was  bom  March  16,  1833,  and  is  a  farmer  in  Iowa; 
John  Chandler  was  born  June  6,  1835,  and  is  a  sea- 
man and  ship-owner;  Harriet  E.,  born  June  13; 
1839,  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  Saunders,  a  farmer  in  the 


vicinity  of  Robinson,  Mich.;  George  W.  was  born 
March  3,  1850,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Wells 
Co.,  Dak. 

Mr.  Foster  was  brought  up  on  the  homestead  of 
his  father,  and  when  he  was  23  years  of  age  he  be- 
came the  owner  of  a  small  farm  in  his  native  county, 
which  comprised  53  acres  of  land.  On  this  he 
operated  one  year,  and  in  1854  he  determined  to 
seek  the  broader  scope  of  the  West,  and  test  the 
virtues  of  its  promises,  which  were  so  glowing  as  to 
tax  credulity  and  tempt  an  ambitious  man  to  risk  his 
time,  if  not  his  resources,  in  the  trial  of  their  merits. 
Accordingly  he  came  to  DeKalb  Co.,  and  for  a  time 
was  employed  on  a  farm  in  the  Township  of  Syca- 
more. In  the  spring  of  1855  he  came  to  Sterling, 
and  spent  three  months  as  a  clerk  in  a  dry-goods 
store.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  was  sent  by  his 
employers  to  Morrison  to  buy  grain  and  live  stock, 
and  he  operated  in  their  interests  about  a  year.  In 
1856  he  engaged  in  similar  transactions  on  his  own 
account,  and  from  a  small  but  profitable  beginning 
he  gradually  increased  his  operations  until  the  aggre- 
gate of  his  business  amounted  to  $150,000  yearly, 
and  his  relations  were  quite  as  extensive  in  Iowa  as 
in  his  own  State.  In  addition  to  grain  and  stock,  for 
a  long  term  of  years,  he  dealt  largely  in  butter,  eggs 
and  poultry.  As  a  representative  of  his  operations 
some  generation  in  the  future  may  be  interested  in 
knowing  that  his  purchases  of  butter  reached  310,000 
pounds  in  a  single  year;  and  at  the  time  he  was, 
without  doubt,  the  heaviest  dealer  in  butter  in  Illi- 
nois outside  of  Chicago. 

In  1882  he  relinquished  this  business,  and  turned 
his  attention  to  financial  enterprise,  and  organized 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Norfolk,  Neb.,  with  a  cap- 
ital of  $50,000,  his  own  investment  therein  being 
$26,000.  A  year  later  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in 
the  banking  house,  with  the  design  of  withdrawing 
from  active  business  life,  which  he  has  practically 
done,  only  occasionally  yielding  to  force  of  habit  and 
circumstances  when  he  traffics  in  real  estate  and 
engages  in  lending  money. 

Mr.  Foster  has  never  parted  ownership  with  his 
original  landed  property  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  of 
which  he  is  still  the  proprietor.  He  is  also  the 
owner  of  60  acres  of  land  in  Whiteside  County,  a 
portion  of  which  lies  within  the  corporate  limits  of 
the  city  of  Morrison.  His  other  claims  of  real 


x= 


-    .  


• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


(§; 


estate  include  liis  residence  and  two  other  dwell- 
ings at  Morrison,  320  acres  of  land  in  Clark  Co., 
Dak.,  480  acres  in  Stanton  Co.,  Neb.,  city  property 
in  Benton,  Iowa,  and  in  Oneida,  Knox  Co.,  111. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Foster  was  formerly  Miss 
Lydia  A.  Drake,  and  their  marriage  took  place  Nov. 
i,  1860.  She  was  born  March  19,  1839,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Charles  L.  and  Roxana  (Bruce) 
Drake.  From  this  union  five  children  were  born: 
William  C.  completed  the  prescribed  course  of  study 
in  the  High  School  at  Morrison,  afterward  becoming 
a  student  at  Beloit  College,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
studied  two  years.  He  is  now  Deputy  Treasurer  of 
Brown  Co.,  Dak.,  and  is  the  owner  of  a  half  interest 
in  the  abstracts  of  that  county ;  Gertrude  M.  is  a 
graduate  of  the  school  at  Morrison,  and  of  the  New 
England  Conservatory  of  Music  at  Boston  ;  she  is  a 
thoroughly  accomplished  musician ;  Josephine  and 
Anna  B.  are  the  names  of  the  younger  children  who 
survive;  Charles  E.  is  deceased.  The  death  of  the 
mother  occurred  at  Morrison  June  6,  1875.  Mr. 
Foster  contracted  a  second  matrimonial  alliance,  with 
Lottie  L.  Corey,  Oct.  3,  1876,  at  Sturbridge,  Mass. 
She  was  born  in  that  place  April  9,  1844,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  George  V.  and  Martha  Corey,  both  of 
whom  are  living. 


Barren  Bond,  resident  at  Morrison,  was 
born  April  13,  1823,  in  Denmark,  Lewis 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  and 
Betsey  (Graves)  Bond.  He  was  reared  to 
man's  estate  in  the  State  of  his  nativity,  and 
in  1842  came  to  Illinois.  On  the  i6th  of  April 
in  that  year  he  located  in  Fulton  Townsh  p,  and 
while  a  resident  of  that  township  he  became  promi- 
nent in  the  management  of  local  affairs,  holding  sev- 
eral official  positions.  In  1852  he  purchased  240 
acres  of  land  situated  on  section  32  and  lying  on  the 
Morrison  and  Fulton  road,  in  the  township  of  Ustick. 
He  has  given  much  attention  to  raising  stock,  and  is 
entitled  to  much  credit  for  his 'efficiency  in  improv- 
ing the  grades  of  Whiteside  County  cattle.  He  has 
been  for  many  years  identified  with  the  energetic, 
intelligent  and  prosperous  farming  element  of  the 
township  where  he  has  resided.  The  contrast  in  his 
earlier  and  later  circumstances  is  to  be  inferred  from 


the  facts  that,  in  his  native  State  he  used  to  labor 
from  sunrise  to  sunset,  threshing  with  a  flail  and 
cleaning  grain,  and  receiving  compensation  at  the 
rate  of  five  cents  a  bushel.  On  coming  to  Whiteside 
County  he  worked  for  John  Hollinshead  in  the  town- 
ship of  Ustick,  at  $12  a  month.  In  less  than  20 
years  his  gross  receipts  from  his  stock  and  farm 
averaged  about  $2,000  annually.  Mr.  Bond  is  the 
owner  of  160  acres  of  land  in  Kearney  Co.,  Neb. 
He  sold  his  land  in  Ustick  Township,  and  in  the 
spring  of  of  1883  retired  from  active  agricultural  life, 
removing  to  Morrison,  where  he  built  a  residence 
and  is  living  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  accumula- 
tions of  the  efforts  of  his  years  of  prime. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  political  bias,  and  has  de- 
voted reasonable  attention  and  effort  to  the  interests 
of  his  party  in  view  of  his  understanding  of  the  obli- 
gations of  his  citizenship.  He  was  always  active  in 
local  politics  in  Fulton  and  Ustick  Townships,  and 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  County  Committee. 
He  served  the  town  of  Ustick  as  its  Supervisor  for 
ten  years,  also  served  as  Census  Enumerator  for 
Ustick  Township  in  1880.  Has  taken  a  lively  inter- 
est in  school  affairs,  having  held  the  office  of  School 
Director,  Trustee  and  Treasurer.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  belongs  to  the  Royal 
Arch  Chapter. 

Since  his  retirement  to  Morrison,  Mr.  Bond  has 
engaged  to  some  extent  in  financial  operations. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Bond  to  Harriet  N.  Camfield 
occurred  July  13,  1844.  Following  is  the  record  of 
their  children:  Edna  E.,  born  Nov.  5,  1847,  mar- 
ried Delos  P.  Martin,  Oct.  18,  1865,  and  lives  in 
Nebraska;  Loretta  H.,  born  Feb.  15,  1850,  was 
married  Dec.  31,.  1868,  to  William  J.  Reed,  and 
lives  in  Ustick  Township;  Viola  E.  was  born  Dec. 
21,  1851,  and  was  married  March  18,  1872,  to  Aus- 
tin Goff,  and  died  Dec.  3,  1872;  George  E.  was 
born  June  5,  1854,  married  Sarah  Bulkley  Dec.  20, 
1876,  and  died  July  15,  1881 ;  Vesta  M.  was  born 
July  10,  1856.  She  was  married  Jan.  i,  1874,  to 
\Yilson  Springer,  and  now  resides  in  Kearney  Co., 
Neb.;  Olive  J.  was  born  Aug.  28,  1858,  and  was 
married  Aug.  15,  1876,  to  Alonzo  Springer,  a  farmer 
in  Union  Grove  Township;  Ada  A.  and  Ida  A., 
twins,  were  born  March  2,  1861 ;  they  died  respect- 
ively Sept.  14  and  Sept.  21,  of  the  same  year;  Isa- 
bel I.  was  born  Aug.  29,  1863,  and  was  married  in 


-pv 


August,  1881,  to  Walter  Webber,  a  farmer  in 
Kearney  Co.,  Neb.;  Alva  W.  was  born  Sept.  26, 
7865,  and  is  still  with  his  parents. 


M.  Martin,  merchant  at  Sterling,  was  born 
in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  13,  1841.     His 
father,  Joseph  R.  Martin,  died  in  January, 
1877;  and   his  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Martha  Meshy,  is  still  living.     Both  his 
parents   were  natives  of  the  Keystone  State, 
and  had  seven  sons  and  four  daughters. 

At  the  age  of  seven  years,  the  subject  of  this  no- 
tice left  home  and  lived  until  15  years  old  with 
Michael  Ebersole,  a  farmer.  He  continued  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  the  summer  of  1862,  when  he 
enlisted  for  the  Government  in  the  i26th  Regt.  Pa. 
Vol.  Inf.,  Co.  A.  He  went  from  Chambersburg  to 
Harrisburg,  where  he  was  mustered  into  service. 
After  remaining  in  camp  three  weeks  at  Arlington 
Heights,  he  went  to  Leesburg,  Va.,  where  he  par- 
ticipated in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  was 
then  ordered  back  to  Washington  and  to  Antietam, 
where  he  was  held  in  reserve  in  camp  on  the  battle- 
field, until  October,  when  he  went  up  the  Loudoun 
Valley  and  thence  to  Fredericksburg.  Engaging  in 
action  at  the  latter  place,  he  received  a  wound  and 
was  confined  six  weeks  in  the  hospital.  He  returned 
to  his  regiment  in  time  to  engage  in  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  soon  after  which  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment (nine  months)  expired  and  he  was  mustered 
out  at  Harrisburg.  In  the  summer  of  1864  he  came 
to  Freeport,  111.,  and  in  February,  1865,  re-enlisted, 
in  the  147111  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  went  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  Dalton,  Ga.,  where  he  received  a  com- 
mission HS  Second  Lieutenant  of  Co.  E,  of  the  i47th. 
After  a  delay  of  two  months  at  Dalton  and  a  month 
at  Resaca,  he  went  with  a  detachment  to  Albany, 
Ga.,  and  with  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  to 
Americus,  same  State,  where  he  was  appointed 
Adjutant  for  the  battalion;  and  after  serving  a 
month  in  this  capacity  he  was  appointed  As- 
sistant Provost  Marshal  for  Starkville,  Lee  Co.,  Ga. 
Three  months  afterward  he  returned  to  his  regiment, 
which  soon  was  moved  to  Savannah,  Ga.,  where  Mr. 
Martin  did  Provost  duty  in  the  city  uutil  1866, 
when  the  regiment  was  mustered  out. 


Returning  to  Freeport  for  a  month,  he  came  to 
Sterling  and  acted  as  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  during 
the  summer  (1866);  next,  in  the  same  capacity  for 
Carpenter  &  Edison  until  1874  ;  then  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia and  was  employed  for  two  months  in  the  freight 
office  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad;  and  then  served 
as  station  agent  at  Modesto,  Cal.,  until  the  fall  of  1875, 
when  he  came  to  Sterling  and  engaged  again  as 
clerk  for  E.  W.  Edison.  In  the  spring  of  1877  he 
was  employed  as  salesman  for  M.  B.  Rutt  &  Co.,  of 
Sterling,  for  a  year,  and  then  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  D.  B.  Strickler  in  the  dry-goods  business. 
Two  years  afterward  C.  A.  Sheeting  purchased 
Stickler's  interest,  who  in  turn  sold  to  Mr.  Kintzle, 
and  the  firm  name  became  Martin  &  Kintzle,  the 
present  style.  Their  store,  40  x  90  feet,  is  at  Nos. 
118  and  120,  Locust  Street,  and  they  are  carrying  on 
a  prosperous  business  on  honorable  principles. 

Mr.  Martin  is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Order. 

April  17,  1878,  he  married  Miss  Emma  Sheeting, 
of  Freeport,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  born  Dec. 
10,  1881. 


amcs  G.  Gridley,  one  of  the  prominent 
land-holders  in  Union  Grove  Township, 
resident  on  section  12,  became  a  citizen  of 
Whiteside  County  in  1855.  He  located  at 
Morrison,  then  in  its  first  year  of  existence,  and 
his  genius  as  a  mechanic  was  in  immediate 
requisition  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  throng  of 
new  comers  to  the  incipient  city.  He  was  active  in 
the  work  of  incorporation,  and  was  elected  one  of 
the  first  Trustees.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
for  several  successive  years,  and  he  was  a  resident 
there  until  1861.  He  was  the  builder  of  the  main 
part  of  the  school  building  at  Morrison,  and  the 
church  edifice  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Society.  He 
built  the  second  warehouse  in  Morrison,  which  is 
now  occupied  as  a  livery  stable  by  M.  G.  Preston, 
and,  in  partnership  with  L.  H.  Robinson  and  J.  V. 
Giles  successively,  engaged  in  the  business  of  ship- 
ping grain  and  stock,  and  in  the  sale  of  lumber.  On 
relinquishing  his  business  at  Morrison,  he  purchased 
a  farm  in  the  township  of  Ustick.  He  is  now  a  res- 
dent  of  Union  Grove  Township,  and  is  the  owner  of 


VX 


(f 

I 


-   . 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


500  acres  of  land  in  the  county,  which  is  all  prac- 
tically under  excellent  cultivation. 

Mr.  Gridley  was  born  Oct.  i,  1811,  at  Middle- 
burgh,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
and  Margaret  (Stopplebeen)  Gridley.  His  parents 
were  born  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  had  nine 
children.  Mr.  Gridley  is  the  third  in  successive 
order,  and  he  grew  to  man's  estate  in  the  place 
where  he  was  born.  Previous  to  his  removal  to 
Whiteside  County,-  he  lived  some  years  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Columbia  and  Otsego  respectively. 

He  has  been  thrice  married.  His  first  matrimonial 
alliance  was  formed  with  Jane  E.  Miller,  in  Colum- 
bia Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  u,  1837,  and  thsy  had  three 
children, — Margaret,  Stephen  and  Rachel.  The 
oldest  child  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Sholes,of  Nebraska. 
Rachel  died  at  Moline,  111.,  Oct.  15,  1877.  Mrs. 
G.  died  Jan.  4,  1849,  and  Mr.  Gridley  was  again 
married  Oct.  15,  1850,  to  Sarah  J.  Duffin,  in  Otsego 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  she  died,  Nov.  8,  1854.  He  was 
a  third  time  married,  June  2,  1857,  in  Columbia  Co., 
N.  Y.,  to  Sarah  J.  Hornfager,  and  they  have  three 
children,  namely,  John,'  Charles  E.  and  Mary. 
The  youngest  daughter  died  Feb.  24,  1883,  in  Union 
Grove  Township,  when  17  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Grid- 
ley  was  born  Oct.  3,  1822,  in  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Gridley  is  a  Democrat  and  he  has  held  var- 
ious local  official  positions.  His  portrait  is  presented 
on  a  page  in  proximity,  with  more  than  ordinary  sat- 
isfaction, from  the  relations  he  has  borne  to  the 
progress  of  Whiteside  County.  It  is  a  copy  of  a  like- 
ness taken  in  1885. 


had 


arm    T.    Meins,  farmer,    section   16,    Hop- 
kins Township,  is  a  son  of  Henry  W.   and 
Mary    Meins,    natives   of    Germany,    who 
came  to  America  in  1859  and  settled   in  Hop- 
kins Township,  this  county.     She  died  Janu- 
ary 1 6,  1870,  and  he  March  13,  1885.     They 
a   family   of  four   children :    Teite  M.,  Mein, 
Harm  and  Mary. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Germany, 
Dec.  21,  1830,  and  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker, 
which  he  followed  in  the  old  country  and  in  Ameri- 
ca about  16  years.  He  came  to  this  country  in 
1854  and  lived  four  years  in  Connecticut,  where  he 

**" S^^— 


followed  his  trade,  and  in  the  summer  of  1858  came 
to  Whiteside  County  and  worked  at  his  trade  two 
years  in  Sterling,  and  then  purchased  40  acres  on 
section  16,  Hopkins  Township,  where  he  settled  and 
has  since  lived.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  210  acres, 
200  of  which  is  in  good  cultivation.  He  has  erected 
fine  buildings  on  his  farm. 

He  was  married  in  Dixon,  in  August,  1858,  to 
Anna  C.  Janssen,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  Aug. 
26,  1830.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meins  are  the  parents  of 
two  children  :  Anna,  now  the  wife  of  John  Fulfs  and 
residing- in  Genesee  Township;  and  Hannah  H., 
now  the  wife  of  Henry  W.  Stern,  and  a  resident  of 
Hopkins  Township. 

Mr.  Meins  has  been  Overseer  of  Highways,  Road 
Commissioner  and  School  Trustee.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Meins  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church.  In  politics  Mr.  M.  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party. 


/,enry  Pott,  farmer,  residing  on  section  27, 
Hahnaman  Township,  is  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  was  born  in  that  country  July 
14,  1844.  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Catharine 
(Stroh)  Pott,  were  also  natives  of  Germany  and 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in 
Sterling,  this  county,  in  1853.  His  father  died  in  the 
latter  place  Feb.  17,  1881.  The  issue  of  this  union 
was  eight  children,  namely :  John,  who  died  in  Ger- 
many; Christian,  Henry,  Joseph,  Barbara,  Mathias, 
Peter  and  Mary. 

Henry  Pott  came  with  parents  to  this  country  in 
1853  and  direct  to  this  county,  arriving  here  when  in 
his  ninth  year,  and  consequently  has  been  a  resident 
of  the  county  for  25  years,  and  during  which  time  he 
has  been  closely  identified  with  its  agricultural  ad- 
vancement. 

Aug.  n,  1862,  Mr.  Pott  enlisted  in  Co.  D.  75th 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until  Feb.  15,  1865,  at 
which  date  he  received  a  discharge  on  account  of  a 
gunshot  wound  which  deprived  him  of  his  left  eye. 
He  received  the  wound  at  Lovejoy  Station,  Ga.  At 
the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Ky.,  Oct.  8,  1862,  he  re- 
ceived a  wound  in  the  hip  which,  nevertheless,  did 
not  incapacitate  him  from  duty. 

On  receiving  his  discharge   Mr.  Pott  returned  to 

1—*^ . 


-f*t£K<® 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


this  county,  .where  he  has  since  lived.  He  settled 
in  Hahnaman  Township  in  1861,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  154  acres  on  section  27,  1 10  of  which  is  till- 
able. He  is  a  deserving  pensioner  of  the  Govern- 
ment, and  receives  a  pension  for  the  loss  of  an  eye 
as  stated. 

Mr.  Pott  was  united  in  marriage  at  Sterling,  this 
county,  Oct.  10,  1868,  with  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of 
George  and  Elizabeth  (Kauffman)  Spangler,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  They  came  to  this  county  in  1863 
and  settled  in  Sterling  Township,  where  her  father 
died.  His  death  was  caused  by  drowning  in  Rock 
River,  and  occurred  in  August,  1863.  Her  mother 
died  in  Hahnaman  Township,  March  26,  1873.  The 
issue  of  their  union  was  seven  children,  Mary,  Sarah 
Abraham,  Elizabeth,  George,  Jonas  and  Ida. 

Mrs.  Pott  was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.  Aug. 
11,  1853.  She  and  her  husband  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  namely  :  Henry  C.,  Elizabeth,  Jacob, 
R.,  George  A.,  Emma  M.,  Albert  B.  and  Catharine. 

Mr.  Pott  has  held  the  office  of  Overseer  of  High- 
ways four  years  and  School  Director  for  ten  years, 
and  Clerk  of  the  Board  for  five  years,  and  politically 
is  an  independent.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  German  Catholic  Church. 


eorge  A.  Whitcomb,  retired  manufacturer, 
formerly  of  the  firm  of  Ely  &  Whitcomb, 
carriage  manufacturers   at    Morrison,  was 
born   in   Granville,  Washington   Co.,   N.   Y., 
Oct.  23,   1837,  and    is  the  youngest   son  of 
Benjamin  B.  and  Sabrina  B.  (Dual)  Whitcomb. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  his 
mother  of  New  York. 

In  1856  he  came  to  Unionville,  this  county,  and 
engaged  as  a  clerk  for  James  A.  Fisher,  a  general 
merchant.  In  1857  he  came  to  Morrison  and  was 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  drug-store  for  Dr.  Coe.  He 
bought  out  Dr.  Coe  in  1858  and  carried  on  the  drug 
business  three  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  engaged 
in  the  grain  trade.  In  1865  he  bought  an  interest 
in  the  drug-store  of  John  S.  Green  and  maintained 
that  connection  till  1867,  when  he  sold  out.  He 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Ely  in  the  real- 
estate  business.  In  1875  he  bought  a  half  interest 
in  the  Morrison  Carriage  Works,  the  property  of  R. 

&• 


S.  W.  Ely,  and  the  business  was  conducted  under 
the  firm  name  of  Ely  &  Whitcomb.  The  factory  did 
an  extensive  business,  furnishing  employment  for  an 
average  force  of  22  men,  and  turning  out  from'25o 
to  300  carriages  annually.  He  was  still  interested 
with  Mr.  Ely  in  extensive  real-estate  transactions. 
In  November,  1882,  he  sold  out  his  interest  in  the 
factory,  but  still  retains  his  connection  with  Mr.  Ely 
in  the  real-estate  business.  Their  operations  extend 
over  several  States,  including  Illinois,  Wisconsin, 
Minnesota,  Iowa,  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  wherein  they 
own  upwards  of  5,000  acres  of  valuable  farming 
land,  besides  city  and  town  property,  including 
dwelling-houses  and  business  buildings. 

During  the  past  year  they  have  operated  quite  ex- 
tensively in  real  estate  in  Minneapolis,  where  they 
have  much  valuable  property. 

Mr.  Whitcomb  was  married  at  Mt.  Carroll,  111., 
June  22,  1861,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Town,  daughter  of 
Salem  and  Mary  A.  Town,  pioneer  settlers  of  White- 
side  County.  Mrs.  Whitcomb  was  born  in  Union 
Grove,  of  this  county,  Jan.  14,  1841.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Whitcomb  have  three  children,  all  born  in  Morrison : 
Nettie,  born  Aug.  22,  1863,  now  taking  a  collegiate 
course  at  Oberlin,  Ohio;  Annie,  born  Oct.  22,  1865, 
is  now  taking  a  musical  course ;  and  George  G., 
bora  April  n,  1876. 

Mr.  Whitcomb  in  early  life  was  a  Republican  of 
abolition  sympathies,  and  continued  an  earnest  sup- 
porter of  that  party  during  the  war  and  up  to  Grant's 
administration,  since  which  time  he  has  been  an  in- 
dependent, strongly  opposed  to  so-called  "  protective 
tariff."  He  has  been  a  thorough  student  in  political 
economy  and  American  politics.  He  supported  the 
Democratic  national  nominees  in  1880  and  1884, 
and  has  won  a  reputation  as  a  candid  and  fair 
speaker,  whose  campaign  arguments  were  logical 
and  well  supported  by  unimpeachable  authority.  He 
has  been  twice  chosen  Mayor  of  Morrison  and  has 
held  minor  offices.  As  shown  by  our  sketch,  Mr. 
Whitcomb  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Morrison,  he 
having  been  a  resident  of  this  city  upwards  of  28 
years,  during  which  time  he  has  been  identified  with 
its  leading  business  interests,  and  foremost  in  sup- 
port of  every  public  enterprise  calculated  to  benefit 
the  city  or  to  improve  its  advantages.. 

Mr.  Whitcomb  is  a  thorough  business  man,  cool 
and  clear-headed,  of  quick  perceptive  faculties  and 


16) 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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sound  judgment,  scrupulously  exact  in  all  his  deal- 
ings and  rigid  in  his  notions  of  justice,  honor  and 
veracity.  Naturally  quick  and  impulsive,  he  has 
won  that  greatest  of  victories,  self-control.  These 
few  remarks  are  offered  in  no  spirit  of  laudation,  but 
simply  as  the  briefest  possible  mention  of  some  of 
the  characteristics  of  an  old  settler  who  is  held  in 
high  esteem  as  an  upright  man,  true  friend,  and  kind 
neighbor  by  many  who  will  read  these  pages. 


Captain  John  MacKenzie,  a  resident  of 
Fulton,  and  Master  of  the  steamer"  Silver 
Wave,"  of  the  Van  Sant  &  Musser  line, 
plying  between  Stillwater,  Minn.,  and  Mus- 
catine,  Iowa,  is  a  native  of  Whiteside  Co.,  111., 
being  born  in  the  town  of  Ustick,  July  3, 
1850.  His  parents,  John  and  Margaret  (Ritchie) 
MacKenzie,  were  born  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland 
and  came  to  this  county  in  1843. 

John  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  when 
18  years  of  age,  or  in  1868,  he  engaged  as  a  deck 
hand  on  a  Mississippi  River  steamer.  Before  the 
expiration  of  two  years  he  had  qualified  himself  for 
the  position  of  pilot,  and  sailed  as  such.  In  18 — 
he  purchased  a  third  interest  in  the  steamer  "  Wm. 
White "  and  became  her  Captain.  He  afterwards 
built  and  commanded  the  steamer  "  Eclipse."  He 
sold  out  his  steamboat  interests  in  the  spring  of 
1883,  since  which  time  he  has  sailed  the  "Sam 
Atlee  "  and  the  "  Silver  Wave." 

Capt.  MacKenzie  was  married  near  Creston,  Iowa, 
Dec.  14,  1880,  to  Miss  Abbie  E.  Devore,  daughter  of 
John  and  Josephine  (Smith)  Devore.  Mrs.  Mac- 
Kenzie was  born  near  Mt.  Carroll,  Carroll  Co  ,  111. 

The  Captain  is  a  staunch  Prohibitionist,  of  Repub- 
lican antecedents.  He  is  Chairman  of  the  Prohibi- 
tion County  Committee,  and  was  the  Prohibition 
candidate  for  Representative  in  the  late  campaign. 
He  is  a  member  of  Fulton  City  Lodge,  No.  189,  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.  Mrs.  MacKenzie  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Captain  MacKenzie  has  worked  up  through  all 
grades  of  a  boatman's  duties  from  the  lowest  to  the 
highest,  and  has  long  been  classed  among  the  most 
popular  and  skillful  of  the  Mississippi  steamboat 
Captains.  He  has  made  his  home  at  Fulton,  111., 
since  1881. 


.avid  G.  Harrison,  farmer  on  section  23 
Union  Grove  Township,  is  a  native  citizen 
of  Illinois,  having  been  born  June  21, 
1842,  in  Beardstown.  He  is  of  English  de- 
scent, his  parents,  Thomas  and  Nancy  (Ger- 
{  lick)  Harrison,  having  been  born  in  England, 
where  they  were  married.  They  came  to  the  United 
States  about  1841,  and  at  once  located  in  Beards- 
town,  whence  they  removed  after  a  residence  of  two 
years  to  Union  Grove  Township.  They  both  died 
there.  Their  children  were  named  John  S.,  Eliza 
A.,  Charles  W.,  Maria,  David  G.,  Mary  H.,  Emma 
J.,  Sarah  L.  and  Charlotte  E.  Mr.  Harrison  is  the 
youngest  son,  and  he  was  an  inmate  of  the  parental 
home  until  its  relations  were  dissolved  by  the  death 
of  the  father.  He  succeeded  to  the  heritage  of  the 
homestead  and  has  continued  to  make  it  the  scene  of 
his  efforts.  His  estate  includes  238  acres,  and  he  has 
placed  200  acres  under  creditable  tillage.  In  polit- 
ical inclinations,  Mr.  Harrison  affiliates  with  the 
party  of  Prohibition. 

His  marriage  to  Elizabeth  W.  Thompson  took 
place  in  Ustick  Township,  Oct.  6,  1875.  Their 
children  have  been  four  in  number,  and  were  named 
Otto  W.,  Jeanie  B.,  Bessie  and  Feemie  G.  Bessie 
died  in  infancy.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Harrison, 
William  and  Jane  (Burns)  Thompson,  were  natives 
of  Scotland,  and  they  had  eight  children,  named 
Elizabeth  W.,  Anna  B.,  William  G.,  Archibald  T., 
Robert  B.,  Maggie  J.,  Hugh  D.  and  Mary  J.  Mrs. 
Harrison  was  born  in  the  city  of  Glasgow,  Scotland, 
Jan.  19,  1848.  .She  and  her  husband  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

— 

en.  William  M.  Kilgour,  late  attorney 
at  law  at  Sterling,  was  born  June  12, 
1828,  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is 
a  son  of  Col.  Ezekiel  Kilgour,  manufacturer, 
and  Colonel  of  the  militia  regiment  in  that 
county.  His  mother,  nee  Eliza  Graham,  was  a 
daughter  of  Judge  Graham,  of  the  same  county.  In 
1837  the  family  came  West,  settling  near  Sterling. 
Gen.  Kilgour  received  a  common-school  education 


L: rv 

UNIVL«si»  <ir 
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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


in  his  youth,  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  the  State  Courts  by  the  Supreme  Court  at 
Ottawa,  111.,  in  1856.  The  next  year  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  of  the  Federal  Circuit  and  District 
Courts,  and  subsequently  in  the  Supreme  Court  at 
Washington.  The  General  was  a  prominent  politician. 
Under  the  old  regime  he  was  a  Whig,  and  was  a 
representative  from  his  county  to  the  mass  conven- 
tion held  at  Bloomington,  which  organized  the  Re- 
publican party  in  Illinois,  and  nominated  Col.  Bissell 
for  Governor. 

It  was  as  a  soldier,  however,  that  the  General 
made  his  mark.  In  1861  he  was  among  the  first  to 
volunteer,  enlisting  as  a  private  in  the  i3th  Regt. 
111.  Vol.  Inf.  Upon  its  organization  he  was  elected 
Second  Lieutenant,  and  served  with  the  regiment  one 
year  in  Missouri,  taking  part  in  the  skirmish  at  Wet 
Glaze,  Lynn  Creek,  Springfield  and  Salem.  During 
the  time  he  also  served  as  Judge  Advocate.  The 
next  year,  1862,  he  was  taken  sick  with  fever  and 
resigned.  He  had  scarcely  recovered  from  his  ill- 
ness when  more  troops  were  called  for  and  he  volun- 
teered again,  receiving  a  commission  as  Captain  in 
the  75th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  When  the  regiment  was 
fully  organized  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major. 
Shortly  afterward,  in  an  engagement  at  Perryville, 
Ky.,  he  was  wounded  by  a  ball  passing  through  his 
body.  It  was  thought  at  the  time  that  the  wound 
would  prove  fatal ;  but  he  recovered,  and  in  August, 
1863,  regained  his  command  just  in  time  to  partici- 
pate in  the  bloody  battle  of  Chickamauga.  He  con- 
tinued to  serve  with  the  regiment  until  it  was  mus- 
tered out,  in  July,  1865,  having  been  in  every  battle 
in  which  it  participated  from  the  time  he  rejoined  it 
excepting  that  at  Gulp's  Farm,  making  in  all  27  regu- 
lar engagements.  He  was  in  nearly  every  battle 
fought  in  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland.  Dur- 
ing a  great  part  of  the  Atlanta  campaign  he  was  in 
command  of  the  8oth  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  at  Pumpkin- 
Vine  Creek,  in  Georgia,  was  under  fire  for  nine  con- 
secutive days.  The  75th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  under 
Gen.  Kilgour,  was  the  first  under  Gen.  Joseph  Hook- 
er's command  to  charge  the  rebel  works  at  Lookout 
Mountain,  driving  the  rebels  first  up  the  mountain 
and  then  off  of  it.  He  was  wounded  three  times, 
and  was  three  times  promoted  for  meritorious  ser- 
vices in  the  field.  His  commission  as  Second  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  1 3th  111.  Inf.,  he  received  from  Gov. 
Yates,  April  20,  1861.  For  gallant  and  meritorious 


services  at  Mission  Ridge,  Tenn.,  he  was  commis- 
sioned Major  by  brevet,  Oct.  31,  1867,  by  U.  S. 
Grant,  then  President  of  the  United  States.  Also, 
the  same  date,  he  received,  for  similar  valor  at 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  a  commission  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  by 
brevet;  and  again,  for  bravery  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
he  was  brevetted  Colonel.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  was  commissioned  Colonel  in  the  regular  army, 
and  subsequently  brevetted  Brigadier  General. 

The  foregoing  testimonials  to  Gen.  Kilgour's  effi- 
ciency in  the  field  of  war  in  defense  of  his  country 
were  never  sought  by  him  either  directly  or  indi- 
rectly. They  are  simply  proofs  of  his  merit.  On 
his  retirement  from  the  army,  in  1867,  Gen.  Kilgour 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Sterling,  in 
which  he  was  successfully  engaged  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  May  29,  1885,  at  Los  Gatos,  Cal., 
from  the  effects  of  the  principal  wound  he  received 
from  the  rebels  in  defense  of  his  country.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.,  K.  T.,  and  G.  A.  R. 

The  General  was  married  in  1865,  to  Mary  Isa- 
bella Junkin,  of  Perry  Co.,  Pa.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren :  Eliza  G.,  Susan  J.,  James  Albee,  Cassius  M. 
and  William  S. 

'ohn  MacKengie,  deceased,  was  an  early 
settler  of  Whiteside  County.  He  was  born 
'in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  in  midsum- 
mer, 1800,  and  was  the  son  of  Alexander  and 
Margaret  (Thompson)  MacKenzie.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  mason  and  builder,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  Aberdeenshire,  Oct.  n,  1833,  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet S.  Ritchie,  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret 
(Read)  Ritchie.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  1838, 
and  settled  in  Virginia,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
till  June,  1843,  when  he  came  to  Whiteside  County 
and  located  on  a  farm  in  the  township  of  Ustick. 
He  worked  at  his  trade  of  mason  and  contractor  in 
Fulton,  while  his  energetic  and  thrifty  wife  conducted 
the  farm.  Mr.  MacKenzie  built  in  1848  and  oper- 
ated the  first  saw-mill  at  Fulton,  which  was  a  small 
water-power  mill,  and  continued  to  conduct  it  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Sept.  29,  1854. 
He  also  worked  at  his  trade,  and  among  his  contracts 
was  one  for  the  erection  of  the  stone  building  now 
used  as  a  planing-mill  by  the  Langford  &  Hall  Lum- 


I! 


bet  Company,  which  he  built  for  Judge  McCoy  & 
Co.  He  was  also  employed  by  the  Government 
in  the  construction  of  Fort  Gaines,  some  200  miles 
above  St.  Paul,  and  spent  two  seasons  on  Govern- 
ment work. 

While  a  resident  of  Ustick  he  was  the  first  Super- 
visor of  that  township,  and  held  other  minor  offices. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  MacKen- 
zie  had  four  sons  and  six  daughters.  The  eldest 
child  was  Margaret,  wife  of  James  Savage,  now  of 
Oregon;  Helen  is  the  wife  of  William  Savage,  of 
Morrison,  111.;  Alexander  died  in  childhood;  Vir- 
ginia— so  named  from  her  native  State — is  the  wife 
of  Augustus  Johnson,  of  Morrison  ;  George  married 
Ella  Houghton,  and  died  in  1877,  leaving  a  wife  and 
four  children ;  Alexander,  the  second  of  that  name, 
married  Lovina  Devore,  and  lives  in  Iowa;  Mary 
married  William  Trye,  and  lives  at  Morrison ;  John 
and  Josephene  are  twins ;  John  is  a  Captain  on  the 
Mississippi ;  he  married  Miss  Abbie  E.  Devore,  and 
resides  at  Fulton ;  Josephene  married  John  Kyner, 
and  lives  in  Nebraska;  Clarissa  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Janvrin,  of  Morrison  ;  George  and  Alex- 
ander were  soldiers  of  the  late  war.  Mrs.  Mac- 
Kenzie  survives  her  husband,  and  resides  at  Fulton, 
with  her  son,  Captain  John  MacKenzie.  She  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  since 
her  girlhood. 


Andrew  Mathew,  farmer,  section  6,  Hop- 
kins Township,  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Jennette  (Wiley)  Mathew,  natives  of  Scot- 
land, who  came  to  America  in  1851  (see  sketch 
of  David  Mathew),  and  settled  in  West  Virginia, 
and  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  1856  and 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  life  here.  They  had 
ten  children,  named  Thomas,  David,  William,  Jean- 
nette,  Andrew,  Ann,  Margaret,  Robert,  Jane  and 
Alexander. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Scotland, 
Aug.  6,  1830.  He  received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation and  remained  in  his  native  land  till  about 
1847,  when  he  came  to  West  Virginia,  where  he  lived 
seven  years,  engaged  in  farming  and  at  work  on  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad,  grading.  In  the  fall 
of  1856  he  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  worked 


out  for  three  years.  He  then  rented  a  farm  in  Hop- 
kins and  Mt.  Pleasant  Townships  for  eight  years. 
He  then  purchased  74  acres  on  section  6,  Hopkins 
Township,  where  he  settled  and  has  since  lived.  He 
was  married  first  in  Virginia,  to  Mary  A.  Dumire, 
who  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  They  h.xd  one  child, 
Sarah  C.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  John  S.  Lingel  and 
resides  in  Morrison.  Mrs.  Mathew  died  in  Hopkins 
Township,  in  April,  1858,  and  Mr.  M.  was  again 
married,  in  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  29,  1860,  to  Rachel 
Hunter,  who  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  being  a 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Jennette  (Cassells)  Hunter. 
By  this  marriage  there  have  been  seven  children, — 
Jennette  E.,  Margaret  J.,  William  A.,  Eliza  M.,  Rob- 
ert, Ella  R.  and  Andrew  T. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Mathew  is  independent. 


ruman  Culver,  a  retired  merchant,  of  Rock 
Falls,  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State.     He 
is  the  first  son  that  survived  in  the  family 
of  Truman  H.  and  Catherine  A.  (Campbell) 
Culver,  and  was  born  in  Booneville,  Oneida 

1  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  9,  1835.  His  parents,  na- 
tives also  of  that  State,  emigrated  to  Lee  County, 
this  State,  in  1860,  where  his  father  died  :  his  mother 
is  still  living,  with  one  of  her  sons,  at  Cambridge, 
Neb. 

Truman,  the  subject  of  this  biography,  remained 
at  his  parental  home  until  he  was  17  years  of  age. 
At  14  he  began  to  attend  school ;  being  subject  to 
asthma,  he  could  not  begin  earlier.  Although  his 
schooling  comprised  so  short  a  term, — only  three 
years, — he  made  such  progress  that  he  then  began 
to  teach;  and,  as  was  the  practice  in  those  days,  he 
"bought  his  time  "  and  started  out  in  the  world  for 
himself,  promising  to  give  his  father  $200  any  time 
before  he  was  21.  He  paid  this  debt  within  18 
months.  He  taught  eight  terms  of  district  school, 
alternating  with  attendance  as  a  pupil  at  higher 
schools.  From  the  age  of  22  to  24  he  attended  col- 
lege during  the  winters  and  followed  manual  labor 
the  rest  of  the  year. 

He  next  went  to  Pike's  Peak  to  dig  gold,  and  was 
not  successful.  After  remaining  there  a  month,  in 
company  with  three  others,  he  made  two  canoes 
("  dug-outs  ")  from  cottonwood,  lashed  them  together 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


to  keep  them  from  rocking  while  on  the  water,  and 
started  from  Denver  (that  place  then  comprising 
only  seven  sod  houses)  down  the  Platte  River  to 
Omaha;  but  after  going  about  150  miles  they  came 
to  grief  by  the  upsetting  of  their  craft  in  a  whirlpool 
caused  by  a  beaver  dam.  They  lost  everything  ex- 
cept a  part  of  a  sack  of  flour.  They  made  a  fire 
on  the  bank,  rolled  their  rescued  flour,  which  had 
become  wet  by  the  accident,  into  balls  and  roasted 
them  on  the  coals,  for  their  bread,  which  they  stored 
in  a  small  sack  made  out  of  the  flour  sack  just  re- 
ferred to.  They  started  on  foot  and  subsisted  on 
these  bread  balls  two  days,  when  they  met  an  old 
trapper,  from  whom  they  purchased  an  old  coffee- 
pot, without  spout,  handle  or  bail,  at  the  price  of 
14.50!  In  this  they  made  gruel  out  of  the  dry  por- 
tion of  their  flour,  which  lasted  them  about  a  week. 

At  this  time  they  learned  from  inscriptions  on 
buffalo  bones  that  the  coming  trains  had  received 
word  that  the  gold  diggings  had  proved  a  failure  and 
that  they  had  turned  back,  and  those  coming  back 
had  taken  a  shorter  route.  On  learning  these  facts, 
they  knew  they  would  not  be  overtaken  by  any  one, 
nor  met  by  those  coming,  while  they  were  hun- 
dreds of  miles  from  civilization,  without  anything  to 
eat.  They  resolved,  however,  to  push  ahead,  hoping 
to  meat  friendly  Indians.  After  their  little  store 
gave  out  the  first  thing  they  ate  was  cactus,  which 
proved  nauseous  and  could  not  be  retained  in  the 
stomach.  They  then  tried  several  kinds  of  weeds, 
but  with  no  better  effect.  Finally  they  succeeded  in 
capturing  five  frogs,  which  they  ate  entire!  and  with 
good  results!  They  pushed  on  until  again  ex- 
hausted, when  they  found  some  herd's  grass,  the 
roots  of  which  they  ate.  On  the  strength  of  this 
they  trudged  along  two  days  more!  But  by  this  time 
their  stomachs  became  so  weak  they  could  bear 
nothing,  yet  they  dragged  their  weary  way  along  for 
a  few  days  more,  without  endeavoring  to -eat  any- 
thing! At  this  juncture  Mr.  Culver  noticed  that  the 
other  boys  avoided  him,  and  were  consulting  each 
other  privately!  He  pretended  to  go  to  sleep,  so  he 
might  overhear  what  they  said  ;  and,  sure  enough !  he 
learned  that  two  of  the  three  were  in  favor  of  killing 
him  to  eat!  He  roused  up  and  asked  them  wheth- 
er they  heard  "those  frogs."  They  answered  No.  He 
said,  "  Remain  here,  and  I  will  go  and  look  for  them." 
Accordingly  he  went  down  to  the  bank,  and  forever 
disappeared  from  those  fellows.  He  soon  fell  in 


with  a  band  of  Indians,  who  gave  him  "jerked" 
antelope,  refusing  money  but  accepting  a  bright- 
colored  neck-tie  as  a  remuneration.  With  this  sus- 
tenance Mr.  Culver  pushed  on,  walking,  for  many 
days,  and  at  last  sank  down  on  the  bank  of  the 
Platte,  utterly  exhausted.  He  wrote  on  an  envelope 
his  address  and  a  statement  that  he  had  starved  to 
death;  and  there  he  lay  insensible,  he  knows  not 
how  long,  when  he  was  discovered  by  four  men,  in 
the  first  boat  that  ever  succeeded  in  getting  down 
the  river.  He  could  not  talk  above  a  whisper.  Af- 
ter informing  them  of  the  emergency,  they  took  him 
aboard  their  boat,  saying  that  if  he  were  to  die  he 
should  die  with  them.  They  gave  him  broth,  and 
after  a  few  days  of  careful  management  they  so  re- 
vived him  that  he  became  able  to  steer  the  boat. 
Their  provisions  being  exhausted,  they  searched 
about  for  something  to  eat,  and  the  best  they  could 
find  was  the  carcass  of  a  buffalo,  which  had  lain  so 
long  as  to  become  tainted ;  but  they  made  a  portion 
of  it  palatable  by  scorching  it.  A  day  or  two  after 
that  gave  out,  they  arrived  at  Fort  Kearney,  where 
they  were  cared  for  by  the  Government  army  sur- 
geons. Regaining  sufficient  strength,  they  were 
sent  to  Omaha,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
found  he  weighed  a  little  over  100  pounds,  having 
lost  about  70  pounds! 

Mr.  Culver  then  came  to  Whiteside  County,  lo- 
cating at  Morrison.  After  working,  as  he  was  able, 
on  a  farm  for  three  months,  he  returned  to  the  State 
of  New  York  and  taught  a  term  of  school.  Then  he 
came  West  with  his  parents,  who  settled  near  Lee 
Center,  while  he  came  on  to  Morrison  and  worked 
on  the  same  farm  in  1861,  owned  by  Erastus  Pollard. 

Next,  Mr.  Culver  enlisted  for  the  cause  of  the 
Union  in  the  great  War  of  the  Rebellion,  joining  Co. 
C,  Eighth  111.  Vol.  Cav.,  as  a  private,  and  during 
his  service  in  the  army  he  was  under  fire  more  than 
a  hundred  times.  At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  he 
was  wounded  in  the  right  ankle,  on  the  second  day 
of  the  engagement,  but  he  remained  on  duty  to  the 
close  of  that  bloody  contest.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service  in  1865,  he  was  honorably  discharged, 
as  First  Lieutenant. 

Reluming  to  Morrison,  he  engaged  in  the  grocery 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  about  13  years,  erecting 
at  Ihe  end  of  three  years  the  first  new  store  build 
ing  in  Rock  Falls,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  May 
Streets.  For  the  next  three  years  he  was  engaged 


V£) 


• 


3K 

f 

«» 


in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade,  and  then  retired  from 
active  business. 

Sept.  5,  1865,  Mr.  Culver  was  married  to  Clarinda 
Allen,  of  Morrison.  Their  only  child,  named  Glen, 
died  when  five  years  of  age. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  C.  is  a  Republican. 
Was  the  first  Postmaster  of  Rock  Falls,  holding  that 
position  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 


*•>•• 


"ohn  Devore,,  deceased,  and  early  pioneer 
of  Illinois  and  a  resident  of  Ustick  Tp., 
was  born  in  Kentucky  Oct.  18,  1819.  He 
was  brought  up  on  a  farm  in  Indiana,  where 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Josephine  Smith,  a 
native  of  Vermont. 
Mr.  Devore  came  to  Illinois  in  1842  and  settled 
near  Mt.  Carroll,  Carroll  County,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  till  1852,  when  he  removed  to 
the  township  of  Ustick,  this  county.  He  pursued 
the  business  of  farming  in  Ustick  till  1870,  when  he 
removed  to  Iowa  near  Creston,  where  he  purchased 
a  farm  and  made  that  place  his  home  till  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  Oct.  15,  1884.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Devore  had  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  viz. : 
Ellen,  the  eldest,  died  in  infancy ;  Noah  died  aged 
38  years  ;  Harry  S.  married  Miss  Jane  Brady  and 
resides  in  Iowa ;  Lucinda  is  the  wife  of  James  Brady, 
also  of  Iowa ;  Lovina  is  the  wife  of  Alexander  Mac- 
Kenzie,  of  Iowa ;  and  Abbie  E.  married  Capt.  John 
MacKenzie  and  resides  in  Fulton. 

Mr.  Devore  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church.  His  wife  survives 
him  and  resides  at  the  homestead  in  Iowa.  She  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren. 


B.  Seger,  M.  D.,  of  the  firm  of  Tay- 
lor &  Seger,  physicians  and  surgeons;  of- 
fice corner  of  Main  &   Genesee   Streets ; 
residence  on  Grove,  Morrison ;  was  born   in 
Oxford  Co.,   Maine,   Jan.  4,  1842,  and  is    the 
son  of  Allen  &   Achsa  (Howard)  Seger.     His 
father  was   a   native    of  Maine  and  his  mother  of 
Vermont.     He  came  to  Wethersfield,  Henry  Co.,  111., 
his  parents  in  1852.     He  began  reading  medi- 


cine  with  Doctors  Taylor  &  Person,  of  Erie,  111., 
prior  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war. 

In  November,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  45th  III. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  six  months,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged for  physical  disability  contracted  in  the 
field.  He  then  resumed  the  study  of  medicine  with 
his  former  preceptors,  and  pursued  his  studies  till 
the  fall  of  1863,  when  he  re-enlisted  in  the  74th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  detailed  as  hospital  steward  in  the 
4th  Army  Corps.  He  was  in  constant  service  in 
hospital  duty  till  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  dis- 
charged Oct.  8,  1865.  On  his  return  from  the  war 
he  attended  Rush  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  tak- 
ing a  regular  course  of  lectures  and  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1867-8,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  be- 
gan practice  at  Erie,  this  county,  which  he  continued 
till  1882,  when  he  came  to  Morrison  and  formed  the 
existing  partnership  with  his  old  preceptor,  Dr.  Tay- 
lor. He  has  a  rapidly  increasing  practice,  and  is 
working  into  the  front  ranks  of  the  profession. 

Dr.  Seger  was  married  at  Erie,  III.,  Feb.  14, 1873,  to 
Miss  Kate  L.  Reynolds,  daughter  of  William  and 
Ann  (Binan)  Reynolds.  Mrs.  Seger  was  born  in 
Fenton,  Whiteside  Co.,  111.  They  have  two  children. 
Inez  and  Ivy.  Mrs.  Seger's  parents  were  early  pio- 
neers of  Fenton  Township,  of  this  county. 


S.  Street,  Mayor  of  Sterling,  was  born  in 
Hinsdale,  Mass.,  Jan.  29,  1836,  third  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  five  children; 
j-  parents  of  Massachusetts  nativity.  His  father, 
Horace  Street,  was  a  farmer,  moved  to  Orleans 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1837,  and  resided  there  until  his 
death,  in  June,  1875.  His  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Althea  Stowell,  died  in  the  same  county, 
in  January,  1844. 

He  remained  at  his  parental  home  until  1860,  at- 
tending the  Albion  Academy  and  receiving  a  prac- 
tical education.  From  1853  to  1860  he  taught 
school,  and  then  he  came  to  Sterling  and  engaged 
in  selling  farm  machinery  for  18  years,  then  selling 
out.  In  1883  he  purchased  the  coal  yard  of  Taylor 
Williams,  of  which  he  is  now  the  proprietor.  He 
is  a  successful,  honorable  business  man,  and  a  prom- 
inent citizen.  His  residence  is  on  the  corner  of 
Fifth  and  Locust  Streets. 

In   1865   he  was  elected  Alderman  and  held 

A  f-\          •**jaeL~' «JiaJ«//» 

"••^psSj'v^. 


-    ..    r 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


office  (or  two  years ;  was  Deputy  Collector  of  Inter- 
nal Revenue  from  1870  to  1873.  In  1881  he  was 
elected  Mayor,  and  re-elected  in  1884,  and  again  re- 
elected  in  1885.  At  present  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education  of  the  Wallace  School.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  respect  to  reli- 
gion he  attends  the  Methodist  Episccpal  Church. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. 

Dec.  12,  1861,  Mr.  Street  married  Julia  A.  Smith, 
a  native  of  New  York,  and  they  have  three  children, 
named  Emily  J.,  Walter  S..  and  Albert  L. 


I'ames  M.  Burr  is  a.  resident  of  Como,  Hop- 
|r  kins  Township,  and  was  formerly  a  sea 
Captain.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass., 
Dec.  2,  1808,  and  lived  at  home  until  he  was 
1 1  years  of  age,  when,  after  the  fashion  of  a 
large  number  of  youngsters  who  are  born  near 
the  sea,  he  yielded  to  a  temptation  to  try  the  ex- 
periences of  the  salt  water  himself,  and  ran  away  on 
a  mackerel  boat.  The  trip  lasted  two  months,  and 
he  was  sufficiently  well  pleased  with  the  experiment 
to  continue  in  the  same  business  three  years.  He 
next  tried  the  novelties  and  excitement  of  cod-fishing 
on  the  Newfoundland  Banks  for  a  season  or  two,  after 
which  he  went  to  the  Falkland  Isles  and  spent  five 
years  in  seal-fishing.  On  his  return  to  Boston,  he 
obtained  a  position  as  first  mate  on  an  ocean  steamer 
belonging  to  the  Liverpool  Packet  Line,  and  operated 
in  that  capacity  about  four  years.  He  sptnt  a  brief 
time  at  his  home  in  Boston,  after  which  he  shipped  as 
a  common  sailor  for  a  voyage  around  the  world,  and 
was  absent  three  years.  He  continued  his  seafaring 
about  20  years,  operating  as  a  sailor  before  the  mast 
as  mate  and  finally  as  Captain.  He  passed  a  year 
or  two  in  the  Lake  service  and  afterwards  engaged  in 
steam-boating  on  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers. 
While  thus  engaged  he  made  a  visit  to  a  brother  in 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  and  while  there  he  decided  to 
abandon  his  seafaring  life  and  accompany  his  rela- 
tives to  Northern  Illinois.  He  came  to  Whiteside 
County  about  1838  and  purchased  50  acres  of  land 
in  Hopkins  Township,  which  is  now  included  in  the 
platting  of  Como,  and  on  which  he  has  since  resided. 
He  has  since  made  a  trip  to  California  for  the  pur- 


pose of  mining  for  gold,  in  which  he  spent  three 
years,  with  reasonable  success.  He  has  disposed  of 
the  major  portion  of  his  property  in  the  township  of 
Hopkins.  Captain  Burr  is  a  stanch  Republican. 

He  is  the  son  of  Martin  and  Eunice  (Turner)  Burr, 
who  were  natives  of  Massachusetts  and  lived  there 
until  their  death.  That  of  the  father  took  place 
Nov.  19,  1846;  that  of  the  mother  occurred  in  Au- 
gust, 1853.  They  had  nine  children, — George  T., 
Harriet,  Adaline,  James  M.,  Eunice,  Sarah  A.,  Wil- 
liam T.,  Theo.  M.  and  Stephen  M. 

Captain  Burr  was  married  Aug.  22,  1840,  at  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.,  to  Caroline,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and 
Lucy  (Furber)  Neal.  Her  parents  were  born  in  that 
city  and  lived  there  until  their  deaths,  which  oc- 
curred respectively  in  1827  and  1869.  Their  chil- 
dren, five  in  number,  were  named  Clarinda,  Sarah  A. 
Caroline  H.,  John  W.  and  Charles  K.  Mrs.  Burr 
was  born  Dec.  5, 1820,  in  Portsmouth.  To  her  and  her 
husband  seven  children  have  been  born, — James  M., 
Adaline  E.,  Eunice  T.,  Hattie,  Netty,  Charles  M.,  J. 
S.  Ellery  and  William  T.  The  oldest  son  and  the  sec- 
ond daughter  are  deceased.  Adaline  E.,  oldest 
daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Judge  David  Davis,  formerly 
United  States  Senator  from  Illinois,  and  resides  at 
Bloomington.  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Heitshu 
and  resides  at  Marshalltown,  Iowa.  Eunice  T.  mar- 
ried Charles  N.  Munson,  formerly  of  Sterling,  now  a 
resident  of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

The  portrait  of  Capt.  Burr,  on  the  opposite  page, 
will  naturally  be  expected  on  this  connection. 


:enry  Flock,  farmer,  residing  on  section  22, 
Hahnaman  Township,  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Anna  (Fanenstihs)  Flock,  natives  of  Ger- 
many, in  which  country  they  both  died.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children, — Henry,  Will- 
iam, Joseph,  Kathrina  and  Margaret. 
Henry  Flock,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  born  May  22,  1833,  in  Germany.  He  lived  in 
his  native  country  until  24  years  of  age  (1857),  when 
he  came  to  the  United  States  and  soon  afterward  to 
this  county.  On  his  arrival  here,  he  settled  in  Ster- 
ling Township  and  "  worked  out  "  by  the  month  for 
about  four  years. 

Mr.  Flock  enlisted,  Aug.  n,  1862,  in  the  75th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.    He 


F 

h 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


foS 


served  in  the  infantry  for  about  seven  months  and 
was  then  detached  and  placed  on  the  pioneer  corps, 
where  he  remained  for  about  14  months.  He  was 
then  transferred  to  the  First  United  States  Engineer 
Corps,  where  he  continued  to  remain  until  his  dis- 
charge. 

On  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Flock  returned  to 
Whiteside  County  and  settled  in  Hahnaman  Town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  at  present 
(1885)  the  owner  of  276  acres  in  the  township,  210 
of  which  is  tillable. 

Mr.  Flock  was  united  in  marriage  at  Polo,  111., 
June  15,  1862,  to  Miss  Barbara,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Catharine  (Stroh)  Pott,  natives  of  Germany. 
They  came  to  this  country  in  1853,  and  soon  there- 
after settled  in  Sterling,  this  county,  where  her 
father  died  Feb.  17,  1881.  He  and  his  wife  were 
the  parents  of  five  children,— Christian,  Henry,  Bar- 
bara, Mathias  and  Mary. 

Mrs.  Flock  was  born  in  Germany,  Oct.  18,  1846. 
She  accompanied  her  parents  to  this  country  and 
county  in  1853  and  remained  mostly  at  home  until 
the  date  of  her  marriage.  She  is  the  mother  of  n 
children  by  Mr.  Flock,  namely  :  Catherine,  John, 
Jacob  R.  W.,  Mary  T.,  Anna  E.,  Henry,  Mathias, 
Elizabeth  B.,  William,  Maggie  and  Nellie  T. 

Mr.  Flock  has  held  the  office  of  Overseer  of  High- 
ways and  School  Trustee,  and  in  politics  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  German 
Catholic  Church. 


ullivan  Jackson,  farmer,  section  4,  Mt. 
Pleasant  Township,  is  the  son  of  Thomas 
L.  and  Freedom  (Heaton)  Jackson.  The 
former  was  born  Oct.  23,  1787,111  New  Lisbon, 
New  London  Co.,  Conn.  He  went  to  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  in  December,  1824, 
was  married  to  the  daughter  of  William  and  Martha 
(Bailey)  Heaton,  who  settled  in  the  township  of  Mt. 
Pleasant  in  1837.  She  was  born  in  1805.  They 
had  three  children.  The  family  removed  in  1835  to 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  and  in  April,  1841,  he  set  out  with 
his  family  for  Illinois  and  arrived  in  May  following, 
in  Whiteside  County.  The  father  died  Jan.  12, 
1882,  aged  nearly  95  years.  The  mother  died  Jan. 


23,  1879.  Their  children  are  still  living, — Floyd 
H.,  Mary  and  Sullivan. 

The  latter  was  born  Dec.  3,  1830,  in  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y.  He  has  resided  on  the  same  section  since  he 
came  in  1841  to  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  and  he  is 
the  owner  of  265  acres  of  land,  of  which  about  160 
acres  are  under  tillage.  Politically,  Mr.  Jackson  is 
a  Democrat,  and  has  held  several  township  offices. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  ,Dec.  31,  1862,  in  Mt. 
Pleasant,  to  Almira  C.  Baxter,  and  they  have  two 
children, — Andrew  and  Ralph  B.  H.  Mrs.  Jackson 
was  born  March  10,  1843,  in  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Emeline  (Dillen- 
beck)  Baxter.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  the  State 
of  New  York  and  settled  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township 
in  1856.  They  removed  to  the  township  of  Lyndon, 
where  the  mother  died  Nov.  18,  1877.  Their  chil- 
dren were  named  Almira  C.,  Jennie  L.,  Lizzie  S. 
and  Clara  T. 


.olomon  Hubbard,  lumber  merchant  at 
Rock  Falls,  was  born  in  Thetford,  Orange 
Co.,  Vt.,  Oct.  28',  1817,  being  the  sixth  in 
a  family  of  12  children.  His  parents  were 
Josiah  and  Cynthia  (Cummings)  Hubbard, 
of  Connecticut,  and  followers  of  farming  pur- 
suits. He  received  a  fine  education  in  the  academies 
of  his  native  town,  and  assisted  his  father  on  the 
farm  until  18  years  of  age,  when  for  three  years  he 
was  a  clerk  in  a  store.  He  then  opened  a  general 
stock  of  goods  in  Strafford,  Vt.,  continuing  in  mer-  | 
candle  business  there  about  two  years ;  likewise  in 
Thetford  two  years.  Selling  out,  he  came  to  Dover, 
Bureau  Co.,  111.,  in  1848,  where  he  was  a  merchant 
15  years.  He  sold  his  stock  there  and  followed  the 
same  business  in  Rockford,  111.,  for  eight  months. 
Next,  he  \vas  a  resident  of  Dover  again,  four  years, 
dealing  in  real  estate;  and  finally,  in  1869,  he  moved 
to  Sterling,  where  for  the  first  five  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  sale  of  dry  goods.  He  sold  out,  and  for 
four  years  afterward  he  purchased  a  stock  of  groceries 
and  was  a  dealer  in  that  line  one  year ;  then  dealt  in 
real  estate  until  1882,  when  he  purchased  the  lum- 
ber yard  and  stock  of  Wheeler  &  Brown,  of  Rock 
Falls,  in  the  management  of  which  he  and  his  two 
sons,  Harry  F.  and  Arthur  G.,  are  now  engaged. 


^De- 


WHITES1DE COUNTY. 


two  other  men  as  assistants.  Their  sales 
aggregate  $50,000  or  more  per  year.  His  first  resi- 
dence, consisting  of  a  house  and  two  lots  on  Second 
Street,  he  sold,  and  in  1883  bought  another  house 
and  two  lots,  on  the  same  street,  for  $6,000,  where 
he  now  resides. 

Mr.  Hubbard  was  married  Sept.  23,  1845,  at  Ran- 
dolph, Mass.,  to  Miss  Amanda  N.  Belcher,  a  native 
of  Vermont.  They  have  had  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living, — Harry  F.,  Frederick  B.,  Arthur 
G.  and  Emma  A.  Frederick  B.  married  Lulu  Brown, 
of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  and  they  reside  in  Sterling,  where 
Mr.  H.  is  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  of  Dill 
&Co. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Hubbard,  the  subject  of 
the  foregoing  sketch,  is  a  Republican. 


rs.  Isabella  Sides,  a  resident  of  Sterling, 
was  the  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Amelia 
H.  (Eicholtz)  Werntz,  and  was  born  Jan. 
1 8,  1843.  Her  father,  a  merchant  of  Stras- 
burg,  Pa.,  sold  out  there  in  1862,  and  came  to 
Sterling,  where  he  was  a  merchant  tailor,  un- 
til the  time  of  his  decease,  which  took  place  Jan.  3, 
1882.  Mrs.  Werntz  died  in  Strasburg,  Pa.,  Aug.  22, 

1857- 

Their  daughter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  mar- 
ried Jacob  R.  Sides,  a  native  of  Strasburg,  Dec. 
31,  1863.  Mr.  S.  was  born  Sept.  2,  1844,  and  was 
the  son  of  John  H.  and  Maria  (Rohrer)  Sides.  He 
received  a  fine  education.  He  made  his  home 
with  his  parents  until  he  was  of  age.  He  taught 
school,  and  also  followed  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Pennsylvania,  until  1865,  when  he  sold  out  and 
came  West,  locating  in  Sterling,  and  entering  the 
lumber  and  grain  business.  This  he  followed  ten 
years  Eight  years  of  this  time  he  bought 
grain  and  took  charge  of  the  books  of  the  firm  of 
John  S.  Miller  &  Co.,  distillers,  who  ran  the  Sterling 
distillery.  During  his  lifetime  he  established  a  nice 
home  for  his  wife  and  children,  and  built  three  other 
houses,  two  of  which  he  sold.  He  died  Aug.  25, 
1882,  leaving  a  life  insurance  policy  of  $20,000, 
whch  was  paid  his  family.  He  had  four  children, 


namely:  Minnie  H.,  Ora  K.,  Edwin  R.  and  Grace 
B.  Minnie  H.  married  John  Annas,  of  Sterling, 
May  6,  1885. 


'bomas  McClelland,  Marshal  of  the  City  ot 
Morrison  and  Constable,  was  born  March 
20,  1824,  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.  His 
father  and  mother,  William  and  Margaret 
(Shannon)  McClelland,  were  natives  of  the 
Keystone  State.  The  former  died  in  Franklin 
Co.,  Pa.,  in  1842,  when  about  60  years  of  age.  The 
demise  of  the  latter  took  place  in  Cumberland,  Alle- 
ghany  Co.,  Md.,  about  1848.  Seven  of  their  nine 
children  are  now  living,  namely  :  Mrs.  Lydia  Heaggy 
is  a  widow  and  resides  at  Mt.  Carroll,  111. ;  William 
is  a  carpenter  in  Clinton  Co.,  Mo.;  Jane,  widow  of 
William  Paxton,  lives  at  Morrison ;  John  is  a  Meth- 
odist clergyman  in  Virginia;  Joseph  is  a  mechanic 
in  Washington,  D.  C. 

Thomas  McClelland  is  next  to  the  youngest  of  his 
parents'  children  in  order  of  birth,  and  was  brought 
up  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  17  years  of  age, 
when  he  entered  a  shop  in  Loudon,  Franklin  Co., 
Pa.,  to  learn  the  business  of  a  blacksmith,  in  which 
vocation  he  was  engaged  35  years,  and  has  passed 
21  years  of  his  life  at  Morrison  in  that  pursuit.  He 
opened  his  shop  there  in  October,  1855,  and  oper- 
ated about  five  years  in  company  with  Solomon 
Eshleman.  After  that,  until  he  abandoned  the 
business  in  1876,  he  conducted  his  affairs  alone. 
In  the  spring  of  1877  he  was  elected  Constable,  and 
has  been  successively  re-elected  to  the  same  posU 
tion  to  the  date  of  this  writing  in  1885.  In  1879  he 
was  elected  City  Marshal,  and,  with  the  exception 
of  about  one  year,  he  has  since  occupied  the  same 
position.  Mr.  McClelland  has  been  active  in  other 
official  positions  in  the  municipal  affairs  of  Morrison, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  second  Board  of  Trustees. 
He  has  also  acted  in  the  capacity  of  School  Di- 
rector. 

He  was  married  in  Mercersburg,  Franklin  Co., 
Pa.,  March  5,  1845,  to  Jane  Ottenberger.  Their 
seven  children  were  named  Martha  J.,  Margaret  I., 
Maria  K.,  Thomas  J.,  Susan  C.,  Lydia  A.  and  Ida 
May.  Two  of  the  daughters  and  the  only  son 
are  deceased;  Maria  K.  is  the  wife  of  William  I. 


x . 


'- 


-•J^VSvV^/^ 


sv  •  y 


IVHITESTDE  COUNTY. 


Lane,  of  Morrison;  Lydia  A.  married  Lewis  M. 
Brown,  of  the  same  place.  Mrs.  McClelland  was 
born  Oct.  19,  1823,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Jacob  Ottenberger. 


iiimiel  Taylor,  M.  D.,  physician  and  sur- 
geon, member  of  the  medical  firm  of  Tay- 
lor &  Seger,  at  Morrison,  was  born  March 
13,  1829,  in  Sharon  Township,  Richland  Co., 
Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Evelina 
(Ayres)  Taylor.     His  father  and  mother  were 
born  in  Connecticut,  and  removed  from  that  State  to 
Ohio,  where  they  completed  the  period  of  their  lives 
in  Richland  County.     The  father  died  in  April,  1874. 
The  demise  of  the    mother  occurred  Sept.  4,  1866. 
Three  of  their  children  are  living,  and  the  record  of 
)    seven,  of  whom  they  became  the  parents,  is  as  fol- 
lows :  Walter,  the  eldest,  is  deceased  ;  Esther  mar- 
ried Dr.  William  Bricker,  of  Shelby,  Ohio;  Burton  A. 
is  not  living;  he  married  Catherine  Sipe,  of  Shelby  ; 
Dr.  Taylor  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  ;  Alva  B. 
and   Mary  A.,  who  were   his    successors,  are    both 
dead;  the  former  married  Margaret  Anderson,  and 
the  latter  was  the  wife  of  A.  D.  Anderson,  and  died 
at    Kansas    City,    in    December,     1881  ;     they  re- 
moved to  Whiteside  County,  where  she  died  about 
seven  years  later ;   Angelina  is  the  wife   of  David 
Cummins,  of  Shelby,  Ohio;  Walter  died  a  single  man 
in  California,  to  which  place  he  had  gone  during  the 
gold-mining  enthusiasm. 

Dr.  Taylor  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  re- 
ceived the  anvantages  of  the  common  school.  Later 
he  attended  Oberlin  College  several  years,  where  he 
formed  his  purpose  to  devote  himself  to  a  profes- 
sional career;  and  later  he  read  medicine  under  the 
direction  of  his  brother-in-law,  Dr.  Bricker. 

After  having  read  under  his  direction  at  intervals 
about  four  years,  he  went  to  Ann  Arbor  and  attend- 
ed the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan  six  months.  The  next  year  he  went  to 
the  Western  Reserve  Medical  College  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1854. 
began  his  independent  initiatory  practice  at 


He 

Salem,  Ohio,  where  he  continued  nearly  two  years. 
He  came  thence  to  Erie,  Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  in  the 
fall  of  1855,  where  he  established  and  maintained 


his  practice  seven  years.  In  1862  he  removed  to 
Morrison,  and  has  continued  his  business  at  that 
place  for  more  than  20  years.  In  1879  he  associ- 
ated S.  S.  Hall,  M.  D.,  with  himself  in  his  business, 
and  their  connection  existed  until  May,  1882,  when 
Dr.  Hall  gave  place  to  Dana  B.  Seger,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Taylor  has  earned  a  substantial  repute  as  a 
medical  practitioner,  and  has  built  up  a  profitable 
and  extensive  practice.  He  has  officiated  eight 
years  as  County  Coroner.  He  belongs  by  member- 
ship to  the  American  Medical  Association,  and  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Stella  Hannum, 
Dec.  26,  1854,  at  Brecksville,  Cuyahoga  Co ,  Ohio. 
She  was  born  in  that  county  Sept.  9,  1835,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Julius  and  Martha  Hannum.  Her 
father  was  born  Oct.  16, 1780,  in  Masschusetts,  and 
died  Dec.  9, 1853.  Her  mother  was  born  in  the  same 
place  Aug.  13,  1789,  and  died  March  28,  1864. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Taylor:  Eva  M.  was  born  Dec.  i,  1858,  in  Erie, 
Whiteside  County,  and  was  married  Oct.  30,  1879 
to  Frank  Fitzgerald;  Walter,  bom  Sept.  it,  1861 
died  May  13,  1882;  Burton  was  born  July  19,  1864, 
and  died  Dec.  n,  1876;  Mary  A.  was  born  Oct.  27, 
1867  ;  William  B.  was  born  Dec.  23,  1872. 


rederick  Wahl,  farmer,  residing  on  section 
22,  Hahnaman  Township,  is  a  son  of  Ma- 
thias  and  Rosa  (Schwartz)  Wahl,  natives 
of  Germany.  They  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1854,  and  first  settled  in  Ohio.  In  1857  they 
came  to  this  county  and  located  in  Sterling 
Township,  afterward  removing  to  Genesee  Town- 
ship, where,  in  1862,  the  mother  died.  The  father 
still  survives.  The  issue  of  their  union  was  six 
children,  namely:  Frederick,  Frederika,  Louisa,  Wil- 
liam, Caroline  and  Lucinda. 

Frederick  Wahl,  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, was  born  in  Germany,  Feb.  8,  1834.  He  lived 
in  his  native  country  until  1853,  attending  the  com- 
mon schools  until  14  years  of  age.  In  the  spring  of 
1853  he  came  unaccompanied  to  this  country, 
and  for  three  years  "worked  out"  in  Ohio.  In  the 
spring  of  1857  he  came  to  this  county,  and  "worked 
out"  until  1861,  when  he  went  to  Iowa  and  pur- 


. 


- 

'.-• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


chased  a  farm.  He  lived  on  the  latter  place  four 
years;  then  sold,  and  returned  to  this  county  and 
rented  a  farm,  which  he  cultivated  for  two  years. 

In  1868  Mr.  Wahl  purchased  160  acres  of  land, 
situated  on  section  22,  Hahnaman  Township,  on 
which  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  erected  fine 
farm  buildings  on  his  home  place,  and  by  subsequent 
purchase  has  increased  his  landed  possessions  in 
Hahnaman  Township  to  560  acres,  440  of  which  is 
tillable. 

Mr.  Wahl  was  united  in  marriage  in  Sterling 
Township,  Feb.  22,  1858,  to  Miss  Anna,  daughter  of 
George  and  Catharine  (Buhler)  Kirges,  natives  of 
Germany.  They  came  to  America  in  the  fall  of  1855, 
and  settled  in  Jordan  Township,  this  county,  where 
the  father  was  drowned,  in  July,  1858.  The  issue  of 
their  union  was  five  children:  Mary,  Barbara,  Cathe- 
rine, Anna,  Christiana. 

Mrs.  Wahl  was  born  in  Germany,  March  8,  1838. 
She  and  her  husband  are  the  parents  of  12  children, 
namely,  Catherine,  Caroline,  William  W.,  Frederick, 
Edward,  Charles  M.,  Frank,  Nellie  H.,  Henry, 
George,  Ethel  A.  and  Glenn  F. 

Mr.  Wahl  has  held  the  office  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner, School  Trustee,  School  Director  and  School 
Treasurer,  and  politically  is  an  adherent  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party.  He  and  his  wife  are 
both  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


•|;apt.  Christopher  C.  Carpenter,  of  Fulton, 
£S^3  Captain  of  the  steamer  "Brother  Jona- 
than," of  the  Jenks,  Mathews  &  Jordan  Line, 
of  Stillwater,  Minn.,  is  a  native  of  Whiteside 
Co.,  111.,  and  was  born  in  Albany,  Feb.  20, 
1849.  His  parents,  John  B.  and  Mary(Fisk) 
Carpenter,  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Illinois,  of 
1840,  and  of  Whiteside  County,  of  1846,  and  were 
originally  from  New  York. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm,  and  in  1864  began  work  on  the  river,  floating 
rafts.  In  1868  he  began  steam-boating,  and  was 
made  Captain  of  his  first  boat,  the  steamer  "G.  B. 
Knapp,"  in  1870,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
Master  of  the  steamers  "  Jim  Watson,"  "  Lumber- 
man," <;  Dexter,"  "  Nellie,"  "  La  Fayette,"  "  Lamb  " 
and  finally  "  Brother  Jonathan."  At  this  writing  he 


is  about  starting  out  on  his  fourth  season  as  Captain 
of  the  last  named  boat.  He  has  had  20  years'  ex- 
perience on  the  river  in  the  lumber  and  log  business, 
and  15  years'  as  steam-boat  Captain.  During  this 
time  he  has  never  lost  a  boat  or  met  with  any  acci- 
dent of  consequence,  but  has  been  very  successful, 
and  is  held  in  high  esteem  as  an  experienced  and 
trustworthy  officer. 

He  was  married  in  Albany,  111.,  Nov.  24,  1870,  to 
Miss  Mary  J.  LaRue,  daughter  of  George  and  Ger- 
trude A.  LaRue.  Mrs.  Carpenter  was  born  in  Lee 
Co.,  111.  They  have  two  children, — Effiie  M.  and 
Gertrude  A. 

Capt.  Carpenter  is  a  member  of  Abou  Ben  Adhem 
Lodge,  No.  148,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Fulton,  111.,  and  has 
been  through  the  chairs.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  has  made  his  home  in  Fulton  since  1870, 
except  two  years,  from  1878  to  1880,  which  he  spent 
in  Cordova,  111. 


Daniel  L.  Burroughs,  of  Tampico,  has  been 
a  prominent  factor  in  the  various  business 
interests  of  Whiteside  County  since  his  re- 
moval  here  in  1867.  He  is  at  present  ex- 
tensively interested  in  traffic  in  poultry,  eggs 
and  butter.  He  was  born  Oct.  14,  1841,  in 
Napoli,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  his  father, 
Loren  Burroughs,  was  a  prominent  farmer.  Meribah 
(Boardmari)  Burroughs,  the  mother,  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  State  of  New  York.  Daniel  is  the  tenth 
in  order  of  birth  of  13  children  included  in  the 
family  of  his  parents.  He  spent  the  years  of  his 
youth  in  alternate  attendance  at  school  and  in  farm 
labor  on  his  father's  homestead,  and  when  20  years 
old  enlisted  in  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States.  Aug.  9,  1862,  he  enrolled  in  Co.  B,  i54th 
N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.  His  chiefs  in  company,  regiment 
and  brigade  were  Capt.  Allen,  Col.  Jones  and  Gens. 
Hooker  and  Howard,  and  his  command  was  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  was  in  the  various 
engagements  in  which  the  regiment  participated, 
among  which  was  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville, 
where  his  brother,  George  W.  Burroughs,  was  killed. 
He  was  taken  ill  with  pneumonia,  and  on  recovery 
was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  He 
was  sent  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  was  hon- 


ifc 


— 


35° 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


orably  discharged  July  19,  1865,  at  the  termination 
of  the  war,  after  a  period  of  military  service  extend- 
ing over  nearly  three  years.  Previous  to  his  enlist- 
ment his  parents  had  removed  to  Chautauqua 
County,  where  he  returned  on  being  once  more  at 
liberty  to  resume  the  duties  of  a  civilian.  He  was 
for  some  time  engaged  in  teaching  in  that  county, 
and  was  married  Nov.  22,  1866,  in  Jamestown,  to 
Mattie,  the  only  daughter  of  W.  C.  and  Mary  E. 
(Abbott)  Hassett.  She  was  born  in  Chautauqua 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1848,  and  was  reared  to  woman- 
hood in  her  native  county.  Her  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  was  largely  interested  in  the  dairy  business. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burroughs  have  one  child,  A.  De  Ette, 
born  May  16,  1868. 

In  March,  1867,  they  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
locating  at  Prophetstown,  where  Mr.  Burroughs  was 
a  farmer  and  also  a  teacher  for  some  time.  He 
went  thence  to  Geneseo,  Henry  Co.,  111.,  and  became 
a  dealer  in  butter  and  eggs,  establishing  his  business 
in  1872  and  operating  extensively  until  1876,  when 
he  sold  out  and  came  to  Tampico.  He  has  since 
been  more  extensively  engaged  in  trade  in  poultry 
than  any  other  single  dealer  in  the  State.  In  the 
winter  of  1884-5  he  shipped  200  tons  of  poultry,  and 
he  has  also  been  interested  in  the  management  of  two 
creameries.  He  has  six  poultry  buildings  in  dif- 
ferent localities,  and  is  the  owner  of  considerable 
village  property. 

Mr.  Burroughs  is  a  Republican  of  a  decided  type, 
and  has  served  on  the  Board  of  Village  Trustees. 


euben  F.  Shirley,  retired  farmer,  and  a 
resident  of  Rock  Falls,  was  born  Aug.  21, 
>"  1820,  in  Connersville,  Fayette  Co.,  Ind., 
and  was  the  youngest  son  of  eight  children  in 
the  family  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Danner) 
Shirley,  his  father  a  native  of  Virginia  and  his 
mother  of  Pennsylvania.  Receiving  a  limited  school 
education,  and  remaining  with  his  parents  until  22 
years  of  age,  he  bought  a  farm  in  Marshall  Co.,  Ind., 
containing  170  acres,  and  occupied  it  from  1843  to 
1864  ;  he  then  sold  it,  and  came  to  Lee  County,  this 
State,  buying  240  acres  of  land,  which  he  cultivated 
three  years;  selling  this,  he  purchased  an  8o-acre 
farm  in  this  county,  on  the  Dixon  road,  and  resided 


there  from  1867  to  1876.  He  then  sold  this  place  to 
his  son,  Samuel,  and  came  to  Rock  Falls,  and  pur- 
chased a  half  block  in  Arey's  Addition,  erecting  a 
residence  thereon,  which  he  now  occupies. 

Politically,  Mr.  Shirley  is  Democratic.  He  is  a 
self-made  man,  ready  at  all  times  to  lend  a  helping 
hand  for  the  good  of  society. 

He  was  married  June  2,  r842,  to  Jane  Thompson, 
also  a  native  of  Indiana.  They  have  had  six  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  now  living  and  married, 
namely:  Samuel  T.,  who  married  Alice  V.  Worth- 
ington;  Meredith  A.,  who  married  Sarah  L.  Dens- 
more;  Sarah  E.,  who  married  Charles  E.  Pay  son, 
and  Nancy  A.,  who  married  J.  H.  Meckling. 


-J- 


.  Edward  V.  H.  Alexander,  dentist  at 
Sterling  (office  on  Locust  Street),  and  the 
oldest  operator  in  that  line  in  the  city,  was 
born  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  April  29,  1830,  and 
was  the  fourth  child  in  a  family  of  six.  His 
father,  William  Alexander,  died  in  1832,  and  his 
mother,  nee  Maria  Wilber,  survived  until  April  14, 
1885,  the  very  day  that  this  sketch  was  written. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  outline  attended 
the  common  schools  until  he  arrived  at  the  age  of 
1 6  years,  and  after  he  became  of  age  he  attended 
Macedon  Academy,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  for  two  years, 
and  then  for  eight  years  he  taught  school  during  the' 
winter  seasons,  alternating  with  farm  work  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year. 

April  10,  1856,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Ada  Hale, 
a  native  of  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.  There  are  now  two 
children  living:  Edward  H.  and  Jessie.  After  mar- 
riage the  Doctor  moved  to  Beloit,  Wis.,  where  a 
daughter,  Mary  Hellen,  was  born.  At  this  place  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  teaching  for  two  years; 
then  he  returned  to  Clyde,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
the  daughter  died,  and  was  buried  at  Lyons,  that 
county.  There  he  purchased  a  farm  of  80  acres, 
cultivated  it  one  year,  sold  it,  and  moved  West 
again,  this  time  locating  in  Sterling.  Here  for  the 
first  two  years  he  conducted  a  grocery  and  drug- 
store; this  he  sold,  and  in  April,  1864,  he  visited 
the  gold  regions  of  Montana,  being  in  the  vicinity 
of  Virginia  City,  Helena,  the  Yellowstone  and  Deer 
Lodge  Valley,  for  three  and  a  half  years ;  next,  he 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


351 


went  to  Portland,  Oregon,  for  a.  few  weeks,  and 
thence  to  Salem,  the  capital  of  the  State,  where  he 
remained  two  and  a  half  years.  At  the  latter  place 
he  finished  his  studies  in  medicine  and  surgery, 
which  he  had  pursued  years  before,  and  graduated 
at  the  Willamette  University  in  1870.  Having  ac- 
quired the  art  of  dentistry,  and  previously  practiced 
it,  upon  returning  home  to  Sterling  in  1870  he  en- 
tered the  dental  profession,  in  which  he  has  re- 
mained to  the  present  time,  a  successful  operator 
and  a  leading  man  in  the  profession. 

In  his  political  views,  Dr.  Alexander  is  a  stanch 
Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  a  representative  and  worthy  gentleman.  Mrs. 
A.  died  May  16,  1882,  while  on  a  visit  at  Lyons, 
Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  buried  there  beside  her 
daughter. 


;"ohn  Mason,  farmer,  section  27,  Coloma 
Township,  was  born  Dec.  25,  1803,  in 
Paisley, Scotland,  and  was  the  fifth  child  in 
his  father's  family  of  u  children,  eight  sons 
and  three  daughters.  His  parents  were  George 
and  Elizabeth  (Nelson)  Mason,  natives  also  of 
Scotland.  His  father  was  a  manufacturer  of  silk  and 
shawls,  and  died  March  7,  1849,  and  his  mother 
Feb.  29,  1832.  When  17  years  of  age  he  emigrated 
to  America,  landing  at  Quebec.  Going  to  Caledonia 
Co.,  Vt.,  he  worked  out  by  the  month  on  a  farm, 
remaining  there  until  1830.  He  then  traveled  for 
a  while,  in  the  meantime  learning  the  mason's  trade. 
In  September,  1836,  he  came  to  Chicago,  and  went 
thence  to  Joliet,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm.  The 
next  year  he  came  to  Sterling,  this  county,  when  it 
was  wild  prairie,  there  being  there  but  one  house — a 
log  structure.  Here  he  worked  at  odd  jobs,  until  he 
took  a  claim  of  a  quarter-section  of  land  three  miles 
north  of  Sterling.  After  living  there  for  four  years 
he  sold  the  place,  and  then  for  two  years  drove  a 
team,  hauling  to  Chicago  and  return,  and  doing  other 
jobs  in  the  line  of  teaming.  About  this  time  he 
suffered  considerably  from  inflammation  of  the  eyes, 
trying  many  remedies,  but  without  avail.  Returning 
to  Scotland,  his  eyes  were  cured,  and  he  came  again 
to  Sterling,  where  he  resumed  his  trade  for  two 
years.  He  then  came  to  Coloma,  and  purchased  80 

_?*jpG)*tr'. /-^.-  \. 


acres  of  land,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  has  never  been  married,  but  has  always  had 
some  of  his  friends  living  with  him. 

In  politics  Mr.  Mason  is  a  Jackson  Democrat,  and 
votes  steadfastly  with  his  party.  In  religion  he  was 
brought  up  a  Presbyterian.  He  is  a  public-spirited 
man,  as  is  evinced  by  the  material  and  moral  aid  he 
has  given  public  institutions  of  beneficence. 

Robert  McNeil,  a  nephew  of  Mr.  Mason,  who  has 
lived  with  him  ever  since  his  immigration  to  this 
country,  in  1849,  superintends  the  work  of  the  farm. 
He  was  married  July  4,  1856,  to  Miss  Jean  Tyle,  of 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  but  formerly  from  Scotland.  They 
have  been  the  parents  of  eight  children :  Alexander 
J.,  Agnes  J.,  Willie  E.,  John  M.,  Jennie  L.,  Geor- 
giana  M.,  Robert  B.  and  Mary  I.  Mr.  McNeil  is  a 
Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  County  Democratic 
Committee;  also  Chairman  of  the  Town  Central 
Committee.  He  holds  the  Presbyterian  faith,  and 
his  wife  and  daughter  belong  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Sterling. 

Mr.  McNeil  was  the  first  organizer  of  the  White- 
side  County  Caledonian  Club,  consisting  of  40  mem- 
bers, all  of  Scotch  descent.  They  received  a  charter 
in  1878,  and  are  still  in  existence.  They  have  a 
library  of  250  volumes,  mostly  of  Scotch  and  Eng- 
lish literature. 


illiam  A.  Early,  farmer,  section  ir,  Mont- 
morency  Township,  is  a  son  of  Charles  H. 
and  Elicia  (McKinney)  Early,  natives  of 
New  York  and  Canada  respectively.  Tliey 
were  residents  of  York  State  at  the  date  of 
their  death,  that  of  the  father  occurring  in  the 
spring  of  r863,  and  that  of  the  mother  in  December, 
1860.  The  issue  of  their  union  comprised  seven 
children  :  Jane,  William  A.,  Margaret,~Mary,  Margie, 
Elicia  and  Charles  H. 

William  A.  Early,  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  was  born  in  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  18, 
1832.  He  lived  on  the  home  farm,  alternating  his 
labors  thereon  by  attendance  at  the  common  schools, 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  21  years.  On  reaching 
that  age  he  came  to  Kane  County,  this  State,  and 
resided  one  winter  in  Elgin. 

In    the  spring  of  1854  Mr.   Early  came    to   this 
,--,      '     ^jsxgflp" ^xa 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


*.  » 


r.ounty,  and  for  four  years  he  was  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  and  teaming  at  Sterling.  He  then 
purchased  40  acres  of  land  situated  on  section  n, 
Montmorency  Township,  upon  which  he  erected 
good  buildings,  and  entered  actively  and  vigorously 
upon  the  cultivation  of  his  land.  He  now  owns  160 
acres,  120  of  which  is  tillable.  He  keeps  about  40 
head  of  cattle,  6  head  of  horses,  and  fattens  some  50 
head  of  hogs  annually. 

Mr.  Early  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Geneva, 
Kane  County,  this  State,  Jan.  10,  1861,  to  Miss 
Susan  A.,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Susan  (Dolph) 
Dunham,  natives  of  Connecticut  and  New  York,  re- 
spectively. They  settled  in  Kane  County,  this  State, 
where  they  both  died,  inside  of  one  week,  in  March, 
1861.  Their  family  comprised  nine  children, — 
Edward,  Harriet,  Elizabeth,  Sophia,  Susan  A, 
Fletcher  D.,  Edward  E.,  Charles  and  Martha. 

Susan  A.  (Mrs.  Early)  was  born  in  Steuben  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Nov.  18,  1835,  and  has  borne  to  Mr.  Early 
eight  children, — Albert  W.,  Emma  ].,  Eva  M.,  Hat- 
tie  A.,  George  W.,  Frank  A.,  Mary  E.  and  Charles  F. 

Mr.  Early  has  held  many  offices  of  trust,  and  in 
politics  is  a  Republican.  Socially,  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  ever  since  he  attained 
his  majority. 


ames  K.  Chester,  dry-goods  merchant  at 
Sterling,  was  born  at  Henrietta,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  March  6,  1843,  the  fifth  in  a  family 
of  seven  children.  His  father,  Edwin  Chester> 
a  fanner,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  came  West 
first  to  Ohio,  then  to  Michigan  and  Kansas, 
where  he  lived  five  years  with  a  son,  and  finally, 
in  1880,  to  Sterling,  where  he  died,  March  29,  1885. 
His  wife,  nee  Mary  E.  Porter,  was  a  native  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  died  in  Ohio,  in  1857. 

When  18  years  of  age,  Mr.  Chester,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  entered  the  college  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  at 
which  place  he  afterward  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  store 
for  six  years ;  then  for  the  two  succeeding  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Reamer,  Hubburd  &  Co  ,  as 
proprietors  of  the  same  establishment.  In  1869  he 
came  to  Sterling  and,  continuing  in  the  same  busi- 
ness, first  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Mills  &  Ches- 
ter, then  Ingersoll  &  Chester,  until  1875,  tnen  of  tne 
terling  Mercantile  Company  for  five  years,  when  he 


\\ 


sold  his  interest  in  the  latter  and  opened  a  dry -goods    • 
house  on  Third  Street,  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  K.    i 
Chester  &  Co.,  where  he  has  since  been   prosecuting   ' 
his  business  interests,  with  that  marked  degree  of 
success  which  characterizes  a  solid  man  of  business.    > 
He  is  a  consistent  member   of   the  Congregational 
Church,  a  member  of  society  in  high  standing  and  an 
influential  citizen.     He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.,  of  the  I.  O.  M.  A.,  and  of  the  American  Legion 
of  Honor.     He  has  a  fine  residence  on  Third  Street. 
Oct.  n,  1866,  is  the  date 'of  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Cynthia  L.  Ingersoll,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Sophie  I.,  born  Jan.  19,  1876. 


enry  M.  Zendt,  a  farmer  of  Jordan  Town- 
ship, resident  on  section  17,  was  born  Feb. 
21,  1825,  in  Baden,  Germany.  Jacob  Zendti 
his  father,  was  born  also  in  Baden,  and  was 
a  millwright  by  vocation.  Elizabeth  (Down) 
Zendt,  his  mother,  was  born  in  Baden.  In 
1830,  the  family,  consisting  of  the  parents  and  six 
children,  emigrated  from  Germany  to  the  United 
States.  After  a  residence  of  three  years  in  the  city 
of  Philadelphia,  where  one  child  was  born,  they  re- 
moved to  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.  In  1851  another 
transfer,  to  Lancaster  County,  in  the  same  State,  was 
made. 

While  living  in  Montgomery  County,  Mr.  Zendt 
served  three  years  as  an  apprentice  in  learning  the 
trade  of  carriage-maker  from  a  man  named  Abraham 
Kolb.  He  worked  at  that  business  as  a  journeyman 
six  years  in  Montgomery  County,  where  he  was  fore- 
man four  years  in  a  carriage  shop.  After  removing 
to  Lancaster  County,  he  established  a  shop  with 
business  relations  under  his  own  control,  managing 
his  affairs  at  that  point  12  years  with  success. 

His  marriage  to  Catherine  Groff  took  place  Feb. 
28,  1860.  Mrs.  Zendt  is  the  daughter  of  B.  M.  and 
Lydia(Tombo)  GrofF,  and  was  born  in  East  Lampster 
Township,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  24,  1841.  When 
she  was  ten  years  of  age  she  was  removed  from  the 
care  of  her  parents  and  was  reared  to  womanhood  by 
strangers.  Her  mother  died  in  Lancaster  County,  in 
the  summer  of  1884.  Her  father  is  yet  living.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zendt  have  been  born  as 
follows:  Lydia  A.,  Oct.  18,  1863;  Mary  M.,  June  16, 
A'  s-\ 


'   - 


UNIVERSITY  OF  <LUNUK> 
UKfrttlA 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


1866;  John  G.,  Oct.  23,  1871.  Two  children  died 
young:  Franklin  G.,  born  Jan.  5,  1861,  died  June  i, 
1864  ;  Naomi  T.,  born  April  2t,  1859,  died  May  17, 

i873- 
They  came  to  Sterling  in  the  spring  of  1864.     Mr. 

Zendt  followed  the  business  of  carriage-maker  there 
20  years  with  success.  In  1873  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  A.  B.  Spies,  and  their  business  relations 
continued  until  the  senior  partner  became  a  farmer. 
In  May,  1867,  he  purchased  80  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 1 8,  Jordan  Township,  which  was  improved.  In 
February,  1884,  he  made  another  purchase  of  60 
acres  on  section  17,  which  was  also  improved.  He 
is  also  the  owner  of  five  acres  of  timber  in  Gen- 
esee  Township.  He  has  made  considerable  addi- 
tional improvement  on  his  property.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Meaponite  Church,  and 
Mr.  Zendt  is  one  of  the  Deacons  of  the  society. 


1'ames  M.  Winters,  a  retired  farmer,  resi- 
Jl?-  dent  in  the  village  of  Coleta,  in  Genesee 
Township,  was  bcrn  March  22,  1809,  in 
Leicester  Township,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.  His 
father,  Timothy  Winters,  was  a  farmer  by  call- 
ing and  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
of  Irish  origin  and  was  married  in  his  native  State, 
to  Margaret  Lemon.  He  fixed  his  family  residence 
in  Genesee  County  and  lived  there  some  years,  re- 
moving thence  to  Washington  Co.,  Ind.  He  engaged 
in  farming  there  until  his  death  in  1841,  when  he 
was  56  years  of  age.  The  maternal  grandparents  of 
Mr.  Winters  came  from  Germany  to  the  United 
States,  and  from  them  descended  the  families  of 
their  name  in  this  country,  who  are  of  German  origin. 
The  mother  of  Mr.  Winters  was  born  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Pennsylvania,  near  the  line  of  the  State  of 
Xew  York,  where  she  was  brought  up  to  womanhood 
and  married.  She  went  with  her  husband  to  Indiana 
in  1817,  and  died  in  Washington  County,  in  1822, 
aged  38  years.  She  was  the  mother  of  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Mr.  Winter's  birth  was  preceded  by  that  of  one 
sister,  and  he  was  a  little  less  than  nine  years  of  age 
when  his  father  removed  his  family  .to  Indiana. 
Washington  County  was  in  its  infancy,  having  been 
organized  only  one  year  previous  to  their  settlement 
within  its  borders.  He  was  an  inmate  of  his  father's 


household  until  the  years  of  his  minority  were 
passed,  which  were  spant  in  obtaining  a  common- 
school  education  and  in  acquiring  a  complete  un- 
derstanding of  agriculture.  His  education  was  lim- 
ited according  to  the  meagre  advantages  afforded  by 
the  pioneer  schools,  but  his  temperament  led  him  to 
observe  and  reflect  to  an  extent  that  sufficed  as  well 
for  mental  training  as  instruction  would  have  done. 
He  had  also  good  judgment  and  discrimination  in 
the  choice  of  books,  of  which  he  was  fond. 

He  was  married  Aug.  17,  1831  (the  year  follow- 
ing th  it  in  which  he  became  his  "  own  man  "),  to 
Susan,  daughter  of  George  and  Tabitha  (Hendricks) 
Gyger.  She  was  born  in  East  Tennessee,  and  her 
parents  were  natives  of  Scotland.  They  removed 
from  Tennessee  to  Indiana  in  the  year  in  which  the 
State  was  organized.  Her  father  died  in  Washing- 
ton County  in  1831;  the  mother's  death  occurred 
about  four  years  later. 

Mrs.  Winters  died  in  Coleta.  She  was  a  woman 
of  decided  Christian  character  and  passed  the  later 
years  of  her  life  in  earnest,  devoted  labor  in  the 
cause  which  was  nearer  her  heart  than  any  other. 
She  died  June  10,  1882.  In  religious  connection 
she  belonged  to  the  United  Brethren  Church.  She 
is  sincerely  mourned  by  her  numerous  acquaintances, 
and  seven  children  are  left  motherless  by  her  death. 
Two  children  had  gone  before  to  the  other  world. 
George  Clinton  Winters,  one  of  the  deceased  sons, 
became  a  soldier  of  the  Union  Army,  enlisting  in 
Co.  A,  34th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  commanded  by  Col. 
E.  N.  Kirk,  of  Sterling.  He  was  seized  with  typhoid 
fever,  from  which  he  died  in  the  hospital  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  soon  after  his  regiment  was  assigned 
to  its  position.  John  M.  died  in  1856,  aged  three 
years.  Following  is  the  record  of  the  seven  chil- 
dren who  survive :  Catherine,  who  married  Newlon 
Dodd,  a  farmer  of  Clay  Co.,  Kan. ;  William  J.,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Fowler  and  now  resides  in  the 
vicinity  of  Traer,  in  Tama  Co.,  Iowa;  Tabitha  H., 
who  married  Cephas  Hurless,  late  Supervisor  of 
Genesee  Township.  He  died  at  Coleta  in  the  fall  of 
1884.  James  P.  married  Olive  Baxter  and  lives  at 
Marshall,  Iowa;  Matilda  C.,  who  married  E.  M. 
Olmstead  and  lives  at  Coleta ;  E.  C.  Winters,  who 
married  Paulina  Scoville  and  lives  at  Sterling,  111.; 
Melissa  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Wallace,  a  farmer  of 
Riley  Co.,  Kan. 

Mr.  Winters  was  a  second  time  married,  at  Coleta, 


t. 


2r 


(21 


r  ' 


• 
1 


Dec.  9,  1884,.  to  Anna  Skill,  daughter  of  Timothy 
and  Margaret  (Carr)  Skill.  Her  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Ireland,  where  their  entire  lives  were  passed. 
Her  father  died  at  50  years  of  age,  in  1883.  Mrs. 
Winters  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  Dec.  25, 
1858,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1880, 
and  had  been  in  America  four  years  when  mar- 
ried. 

Mr.  Winters  came  from  Washington  Co.,  Ind.,  to 
Illinois  in  r847,  and  located  at  first  in  the  township 
of  Wysox,  Carroll  County,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  the  fall  of  1876,  the  date  of  his  retire- 
ment from  the  life  of  a  farmer,  when  he  fixed  his 
residence  at  Coleta.  He  is  the  owner  of  four  dwell- 
ings at  that  place,  and  has  1 1  acres  of  land  laid  out 
in  village  lots.  Mr.  Winters  is  an  active  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  which  he  has 
been  a  Class-leader  and  Trustee.  While  a  resident 
of  Carroll  County,  he  was  active  in  the  administra- 
tion of  local  affairs.  He  was  elected  Assessor  of  the 
township  of  Genesee  in  1884,  and  is  now  the  incum- 
bent of  that  position,  which  he  has  held  since  the 
date  of  his  first  election.  He  is  an  earnest  and  zeal- 
ous Republican. 

Mr.  Winters  is  of  that  type  of  man  and  citizen  as 
demands,  in  the  estimation  of  the  community,  a  rep- 
resentation among  the  portraits  of  this  volume;  and 
it  is  accordingly  given,  on  a  page  opposite  the  be- 
ginning of  the  foregoing  sketch. 


ugust  Stern,  farmer,  section  8,  Hopkins 
Township,  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Louisa 
Stern,  natives  of  Germany,  who  emigrated 
to  America  about  1862,  and  settled  in  Ogle 
Co.,  111.,  and  afterwards  removed  into  this 
county,  settling  in  Genesee  Township,  where 
they  resided  until  their  death.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren,— Fritz,  Christoph,  August,  Fredericka  and 
Wilhmena. 

Mr.  Stern,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Germany,  Aug.  24,  1835.  He  lived  in  his  native 
country  till  1858,  where  he  was  employed  in  farming. 
In  the  summer  of  1858  he  came  to  America  and 
lived  about  a  year  in  Ogle  County,  and  came  to 
Whiteside  County  in  1861,  purchasing  80  acres  of 
land  on  section  8,  Hopkins  Township,  where  he  set- 


tied  and  has  since  lived.  He  is  the  owner  of  203 
acres,  200  of  which  is  in  good  cultivation.  He  has 
erected  fine  buildings  u]>on  his  farm. 

Mr.  Stern  was  married  in  Sugar  Grove  Township, 
Ogle  County,  Feb.  21,  1861,  to  Dorothea  Shultz, 
daughter  of  Frederick  and  Dorothea  Shultz,  who 
were  natives  of  Germany.  They  had  a  family  of  two 
children  who  lived  to  years  of  maturity,  namely : 
Dorothea  and  Ernestina.  Mrs.  S.  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, Sept.  i,  1839.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stern  are  the 
parents  of  12  children,  11  of  whom  are  living,  viz., 
Henry  W.,  Edgar  F.,  Emma  J.,  Isabella,  John  F., 
William  C.,  Ernest  T.,  Hannah  J.,  GustavA.,  Helena 
A.  and  Herman  A  Christian  died  when  an  infant. 

The  parents  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Stern  is  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party.  . 

•' 

"oseph  C.  Eeeves,  farmer,  section  20,  Hahn- 
aman Township,  is  a  son  of  Howell  and 
Phebe  (Howell)  Reeves,  his  father  a  na- 
tive ;of  New  York  and  his  mother  of  New  Jer- 
sey. They  passed  their  entire  lives  in  the 
Empire  State.  They  had  eight  children,  as 
follows :  Stephen,  Hila,  David,  Amos,  Fanny  E., 
Joseph  C.,  Harlan  P.  and  Charles  E. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Wayne  Co., 
N.  Y.,  April  26,  1840,  and  obtained  his  education  at 
the  common  school  until  17  years  of  age  and  then 
for  two  years  at  the  Marion  Collegiate  Institute  in 
Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  the  fall  of  1860  he  came  to 
Whiteside  County;  taught  school  in  Hahnaman 
Township  the  following  winter,  and  the  next  autumn 
returned  to  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  for  the  purpose  of 
enlisting  in  the  army.  He  enrolled  Sept.  19,  1861, 
in  the  Eighth  N.  Y.  Cav.,  and  served  nearly  four 
years,  being  in  about  60  general  engagements,  be- 
sides numerous  skirmishes.  At  the  battle  of  Five 
Forks,  Va.,  in  April,  1864,  he  was  wounded  in  the 
neck  by  a  minie  ball,  which  incapacitated  him  for 
further  service,  and  he  remained  in  the  hospital  at 
Washington  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

After  receiving  his  discharge  he  came  directly  to 
Whiteside  County  and,  in  company  with  his  brother 
Amos,  purchased  200  acres  of  land  in  Hahnaman 
Township,  since  which  time  he  has  resided  there, 


' 

» 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


with  the  exception  of  nearly  six  years,  when  he  lived 
in  the  township  of  Tampico.  He  is  now  the  owner 
of  1 60  acres  on  section  20,  all  of  which  is  in  cultiva- 
tion. 

Mr.  Reeves  is  a  member  of  Samuel  G.  Steadman 
Post,  No.  491,  G.  A.  R.,  has  held  the  office  of  Town- 
ship Assessor  one  year,  is  a  Republican  in  his  po- 
litical views,  and  both  himself  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

He  was  married  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  Nov.  30, 
1869,  to  Fanny  R.  Brewer,  daughter  of  Hiram  and 
Clarrissa  (Hollister)  Brewer,  natives  of  Massachusetts 
and  now  residing  in  Washington,  D.  C.  Their  children 
were  six  in  number,  and  named  Mason  H.,  Auren  S., 
Hiram  H.,  Maria  C.,  Fanny  R.  and  Daniel  E.  Mrs. 
Reeves  was  born  in  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  Nov.  26, 
1843.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reeves  are  the  parents  of  four 
children,  viz. :  Auren  C.,  J.  Mason,  H.  Edson  and 
Walter  E. 

j ^  <:>• _. 


r.  John  L.  Morrill,  practicing   physician 
at  Rock  Falls,  was  born  Oct.  19,  1823,  at 
Olean,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
reared  in  Napoli.     He  was  the  fourth  in  the 
family  of  Mastin   and  Sally  (Osborn)   Morrill, 
natives  of  Vermont.     The  senior  Morrill  was 
the  first  male  child  born  in  Danville,  Vt.,  and  was  a 
farmer  by  vocation.     The  subject  of  this  biograph- 
ical notice  remained  at    his  parental    home   until  of 
age,    obtaining    a    liberal    education.     He    taught 
school  for  a  time,  and  then  attended  high   school   in 
Springfield,  Erie  Co.,  about  three  years.     Then  he 
taught  eight   years  in  graded  and  district  schools,  in 
the   meantime    taking   up   the   study   of  medicine. 
Commencing  to  attend  lectures  in  the  fall  of  1855, 
he  was  admitted    to  practice    the   next   year.     He 
taught  school   and    practiced    medicine  until    1860, 
when  he  made  a  trip  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.     He 
visited  Boulder  City,  when  there  was  but  one  house 
m  the  place  supplied  with  a  floor ;  and  Golden  City, 
where  men  were  engaged  in  digging  for  gold ;   and 
also   Denver.     He  was  on    this    tour   from  April  to 
September.     He  then   located  in  Yorktown,  Bureau 
>  Co.,   111.,   where    he   followed    his   profession   eight 
years,  coming   then,  in    1867,10  Rock   Falls,    since 
-  which  date  he  has  pursued  his  calling  here.     In  the 


fall  of  that  year  he  erected  a  residence,  and  the  next 
year  a  store  building,  wherein  he  opened  a  stock  of 
drugs ;  but  this  he  afterward  sold  to  O.  A.  Oliver  & 
Co.,  who  continued  business  in  the  same  building 
for  about  eight  years.  Being  signally  successful,  he 
has  had  a  large  practice.  He  has  built  one  of  the 
finest  residences  in  the  village,  and  three  miles  east 
he  owns  a  valuable  farm  of  2 1 2  acres. 

Dr.  Morrill  was  married  Oct.  28,  1863,  to  Louisa 
Smith,  a  native  of  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  they 
have  two  children,  viz. :  Ella  Francina,  born  Aug. 
13,  1866,  and  Arthur  Burdett,  May  7,  1872. 

In  his  political  views  the  Doctor  is  a  Republican, 
and  both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 


'ohn  R.  Renner,  farmer,  section  18,  Hahn- 
aman  Township,  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Elmina  (Rheinhart)  Renner,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  married  and  lived  in  that 
State  until  Dec.,  1842,  when  they  emigrated 
West,  and,  after  spending  the  ensuing  winter 
at  Deer  Grove,  Hahnaman  Township,,  this  county, 
removed  to  Bureau  County,  this  State.  There  they 
resided  until  1859,  when  they  returned  to  Hahnaman 
Township,  settling  upon  section  17,  where  they  re- 
sided until  Mr.  Renner's  death,  which  occurred  Nov. 
20,  1859.  They  had  a  family  of  n  children,  whose 
names  were  William  D.,  Emanuel,  Uriah,  John  R., 
Thomas,  James,  Margaret  J.,  Susan  E.,  Ruth,  Frank 
and  Freddie.  Mrs.  Renner  was  again  married,  in 
Tampico  Township,  to  William  K.  Harvey,  who 
afterward  died  in  Hahnaman  Township,  Feb.  28, 
1862.  Mrs.  H.  was  again  married  in  February, 
1867,  in  Hahnaman  Township,  to  William  Beal,  who 
died  in  Iowa  about  1871.  Mrs.  Beal  is  the  owner 
of  80  acres  of  land  in  Hahnaman  Township,  all  of 
which  is  in  a  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  John  R.  Renner,  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth 
in  his  parents'  family  of  children,  was  born  in  Greene 
Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  17,  1842,  and  was  a  young  child  when 
his  parents  moved  with  him  to  this  county,  since 
which  time  he  has  lived  in  this  and  Bureau  Counties. 
His  education  was  such  as  was  common  to  farmers' 
sons.  Aug.  15,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  ii2th  Regt. 
111.  Inf.,  and  served  nearly  three  years  in  the  cause 
of  the  Union,  participating  in  numerous  battles  and 


Jf 

«  :* 


& 


•  • 
( ( 


0  \ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


(b 


skirmishes.  While  on  picket  duty  at  Columbia, 
Term.,  in  November,  1864,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  in 
company  with  thirty  comrades  of  his  regiment,  and 
was  confined'  in  the  awful  prison  at  Andersonville 
most  of  the  time  for  five  months,  when  the  war 
closed  and  he  was  consequently  liberated,  barely 
escaping  with  his  life.  He  received  his  discharge  at 
Springfield,  III.,  and  returned  to  this  county,  where 
he  has  since  made  his  residence  and  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  now  owns  228  acres  of  land, 
130  of  which  is  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 

He  is  a  member  of  Samuel  G.  Steadman  Post, 
G.  A.  R.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  has  held  the  offices  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner, School  Director  and  Overseer  of  Highways. 


uman  Wakeman,  farmer  on  section  18, 
Montmorency  Township,  is  a  son  of  David 
and  Helen  (Waltermire)  Wakeman,  who 
were  natives  respectively  of  Connecticut  and 
New  York  State.  Mr.  David  Wakeman  died 
at  his  home  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  28, 
1833,  and  his  widow  afterward  married  Hiram 
Witherwax,  and  they  came  to  Whiteside  County  in 
1866,  settling  in  Hume  Township,  where  she  died 
April  4,  1 88 1.  They  had  five  children, — George, 
Clarissa,  David,  Sarah  and  Luman. 

Mr.  Wakeman,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  27,  1831, 
and  was  about  two  years  of  age  when  his  father  died ; 
consequently  he  was  very  young  when  he  started  out 
in  the  perilous  voyage  of  life  for  himself.  At  the  age 
of  14  years  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  saddlery 
trade,  to  which  he  applied  himself  for  something  over 
two  years.  Up  to  this  time  his  school  education  was 
very  limited,  owing  mainly  to  feeble  health.  From 
the  same  cause,  and  partly  from  choice,  he  abandoned 
the  trade  that  had  been  chosen  for  him,  and  sought 
out-door  employment  on  the  farm.  After  being  thus 
engaged  about  14  years,  he  purchased  the  farm  which 
he  now  occupies,  and  upon  which  he  permanently 
located  in  1858;  he  had  previously  spent  a  short 
time  in  this  county,  and  also  in  Winnebago  County 
and  Iowa.  In  Winnebago  County  he  followed  farm- 
ing about  three  years  and  was  married.  From  the 


age  of  20  to  24  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  woods 
and  in  a  saw-mill,  and  also  for  a  time  had  charge  of 
the  engine.  In  1858  he  purchased  80  acres  where 
he  lives,  erected  good  farm  buildings  and  subse- 
quently added  other  land  by  purchase,  so  that  he  is 
now  the  proprietor  of  225  acres,  all  of  which  is  in 
cultivation. 

In  his  political  action,  Mr.  Wakeman  is  indepen- 
dent; in  religion  he  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  and  in  the  community  he  enjoys  a  high 
social  standing.  Officially,  he  has  held  many  posi- 
tions of  trust. 

Mr.  Wakeman  was  first  married  in  Yates  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  March  16,  1852,  to  Sarah  A.  Bradbury,  a  native 
of  that  State,  and  they  had  one  child,  David  L. 
His  second  marriage  occurred  in  Guilford,  Winne- 
bago Co,  111.,  Sept.  19,  1859,  to  Mrs.  Emily  A., 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Nancy  (Boss)  Cunningham, 
and  widow  of  Peter  Christie,  who  died  in  Oakland, 
Jefferson  Co.,  Wis.,  Nov.  15,  1856.  By  her  first  mar- 
riage there  we.-e  three  children, — Orson,  Katie  and 
Henry.  The  first  named  died  Jan.  8,  1885,  when  32 
years  of  age,  and  Katie  died  March  21,  1856.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cunningham  were  natives  of  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.,  moved  to  Jefferson  Co.,  Wis.,  thence  to  Win- 
nebago Co.,  111.,  and  finally  to  Delaware  Co.,  Iowa, 
where  Mr.  C.  died,  Nov.  18,  1868.  Mrs.  C.  survives. 
They  had  a  family  of  nine  children, — Edwin,  Emily 
A.,  Benjamin,  Horace,  Henry,  Freeman,  Marshall, 
Guy  and  Putnam.  Mrs.  Wakeman  was  born  in  Os- 
wego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  20,  1831,  and  by  her  present 
marriage  there  are  three  children, — Emma  A.,  Aetna 
D.  and  Edwin  M. 


j:  obert  Emmet  Logan,  deceased,  late  Rep- 
resentative in  the  Legislature,  was  born  in 
Bath.Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  13,  1828, 
and  died  of  heart  disease  in  the  Illinois  State 
Capitol,  while  in  the  performance  of  his  du- 
ties as  a  Legislator,  on  Thursday,  Feb.  26, 
He  was  educated  at  Bath  Academy,  N.  Y. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet-making,  working  at 
it  for  several  years  in  the  East,  and  in  1853  turned 
his  steps  westward,  coming  to  Davenport,  Iowa, 


1885. 


?> 


' 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


where  for  some  time  he  was   foreman  in  a  furniture 
factory. 

In  December,  1854,  being  attracted  by  the  influ- 
ence of  family  relations,  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
Portland  Township,  Whiteside  Co,  111.,  where  he 
taught  school,  and  afterward  pursued  the  business 
of  cabinet-making.  In  1860  he  became  Deputy 
Sheriff  of  the  County,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
until  lie  was  elected  Sheriff  in  1862,  holding  the  lat- 
ter position  for  one  term.  General  Oglesby  was  first 
elected  Governor  in  November,  1864,  and  early  in 
1865  he  appointed  Mr.  Logan  a  Penitentiary  Com- 
missioner. Mr.  Logan  was  re- appointed  at  the  end 
of  two  years,  and  in  1868  was  elected  to  the  same 
position  by  the  people,  the  office  having  become 
elective.  He  is  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  present 
Revere  House  at  Morrison  at  its  opening,  Dec.  26, 
1865,  and  maintained  his  connection  with  it  for  about 
a  year.  In  the  meantime,  he  had,  in  1864,  entered 
largely  into  the  business  of  farming  in  Union  Grove 
Township,  about  four  miles  west  of  Morrison,  and 
moved  upon  his  farm  in  1867.  He  was  President 
of  the  Whiteside  County  Central  Agricultural  Soci- 
ety from  1875  to  his  death,  and  by  his  energy  made 
it  one  of  the  most  successful  in  the  State.  His  ex- 
excutive  ability  gave  him  great  prominence  among 
his  fellow  men,  and  as  a  presiding  officer  he  had  few 
equals  in  his  party. 

For  the  past  20  years  he  has  been  actively  inter- 
ested in  politics.  He  was  a  Delegate  to  the  National 
Republican  Convention  at  Chicago,  in  1880,  and  was 
Presidential  Elector  from  the  old  Fifth  District  that 
year.  He  was  very  popular  at  home,  and  .on  all 
occasions  where  the  interest  of  the  community  was 
to  be  subserved,  Robert  E.  Logan  was  the  modest, 
liberal  and  efficient  man,  and  to  him  the  meed  of 
praise  was  cheerfully  accorded.  He  served  as  Su- 
pervisor of  his  town  continuously  from  1875  until 
November,  1884,  when  he  resigned  upon  his  election 
to  the  Legislature ;  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Board 
for  several  terms.  In  the  fall  of  1884  he  was  the 
unanimous  choice  of  the  Republican  Convention  of 
Whiteside  County  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  nomi- 
nated shortly  after  by  the  Republican  Convention 
of  the  Nineteenth  Senatorial  District,  comprising 
Whiteside  and  Lee  Counties.  Upon  the  convening 
of  the  Legislature  he  took  a  very  active  and  influ- 
ential part,  and  gave  promise  of  a  useful  career.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Morrison. 


Seldom  is  it  that  a  community  is  called  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  a  person  so  generally  and  warmly  appre- 
ciated as  was  Mr.  Logan — a  man  who  willingly 
aided  every  good  work.  No  one  could  manage  any- 
thing of  a  public  nature  better  than  he.  His  friends 
loved  him  because  he  was  true  to  them;  his  enemies 
respected  him  because  he  was  just  to  them. 

Mrs.  Malvina  (McCoy)  Logan,  who  survives  him, 
is  the  daughter  of  Hon.  James  McCoy,  of  Fulton,  of 
whom  a  sketch  is  given  elsewhere.  Their  marriage 
took  place  Feb.  23,  1864,  and  their  children  are 
three  sons  and  a  daughter. 


iharles  H.  Smith,  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
lion  21,  Hahnaman  Township,  is  a  son 
of  Christian  and  Anna  M.  Smith,  natives  of 
Germany.  His  mother  died  in  her  native 
country,  and  in  the  spring  of  185  i  his  father 
emigrated  to  this  country,  and  settled  in  Mont- 
gomery Co  ,  Pa.  He  resided  there  for  six  years,  and 
in  1857  came  to  this  county  and  settled  in  Sterling. 
The  issue  of  their  union  was  four  children,  namely: 
Christian,  Charles  H.,  Emma  and  William. 

Charles  H.  was  born  in  Germany,  Feb.  i,  1846,  and 
was  five  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  father  to 
the  United  States.  He  lived  at  home,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, assisting  on  the  farm  and  attending  the 
common  schools,  until  1861,  when  he  came  to  this 
county,  and  "worked  out  "  on  a  farm  for  three  years. 
He  then,  in  partnership  with  his  father,  rented  a 
farm  in  Coloma  Township,  which  they  jointly  culti- 
vated for  five  years,  after  which  he  was  variously 
occupied  for  a  while,  and  then  rented  a  farm,  and 
cultivated  it  himself  for  several  years. 

In  1880  he  went  to  Hahnaman  Township,  and 
purchased  160  acres  of  land,  located  on  section  21. 
He  erected  a  fine  house  and  barn  on  the  land,  and 
entered  vigorously  upon  the  task  of  its  improve- 
ment. In  April,  1884,  the  destroying  element,  fire, 
swept  away  his  barn  and  outbuildings,  together  with 
a  large  quantity  of  grain,  16  head  of  hogs,  and  all 
his  farming  implements.  Misfortune  did  not  dis- 
hearten or  overcome  him,  and  he  rebuilt  the  same 
year.  About  80  acres  of  his  land  is  in  a  good  tilla- 
ble condition. 

Mr.  Smith  was  united  in    marriage  Feb.  18,  1868, 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


at  Sterling,  III,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Phillip 
and  Margaret  Obendorf,  natives  of  Germany.  They 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  about  1850,  and 
settled  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  from  whence  they  came 
to  this  county  in  the  spring  of  1860,  settling  in  Jor- 
dan Township,  where,  three  years  later,  in  1863,  the 
father  died.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren: John,  Mary,  William,  Charles  and  Sarah. 

Mrs.  Smith  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Aug.  29, 
1850.  She  and  her  husband  are  the  parents  of  four 
children :  Nellie  M.,  Nettie  M.,  Charles  E.  and  Lilly 
M. 

Mr.  Smith  has  held  the  office  of  School  Director, 
and  politically  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Evangelical  Church,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
English  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  she  has  been  a 
member  since  16  years  of  age. 


a 


v  » 
& 

>  - 

1 


|  ufus  H.  Sheldon,  dealer  in  agricultural 
implements,  grain  and  live  stock,  at  Rock 
Falls,  was  born  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug. 
27,  1815.  His  father,  Ira  Sheldon,  a  farmer, 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  of  New  England 
ancestry  and  English  descent.  His  grand- 
father, Rufus  Sheldon,  was  also  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut and  of  similar  ancestry.  The  family,  so  far 
as  concerns  its  history  in  America,  originally  sprang 
from  three  brothers  who  emigrated  to  this  country 
previous  to  the  Revolution,  settling  in  New  England. 
Most  of  the  Sheldons  have  been  farmers  by  vocation. 
Ira  Sheldon  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
died  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  2,  1827,  at  the  age 
of  42.  His  wife,  Mary,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  of 
New  England  ancestry  and  English  descent,  and 
died  in  Barry  Co.,  Mich.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  a  relative  of  Henry  O.  Sheldon,  editor  of  Sheldons 
Magazine.  He  is  the  second  in  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, his  brothers  being  Isaac  N.,  De  WittC.,  Harvey 
N.,  Orson  B.  and  Sylvester  W. 

Mr.  S.  was  12  years  old  when  his  father  died,  but 
continued  to  live  with  his  mother  (who  was  again 
married)  until  he  was  of  age,  receiving  a  high-school 
education.  At  the  age  of  19  he  commenced  teach- 
ing during  the  winter  seasons,  while  he  pursued  farm- 
ing during  the  intervals.  He  afterward  purchased 


the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  and  became  sole  pro- 
prietor of  the  old  homestead,  where  he  resided  until 
1847,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  on  an  unim- 
proved tract  of  340  acres  in  Bureau  County.  After 
improving  that  place  a  number  of  years,  he  sold  and 
came,  in  1869,  to  Sterling,  where,  in  partnership  with 
C.  M.  Jaques,  of  Rock  Falls,  he  entered  the  trade  in 
agricultural  implements  and  coal.  They  now  have 
two  elevators  (having  built  one  in  1877),  with  a 
capacity  of  about  60,000  bushels.  They  also  deal 
extensively  in  live  stock,  and  are  driving  a  prosperous 
business.  Mr.  S.  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  in  politics  is  a  stanch  Republican. 

Mr.  Sheldon  was  married  in  his  native  county, 
Dec.  i,  1836,  to  Miss  Mercy  E.  Edmonds,  who  was 
born  in  the  township  of  Brutus,  same  county,  in  1817, 
the  daughter  of  Joseph  Edmonds,  a  farmer.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  S.  became  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
three  of  whom  are  deceased.  The  record  now 
stands :  Irving  W.  married  Eleanor  Cortwright,  and 
now  resides  on  a  farm  in  Dakota;  Clarence  L.  mar- 
ried Letitia  Crawford  and  resides  in  Sterling,  where 
he  is  practicing  as  an  attorney  at  law;  R.  H., 
Jr.,  married  Miss  May  Stitzel,and  is  interested  in  the 
agricultural  implement  trade  with  his  father;  William 
C.  married  Anna  Banes,  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Winnipeg,  Manitoba;  IdaM.  married  Newton  Petrie, 
a  county  officer  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  and  the  deceased 
are  Mary,  Edward  S.  and  Joseph  C. 


evi  Courtright,  farmer,  section  28,  Genesee 
Township,  was  born  Jan.  27,  1840,  in  Sus- 
sex Co.,  N.  J.,  and  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and 
Elizabeth  (Vernanten)  Courtright.  (See  sketch 
of  John  Courtright).  His  parents  came  to  Illi- 
nois when  he  was  15  years  of  age.  His  father 
was  the  parent  of  2  r  children,  born  of  two  marriages. 
Mr.  Courtright  is  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  of  ten 
children  born  of  the  second  marriage.  He  was 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  lived  at  home 
until  he  was  22  years  old. 

He  was  married  Dec.  24,  1861,  in  Genesee  Town- 
ship, to  Sarah  Franklin.  She  was  born  Feb.  12,  1841, 
in  Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio.  Her  parents,  Simeon  and 
Catherine  (Funk)  Franklin,  went  when  she  was  ten 
years  old  to  Fulton  County,  in  the  same  State.  Six 

>f^^_____  _«e^LiSv^SA 

l^7*^L**o  '\ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


years  later  they  made  another  removal  to  Genesee 
Township,  in  Whiteside  County.  Her  father  died  in 
May,  1871,  aged  70  years.  Her  mother  lives  in 
Jones  Co.,  Iowa,  with  her  eldest  daughter,  and  is 
aged  78  years  (1885). 

Mrs.  Courtright  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children, 
and  is  herself  the  mother  of  five  sons  and  daughters. 
Emma  V.  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Finzel,  a  farmer  and 
teacher  in  Genesee  Township.  Martha  C.,  Charles, 
Frank  and  Fred  (twins)  are  the  names  of  those  who 
are  yet  unmarried. 

Mr.  Courtright  passed  some  years  in  the  business 
of  farming  "on  shares,"  and  in  February,  1873, 
bought  103  acres  on  sections  28  and  19,  which  has 
since  been  his  field  of  operation.  The  family  belong 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Courtright 
is  a  Republican  in  political  affiliation. 


dward  Horner,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  E.  Horner  &  Son,  dealers  in  pianos, 
organs  and  musical  merchandise,  was  born 
April  2,  1823,  in  Wakefield,  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land. His  father,  Frank  Horner,  was  a  native 
of  Yorkshire  and  was  a  professional  musician, 
playing  the  "cello  and  singing  in  concert.  He  died 
in  August,  1853,  in  Thornhill,  Yorkshire,  and  was  68 
years  old.  The  mother,  Ellen  (Rowley)  Horner,  was 
about  63  years  old  when  she  died  (in  1854),  in  her 
native  county  of  Yorkshire.  Five  of  their  eight  chil- 
dren are  living.  George  is  a  farmer  in  Greene  Co., 
Iowa,  and  has  acquired  some  reputation  as  a  violin- 
ist. Jesse  enlisted  in  the  War  for  the  Union,  in  the 
38th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  the 
battle  of  Murfreesboro,  and  died  of  the  concentrated 
miseries  and  sufferings  at  Andersonville!  John  is  a 
dry-goods  merchant  at  Queensbury,  Yorkshire,  and 
he  is  also  a  musician.  Bessie  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Baxendale,  a  game-keeper  on  Breton  Hall's  estate  in 
Yorkshire,  England. 

When  he  was  15  years  of  age,  Mr.  Horner  engaged 
in  the  business  of  a  wool-sorter,  in  which  he  was  oc- 
cupied until  he  was  24  years  old.  At  that  date  he 
obtained  an  appointment  as  receiving  clerk  in  the 
Wakefield  prison  and  officiated  in  that  capacity  four 
years.  After  the  expiration  of  his  engagement  he  re- 
sumed his  former  employment, 


In  July,  1854,  he  came  to  the  United  States.  He 
at  first  located  at  Lincoln,  111.,  where  he  spent  a  few 
months.  He  went  thence  to  the  lead  mines  of  Jo 
Daviess  County,  where  he  spent  seven  years  in  pros- 
pecting. He  went  next  to  Mt.  Carroll,  and  he  em- 
barked in  the  sale  of  Mason  &  Hamlin  organs  and 
the  Vose  &  Co.  pianos.  After  operating  there  seven 
years,  he  went  to  Depere,  Wis.,  where  he  conducted 
a  music  store  between  two  and  three  years. 

In  1870  he  came  to  Morrison  and  opened  his 
present  business,  which  he  has  since  continued  to 
pursue.  He  is  a  musician  of  more  than  ordinary 
ability,  and  has  engaged  in  teaching  to  a  consider- 
able extent,  as  have  his  sons.  His  whole  family  are 
educated  in  music. 

Mr.  Horner  was  married  Sept.  i,  1847,  in  the 
Halifax  Cathedral,  Yorkshire,  England,  to  Anna 
Ellis,  and  they  have  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
but  two  are  living.  Sarah  A.  was  born  June  4,  1848, 
and  died  Nov.  4,  1864;  Matilda  was  born  Aug.  19, 
1849,  and  died  Oct.  9,  1852  ;  Frank  was  born  April 
27,  1851,  and  died  April  2,  1852 ;  Henry  is  a  dealer 
in  music  and  sewing-machines  at  Marengo,  111.  He 
was  born  Oct.  26,  1852.  Alice  was  born  April  3, 
1854,  and  died  Oct.  31,  1864;  Mary,  born  Oct.  16, 
1860,  died  July  10,  1863;  Samuel,  born  Oct.  19, 
1857  is  in  business  with  his  father.  He  is  the 
leader  of  the  Morrison  Band  and  is  a  fine  pianist. 

The  members  of  the  firm  of  E.  Horner  &  Co.  deal 
in  American,  English  and  German  musical  publica- 
tions, and  make  a  specialty  of  Peek  &  Sons  (N.  Y.) 
pianos.  They  handle  the  organs  of  George  Wood-  & 
Co.  and  those  of  Hillstrom  &  Co.,  which  are  man- 
ufactured at  Chesterton,  Ind. 


.nines  P.  Hopkins,  farmer,  section  36,  Hop- 
jfp  kins  Township,  is  the  youngest  son  of 
Jason  Hopkins,  whose  memory  is  per- 
petuated by  the  name  of  that  division  of  the 
county  in  which  he  resides.  His  father  was 
born  Jan.  27,  1789,  and  he  married  Eleanor 
Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky.  They  lived  in 
Tennessee  until  their  removal,  in  1835,  to  Hopkins 
Township,  where  they  were  the  first  white  settlers. 
The  senior  Hopkins  built  the  first  log  house  on  Rock 
River,  in  Whiteside  County,  of  which  he  took  posses- 

— *^— 


' 

i 


«. 


">    v7 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


sion  and  which  he  occupied  some  years.  He  re- 
moved thence  to  another  part  of  the  same  section, 
known  as  the  "  Como  Purchase."  He  died  there 
Aug.  19,  1853.  The  date  of  the  death  of  the  mother 
is  May,  13,  1858.  Their  children  were  four  in  number, 
and  were  named  William  T.,  Helen,  Frances  and 
James  P.  The  oldest  child  was  born  Feb.  22,  1837, 
and  was  the  first  white  male  child  born  in  Whiteside 
County.  He  died  about  1862. 

Mr.  Hopkins  of  this  sketch  was  born  Oct.  4,  1843, 
in  Hopkins  Township.  He  was  but  10  years  of  age 
when  his  father  died,  and  he  has  lived  all  his  life  at 
Como,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  which  he  spent 
in  the  military  service  of  the  United  States.  He  en- 
listed Sept.  2,  1862,  in  the  75th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  was  in  active  service  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
receiving  his  honorable  discharge  in  July,  1865.  He 
was  under  rebel  fire  at  Atlanta,  Murfreesboro,  Chick- 
amauga  and  Lookout  Mountain,  besides  seeing  other 
service  of  a  miscellaneous  character.  He  passed 
through  the  varied  experiences  of  war  entirely  with- 
out injury.  On.  his  return  to  his  home  he  resumed 
his  former  occupation  of  farming.  He  is  an  adherent 
of  the  Republican  party  in  his  political  principles. 
He  has  been  active  in  school  and  other  local  interests. 

Mr.  Hopkins  was  married  Nov.  30,  1869,  at  Atkin- 
son, Henry  Co.,  111.,  to  Asenath  H.,  daughter  of 
Donald  and  Mary  (Lloyd)  Lamont.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Scotland  and  her  mother  was  a  native  of 
Canada.  1  hey  were  married  in  the  Dominion,  where 
they  resided  some  years,  and  afterward  came  to  Illi- 
nois, settling  in  Hopkins  Township,  this  county,  in 
1865:  they  are  still  living.  Mrs.  Hopkins  is  their 
oldest  child,  and  her  brothers  and  sisters  are  named 
Flora  A.,  John,  Jesse  L.,  Susanna,  Elizabeth  J, 
Charity,  Washington  M.,  Emily  I.  and  Mary  I.  Mrs. 
Hopkins  was  bora  Nov.  2,  1842,  in  Canada.  She 
has  become  the  mother  of  five  children, — Eleanor 
M.,  Jessie  L.,  Anna  F.,  Eunice  B.  and  James  P.,  Jr. 


harles  L.  Hubbard,  farmer,  residing  on 
_^  section  5,  Montmorency  Township,  is  a 
*  son  of  Chas.  C.  and  Lucia  A.  (Reed)  Hubbard, 
natives  of  New  England.  Soon  after  their 
marriage  they  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Bureau  County,  where  they  resided  most  of 
time  until  the  spring  of  1880,  when  they  came  to 




this  county.  On  arrival  here  they  located  in  Ster- 
ling and  continued  to  reside  there  until  the  father's 
death,  which  occurred  April  6,  1883.  The  mother 
still  survives.  Their  family  consisted  of  two  chil- 
dren, May  C.  and  Charles  L. 

Charles  L.  was  born  in  Maiden,  Bureau  County, 
this  State,  Oct.  n,  1860.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county  until  he  was  16 
years  of  age,  and  then  for  three  years  attended  the 
Dover  Academy  in  Bureau  County.  He  lived  at 
home  until  1880,  when  he  came  to  this  county  and 
settled  on  a  farm  of  240  acres  his  father  purchased 
in  Montmorency  Township,  this  county,  of  which  he 
has  had  the  entire  management,  giving  his  attention 
largely  to  the  breeding  of  thcroughbred  cattle  and 
horses,  and  taking  a  prominent  position  among  the 
advanced  farmers  of  the  county. 

Politically  Mr.  Hubbard  is  identified  with  the  Re- 
publicans. Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Sterling. 


iharles  F.  GifFord,  editor  and  proprietor  of 
the  Tampico  Tornado,  was  born  in  Elgin, 
111.,  June  25,  1847.  His  father,  Edmond  F. 
Gifford,  died  of  apoplexy  at  the  residence  of 
his  daughter,  Mrs.  L.  S.  Norris,  of  Grinnell, 
Iowa,  Thursday,  July  19,  1883,  aged  72  years, 
10  months  and  15  days.  He  was  born  in  Duxbury, 
Mass.,  Sept.  4,  1810,  was  early  in  life  thrown  upon 
his  own  resources,  and  he  worked  for  others  at  farm 
labor  during  the  summer,  and  attended  school  during 
the  winters.  He  learned  the  cabinet  trade,  at  which 
he  worked  and  also  taught  school,  and  thereby  earned 
money  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  complete  a  classical 
course,  graduating  at  Harvard  University,  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.  For  a  year  or  two  following  he  prac- 
ticed law  in  Boston,  Mass.  May  25,  1840,  he  married 
Miss  Lucy  W.  Sampson,  of  Duxbury,  Mass.,  and 
shortly  afterward  emigrated  West,  locating  in  Elgin, 
111.,  where  he  practiced  law  and  for  a  number  of 
years  held  the  office  of  County  Superintendent  of 
Schools. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he 
enlisted,  and  served  as  Adjutant  of  the  Second  Bat- 

— -ftem 


' 


v 


LIBRARY 

of  ILLINOIi 


LWfMtfV 
V  'it  ii 


talion  of  the  Eighth  111.  Vol.  Cav.  After  the  seven 
days'  battle  before  Richmond,  Va.,  he  was  appointed 
Paymaster  and  stationed  at  New  Orleans,  which 
position  lie  held  to  the  close  of  the  war.  During  the 
Red  River  Expedition  he  was  wounded  in  the  right 
arm,  the  scar  resulting  from  which  he  carried  ever 
afterward. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Elgin,  but 
soon  moved  to  Louisiana,  where,  under  the  Kellogg 
government,  he  was  appointed  a  District  Judge.  In 
February,  1882,  he  returned  North,  and  after  making 
his  home  several  months  with  his  son,  Charles  F.,  at 
Tampico,  he  went  to  Grinnell,  where  he  died,  as 
stated.  Charles'  mother  is  now  residing  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Ada  Sampson,  and  is 
aged  64  years.  She  was  the  only  daughter  of  a  New 
England  ship-builder,  and  came  of  a  family  of  con- 
siderable prominence. 

Mr.  Gifford,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  out- 
line, is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  nine 
children,  five  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  At  the 
age  of  13  years  he  went  with  his  father  into  the  army 
as  clerk  for  him.  In  1862  he  quit  the  field  of  war 
and  entered  the  military  school  at  Fulton,  this 
county,  and  after  a  year's  drill  there  he  enlisted  as 
Corporal  in  the  1415!  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  which  was 
attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  At  the 
expiration  of  the  roo  days,  for  which  he  had  enlisted, 
he  was  honorably  discharged.  He  then  went  to 
Louisiana  and  served  as  Clerk  in  the  Paymaster's 
Department  of  the  Division  of  the  Gulf,  remaining 
there  with  his  father  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

In  April,  1866,  he  became  an  employee  of  the 
Elgin  Gazette,  under  the  management  of  Kincaid  & 
Post,  where  he  remained  for  two  years,  when  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  foreman  of  the  Elgin  Watchman, 
E.  C.  Kincaid  then  being  the  proprietor.  One  year 
later,  the  Gazette  and  Watchman  consolidated,  and 
he  was  elected,  by  the  hands  of  both  offices,  as  fore- 
man of  the  new  office.  He  held  that  position  until 
the  fall  of  1870,  when  sickness  compelled  him  to  re- 
sign. In  the  spring  of  1870  he  went  to  Missouri 
and  acted  in  the  capacity  of  clerk,  for  his  father-in- 
law,  John  Murdock,  who  was  a  contractor  in  grad- 
ing a  railroad  running  from  Hannibal  to  Edina.  In 
October  he  returned  home,  and  in  November,  1871, 
he,  in  company  with  Mr.  C.  F.  Larkins,  established 
the  Dundee  (111.)  Weekly.  They  soon  after  sus- 

®)5(2^^— >*JB^*' ^    f^^ 


_r-  — 


pended  for  an  indefinite  time,  and  shortly  afterward 
Mr.  Gifford  went  to  Chicago  and  for  a  time  served 
on  the  Post  and  then  the  Inter  Ocean,  during  the 
Greeley  campaign.  Next  he  was  engaged  with  Mr. 
Bent  on  the  Sentinel  at  Morrison,  this  county,  and 
then  was  employed  at  Fulton.  In  1876  he  went  to 
Tampico  and  established  the  Tornado,  an  historical 
sketch  of  which  paper  will  be  given  in  the  last 
division  of  this  work. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Gifford  is  a  Republican. 

May  4,  1868,  is  the  date  of  Mr.  Gifford's  marriage, 
at  Elgin,  111.,  to  Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  John  and 
Jane  Murdock,  who  was  born  in  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Sept.  25  1848,  and  came  West  with  her  parents  when 
a  child.  Her  father  was  born  in  Delaware  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  in  1826,  a  mason  by  occupation,  is  now  a  farmer, 
residing  at  Tolona,  Mo.;  her  mother  died  when  she 
(the  daughter)  was  very  young.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gifford 
are  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely :  Harry  L., 
Agnes  L.,Ella  L.,  Mabel  L.,  Arthur  L.  and  Julius  L. 


aron  Fluck,  a  farmer  on  section  14,  Hume 
Township,  is  one  of  the  enterprising  agri- 
culturists of  Whiteside  County  of  which  he 
has  been  a  resident  principally  since  1857. 
He  first  located  at  Sterling,  where  he  passed 
several  years  working  at  his  trade  of  carpenter 
and  also  as  a  general  laborer.  He  went  to  Arkansas 
just  previous  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Southern  Rebel- 
lion, where  he  found  himself  pressed  into  drill  pre- 
paratory to  the  organization  of  the  rebel  army.  He 
spent  a  month  in  the  distasteful  occupation,  and  es- 
caped on  the  last  steamer  that  passed  up  the  Miss- 
issippi River  before  it  was  closed  by  the  rebel 
authorities,  thereby  forfeiting  his  wages.  He  re- 
turned to  Sterling,  where  he  resumed  his  occupation 
as  a  mechanic.  He  was  a  resident  of  Sterling  until 
1866,  working  at  his  trade  and  engaging  also,  as 
opportunity  offered,  in  the  improvement  of  his  farm, 
which  he  had  purchased  in  1864.  It  comprised  160 
acres,  and  at  the  time  of  his  purchase  it  was  un- 
broken prairie.  He  took  possession  o(  the  place  in 
1866,  and  was  its  occupant  until  1872,  when  he  went 
to  a  small  tract  of  land  containing  T4  acres  situated 
near  the  city  of  Sterling,  and  which  was  the  location 
of  a  valuable  stone  quarry.  He  operated  there 

A     ^  -^J&SLir  ^IfrgsVj^g) 


V§) 


SIX 


V. 

' 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


ir 


1 


years,  and  in  1878  again  removed  to  his  farm,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  management  of  his  agricultural 
interests.  He  also  owns  40  acres  on  section  15  and 
80  acres  adjoining  the  land  of  his  first  purchase. 
The  dwelling  Mr.  Fluck  has  erected  on  his  place  is 
the  largest  and  most  valuable  in  the  township,  and 
his  barns  are  of  the  same  comparative  size  and  merit. 
He  deals  in  high  grades  of  stock.  In  political  faith 
and  connections  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held 
several  local  offices. 

He  was  born  Sept.  22,  1833,  in  Bucks  Co.,  Pa. 
His  family  descent  is  from  a  German  ancestor  who 
settled  many  years  ago  in  Bucks  County,  where  the 
descending  generations  maintained  a  residence 
through  the  succeeding  years  until  1857,  when  Mr. 
Fluck  of  this  sketch  broadened  the  field  of  occupa- 
tion by  removal  to  Illinois.  John  Fluck,  his  father, 
was  born  in  Bucks  County  in  1797,  and  married 
Elizabeth  Leight.  She  was  born  in  Northampton 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  of  mixed  Scotch  and  German  an- 
cestry. Her  birth  took  place  in  1807,  and  she  died 
in  1844.  Her  husband  was  a  carpenter  and  was  a 
prominent  official  in  the  German  Reformed  Church, 
to  which  she  also  belonged.  He  died  in  Lehigh  Co., 
Pa.,  in  i88r.  Their  family  included  seven  children. 
The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Fluck  was  named  John,  and 
he  was  a  stone  mason. 

Aaron  Fluck  is  the  third  child  of  his  parents,  and 
he  was  n  years  of  age  when  he  lost  his  mother  by 
death.  He  continued  under  the  care  of  his  father 
until  he  came  to  his  majority;  but  at  the  age  of  17 
he  began  to  work  at  his  trade  of  carpenter  with 
Daniel  Shafer,  his  cousin  by  marriage,  who  lived  in 
Lehigh  County.  On  reaching  the  age  of  2  i  years  he 
entered  the  employment  of  his  master  as  a  journey- 
man, with  whom  he  served  one  year,  and  with  the 
exception  of  $5  gave  his  earnings  to  his  father.  He 
passed  the  three  years  subsequent  in  his  native 
county,  working  at  his  trade. 

Mr.  Fluck  was  married  Nov.  15,  1864,  in  Sterling> 
to  Lydia  A.  Tombow,  and  they  have  had  eight  chil- 
dren. Six  of  them  are  still  living,  and  following  are 
their  names:  McClelland,  John,  Ida  M.,  Aaron, 
Katie  and  Matilda.  Benjamin  and  William  are  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Fluck  was  born  Aug.  26,  1846,  in 
Lampeter  Township  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Borer)  Tom- 
bow.  Her  parents  were  of  Dutch  descent,  and  her 
j>r^-ft—  


father  was  a  stone  mason  by  trade.  Her  mother  died 
when  she  was  seven  years  old,  and  she  was  placed 
in  the  charge  of  Mr.  Landis,  now  of  Sterling  Town- 
ship, by  whom  she  was  brought  up  and  with  whose 
family  she  came  to  Whiteside  County.  Her  father' 
meanwhile  had  married  again  and  had  removed  to 
Sterling  a  year  previous  to  her  coming  to  this  county. 
She  continued  a  member  of  Mr.  Landis'  family  until 
her  marriage. 

The  portraits  of  Mr.  Fluck  and  his  wife  are  given 
on  previous  pages,  and  represent  the  typical  class 
whose  thrift  and  energy  have  so  rapidly  developed 
Whiteside  County.  They  are  copies  of  likenesses 
recently  taken. 


lames  N.  Ward,  druggist,  at  Fulton,  was 
born  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  J.,  June  19,  1822, 
and  is  the  son  of  Reuben  and  Electa 
(Condit)  Ward.  He  spent  his  early  life  in  his 
native  county,  and  in  1836  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Delaware  Co.,  Ohio.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  at  which  he  worked 
in  Ohio  till  April,  1856;  in  August  of  that  year  he 
came  to  Fulton  and  engaged  in  business  as  con- 
tractor and  builder,  which  he  continued  till  Decem- 
ber, 1870.  He  then  went  to  Maquoketa,  Iowa,  and 
engaged  in  the  lumber  trade.  He  carried  on  the 
lumber  business  in  Iowa  about  three  and  a  half 
years,  still  maintaining  his  residence  at  Fulton.  In 
October,  r875,  he  purchased  the  stock  of  Mr.  John 
Hudson,  druggist  at  Fulton,  and  succeeded  to  the 
business.  Mr.  Ward  has  had  ten  years'  experience 
as  a  druggist,  and  has  a  tasteful,  well  stocked  store 
in  his  line, — that  of  drugs,  medicines,  paints,  oils, 
toilet  articles,  wall  paper,  etc.  The  average  value 
of  his  stock  is  $3,000.  His  course  as  a  business 
man  has  won  him  a  reputation  for  fair  dealing  and 
conscientious  and  careful  attention  in  serving  his 
customers. 

He  was  married  in  Delaware  Co.,  Ohio,  April  3, 
1849,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Thatcher,  daughter  of  Elisha 
and  Sarah  J.  (Dana)  Thatcher.  Mrs.  Ward  was 
born  in  Delaware  Co.,  Ohio.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren, all  sons.  The  eldest,  George  A.,  was  born  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  Oct.  17,  1851,  and  is  a  resident  of 
Fulton ;  James  F.  was  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  Jan. 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


4,  1853,  married  Miss  Sedate  Houghton,  and  is  also 
a  resident  of  Fulton;  the  youngest,  William  W.,  was 
born  in  Fulton,  Sept.  23,  1856,  and  is  living  in  Chi- 
cago. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Ward  is  a  Democrat,  "  tried  and 

true." 


aeob  Hein,  farmer,  section  19,  Hahnaman 
-  Township,  came  to  this  county  in  1858, 
sf*^"  purchasing  200  acres  of  good  land,  which 
he  still  occupies  as  a  home,  and  where  he  has 
erected  fine  farm  buildings.  He  now  owns  360 
acres  of  land,  200  of  which  is  in  cultivation. 
He  was  first  married  in  Kendall  Co.,  111.,  in  1851, 
to  Christiana  Krum,  and  they  have  five  children, — 
Matilda,  Gustavus  A.,  William  A.,  Jacob  H.  and 
Christian.  Mrs.  H.  died  May  r,  1860,  and  Mr. 
Hein  was  again  married,  Dec.  24,  1860,  in  Hahnaman 
Township,  to  Mary  A.  Hamblock,  and  by  this  mar- 
riage there  have  been  two  children,  namely,  Mary  K. 
and  Matilda  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Hein's  parents  were 
natives  of  Germany. 


j  illiam  Butman,  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 26,  Fulton  Township,  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Esther  (Moulthrop)  Butman, 
natives  of  Massachusetts  and  Vermont, 
whose  family  consisted  of  five  children, 
namely:  Betsey,  Melissa,  Laura,  James  and 
William.  William  Butman  was  born  in  Rutland, 
Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  Feb.  10,  182 r.  He  received  a 
good  common-school  and  academical  education,  and 
remained  in  his  native  State  alternating  his  attend- 
ance at  school  by  working  on  the  farm  until  19  years 
of  age.  On  reaching  this  age  he  -went  to  Elmira, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  a 
carpenter  and  builder  for  a  year.  He  was  next  em- 
ployed as  a  passenger  conductor  on  the  New  York 
Central  R.  R.,  and  followed  that  position  for  about  17 
years.  In  1865  he  went  to  New  York  City,  and  was 
there  employed  in  the  Custom  House  as  Examiner 
and  Verifier  for  upward  of  three  years.  He  then 
went  to  Michigan,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Detroit,  Lansing  &  Northern  Railroad,  as  conduc- 


tor.  He  was  the  first  conductor  of  a  passenger  train 
on  that  road,  and  remained  with  the  company  for  14 
years. 

His  health  failing,  he  came  to  this  county,  and 
settled  in  Fulton  Township. 

Mr.  Butman  was  married  in  Dundee,  Yates  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  1843,  to  Miss  Clarissa  Booth,  a  native  of 
York  State.  She  bore  him  five  children :  Theo.  F., 
William  E.  and  Emily  E.  Emily  E.  is  the  wife  of 
John  W.  Boyer,  and  resides  in  Detroit.  Sarah  and 
Henry  died  in  infancy.  William  is  employed  as 
postal  clerk  on  the  D.,  L.  &  N.  R.  R.,  and  resides 
at  Detroit.  Theo.  died  in  1878,  aged  36  years. 

The  wife  and  mother  died  in  1871,  and  Mr.  But- 
man was  again  married  Sept.  17, 1873,  to  Miss  Abbie 
A.  Goodrich,  at  Ionia,  Mich.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Leonard  and  Juliet  Goodrich,  and  was  a  descendant 
from  Miles  Standish.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Vermont,  and  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1850,  and 
settled  in  Pontiac,  Oakland  County.  Her  mother 
died  there,  and  her  father  moved  to  Ionia,  Mich., 
where  he  still  resides,  living  a  retired  life.  Mrs. 
Butman's  parents  had  five  children :  Melancton  S., 
Norman  S.,  Ellen  J.,  Louisa  A.  and  Abbie  A. 

Mrs.  Butman  was  born  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio, 
Dec.  13,  1848,  and  has  borne  to  her  husband  five 
children,  of  whom  two  are  living, — Frank  S.  and  an 
unnamed  infant.  Three  died  in  childhood, — Harry, 
James  L.  and  Etta  M. 

Mr.  Butman  has  held  the  office  of  School  Director, 
and  politically  endorses  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  Mrs.  B.,  religiously,  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 


v  ;*» 


' 


'. 


ason  Hopkins,  for  whom  Hopkins  Town- 
ship was  named,  was  a  native  of  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  was  born  Jan.  27,  1789.  He 
remained  at  Nashville  till  about  the  middle 
age  of  life,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  on  account 
of  his  anti-slavery  principles,  and  settled  at 
Belleville.  From  there  he  went  to  Peoria.  When 
the  Black  Hawk  War  broke  out,  he  volunteered  in  a 
cavalry  regiment,  was  appointed  Quartermaster,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  during  the  war.  In  the 
autumn  of  1832,  as  the  troops  were  returning  to  their 
homes,  Mr.  Hopkins,  with  a  party,  came  to  Rock 


«  '• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


• 


V 


River,  and  in  coasting  along  its  banks  came  to 
the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Como.  Being  im- 
pressed with  the  beauty  of  the  place,  he  made  a 
claim  covering  the  whole  tract  known  in  pioneer 
parlance  as  a  "jack-knife  claim,"  by  cutting  his 
name  in  the  bark  of  trees.  Mr.  Hopkins  often  spoke 
of  this  location  as  being  as  beautiful  as  the  Garden 
of  Eden. 

He  was  married  at  Peoria,  111.,  to  Eleanor  John- 
son, who  was  born  Dec.  29,  1801,  near  Bowling 
Green,  Ky.,  and  with  her  Mr.  H.  returned  in  1835 
and  surveyed  the  claim,  establishing  the  boundaries 
by  marking  trees  in  the  timber  and  running  furrows 
through  the  prairie  with  an  ox  team  and  a  prairie 
plow.  He  afterwards  purchased  the  claim,  com- 
prising sections  25,  26,  35  and  36,  and  as  much  ad- 
joining as  made  3,200  acres.  He  built  the  first  log 
cabin  in  the  township  that  bears  his  name. 

He  died  Aug.  19,  1853.  He  possessed  many 
traits  of  character  peculiar  to  the  citizens  of  ancient 
Rome  in  its  republican  days, — firmness,  unswerv- 
ing integrity  and  patriotism.  He  was  in  intimate 
acquaintance  with,  and  a  great  admirer  of,  General 
Jackson.  He  was  altogether  a  remarkable  man  and 
admirably  fitted  for  a  pioneer.  Mrs.  H.,  his  wife, 
died  May  13,  1858. 

Their  children  were  four  in  number  and  were 
named  William  T.,  Helen,  Frances  and  James  P. 
(A  sketch  of  the  latter  is  given  in  this  work.)  The 
first  mentioned,  William  T.  Hopkins,  was  the  first 
white  male  child  born  in  Whiteside  County.  He 
died  about  1862. 


(jenry  Diehl,  formerly  a  farmer  on    section 
13,  Hopkins  Township,  now  residing  in  re- 
tirement at  Empire  in  the   same  township, 
was  born  Oct.    12,  1805,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa. 
His  parents,  Samuel  and  Barbara  (Bitner)  Diehl, 
were  also  natives  of  the  same  State  and  had 
12  children. 

Mr.  Diehl  of  this  sketch  remained  in  his  native 
State,  pursuing  the  vocation  of  a  farmer,  until  1865, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  first  made  a  location 
in  Carroll  County,  spending  but  one  year  there.  In 
1866  he  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  bought  a 
farm  on  sections  19  and  30  in  Hopkins  Township. 


He  fixed  his  residence  on  the  section  last  named, 
where  he  continued  to  live  until  187  i.  In  that  year 
he  purchased  a  house  at  Empire  and  has  since  been 
retired  from  active  business  life.  His  property  in 
Hopkins  Township  includes  137  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Diehl  was  married  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa., 
Jan.  13,  1829,  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  and 
Barbara  (Leep)  Myers,  and  she  is  the  oldest  of  a 
family  of  three  children.  She  was  born  Aug.  27, 
1808.  To  her  and  her  husband  ten  children  have 
been  born,  in  the  following  order  ;  Catherine,  Eliza- 
beth, Daniel,  Lewis,  Malachi,  Adam,  Mary,  Jacob, 
Peter  S.  and  Margaret  C. 

The  parents  are  members  of  the  English  Lutheran 
Church. 


jharles  G.  Seidel  is  a  farmer  of  Hopkins 
Township,  being  located  in  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  10.  He  is  the  owner 
of  100  acres  of  land,  which  is  his  original 
purchase  in  the  township  and  county,  and 
which  came  into  his  possession  in  1867.  He 
has  since  added  to  his  real  estate,  increasing  the  ag- 
gregate to  160.  It  is  all  under  good  cultivation,  and 
the  proprietor  has  erected  fine  farm  buildings.  In 
political  sentiment  and  connections  Mr.  Seidel  is  a 
Republican. 

He  was  born  in  Germany,  Oct.  4,  1839.  Gotleib 
and  Barbara  (Zaiser)  Seidel,  his  parents,  were  inhab- 
itants of  their  native  land  until  1853,  when  they 
emigrated  to  the  United  States.  They  made  their 
first  location  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  whence  they  came 
to  Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  and  fixed  their  residence  at 
Sterling.  The  mother  died  there  May  3,  1883. 
Their  children  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Caroline,  Louis,  Fred,  Charles  G.,  Wilhelmine,  Wil-( 
liam,  Joshua,  Dorothea,  Caleb,  Sophia,  Mary,  George 
Emma.  One  child  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Seidel  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents 
in  1853.  He  came  with  them  to  Sterling  in  1857, 
where  he  engaged  in  farm  labor  and  worked  by  the 
month  for  six  years,  after  which  he  rented  a  farm  for 
four  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  be- 
came a  land-holder  in  Hopkins  Township. 

Mr.  Seidel  was  married  April  9,  1863,  to  Anna, 
daughter  of  Solomon  and  Margaret  A.  (Wagner) 


-  •- 


.. 


- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Freighner.  She  was  born  Sept.  30,  1845,  ln  Penn- 
sylvania, where  her  mother  died  when  she  was  10 
years  of  age.  The  father  lives  with  his  daughter, 
who  is  one  of  six  children.  Anna  M.,  Samuel,  Mar- 
garet, John  and  David  lived  to  reach  maturity.  One 
child  died  in  infancy.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seidel  12 
children  have  been  born,  six  of  whom  are  still  living : 
Charles  F.,  Margaret  E.,  Georgietta,  Charles  W., 
Chester  L.  and  Mary  C.  Those  who  are  deceased  were 
named  Clara  A.,  George  W.,  Ida  M.,  Aaron  H.  and 
Edward  L.  One  child  died  unnamed.  The  parents 
are  members  of  the  English  Lutheran  Church. 


84  illiam  H.  Cadwell,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
(kifli?  Notary  Public  and  Clerk  of  the  Village  of 
Rock  Falls,  was  born  Dec.  28,  1826,  at 
^  Hartford,  Conn.,  of  which  place  his  parents — 
Charles  and  Annie  T.  (Benton)  CadweU — 
were  also  natives.  Mr.  Cadwell  received  a 
very  limited  common-school  education.  Being  at 
the  age  of  12  years  thrown  upon  his  own  resources, 
having  to  look  out  for  himself,  he  entered  a  printing- 
office,  where  he  remained  nearly  three  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time  he  found  employment-in  a 
map-publishing  house  for  another  year.  At  the  age 
of  1 6  years  he  apprenticed  himself  to  his  uncle, 
Daniel  Fish,  and  completed  his  trade  as  a  pastry- 
baker  and  confectioner. 

In  1848  Mr.  Cadwell  married  Miss  Catharine 
Fish,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  by  whom  he  has  one  daugh- 
ter, Nellie  Frances;  she  married  Mr.  W.  H.  Tuttle  in 
1871,  with  whom  Mr.  Cadwell  is  now  residing,  hav- 
lost  his  wife  by  death  on  the  5th  of  March,  1884. 
Soon  afterward  he  assumed  control  of  the  manufac- 
turing department  of  his  uncle's  business.  Having 
a  desire  to  better  his  condition  in  life,  he  took  Hor- 
ace Greeley's  advice,  packed  up,  and,  with  his  wife 
and  child,  his  sister  and  her  family,  started  West, 
arriving  in  Belvidere,  Boone  County,  this  State,  in 
the  spring  of  1856,  where  he  again  conducted  his 
business,  in  connection  with  ice-cream  parlors  and  a 
news  room. 

Soon  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  was  ap- 
pointed agent  of  the  American  Express  Company, 
at  about  which  time  the  printing  establishment  then 
known  as  the  Belvidere  Union  came  into  his  posses- 
sion, and  the  name  changed  to  the  Boone  County 


Advertiser,  In  1868  he  disposed  of  the  office  to  a 
syndicate  of  Democrats,  to  boom  the  nomination  of 
Horatio  Seymour  for  President.  After  the  election 
of  Grant  the  establishment  again  came  into  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Cadwell,  who  discontinued  the  paper. 
In  1870  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  W.  H. 
Tuttle,  and  moved  the  establishment  with  his  family 
to  Rock  Falls,  and  started  the  first  newspaper  pub- 
lished on  the  south  side  of  Rock  River,  naming  it 
the  Rock  Falls  Progress.  After  conducting  the 
paper  for  six  years  and  six  months,  it  was  discon- 
tinued and  the  partnership  dissolved,  Mr.  Cadwell 
continuing  in  the  job-printing  business. 

In  1882  Mr.  Cadwell  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  to  fill  a  vacancy.  At  the  spring  election  of 
the  present  year  (1885),  Mr.  Cadwell  was  elected 
his  own  successor.  He  also  is  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Oglesby  a  Notary  Public,  also  for  four  years, 
and  again  re-elected  Village  Clerk. 

Politically,  he  is  a  Republican  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  Republican  party,  and  the  village 
and  town  in  which  he  resides.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  Odd  Fellows :  was  an  active 
worker  for  the  organization  of  Advance  Lodge,  No. 
590,  of  which  he  was  the  first  presiding  officer;  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois.  He 
is  also  the  first  Master  Workman  of  Union  Lodge, 
No.  3,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  Sterling,  the  organization  of 
which  is  due  to  his  labor.  He  was  sent  from  No.  3 
as  a  delegate  for  the  organization  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Illinois,  of  which  organization  he  was  made 
the  first  Past  Grand  Master  of  the  State;  also  the 
first  Representative  from  the  Grand  Lodge  to  the 
Supreme  Lodge  of  the  United  States,  meeting  at 
Cincinnati  in  1875,  which  position  he  filled  for  three 
successive  terms. 


Jenry  S.  Powell  is  a  farmer  on  section   12, 
in  Sterling  Township.    His  parents,  Joseph 
and  Hannah   (Benerman)   Powell,    lived  after 
their   marriage   in    Saratoga  Co.,   N.    Y.,  and 
afterwards  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they 
died.     They  had    nine  children,  all  of  whom 
lived  to  maturity  with  one  exception. 

Mr.  Powell  was  born  Dec.   7,  1823,  in  Saratoga 

& ^PZ «fJ@J§X@ 


-:    ..     - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Y 

I 

I; 

@i 


Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  he  was  nine  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  removed  thence  to  Monroe  County.  He  is 
the  fifth  child,  and  he  remained  in  Monroe  County 
throughout  the  remaining  years  of  his  minority,  com- 
ing, in  1844,  to  Whiteside  -Co.,  111.  About  three 
years  subsequent  to  his  removal  hither,  he  bought 
150  acres  of  land  in  Sterling  Township,  and  he  has 
since  purchased  75  acres  additional.  The  place  is 
in  valuable  agricultural  condition,  with  an  orchard 
containing  400  trees  and  excellent  buildings.  In 
political  affinity  Mr.  Powell  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party. 

He  was  married  in  Genesee  Township,  Feb.  16, 
1853,  to  Elizabeth  Batchelder,  a  native  of  Vermont. 
She  died  May  10,  1883,  having  been  the  mother  of 
nine  children,  four  of  whom  lived  to  grow  up, — John, 
George,  Lucia  M.  and  Jessie  B.  The  oldest  son  was 
drowned  when  he  was  16  years  of  age. 


avid  G.  Ely  is  a  general  farmer  and  stock- 
grower  on  section  i,  Hume  Township.  He 
was  born  Sept.  20,  1811,  in  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.  John  Ely,  his  father,  was  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  and  became  a  prominent  farmer 
of  Oneida  County.  He  owned  about  700  acres  of 
land  in  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk.  He  built  two 
large  jails  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  an  early  day,  one, 
in  the  town  of  Whitestown,  four  miles  west  of  Utica, 
which  is  still  standing,  the  other,  in  Rome,  N.  Y. 
which  was  burned  probably  about  30  years  ago.  His 
death  occurred  April  14,  1842.  Beulah  A.  (Gould) 
Ely,  the  mother,  was  born  in  Williamstown,  Mass., 
and  descended  from  the  earliest  settlers  of  New 
England.  She  died  in  February,  1845. 

Mr.  Ely  is  the  fifth  of  his  parents'  ten  children. 
When  he  was  15  years  of  age  he  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  and  made  for  himself  the  first  pair  of 
boots  he  ever  wore.  Later,  he  learned  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  joiner,  and  worked  with  his  father  at 
that  business  and  as  a  farmer  until  he  was  26  years 
of  age.  Feb.  17,  1836,  he  was  married,  in  Floyd 
Township,  Oneida  County,  to-Alvira  Wallace,  who 
was  born  in  that  township  May  n,  1817,  and  died 
Nov.  26,  1873,  in  Hume  Township.  She  was  the 
mother  of  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Beulah,  George  and  Nancy,  who  are  the  survivors, 

*&* ^ 


are  married.     Lydia  M.,  Eliza  and  Lovisa  are  dead. 

Mr.  Ely  was  a  resident  of  his  native  State  until 
1855,  when  he  went  to  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  and  worked 
there  three  years  as  a  jnechanic.  In  1858  he  lo- 
cated in  Hume  Township,  purchasing  184  acres  on 
section  10.  He  occupied  this  property  five  years, 
when,  in  1863,  he  went  to  the  township  of  Coloma, 
where  he  resided  three  years  on  80  acres  of  land. 
He  went  back  in  1866  to  Hume  Township,  and,  af- 
ter operating  three  years  a  little  east  of  the  central 
portion  of  the  township,  he  came  to  section  i,  where 
he  had  become  the  owner  of  92  acres  of  land  by  ex- 
change. His  estate  is  under  good  improvements, 
and  he  is  engaged  in  successful  farming. 

Mr.  Ely  was  a  second  time  married,  Nov.  17, 
1876,  in  Adair  Co.,  Mo.,  to  Mrs.  Mary  (Paddock) 
Miner.  She  was  born  July  18,  1826,  in  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  she  was  brought  up  and  educated. 
John  Paddock,  her  father,  was  an  enterprising  agri- 
culturist of  her  native  county.  She  was  first  mar- 
ried to  Michael  Gushing,  who  was  born  in  Vermont 
and  died  in  Pennsylvania.  Two  children  were 
of  that  earlier  marriage, — Jane,  now  Mrs.  Buck,  and 
Michael,  both  of  whom  are  living  in  Shelby  Co., 
Iowa.  She  married  Curtis  Miner  in  Prophetstown, 
Whiteside  County.  He  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  died  in  the  military  service  of  the  United  States, 
from  a  gunshot  wound.  Frank,  Curtis  and  Ella  are 
the  names  of  the  children  born  of  the  second  mar- 
riage. The  oldest  and  youngest  are  married. 

Mr.   Ely  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  opinions. 


||.enry  S.  Landis,  farmer,  section  23,  Sterling 
Township,  was  born   March   27,    1820,  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.     David  and  Margaret 
(Shaffer)    Landis,    his   parents,    were   born   in 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  also  died.     They  had 
five  children,  named   Eliza,  Emanuel,  Maria, 
Henry  S.  and  Anna. 

Mr.  Landis  has  been  a  resident  of  Whiteside 
County  since  185 r,  when  he  removed  hither  from 
his  native  State.  He  still  lives  on  the  property  he 
first  bought,  which  comprised  144  acres  of  land. 
The  'estate  is  all  under  improved  cultivation.  Mr. 
Landis  is  a  Republican,  and  is  interested  in  school 
matters. 

He  was  married  Nov.  18,  1841,  in  Lancaster  Co., 


I 


' 


VN' 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Pa.,  to  Fanny  Stauffer,  and  they  have  13  children,  as 
follows  :  Anna,  Barbara,  Margaret,  Susanna,  Amos, 
Maria,  John,  Henry  F.  and  Emma  F.  (twins), 
Emanuel,  Benjamin  F.,  Jonas  R.  and  Daniel.  Mrs. 
Landis  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Barbara  (Eby) 
Stauffer,  and  is  one  of  nine  children  born  to  her  par- 
ents :  Benjamin,  Fanny,  Peter,  Christian,  John, 
Margaret,  Anna,  Bertram  and  Henry.  Mrs.  Landis 
belongs  to  the  Mennonite  Church. 


,oses  Dillon,  lumber,  grain  and  coal  mer- 
chant, at  Sterling,  was  born  in  Ohio,  Sept. 
19,  1845.  His  father,  Lloyd  Dillon — a 
native  of  Maryland — was  employed  in  the 
furnace  business  at  Zanesville,  Ohio,  where  he 
died,  in  1845.  His  mother,  nee  MargarefA. 
Culbertson,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Dillon  was  an  inmate  of  his  parental  home  until  he 
was  of  age,  receiving  a  common-school  education. 
From  1857  to  1860  he  was  a  resident  of  Dixon,  111. 
In  1859-60  he  herded  cattle  for  William  Butler  at 
Nelson  Station.  In  1861  he  engaged  as  clerk  in  the 
mercantile  establishment  of  D.  M.  Crawford  in  Ster- 
ling— the  first  boy  employed  in  such  capacity  in  that 
store — remaining  there  two  and  a-half  years,  and 
thereby  receiving  a  good  business  education.  Then, 
at  the  age  of  18,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  T4oth  Regr.  111. 
Vol.  Inf ,  was  mustered  into  the  military  service  at 
Dixon,  went  with  his  regiment  to  Memphis,  Tenn., 
and  did  guard  duty. 

In  1865  he  returned  home  and  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Charles  Smith  in  the  grocery  business, 
under  the  name  of  Smith  &  Dillon,  and  thus  con- 
tinued in  the  trade  for  ten  years.  He  sold  out  his 
interest  in  1875,  and  bought  the  interest  of  Joseph 
Golder,  in  the  grain,  coal  and  lumber  business, 
forming  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Golder's  son,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Golder  &  Dillon.  In  this  relation 
they  continued  until  1880,  when  Mr.  Dillon  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  his  partner,  since  which  time 
he  has  conducted  the  business  alone,  with  success. 
His  office  is  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Spruce 
Streets,  and  in  the  rear  of  his  office  he  has  an  eleva- 
tor with  a  capacity  of  60,000  bushels,  which  he  runs 
with  a  gas  engine — a  curiosity  to  all  the  people  of 


the  county.  His  lumber  and  coal  yard  occupies  all 
of  block  43,  and  his  salt  and  drying  sheds  and  barns 
all  of  block  42.  He  has  the  only  planing-mill  in 
Sterling,  where  he  does  all  kinds  of  wood  work. 

Mr.  Dillon  is  a  "  Sterling  "  man.  Coming  when 
young  to  the  place,  he  has  by  diligence  and  strict 
integrity  won  a  high  business  and  social  position. 
He'is  the  President  of  the  Northwestern  Fair  Asso- 
ciation, and  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of 
the  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his 
political  views,  and,  with  his  wife,  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Sterling. 

May  8,  1867,  Mr.  Dillon  married  Miss  Emma  J. 
Golder,  daughter  of  Judge  Golder,  of  Sterling,  and 
they  have  five  children,  namely:  Mary  P.,  Maggie 
A.,  Alice  E.,  Joseph  G.  and  Moses  L. 

c  *  ?  i?  JifX^^i  ^  "  o 
— 1  fe  ^KSXs-J-r^  @)  v. 

D.  Hill,  editor  of  the  Prophetstown  Spike, 
office  in  Baldwin's  Block,  is  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin F.  and  Rebecca  (McElroy)  Hill,  and 
was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  June  19,  1842. 
Growing  up,  he  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  a 
store,  taught  school,  and  dealt  in  coal,  lumber,  grain, 
etc.,  and  in  July,  1866,  came  to  Morrison,  this 
county,  where  he  was  employed  in  buying  grain, 
stock,  etc.,  first  by  himself,  and  afterward  in  com- 
pany with  others;  taught  school;  was  local  editor  of 
the  Whiteside  Sentinel,  and  finally,  in  company  with 
Charles  Bent,  established  the  Prophetstown  Spike, 
issuing  the  first  number  of  the  paper  Sept.  r,  1871. 
In  October,  1872,  he  bought  out  Mr.  Bent,  and  con- 
ducted the  paper  alone  until  1876,  when  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Charles  F.  Gifford  in  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Spike  and  the  Tornado,  of  Tampico,  the 
latter  paper  being  established  in  May  of  that  year. 
In  January,  1878,  he  sold  the  Spike  to  John  W.  Olm- 
stead.  In  the  meantime,  in  April,  1878,  he  founded 
the  Whiteside  Herald,  and  conducted  it  for  five 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1882  he  dislocated  his  ankle, 
which  laid  him  up  for  the  ensuing  winter.  The  fol- 
lowing spring,  1883,  he  returned  to  Prophetstown 
and  bought  the  Spike,  since  which  time  he  has 
conducted  it  with  success,  employing  usually  two 
assistants.  The  paper  is  an  eight-column  folio, 
four  pages,  26x40  inches,  Republican  in  politics 
and  devoted  to  local  news.  It  is  ably  edited.  A 


V§) 


<® 
rt 

$ 


•***: §• 


-,  ..  - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


good  job  office  is  in  connection  with   the  establish- 


ment. 

Mr.  Hill  has  been  a  member  of  the  Town  Council 
one  year;  April  21,  1885,  he  was  elected  Village 
Clerk;  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  politics, 
having  been  a  Delegate  to  a  number  of  District, 
County  and  State  Conventions  ;  was  a  member  of  the 
Illinois  National  Guard  five  years,  holding  the  com- 
mission of  Lieutenant  of  the  141)1  Battalion,  with 
headquarters  at  Moline,  III,  during  a  portion  of  that 
time.  Mr.  H.  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

He  was  married  in  Morrison,  111.,  June  i,  1872,  to 
Miss  Jane,  daughter  of  John  and  Martha  Beck,  and 
born  in  Newton  Township,  this  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hill  have  three  children,  the  two  eldest  born  in 
Prophetstown,  and  the  youngest  in  Morrison.  Their 
names  are  John  B.,  Martha  R.  and  Vio  C. 


janiel  Young,  farmer,  section  30,  Portland 
Township,  is  a  son  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth 
'Young,  and  was  born  in  Blair  Co.,  Pa., 
Jan.  6,  1851.  In  November,  1853,  the  family 
came  West,  when  the  senior  Young  Iccated  a 
part  of  the  land  on  which  he  now  resides,  and 
which  lies  adjoining  the  premises  of  Mr.  Daniel 
Young,  on  the  northwest ;  it  is  a  nice  farm  of  200 
acres. 

After  remaining  an  inmate  of  his  paternal  home 
until  he  was  19  years  of  age,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  commenced  working  out  as  a  common 
laborer,  and  thus  continued  until  1876,  when  he 
purchased  87  acres  of  his  present  farm,  and  resided 
there  until  the  spring  of  1883  ;  he  then  bought  his 
present  residence  and  160  acres  of  land,  and  having 
purchased  40  acres  in  1881,  he  has  now  an  aggre- 
gate of  287  acres.  He  is  beginning  to  make  a  spe- 
cialty of  Holstein  cattle,  of  which  he  expects  to  keep 
about  75  head ;  also  15  head  of  graded  Clydesdale 
(Norman)  horses.  Mr.  Y.  has  also  run  threshing- 
machines  for  1 6  years.  His  brother  Adam,  Jr.,  now 
owns  a  third  interest  in  a  steam  threshing-machine, 
in  partnership  with  him.  They  have  threshed  as 
high  as  2,000  bushels  of  grain  in  a  day. 

Dec.  25,  1869,  at  Morrison,  Mr.  Young  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Esther  Camerer,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 


and  Catherine  Camerer.  She  was  born  near  Mar- 
tinsburg,  Pa.,  May  14,  1851.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young 
have  five  children,  namely :  Albert,  who  was  born 
May  14,  1871  ;  Maud,  March  9,  1876;  Elmer,  Jan. 
26,1878;  Hattie,  Sept.  10,  1881;  and  Edith,  Nov.  ^ 
10, 1884.  Mrs.  Young's  father  died  when  she  was  a 
little  girl,  and  her  mother  resides  in  Pennsylvania. 


homas  A.  Gait,  a  pioneer  manufacturer  of 
Sterling  and  a  member  of  the  banking  firm 
of  Gait  &  Tracy,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  13,  r828;  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  received  only  a  common-school  education. 

1  Being  only  14  years  of  age  when  his  father 
died,  he  was  early  thrown  upon  his  own  resources, 
and  for  the  first  year  he  worked  only  for  his  board 
and  lodging,  but  thenceforward  until  he  became  of 
age  he  received  over  $100  annually. 

He  was  first  employed  as  a  clerk  in  Concord,  Pa., 
and  afterward  at  Strasburg,  same  State,  and  at  Phil- 
adelphia, until  1849,  when  he  entered  into  business 
for  himself  at  Strasburg,  in  which  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful. Being  of  an  enterprising  nature,  he  sold  his 
business  there  in  1855,  and  emigrated  West,  first 
engaging  in  the  hardware  business  with  D.  M.  Craw- 
ford at  Sterling.  The  firm  of  Gait  &  Crawford  con- 
tinued until  1858,  when  the  latter  withdrew  and  Mr. 
Gait  admitted  his  brother,  John  M.,  the  firm  name 
becoming  Gait  &  Bro.  In  1863  two  more  partners 
were  admitted,  and  under  their  joint  management 
their  business  grew  to  significant  proportions.  Dur- 
ing the  same  year  Mr.  Gait,  in  addition  to  his  hard- 
ware store,  commenced  the  manufacture  of  farm 
implements,  and  soon  after  he  became  associated 
with  George  S.  Tracy,  who  was  then  carrying  on  a 
planing-mill  in  Sterling.  The  mill  and  the  manu- 
factory were  merged  into  one  establishment,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Gait  &  Tracy.  The  title  of  "  Key- 
stone Works  "  was  soon  after  adopted. 

In  1864  the  manufacturing  business  had  grown  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  demand  Mr.  Gait's  whole  at- 
tention, and  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  hardware 
business  and  retired  from  the  retail  trade.  The 
wholesale  manufacturing  business,  as  he  continued 
in  it,  became  highly  successful.  In  July,  1867,  the 
whole  premises  and  stock  of  the  factory  were  de- 


)t 

UKfcMNA 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


stroyed  by  fire,  causing  a  loss  to  the  firm  of  about 
$30,000,  the  property  being  uninsured.  The  activity 
and  vim  which  were  characteristic  of  Mr.  Gait's  na- 
ture were  not  crushed  by  this  blow,  and  measures 
were  soon  taken  for  the  restoration  of  the  firm's  busi- 
ness. The  factory  in  Sterling  was  rebuilt,  and  so 
vigorously  was  the  work  pushed  forward  that  in 
three  weeks  from  the  time  of  the  fire  the  new  struc- 
ture was  not  only  finished  but  furnished  with  ma- 
chinery, including  engine  and  boiler.  The  factory 
was  appropriated  to  sash  and  door  manufacturing 
and  planing-mill. 

In  the  meantime  the  firm  purchased  a  water  priv- 
ilege and  some  land  at  Rock  Falls,  opposite  Sterling, 
and  commenced  a  new  factory,  including  foundry, 
machine  shops  and  implement  works,  which  were 
pushed  on  so  vigorously  that  within  three  months 
from  the  burning  of  the  old  works  the  new  were  all 
in  working  order.  This  manufactory  was  the  first 
of  any  kind  erected  in  Rock  Falls.  Within  six 
months  after  commencing  business,  the  firm  turned 
out  about  1,500  agricultural  machines  of  all  kinds, 
besides  a  large  amount  of  wood-work  from  the  plan- 
ing-mill. 

In  1870  the  trade  had  increased  so  much  that  a 
joint-stock  company  was  incorporated,  under  the 
name  of  the  "Keystone  Manufacturing  Company," 
with  a  capital  of  $[50,000,  which  has  since  been  in- 
creased to  nearly  half  a  million.  Mr/  Gait  was 
elected  President,  and  George  S.  Tracy  Vice  Presi- 
dent and  Superintendent.  This  company  is  now 
among  the  largest  manufacturers  of  farm  implements 
in  the  world,  and  their  trade  extends  throughout  the 
United  States  and  Mexico,  and  Central  and  South. 
America.  They  employ  usually  about  200  to  250 
hands.  Mr.  Gait  is  also  interested  in  several  other 
manufacturing  firms  in  Rock  Falls  and  Sterling. 

Messrs.  Gait  &  Tracy  have  also  engaged  in  the 
banking  business  in  the  Gait  House  Block,  where 
they  do  a  general  banking  business,  dealing  in  foreign 
and  domestic  exchange,  stocks  and  bonds.  They 
also  own  the  Academy  of  Music  building. 

Mr.  G.  lias  large  real-estate  interests  in  Sterling, 
among  which  is  a  fine  residence  of  brick,  with  stone 
trimmings,  on  Third  Street. 

In  addition  to  his  other  enterprises,  Mr.  Gait  com- 
menced the  erection  of  the  Gait  House  in  1876,  and 
completed  it  in  1877,  at  a  cost  of  $65,000.  He  also 


owns  the  Gait  House,  Wallace  House  and  Waverly 
House,  which  are  all  the  hotels  in  town,  and  several 
large  store  buildings  on  Third  Street.  He  is  a  Di- 
rector and  Trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  Northwest,  located  in  Chicago.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  has  also  been  Mayor  of  the  city  one  term. 

Mr.  Gait  has  been  twice  married,  first  in  1850,  to 
Miss  Julia  Jones,  of  New  Hartford,  Conn.,  who 
died  in  1853;  and  he  was  married  again  in  1856,  to 
Miss  Catherine  Anthony,  of  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Permelia  Anthony,  and  a  sis- 
ter of  Dr.  J.  P.  Anthony,  of  Sterling,  and  also  of 
Judge  Anthony  of  the  Chicago  Superior  Court.  Mr. 
Gait  had  two  children  by  his  first  wife,  which  died 
in  infancy;  and  by  his  second  wife  eight  children, 
three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  living  are :  E. 
Leroy,  Treasurer  of  the  Keystone  Manufacturing 
Company;  one  daughter  is  the  wife  of  E.  L.  Brook- 
field,  President  of  the  Rock  Falls  Manufacturing 
Company;  the  others,  daughters,  are  at  home. 


^avid  Parker,  deceased,  formerly  a  resident 
K  of  Garden  Plain  Township,  came  to  White- 
side  County  in  1836.  His  father,  Abel 
Parker,  was  the  pioneer  of  the  territory  now 
designated  Garden  Plain  Township,  whither  he 
came  in  August  of  that  year  and  built  a  cabin  on 
a  claim  in  the  timber,  situated  on  section  25,  and 
afterwards  known  as  "  Parker's  Grove,"  and  whither 
he  removed  his  six  sons  and  three  daughters  soon 
after. 

David  Parker  was  born  in  Wells,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt., 
Dec.  12,  1811,  and  was  the  oldest  son  of  Abel  and 
Eleanor  (Howe)  Parker.  His  father  was  a  miller, 
and  he  was  early  inducted  into  an  understanding  of 
all  the  art  and  science  embraced  in  the  calling,  being 
so  young  that  he  was  compelled  to  stand  on  an  in- 
verted half-bushel  measure  in  order  to- reach  the 
hopper.  After  coming  to  Garden  Plain  Township  he 
lived  with  his  father  until  the  death  of  the  latter.  In 
1838  he  secured  a  claim  of  160  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 15  in  the  same  township,  which  he  began  to  im- 
prove the  next  year.  In  1840  he  built  a  half-frame 
structure,  which  a  little  latter  supplied  a  much 
needed  want  in  the  unsettled  region  where  it  was 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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located,  serving  as  a  haven  of  rest  and  comfort  for 
the  hungry  and  weary  travelers  who  sought  this  por- 
tion of  Northwestern  Illinois.  The  place  bore  no  dis- 
tinctive mark  as  a  hostelry,  but  a  post  in  its  vicinity, 
bearing  the  painted  inscription  "Parker's,"  was  the 
guaranty  to  a  wearied  traveler  that  food  to  appease 
his  hunger,  and  a  bed  whereon  to  rest  his  tired 
frame,  were  close  at  hand.  It  served  the  same  pur- 
pose until  1865,  a  period  of  25  years. 

David  Parker  died  Feb.  10,  1876.  His  life  of 
nearly  40  years'  duration  in  Garden  Plain  Township 
was  one  of  honorable,  useful  effort,  and  he  reaped 
substantial  reward  in  his  accumulations  and  a  per- 
manent place  in  the  memory  of  the  people  whose  in- 
terests and  well-being  he  never  forgot.  His  relations 
with  the  public  were  based  on  the  principle  that 
whatever  substantiates  the  general  interest  is  the 
best  possible  safeguard  of  individual  prosperity.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  480  acres  of  land  in 
the  township  of  Garden  Plain,  which  was  all  in  fine 
agricultural  condition.  He  was  also  the  owner  of  74 
acres  of  valuable  timber  in  the  same  town  and  a  con- 
siderable acreage  in  Iowa  and  Minnesota.  The  thrift 
and  industry,  which  are  the  leading  traits  of  the 
agricultural  element  of  his  native  State,  character- 
ized his  noble  life,  and  he  had  the  peculiar  aversion 
to  holding  office  which  is  a  marked  characteristic  of 
the  class  to  which  he  belonged  by  birth  and  descent. 
When  the  school  matters  of  Garden  Plain  Township 
were  adjusted,  he  was  made  one  of  the  first  three 
Directors  in  the  township,  and  that  was  the  only 
official  position  he  could  ever  be  induced  to  hold. 

He  was  always  what  was  called  "  forehanded," 
and  operated  in  a  private  way  as  a  banker,  making 
loans  and  dealing  in  financial  paper.  He  was  no 
usurer,  and  never  in  all  his  transactions  took  advan- 
tage of  another's  pressing  need  to  secure  his  own  in- 
terest. It  was  common  with  him  to  say,  "I  only 
want  my  10  per  cent."  He  was  careful  concerning 
security,  but  he  never  pressed  a  debtor  to  extremity. 
He  never  foreclosed  a  mortgage,  or  refused  time  to 
enable  a  delinquent  to  meet  his  obligations.  After 
his  death,  outlawed  notes  were  found  among  his 
papers,  which  were  made  by  perfectly  good  and  re- 
sponsible parties,  and  could  have  been  collected  with- 
out difficulty,  but  which,  for  reasons  known  only  to 
himself,  he  had  suffered  to  become  null.  In  political 
sentiment  he  was  an  earnest  Republican  from  the 
organization  of  that  party  to  the  day  of  his  death. 


Mr.  Parker  was  married  in  Garden  Plain  Town- 
ship, June  i,  1852,10  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Ichabod 
and  Mehitabel  (Kempton)  Shurtleff.  Mrs.  Parker 
was  born  May  i,  1822,  in  Orleans  Co.,  Vt.  Three 
sons  and  a  daughter  were  born  to  David  Parker  and 
his  wife.  Charles  D.  married  Amanda  Sutherland, 
and  has  lately  become  a  citizen  and  business  man  at 
Fulton.  Henry  L.  died  when  six  years  old.  Lizzie 
and  Herbert  live  at  Fulton  with  their  mother.  In 
January,  1881,  they  started  with  her  on  a  European 
trip,  which  consumed  two  and  a  half  years,  and  dur- 
ing that  time  they  visited  England,  France,  Switzer- 
land, Italy  and  Germany. 

Mrs.  Parker  fixed  her  residence  at  Fulton  in  1876, 
soon  after  the  death  of  her  husband.  She  is  one  of 
the  pioneer  women  of  Whiteside  County,  where  she 
is  widely  and  favorably  known.  She  participated  in 
the  hardships  incident  to  the  early  settlement  of  this 
Western  country,  cheerfully  aiding  her  husband  in 
his  undertakings  and  contributing  largely  to  his  suc- 
cess. She  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Garden  Plain. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Parker  accompanies  this  sketch. 


'ohn  Huntington,  a  farmer  on  section  31, 
^  Portland  Township,  is  a  son  of  Nathan 
B.  and  Matilda  (Whiting)  Huntington, 
and  was  born  in  Westford,  Conn.,  Oct.  6, 
1834.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  teacher,  mer- 
chant, etc.,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Geneseo, 
His  mother  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and 
died  when  Mr.  H.  of  this  sketch  was  but  seven 
years  old,  in  Tazewell  Co.,  111.  They  had  three 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  John  being  the 
eldest ;  Maria  is  the  wife  of  Cornelius  Van  Vetchen, 
a  farmer  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  Elbridge, 
Onondaga  County;  and  Andrew,  a  farmer  in  Cham- 
paign Co.,  111.  In  1838  the  family  settled  near 
Groveland,  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  where  the  father 
bought  a  farm.  They  came  to  Geneseo,  Henry  i 
County,  in  1852,  and  in  1856  Mr.  H.  went  upon  his  3 
father's  farm  in  Phenix  Township,  that  county,  pur-  t\i 
chasing  60  acres  of  the  same.  Subsequently  he  % 
exchanged  his  interests  there  for  his  present  farm  of  y 
103  acres  in  1859.  On  this  he  has  made  a  number 


, 


-  •  .  v 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


of  improvements,  and  is  succeeding  well  as  a  general 
farmer. 

Mr.  Huntington  was  married  at  Spring  Hill,  this 
county,  May  17,  1857,  to  Miss  Harriet  E.  Schmied, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rachel  Schmied.  She  was 
born  in  Norristown,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug. 
21,  1826.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  seven  children, 
one  born  in  Phenix  Township  and  six  at  the 
present  residence,  viz.:  Rachel  M.,  Oct.  22,  1858, 
now  the  wife  of  David  Uric,  a  farmer  in  this  town- 
ship; Emma  M.,born  March  22,  1860,  now  teaching 
school;  Charlotte  E.,  born  Jan.  25,  1862;  John  F., 
Dec.  7,  r863 ;  Henry  A.,  Aug.  30,  1865  ;  Estella  R  . 
Dec.  7,  1867  ;  Daisy  B.,  Feb.  25,  1879. 

Mr.  Schmied  located  here  July  3,  1844,  entering  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  Portland  Township.  He  died 
on  his  farm  April  i,  1858.  His  widow  resides  in 
Geneseo,  111.  » 


W.  Broadhead,  dealer  in  general  mer- 
chandise, successor  to  Herrold,  Broadhead 
&  Co.,  Fulton.  The  business  was  founded 

by  Herrold  &  Church  in  18 — .     In   1873  Mr. 

Broadhead    and    a   younger   brother   of    Mr. 

Church  purchased  the  elder  Church's  interest 
and  the  firm  became  Herrold,  Broadhead  &  Co.  The 
business  was  conducted  under  this  head  till  1878, 
when  Mr.  Broadhead  bought  out  Mr.  Church,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1883  purchased  his  remaining  part- 
ner's interest  and  became  sole  proprietor.  He  car- 
ries an  extensive  stock  of  general  merchandise,  ex- 
ceeding anything  in  that  line  in  Fulton.  His  stock 
is  selected  with  great  care,  with  a  view  to  suiting  his 
customers.  Six  salesmen  are  employed  in  the  busi- 
ness. 

Mr.  Broadhead  was  born  near  Jamestown,  Chau- 
tauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  20,  1850,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  and  Caroline  (Van  Ness)  Broadhead.  He 
came  to  Fulton  with  his  parents  in  1857,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city.  His 
father  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  J.  W.  was 
employed  a  part  of  his  time  as  an  assistant  in  the 
shop.  In  1867  he  engaged  with  Herrold  &  Church, 
general  merchants  at  Fulton,  as  salesman.  After 
having  had  six  years'  experience  in  the  business,  he 


purchased  an  interest  in  the  house,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1883  became  sole  proprietor,  as  before  stated.  Mr. 
B.  has  demonstrated  his  capacity  to  conduct  an  ex- 
tensive business  successfully.  He  has  a  good  re- 
liable trade  and  is  considered  one  of  the  leading 
merchants  of  Whiteside  County. 

He  was  married  at  Fulton,  111.,  in  February,  1877, 
to  Miss  Alice  Robinson,  daughter  of  Bradstreet  Rob- 
inson, one  of  Fulton's  oldest  and  n.ost  respected  cit- 
izens. Mrs.  Broadhead  was  born  at  Fulton.  They 
have  three  children,  all  girls, — Elsie,  Helen  and 
Sylvia. 

Mr.  Broadhead  is  a  member  of  Fulton  City  Lodge, 
No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  Republican  in  pol- 
itics. 


f  ohn  E.  Eipley,  farmer,  section  30,  Mont- 
fr-  morency  Township,  is  a  son  of  Pomeroy 
and  Sarah  (Merricks)  Ripley,  natives  re- 
spectively of  New  York  State  and  Virginia,  who 
settled  in  Ohio,  afterward  removed  to  the  Em- 
pire State,  and  in  1852  located  in  Jordan  Town- 
ship, this  county,  where  Mr.  R.  died,  Jan.  i,  1864, 
and  Mrs.  R.  slill  survives.  During  his  life,  Mr.  R. 
served  in  many  places  of  trust  in  local  affairs,  being 
Supervisor,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Tax  Collector,  etc., 
a  number  of  years.  They  had  seven  children, — 
Eliza  A.,  Frances  C.,  John  E.,  Ezra  P.,  Henry  C., 
Sarah  D.  and  Charles  P.  Four  of  this  number  are 
now  living:  Eliza  A.  Christie,  of  Hume  Township, 
this  County ;  Henry  E.,  who  now  resides  at  Owego, 
N.  Y.,  is  the  proprietor  of  a  large  boot  and  shoe 
store  and  is  a  gaduate  of  the  Sterling  Business  Col- 
lege; and  Charles  P.,  who  is  yet  living  at  his 
mother's  home  in  Hume  Township ;  and  John  E. 
Mr.  Ripley,  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Jordan 
Township,  this  county,  July  31,  1855,  and  has  all  his 
life  been  a  farmer.  He  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  at  the  age  of  22  left  his  paternal  home, 
bought  82  acres  of  land  in  Montmorency  Township, 
on  section  30,  where  he  settled  and  has  since  re- 
sided. He  now  owns  122  acres,  nearly  all  of  which 
is  in  cultivation. 

He  was  married  in  Nelson,  Lee  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  28, 
1878,  to  Flora  E.,  daughter  of  Lewis  F.  and  Sevilla 
(Hasse)  Long,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to 


• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Lee  County  in  1876,  where  they  still  reside;  they 
had  seven  children,  viz.:  Sophia  A.,  Flora  E.,  Nor- 
man H.,  Ida  C.,  Nettie 'A.,  Samuel  T.  and  Grace. 
Mrs.  Ripley  was  born  in  Somerset  Co.,  Pa.,  March 
12,  1856.  She  and  her  husband  have  two  children, 
— Bessie  G.  and  Blanch  E. 

Mr.  Ripley's  politics  are  Republican,  his  religion 
that  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mrs.  R.  is  a  member  of 
the  English  Lutheran  Church. 


illiam  A.  Beswick,  a  prominent  agricul- 
turist of  Clyde  Township,  and  a  resident 
,.,  on  section  30,  was  born  where  he  now 
i>  lives,  Jan.  i,  1850.  Richard  Beswick,  his 
father,  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
and  was  of  unmixed  English  lineage.  When 
he  was  r8  years  old  he  emigrated  to  the  New  World 
and  settled  in  the  province  of  Ontario.  He  was 
there  married  to  Sarah  Patrick,  a  native  of  the 
province,  and  born  of  Scotch  parents.  After  that 
event  they  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Clyde 
Township,  then  in  its  pioneer  days.  The  father  se- 
cured a  claim,  where  he  began  the  labors  and  efforts 
of  a  pioneer  settler  on  the  unbroken  prairie,  building 
at  the  outset  a  home  suited  to  the  necessities  of  a 
family.  A  few  years  later  the  wife  died,  leaving  two 
children.  Of  these  a  daughter  survives.  A  son 
died  not  long  after  the  mother.  The  second  wife  of 
Mr.  Beswick  was  Mrs.  Hannah  (Knight)  Humphrey. 
She  is  a  native  of  Maine  and  was  married  to  her  first 
husband  in  Ohio,  where  he  died  and  left  her  with 
two  children,  both  boys,  one  of  whom  is  deceased. 
After  she  became  a  widow  she  came  to  Illinois  and 
married  Mr.  Beswick.  They  had  five  children,  and 
the  mother  is  still  living  on  the  homestead  estate, 
aged  64  years.  The  father  died  on  the  farm  July  7, 
1884,  aged  74  years. 

Mr.  Beswick  of  this  sketch  lived  at  home  until  he 
was  25  years  of  age,  and  his  first  important  step  was 
his  matrimonial  alliance  with  Mary,  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Sarah  (Milnes)  Wood,  which  occurred 
Jan.  i,  1875.  T1)e  father  of  Mrs.  Beswick  was  a 
native  of  England  and  came  in  childhood  to  the 
United  States.  When  he  was  20  years  of  age  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  the  then  new  county 
of  Whiteside.  His  wife  was  born  in  Massachusetts 


and  came  to  Whiteside  County  when  she  and  it  were 
in  the  early  periods  of  their  existences.  After  their 
marriage  they  became  the  owners  of  unbroken  prairie, 
which  they  improved,  and  which  they  made  their 
homestead.  They  now  own  200  acres  on  which  they 
are  living  in  retirement. 

Mrs.  Beswick  was  born  April  22,  1854,  on  section 
29,  Clyde  Township,  and  was  reared  at  home  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  Her  children  by 
Mr.  Beswick  are  all  living  and  were  born  as  follows: 
Elmer  M.,  Nov.  24,  1876;  Lorenzo,  Feb.  14,  1878; 
Sarah,  Aug.  26,  1879;  Richard  F.,  Oct.  10,  1881  ; 
and  Hannah,  June  21,  1883. 

On  settling  in  life  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beswick  rented  a 
farm  which  they  managed  for  some  time.  In  1876 
they  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  section  30,  which 
was  partly  improved,  and  included  20  acres  of  tim- 
ber, whose  value  in  a  prairie  country  needs  no  dem- 
onstration. The  estate  of  Mr.  Beswick  now  includes 


(1885)  189  acres,  and  of  this  160  acres  are  under 
cultivation.  He  has  a  well  earned  repute  as  a 
grower  of  stock,  and  has  a  fine  herd  of  thoroughbred 
Durham  cattle  and  a  valuable  lot  of  Poland-China 
swine.  The  buildings  on  the  homestead  place  are 
first-class  farm  edifices  and  greatly  enhance  the 
value  and  appearance  of  the  place.  In  addition  to 
his  own  farm,  Mr.  Beswick  has  been  conducting  the 
agricultural  affairs  of  400  acres  of  land  situated  01 
sections  30  and  31. 

He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  views  and  conne( 
tions.     He  has  been  active  in  local  township  affairs 
and  has  served  in  several  official  positions.     He  is  a 
Director  in  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company. 


( 


j 


J.  Talcott,  M.  D.,  a  practicing  physician 
at  Spring  Hill,  Portland  Township,  is  a 
native  of  the  Empiie  State.  His  father, 
Asel  Talcott,  was  a  mechanic,  and  later  in  his 
life  a  farmer  and  stock -raiser,  in  Hanna  Town- 
ship, Henry  Co.,  111.,  at  which  place  he  located 
in  1845.  He  died  in  February,  1876.  The  Doctor's 
mother,  Jane  Talcott,  died  in  May,  1841.  They  had 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  the  Doctor 
being  the  eldest.  Dexter,  the  second-born,  is  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  in  Sharon,  Portland  Town- 


i 

, 


.: 


r(  ' 


-       - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


t 

''*  5 


ship,  this  county ;  Catherine  is  a  widow,  residing  in 
Guthrie  Co.,  Iowa. 

Doctor  Talcott  was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Nov.  30,  1826,  first  learned  house-painting  of  his 
father,  and  then  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  T.  S.  Smith, 
of  Hampton,  Rock  Island  County.  After  reading 
medicine  there  for  a  time  he  attended  the  Eclectic 
Medical  College  of  Cincinnati  during  the  years  1849 
to  1852  inclusive,  graduating.  He  then  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Rock  Island  and 
Henry  Counties.  The  war  came  on,  and  Aug.  r, 
i86r,  at  Geneseo,  he  enlisted  in  the  8th  Kansas 
Regt.  Vol.  Inf.  as  Assistant  Surgeon,  the  Illinois 
representation  in  the  army  being  then  full.  He 
accordingly  went  to  Leavenworth,  and  served  with 
the  regiment  nearly  through  the  war,  namely,  until 
March,  1865,  when  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Texas,  and  he  came  home. 

The  same  year,  1865,  he  moved  to  Spring  Hill, 
where  he  has  ever  since  followed  his  chosen  profes- 
sion, with  gratifying  success.  He  is  the  only  physi- 
cian at  that  point.  The  Doctor  has  been  Supervisor 
of  his  township  one  year,  and  he  was  Postmaster  at 
Spring  Hill  from  1871  to  1881. 

He  was  married  in  Sharon,  May  17,  1855,  to  Miss 
Harriet,  daughter  of  Jerry  and  Harriet  Johnson. 
She  was  born  in  New  York,  August,  1835.  The 
Doctor  has  three  children  living,  viz.:  George,  now  a 
clerk  and  school-teacher  in  Spring  Hill ;  Roy,  also  a 
clerk  at  Spring  Hill ;  and  Agnes ;  the  deceased  were 
named  Vivia  and  Jessie,  who  died  in  infancy. 


>rs.  Aura  T.  Brown,  a  resident  on  sec- 
tion 1 6,  Portland  Township,  occupies  a 
farm  of  2*0  acres.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  and  Abigail  Lindley,  and  was 
born  in  Tinmouth,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  Oct.  8, 
1807.  She  was  married  in  Middletown,  that 
county,  Jan.  2,  1832,  to  Vivalda  Brown,  who  was 
a  son  of  Jonathan  Brown.  The  latter  was  born  in 
Wells,  same  county,  May  5,  1807.  They  had  nine 
children,  namely  :  Jeremiah  D.,  a  farmer  in  Lan- 
caster Co.  Neb. ;  Charlotte  S.,  deceased ;  Albert  O., 
also  deceased ;  Jonathan,  who  died  in  the  late  war ; 
Alanson  L.,  residing  in  Idaho;  Cordelia  M.,  James 
V.,  Martha  M.,  all  of  whom  are  deceased,  and  Mary 


J.,the  wife  of  Pliny  Brown,  a  farmer  and  blacksmith 
in  Kansas. 

Mr.  Brown  was  a  shoe  and  harness  maker.  He, 
with  his  family,  moved  from  Vermont  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, and,  after  a  residence  of  three  years  there,  to 
Aurora,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  followed  his  trade. 
In  October,  1850,  they  came  to  Prophetstown,  this 
county,  and  in  1852  moved  upon  their  farm,  which 
Mr.  Brown  bought  in  July,  1849.  Upon  this  place 
he  made  a  number  of  improvements,  as  house,  barn, 
fences,  etc.  He  died  at  his  home,  July  4,  r87i. 
Mrs.  B.  now  rents  the  farm. 


ife 


i? 

la§ .harles  D.  Parker,  farmer  and  breeder  of 
|SJ!  Short-Horn  cattle  and  Jersey  Red  swine, 
--  ^  at  Fulton,  is  a  native  of  this  county.  He 
was  born  in  Garden  Plain  Township,  July  12, 
1853.  His  parents  were  David  and  Eliza- 

{  beth  (Shurtleff)  Parker,  and  were  -among  the 
very  earliest  pioneers  of  this  county.  A  full  personal 
account  of  David  Parker  may  be  found  elsewhere  in 
this  volume. 

Charles  D.  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Fulton,  Jan.  6,  1876,  to  Miss  Amanda  Suth- 
erland, daughter  of  Peter  M.  and  Mary  Sutherland. 
Mrs.  Parker  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  They 
have  one  child,  a  son,  named  Carl  S.,  who  was  born 
in  Garden  Plain,  Feb.  12,  1877. 

Mr.  Parker  has  had  charge  of  the  estate  since  his 
father's  death,  which  included  554  acres.  Of  this 
the  major  portion  is  in  tillage,  and  the  place  is  well 
stocked  witn  herds  of  cattle,  comprising  40  thor- 
oughbreds and  about  150  grades  of  a  valuable  type. 
The  demands  of  the  estate  require  20  horses,  and 
there  is  a  dairy  of  20  cows.  The  hogs  on  the  place 
average  about  150  yearly,  and  Mr.  Parker  exhibits 
20  thoroughbred  JerseyReds.  The  estate  has  five 
dwellings,  with  three  tenants.  The  farm  buildings 
are  of  excellent  character.  He  has  added  240  acres 
to  its  extent,  making  the  total  area  of  the  estate 
lying  in  Garden  Plain  Township  794  acres.  He 
moved  to  Fulton  City  in  April,  1885. 

Mr.  Parker  has  been  chosen  to  fill  various  public 
positions,  the  duties  of  which  he  has  discharged  with 
marked  fidelity.  He  served  three  terms  in  the 
County  Board  as  Supervisor  from  Garden  Plain,  for 


\T\^-  H  HXT»  H  H  •  -S  Y^ 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


jfo  the  years  1882-3-4.  He  has  also  served  as  Com- 
missioner of  Highways,  School  Director  and  in  other 
minor  offices.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  Republican, 
and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  politics.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  County  Central  Commit- 
tee eight  years,  and  has  also  served  several  times  on 
the  Executive  Committee.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  State  Republican  Conventions  of  t88o  and  1882. 
He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Invincible 
Lodge,  No.  220,  of  the  United  Workmen,  and  served 
as  its  first  Master.  Mr.  Parker  has  been  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Whiteside  Central  Agricultural  Society 
two  years,  and  on  the  death  of  Hon.  R.  E.  Logan, 
in  1885,  was  his  successor. 


Lamuel  L.  Wheelock,  a  farmer,  on  section 
36,  Hume  Township,  has  been  a  resident 
'of  Whiteside  County  since  1855.  He  was 
born  Jan.  26,  1825,  in  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass. 
Luther  Wheelock,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
the  same  county,  and  passed  many  years 
there  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  of  Irish  lin- 
eage. Clarissa  (Marcy)  Wheelock,  the  mother,  was 
born  in  Massachusetts,  of  similar  ancestry,  and  her 
marriage  occurred  in  Berkshire  County.  The  father 
died  there  at  a  greatly  advanced  age ;  the  mother 
resides  in  Tampico  village,  and  is  81  years  old. 

Mr.  Wheelock  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  his 
native  county,  living  at  home  until  he  was  20  years 
of  age.  His  first  venture  of  importance  was  his  mar- 
riage to  Almena  R.  Langdon,  Nov.  27,  1842.  She 
was  born  June  7,  1822,  in  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass., 
and  descended  from  parents  who  were  born  and 
reared  in  the  same  State,  where  the  father  died ;  the 
mother  died  in  Hume  Township.  Mrs.  Wheelock 
was  reared  to  mature  age  in  her  native  county,  and 
was  there  educated.  To  her  and  her  husband  four 
children  have  been  born  :  Amanda  married  William 
Dennison,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Massachu- 
setts. He  died  at  the  age  of  35  years,  in  May,  1873, 
at  Prophetstown,  leaving  two  children,  Hubert  and 
William ;  Elbert  married  Edla  Linkletter,  and  they 
reside  in  Tampico  Township;  they  have  four  chil- 
dren :  Cora,  Bertie,  Brace  and  Jay ;  Ozro  died  be- 
.fore  he  was  ayear  old;  Luther  married  Katie 

,X^J?,. -^PSU^-  /-s    Jl 


Freeby,  and  they  live  with  his  parents ;  they  have 
two  children,  Charles  and  Cecil. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Wheelock  was  interested  in 
farming  in  his  native  county  about  ten  years,  when 
he  removed  with  his  wife  and  children  to  the  village 
of  Prophetstown,  where  he  lived  six  years.  He  be- 
came a  farmer  in  that  township,  and  was  interested 
in  agriculture  in  the  capacity  of  a  renter  four  years, 
during  the  last  of  which  he  purchased  190  acres  on 
section  33  Hume  Township,  of  which  he  took  per- 
sonal possession  in  March,  1866.  The  place  con- 
sisted of  unbroken  prairie,  and  settlers  were  few  in 
that  immediate  vicinity.  The  proprietor  has  pressed 
his  agricultural  projects  with  success,  and  has  in- 
creased his  possessions  until  he  owns  400  acres  un- 
der excellent  improvements  and  supplied  with  good 
farm  buildings,  including  a  fine  residence. 

Mr.  Wheelock  is  a  Republican,  of  decided  type, 
and  has  been  a  useful  citizen  of  his  township.  He 
was  made  Supervisor  in  1880,  and  officiated  during 
the  years  1883-4  as  Assessor.  He  is  now  serving 
as  Township  Trustee. 

— •*».- 


j^ugh  Wallace,  deceased,  was  born  Aug.  10, 
1812,  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  a 
TJjKf''  graduate  of  Washington  College,  Pa.,  and 
W  read  law  with  George  Porter  in  Lancaster,  Pa. 
On  being  admitted  to  the  Bar  he  opened  an  office 
in  Lancaster,  where  he  continued  to  practice 
for  a  time,  and  then  returned  to  his  native  county. 
In  1837  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  located 
at  Chatham,  now  the  city  of  Sterling.  The  country 
being  new  and  the  county  not  yet  organized,  the  law 
business  could  not  be  very  profitable;  and  so  he 
followed  the  business  of  farming  for  a  few  years,  or 
until  the  country  became  more  densely  populated, 
when  he  devoted  himself  to  his  profession.  As  a 
lawyer  he  took  high  rank  at  the  Bar,  and  when  he 
undertook  a  case  de  determined  to  win  at  all  haz- 
ards. Hugh  Wallace  was  a  man  of  energy,  and  in 
every  enterprise  calculated  to  build  up  his  adopted 
city  he  was  very  active.  To  him,  more  than  to  any 
other  man,  is  due  the  construction  of  the  dam  at 
Sterling.  He  served  the  county  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  State,  both  in  the  House 
and  Senate.  He  also  served  four  years  as  a  Regis- 

^ —gA^v>A^g) 


f 


• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


i-  % 


ter  of  the  Land  Office  in  Dixon.  A  leading  trait  of 
his  character  is  said  to  have  been  his  great  hospi- 
tality. The  latch-string  of  his  door  was  always  out, 
and  his  hospitality  was  tested  by  hundreds.  Mr. 
Wallace  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Gait,  March  16, 1830.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  their  children  :  James  G.,  Agnes,  Mary,  Isabella, 
Elizabeth  C.,  Kate,  James  M.,  Jesse.,  Hamilton  and 
Ann  Eliza.  Mr.  Wallace  died  Aug.  18,  1864.  His 
widow  yet  resides  in  Sterling. 


Andrew  J.  Seely,  a  farmer  on  section  i, 
Portland  Township,  is  a  son  of  Col.  Ebene- 
zer  and  Dolly  Seely,  and  was  born  in  Catta- 
raugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  26,  1832.  In  June, 
1836,  the  family  emigrated  to  this  county, 
locating  in  Portland,  where  Andrew  J.  has 
since  resided.  When  23  years  of  age  he  left  the 
homestead  and  went  to  Sterling,  forming  a  partner- 
ship with  Romanzo  Ramsay ^ a  brother-in-law,  and 
starting  the  first  furniture  store  and  lumber-yard  in 
that  place;  but  a  few  months  afterward  his  partner 
died,  in  July,  1855.  Then,  in  company  with  his 
brother  Martin,  Mr.  Seely  opened  a  hardware,  gro- 
cery and  tin  shop  in  .Portland  village,  under  the  firm 
name  of  A.  J.  &  M.  V.  Seely.  After  continuing  this 
about  1 8  months  they  closed  the  business  and  rented 
the  homestead,  consisting  of  250  acres,  for  two  years, 
when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  removed  to  Prophets- 
town,  opened  the  first  livery  stable  in  that  place,  and 
conducted  it  two  years.  He  then  returned  to  the 
homestead  for  a  year,  and  next  went  to  Pike's  Peak, 
Col.,  and  followed  mining  for  seven  months,  and  was 
also  barber,  blacksmith  and  road-grader,  assisting  in 
grading  the  road  to  Gold  Hill;  he  returned  in  the 
fall. 

In  January,  1861,  he  opened  the  first  livery  stable 
in  the  village  of  Erie;  remained  there  five  months; 
thence  went  to  Portland  Township  again,  purchasing 
40  acres  of  the  homestead  and  10  acres  adjoining,  to 
which  he  has  since  added  until  he  now  has  an  aggre- 
gate of  200  acres,  where  he  is  now  settled,  making  a 
specialty  of  Hambletonian  horses,  raises  some  cattle 
and  fattens  40  to  50  hogs  annually.  During  the  last 
12  or  14  years  he  has  also  been  engaged  to  some 
extent  in  removing  buildings.  He  has  raised  and 
worked  on  very  many  buildings  in  Portland  and 


Prophetstown ;  is  now  doing  an  active  business  as 
auctioneer.  In  1871-2  he  was  employed  grading  on 
the  railroad.  Thus  he  has  demonstrated  himself  to 
be  a  handy  man  at  almost  anything  in  the  mechan- 
ical and  live-stock  line. 

Mr.  Seely  has  been  Assessor  of  Portland  Town- 
ship eight  years ;  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
being  a  Representative  in  the  Grand  Lodge ;  is  also 
Worthy  Councilor,  in  the  Lodge  of  Modern  Wood- 
men at  Prophetstown,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  the  Daughters  of  Rebecca,  as  are  also  his 
wife  and  daughter. 

He  was  married  Feb.  21, 1856,  in  Portland  Town- 
ship, to  Miss  Almina,  daughter  of  Calvin  and  Sally 
Williams,  who  was  born  in  Lodi,  Cattaraugus  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Nov.  7, 1833.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seely  have  three 
children  :  Alexander  J.,  born  Nov.  15, 1857,  who  left 
here  in  1880,  and  engaged  in  the  smelting  works  at 
Rico,  Col.,  and  was  married  at  Prophetstown,  Feb. 
20,  1884,  to  Miss  Florence  Bartlett,  then  a  teacher 
in  Prophetstown;  Jennie  L,.,  born  July  29,  1862,  still 
at  home;  and  Charles  E.,  born  Dec.  4,  1867. 

Mrs.  Seely 's  parents  came  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  where 
they  resided  three  years;  then,  in  1838,  came  to 
Prophetstown  Township.  They  are  both  now  de- 
ceased, the  mother  dying  July  14,  1840,  and  the 
father  Oct.  7,  1884,  aged  84  years,  four  months  and 
seven  days.  Her  father  was  a  mechanic,  a  carpenter 
and  joiner  by  trade,  and  erected  a  number  of  build- 
ings in  Prophetstown  Township.  He  received  an 
injury  at  Rochelle  in  1883,  by  a  railroad  train,  that 
was  the  cause  of  his  death  at  the  time  stated.  Mrs. 
S.  has  three  sisters  and  one  brother  in  this  county, 
and  a  sister  in  Rochelle,  111.  Her  oldest  sister  is 
Mrs.  Emily  Gage;  2d,  Mrs.  Harriet  Myres;  3d,  Mrs. 
Eliza  Barber;  4th,  Mrs.  Lovina  Thanks;  and  her 
brother  is  Enos  Williams. 


eorge  S.  Tracy,  of  the  firm  of  Gait  & 
Tracy,  manufacturers  of  farm  machinery, 
Sterling,  was  born  in  Norwich,  Mass.,  June 
28,  1829.  His  father,  John  Tracy,  was  a 
mechanic,  of  whom  he  learned  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  joiner.  His  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Betsey  Dimock.  Mr.  Tracy  came  to  Sterling  in 
1857,  and  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Cook  & 


•  • 


•:    •-     


•      ..     :- 


• ,    ' 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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Co.,  in  the  manufacture  of  sash  and  doors,  which  re- 
lation was  sustained  until  1863.  Having  bought 
out  his  partners,  he  at  this  date  merged  his  business 
with  that  of  1  homas  A.  Gait,  since  which  time  they 
have  carried  on  a  good  trade,  employing  usually  200 
to  250  hands.  Mr.  T.  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the 
Sterling  Manufacturing  Company,  which  was  the 
old  establishment  he  took  of  Cook  &  Co. 

Mr.  Tracy  was  married  in  Camden,  Me.,  Sept.  7, 
1863,  to  Miss  Helen  M.,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and 
Eliza  Hosmer,  and  a  native  of  Camden.  They  have 
had  three  children,  all  born  in  Sterling,  viz.:  Susan, 
Frank  and  Edith.  Frank  is  attending  the  scientific 
department  of  an  institution  of  learning  at  East 
Hampton,  Mass. 


ilbert  Finkle,  general  farmer,  resident  on 
section  i,  Jordan  Township,  was  born 
July  5,  1834,  in  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.  At 
the  age  of  20  years  he  found  himself  pos- 
sessed of  the  privilege  of  making  a  hand-to- 
hand  struggle  with  the  world  on  his  own 
account.  In  March,  1845,  a  few  months  before  he 
reached  the  age  of  21  years,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and 
located  at  Buffalo  Grove,  Ogle  County.  He  found 
ready  employment  as  a  farm  laborer,  and  spent 
three  years  in  the  service  of  N.  N.  Shaver.  Mean- 
while he  was  married  to  Nancy  Sanford.  An  ac- 
count of  her  parents  is  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
work,  her  father,  Vernon  Sanford,  being  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Whiteside  County.  Her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Finkle  took  place  Oct.  22,  1857.  She  is  one  of  the 
first  white  children  born  in  Whiteside  County,  where 
her  birth  occurred  April  15,  1839.  She  has  been  the 
mother  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  with 
two  exceptions.  Irving  is  a  farmer  in  Jordan  Town- 
ship; Mary  J.  married  Fletcher  Schryver,  a  farmer 
in  Eagle  Point  Township,  Ogle  Co.,  111.  David  E., 
Arthur,  Vernon  and  Sarah  C.  are  at  home ;  Adam  V. 
died  March  23,  1865;  Cyrenus  died  March  3,  1879. 
After  becoming  the  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Sanford,  Mr. 
Finkle  acceded  to  the  management  of  his  home- 
stead, and  spent  some  years  in  the  prosecution  of  its 
interests.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  nine  acres  in  Jor- 
dan Township,  and  230  acres  in  Ogle  County.  Mr. 
Finkle  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  principles. 

Sgfgdf* : 


.dward  Somers,  farmer,  section  27,  Port- 
land Township,  cultivating  the  Youngs 
farm,  which  comprises  197  acres,  is  a  son 
of  Frank  and  Mary  (Baker)  Somers,  and  was 
born  July  25,  1846,  in  Portland  Township,  this 
county.  His  father,  a  farmer,  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  His  parents  came  to  this  western 
country  in  1836,  and  were  therefore  among  the  earli- 
est settlers  here.  His  mother  died  when  he  was 
very  young,  and  his  father  again  married,  and  now 
resides  in  Kansas.  Of  the  four  children  of  his 
mother  three  are  living,  namely :  Sarah,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  Ott,  a  farmer  in  Kansas ;  Peter,  a 
farmer. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest  of  the 
children,  and  remained  at  his  parental  home  until 
he  was  18  years  of  age,  when  he  was  employed  by 
the  month,  and  then  took  a  rented  farm,  which  he 
cultivated  for  a  time.  .  In  1882  he  bought  a  farm  of 
120  acres  in  Portland  Township,  kept  it  a  year,  and 
then  sold  and  rented  his  present  farm  of  197  acres. 

He  was  married  in  Loraine  Township,  Henry  Co., 
111.,  May  5,  1867,  to  Miss  Nancy  Bollen,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Lydia  Bollen.  She  was  born  in  that 
township  in  August,  1850.  They  have  seven  chil- 
dren :  Cora,  Frederick,  Frank,  John,  Bernard,  Lutitia 
and  Hattie. 


'onas  H.  Baer,  farmer,  section  26,  Jordan 
Township,  is  the  son  of  Martin  Baer, 
whom  an  extended  personal  sketch  ap 
pears  on  other  pages.  He  was  born  Jan.  i( 
1853,  in  the  township  of  Manor,  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.  He  is  the  second  of  seven  children 
born  to  his  parents,  and  the  entire  family  are  living: 
the  household  circle  is  still  unbroken  by  death. 
Baer  was  four  years  of  age  when  his  father  remove 
to  Illinois.  The  family  located  in  Jordan  Township, 
on  the  section  on  which  they  have  since  resided 
without  intermission.  The  farm  purchased  by  the 
senior  Baer  was  almost  wholly  unimproved,  and  the 
sons  gave  their  attention  and  efforts  to  the  work  of 
converting  the  place  into  a  homestead  of  value  and 


Mr. 


• 


Photograph   taken  on  her  iooth  birthday 


. 
/ 

I 


beauty,  with  all  possible  speed.  Mr.  Baer  continued 
at  home  until  he  was  22  years  of  age,  attending  the 
public  schools  during  the  winter  seasons. 

His  marriage  took  place  at  Sterling,  Sept.  12,  1876, 
when  Anna  H.  Rutt  became  his  wife.  Mrs.  Baer  is 
the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Fannie  (Harnley)  Rutl, 
who  were  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  of  German 
ancestors.  They  were  married  in  that  county,  and 
became  farmers  in  Franklin  County,  in  the  same 
State,  locating  near  Chambersburg,  whence  they  re- 
moved in  1865,  on  account  of  the  unpleasant  condi- 
tion arising  from  the  rebellion  of  the  South,  which 
the  loyal  people  found  so  distasteful,  and  from  which 
many  fled  to  relieve  themselves  of  the  horrors  of 
war.  The  family  located  in  Palmyra  Township,  Lee 
Co.,  111.,  where  they  lived  20  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rutt  are  quite  aged.  Their  eight  children  are  all 
living,  and  are  all  married.  Mrs!  Baer  is  the  young- 
est. She  is  the  mother  of  two  children:  Roy  R., 
born  July  7,  1877,  and  Bert  R.,  born  March  i,  1883. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Baer  managed  160  acres 
belonging  to  his  father,  on  section  26,  working  it  on 
shares  until  1885  (current  year),  when  he  became 
the  proprietor  of  the  property  by  purchase.  It  is  all 
under  tillage,  and  is  stocked  with  graded  Short-horn 
cattle. 

Politically  Mr.  Baer  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has 
officiated  six  years  as  School  Director.  He  is  now 
serving  a  term  as  School  Trustee. 


9- 


-5- 


^dward  Vennum,  a  leading  agriculturist  of 
Whiteside  County   and  a  highly  esteemed 
citizen  of  Union  Grove  Township,  has  been 
a  resident  of  the  county  since  1842.     He  was 
one  of  the  officials  chosen  at  the  first  township 
meeting  of  Union  Grove,  which  was  held  April 
6,  1852. 

He  was  born  Sept.  16,  1818,  in  Morris  Township, 
Knox  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  a  quiet  boy,  of  reflective 
and  naturally  studious  nature,  but  his  proclivities 
found  little  encouragement  in  the  public  schools, 
which,  like  everything  else  in  the  place  where  he 
passed  from  childhood  to  youth,  were  in  the  imper- 
fect condition  of  a  pioneer  period.  He  gathered  such 
education  as  was  possible,  and  formed  a  determina- 
tion to  avail  himself  of  the  first  opportunities  to  add 

.© 


to  his  store  of  knowledge  sufficiently  to  become  a 
teacher,  for  which  vocation  he  had  an  ambition.  A 
little  before  he  was  18  years  of  age,  he  went  to  New- 
ark, N.  J.,  and  engaged  as  salesman  in  a  provision 
store,  where  he  was  employed  three  years.  He  had 
studied  as  he  could,  but  ill  health  impelled  him  to 
abandon  his  cherished  plans,  and  he  came  in  1842  to 
Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  where  he  spent  two  years,  opera- 
ting alternately  as  a  teacher  in  the  seasons  of  winter, 
and  pursuing  farming  on  his  own  account  on  a  rented 
farm. 

In  1851,  having  concluded  that  his  health  de- 
pended on  a  line  of  activity  in  the  open  air,  he 
bought  172  acres  of  land  on  section  2,  and  began 
farming  in  earnest,  as  the  vocation  of  his  life.  The 
place  included  60  acres,  which  had  been  "  broken," 
and  was  supplied  with  a  log  cabin.  On  this  he  re- 
sided 1 8  years,  putting  the  entire  acreage  in  excel- 
lent condition  for  profitable  agriculture,  and  erecting 
creditable  farm  buildings.  At  the  expiration  of  the 
time  named,  he  made  additional  purchases  of  land 
and  removed  to  section  IT,  where  he  established  his 
homestead.  He  is,  at  present  writing,  the  owner  of 
412  acres  of  land  in  the  township  of  Union  Grove, 
which  is  all  situated  on  sections  2  and  n,  and  is  all 
under  tillage.  Mr.  Vennum  endorses  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party,  which  he  adopted  on  its 
organization.  He  has  never  been  aggressive  in  the 
promulgation  of  his  views,  but  has  adhered  to  his 
sentiments  with  the  quiet  persistency  which  is  one  of 
his  characteristics.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  in  1840  for  Harrison,  and  was  always  a  decided 
Abolitionist. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Feb.  20,  1845,  in  Mt. 
Pleasant  Township,  to  Susan,  daughter  of  Aaron  C. 
and  Charity  A.  (Young)  Jackson.  They  have  had 
seven  children,  of  whom  two  are  deceased  :  Albert  B. 
was  born  Dec.  4,  1845,  ar>d  was  married  Nov.  28, 
188.2,  to  Laura  Shaub;  Phebe  A.  was  born  Jan.  25, 
1848,  and  was  married  April  10,  1866,  to  P.  S.  Ban- 
nister: she  died  June  23,  1874  ;  Aaron  J.  was  born 
Dec.  ir,  1849,  and  was  married  Oct.  n,  1881,  to 
Rhoda  Gallentine;  Columbus  C.  was  born  Oct.  31, 
1851,  and  was  married  July  i,  1880,  to  Florence 
Twining;  Edwin  P.  was  born  Oct.  26,  1853,  and 
was  married  Feb.  12,  1880,  to  Linda  Reemer;  Abbie 
T.  was  born  July  3,  1856,  and  died  Dec.  18,  1873; 
and  John  G.  was  born  Dec.  6,  1864.  All  the  sons, 
with  the  exception  of  Edwin  P.,  are  business  men  in 


\/ 

(T 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


$ 

E3 

'-^li 

•<• 

' 


Exeter,  Fillmore  Co.,  Neb.  The  latter  is  at  home 
pursuing  a  course  of  commercial  study.  Mrs.  Ven- 
num,  the  mother,  was  born  Feb.  13,  1827,  in  the 
township  of  Wayne,  Knox  Co.,  Ohio.  She  and  her 
husband  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

John  Vennum,  the  father  of  Edward,  was  born  in 
Washington  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  4,  1784.  He  went  in 
young  manhood  to  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  mar- 
ried Phebe  Jackson.  She  was  born  June  23,  1784, 
in  Rockaway,  Morris  Co.,  N.  J.,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Abigail  (Mitchell)  Jackson.  Her 
parents  went  to  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1814,  after  the 
first  and  second  struggle  with  Great  Britain.  In  the 
War  of  the  Revolution  he  served  with  honor  and  held 
the  rank  of  Major.  John  Vennum  and  his  wife  lived 
in  Ohio  until  1846,  when  they  removed  to  Union 
Grove  Township.  The  former  was  then  past  60 
years  of  age.  He  located  on  a  farm  on  section  3, 
where  he  died  Feb.  12, 1858.  Three  sons  were  born 
to  him  and  his  wife, — Edward,  Columbus  and  John 
N.  The  latter  is  a  farmer  in  Rhinebeck,  Grundy 
Co.,  Iowa;  Columbus  died  Jan.  5,  1849. 

Mrs.  Vennum  is  still  living,  and  is  101  years  of  age 
(1885).  She  is  probably  the  oldest  person  living  in 
Whiteside  County.  She  was  born  when  the  Repub- 
lic was  in  its  cradle,  and  five  years  before  Washing- 
ton was  made  President.  She  has  lived  through  96 
years  of  the  history  of  this  country  under  the  federal 
government.  It  is  a  marvel  that  she  lives  to  see  her 
portrait  gathered  into  the  same  volume  with  those  of 
all  the  Chief  Executives  of  the  Nation  and  State  of 
Illinois,  reaching  prominence  through  the  fact  of  her 
great  age.  Only  seven  of  the  Presidents  were  older 
than  herself,  and  only  two  Governors  of  Illinois, 
which  has  been  a  State  67  years,  were  her  seniors. 
She  has  lived  a  quiet,  uneventful  life;  and  although 
she  has  seen  more  than  a  century  in  years,  she  is 
erect  in  figure,  dignified  and  free  from  the  feebleness 
and  tremulousness  of  extreme  age.  She  is  slightly 
deaf,  but  still  reads  the  newspapers  and  her  Bible. 
She  has  laid  aside  the  work  which  occupied  her 
hands  until  she  was  more  than  98  years  old.  Her 
interest  in  household  events  is  still  alive,  and  she 
sometimes  proffers  assistance  in  some  light  labor. 
Her  mental  faculties  are  undimmed,  and  her  memory 
is  clearer  than  that  of  most  people  who  are  from  50 
to  20  years  her  junior.  She  can  be  relied  on  to  state 
the  dates  of  events  all  through  the  years  of  most  her 


life.  Her  tenacity  of  life  is  partly  an  inheritance,  her 
progenitors  having  been  long-lived,  though  she  has 
outstripped  them  all  in  number  of  years.  Though  a 
woman  of  strong  will,  she  is  of  singularly  equable 
temperament,  uniform  in  habits,  and  has  been  noted 
for  the  sweet  spirit  of  content  which  has  pervaded 
her  whole  life.  She  spends  about  eight  hours  in  the 
24  in  bed,  sleeping  quietly  and  refreshingly.  She 
was  fond  of  society  in  earlier  years,  and  was  a  de- 
lighted listener  to  the  conversation  of  others.  She 
has  never  had  an  illness  in  her  life,  and  has  never 
taken  more  than  half  a  dozen  doses  of  medicine. 
June  23,  1884,  a  large  party  of  the  people  of  Mor- 
rison, Mt.  Pleasant  and  Union  Grove  Townships, 
gathered  to  celebrate  the  year  in  which  she  reached 
the  age  of  100.  Among  the  number  of  visitors,  aggre- 
gating about  200  persons,  1 1  States  were  represented. 
She  received  her  guests  in  the  calm  dignity  which 
characterizes  her,  and  those  who  were  of  the  com- 
pany remember  the  occasion  as  one  of  solemn  inter- 
est. To  those  who  meet  her  she  seems  a  creature  of 
some  other  world. 

The  portrait  of  Mrs.  Vennum,  which  is  presented 
on  a  preceding  page,  was  taken  on  the  day  referred 
to  at  her  home.  She  wrote  the  autograph  which  ap- 
pears below  it  in  1871. 


••—OC- 


.enry  Cramer,  merchant,  Fourth  Street, 
Sterling,  was  born  Oct.  8,  1824,  in  Penn- 
sylvania. His  parents  were  Christian  and 
f  Hannah  (Miller)  Cramer,  residents  upon  a 
farm.  Mr.  Cramer,  the  sixth  child  in  a  family 
of  ten  sons  and  four  daughters,  remained  at 
home  until  of  age,  receiving  a  common-school  educa- 
tion. He  was  then  a  day  laborer  for  many  years, 
through  the  winter  carrying  on  the  butchering  busi- 
ness. 

He   came  West  in  1864,  settling  in  Sterling,  this 
county,  where  he  has  since  resided.     He  opened  liis 
grocery  store   in    1880,   commencing   on    the  small 
capital  ,of  $i  17.     At   the   present  time  he  carries  a 
stock  of  $2,000,  and  runs  a  delivery  wagon   to  all  'i'" 
parts  of  the  city,  and  also  to  Rock  Falls.     His  trade   ( 
is   prospering  in   all  its  branches.     Previous  to  en- 
gaging in  mercantile  business  he  purchased  his  resi- 
dence, the  west  half  of  lots  7,  8  and  9,  block  21,  east 


_A 


I 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


v 


'f 

I 


of   Broadway,  and   just    east  of  the   old  American 
House. 

Mr.  Cramer  is  a  representative  business  man  of 
Sterling,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in 
politics  a  Republican. 

He  was  married  Nov.  27,  1844,10  Annie  Smith,  and 
they  have  had  nine  children  living,  and  all  married, 
as  follows  :  Mahala  A.  married  Martin  R.  Watson, 
and  has  seven  children  living  :  Laura,  Biga,  Horace, 
Lillie  B.,Guy,  Jeffy  and  Martie;  William  H.  married 
Elzabeth  Brenbarger,  and  had  by  that  marriage 
three  children,  —  Minnie,  Charles  and  Wilber  ;  he 
afterward  married  Lucy  Daniel,  a  native  of  Kan- 
sas City,  and  by  the  present  union  there  is  one 
son,  Frank;  Emanuel  married  Anna  Heckerman,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  one  child, 
named  Mabel  ;  by  his  first  wife  he  was  the 
parent  of  two  sons,  Walter  and  Charles  ;  Isaac  D. 
married  Belle  Morgan,  a  native  of  Sterling,  and  their 
three  children  are  Daisy,  Mertie  and  Tinie;  Benja- 
min F.  married  Ada  Swartzbaugh;  John  C.  married 
Susie  Stout,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  their 
three  children  are  Rilla,  Clifton  and  Lotta;  Joseph 
M.  married  Ella  Burgess,  a  native  of  Iowa;  Mary  H. 
became  the  wife  of  David  Stookey,  a  native  of  Iowa, 
and  they  have  two  children.  Guy  and  Emma;  Sarah 
E.  is  now  Mrs.  Sargenas  Williams,  and  the  mother 
of  two  children,  Anna  and  Earl. 

Mrs.  Cramer  is  also  a  member  cf  the  Methodist 
Church. 


,avid  B.  Gsell,  farmer,  located  on  section 
7,  Clyde  Township,  was  born  Dec.  15, 
1852,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  son 
of  William  and  Maria  (Burkhartj  Gsell,  for 
an  extended  sketch  of  whom  see  the  biography 
of  Wm.  B.  Gsell  on  another  page.  The  family 
removed  to  Whiteside  County,  whither  an  older 
son  had  come  the  previous  year,  in  1864.  Mr.  Gsell 
was  then  13  years  of  age,  and  he  had  passed  his 
boyhood  in  his  native  State,  obtaining  a  rudimentary 
education,  to  which  he  materially  added  by  further 
attendance  at  school  in  Clyde  Township,  which  he 
maintained  until  he  reached  the  period  of  his  legal 
freedom.  When  he  was  21  years  of  age  he  engaged 
in  fanning,  in  which  he  has  since  continued  with 


the  exception  of  one  year  which  he  spent  in  Johnson 
Co.,  Neb. 

He  was  married  Feb.  25,  1879,  to  Margaret  M., 
daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Blue)  Wilson,  a  bio- 
graphical sketch  of  whom  appears  in  connection  with 
that  of  William  Gsell,  who  married  another  daugh- 
ter. Mrs.  Gsell  was  born  April. 28,  1857,  in  Clyde 
Township,  and  was  educated  in  the  district  school 
and  lived  with  her  parents  until  marriage.  She  is 
the  mother  of  two  children, — Clifford,  born  Nov.  7, 
1880,  and  Maud.,  born  Nov.  18,  1884. 

Mr.  Gsell  is  a  Republican  and  his  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  farm 
contains  72  acres  of  well  improved  land. 


amuel  Strock,  farmer,  section  10,  Sterling 
Township,  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Lehman)  Strock,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  life-long  residents  of  that  State. 
Five  of  their  seven  children  lived  to  mature 
age,  namely:  Mary  A.,  Daniel,  Catherine, 
Samuel  and  John  L.  Samuel  was  born  Aug.  21, 
1834,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  an  inmate  of  the 
paternal  home  until  he  was  22.  In  the  spring  of 
1856,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  first  went  to  Carroll 
County,  where  he  worked  three  years  as  a  farm 
laborer.  In  1859  he  took  possession  of  a  rented 
farm  which  he  occupied  four  years.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  he  bought  a  farm,  which  he  con- 
ducted until  the  spring  of  1865,  when  he  sold  it  and 
bought  160  acres  of  land  in  Hopkins  Township, 
Whiteside  County.  Two  years  afterward  he  again 
sold  out,  and  in  the  spring  of  1867  he  bought  the 
farm  on  which  he  has  since  resided,  and  which  then 
included  100  acres  of  land.  His  property  now  in- 
cludes 662  acres  of  land  in  the  townships  of  Stf  rling 
and  Hopkins,  which  is  chiefly  under  cultivation. 
He  has  erected  valuable  buildings  on  his  homestead. 
Mr.  Strock  is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment. 

He  was  married  Feb.  3,  1859,  in  Mt.  Carroll, 
Carroll  County,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Hershey)  Emmert.  Her  father  and 
mother  were  natives  of  Maryland,  and  their  n 
children  lived  to  years  of  maturity.  They  were^born 
in  this  order:  Susan,  Christine  H.,  Andrew  H.,  John 
J.,  Josiah,  Alfred  R.,  William,  Mary  A.,  Elizabeth 

: •*£§*& 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


H.,  Catherine  and  Louisa.     Mrs.  Strock  was  born 


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I 


£ 


May  2,  1838,  in  Maryland.  To  her  and  her  husband 
seven  children  have  been  born,  who  are  named  Mil- 
lard  A.,  Allison  E.,  Homer  C.,  Arthur  W.,  Otto  E., 
Linius  L.  and  Ada  E.  Arthur  W.  died  when  be- 
tween two  and  three  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Strock  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  Church. 


illiam  Ramsay,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
grower  on  section  2,  Hume  Township,  is 
a  representative  of  the  days  of  first  things 
of  a  permanent  character  in  the  township 
where  he  has  lived  about  46  years.  David 
Ramsay,  his  father,  was  born  in  1787,  in  Lon- 
donderry, N.  H.,  and  was  a  member  of  one  of  the 
Scotch-Irish  families  who  emigrated  to  that  place  from 
a  place  of  the  same  name  in  the  North  of  Ireland 
prior  to  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  The  grandfather 
of  Horace  Greeley  and  the  progenitors  of  General 
Stark  were  of  the  same  race.  William  Ramsay, 
father  of  David,  was  born  in  Londonderry,  and  went 
with  his  son  to  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt.,  where  his  life 
terminated.  The  son  (David)  was  a  young  man 
when  he  went  to  Vermont,  and  he  was  there  married 
to  Lydia,  daughter  of  Luther  and  Hannah  (Wilson) 
Butler.  The  family  was  of  long-continued  standing 
in  New  England.  They  were  farmers,  and  in  their 
old  age  they  went  to  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they 
died,  at  a  greatly  advanced  age.  The  marriage  oc- 
curred in  1812,  and  about  a  year  later  the  removal 
to  Oneida  County  was  effected.  In  1840,  David 
Ramsay  removed  his  family  to  Whiteside  County, 
settling  in  the  township  of  Hume.  They  were  among 
the  first  settlers  in  the  township,  who  made  a  per- 
manent location,  and  they  settled  on  a  claim  on  sec- 
tion 10.  David  Ramsay  died  in  February,  1852, 
aged  65  years.  The  mother  died  at  Prophetstown, 
in  the  fall  ot  1859,  at  69  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Ramsay  was  born  Feb.  16,  1815,  in  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  until  he  reached  his 
majority,  engaged  in  the  acquisition  of  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  and  in  practical  farming.  After 
becoming  2 1  years  old,  he  worked  for  his  father  by 
jhe  year  for  the  three  subsequent  years.  He  had  four 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  is  the  oldest  child.  Hannah 
M.,  his  sister,  was  15  months  his  junior,  and  she  died 


in  Hume  Township,  unmarried.  She  was  26  years  of 
age.  Luther  B.  Ramsay  is  a  resident  of  Prophetstown. 
(See  sketch  of  F.  D.  Ramsay.)  Euphemia  J.  mar- 
ried and  is  a  resident  of  Hopkins  Township.  Lydia 
A.  is  also  married  and  lives  in  Prophetstown. 

When  he  was  24. years  of  age,  Mr.  Ramsay  se- 
cured a  team  and  set  out  alone  for  Illinois,  then 
"the  West."  He  thus  made  his  way  to  Buffalo, 
where  he  took  passage  on  a  boat.  He  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Sidney  Barber,  a  passenger  like  him- 
self (now  living  in  Whiteside  County),  and  they  came 
together  to  Cleveland,  proceeding  thence  by  land  to 
Whiteside  County,  reaching  Rock  Falls  Oct.  18, 
1839.  They  found  hospitable  quarters  with  L.  H. 
Woodworth,  of  whom  a  personal  account  is  else- 
where given.  Mr.  Ramsay  boarded  with  Mr.  Wood- 
worth  until  March  24,  1840,  when  he  settled  on  160 
acres  of  land  in  Hume  Township.  He  made  a  pre- 
emption claim,  and  boarded  with  a  man  in  the 
vicinity,  who  lived  in  a  sod  house,  while  he  entered 
vigorously  into  the  work  of  converting  the  raw  prairie 
acres  into  fertile  fields.  He  was  the  first  permanent 
settler  in  the  township.  In  the  summer  of  1840  he 
built  a  house,  of  which  his  parents  took  possession 
on  their  arrival  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  and  of 
which  he  was  also  an  occupant.  The  place  is  on 
section  10.  Mr.  Ramsay  continued  to  work  the 
place  until  his  marriage,  which  transpired  Feb.  3, 
1845,  in  Lee  Co.,  III.,  to  Lucy,  daughter  of  Bradford 
and  Anna  (Barnes)  Church.  Her  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  her  mother  was 
born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  The  father  of  M 
Church  was  a  mechanic,  and  an  Ensign  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary War.  The  marriage  of  the  parents  took 
place  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  they  went  to  Che- 
nango County,  in  that  State,  where  Mrs.  Ramsay 
was  born  in  Oxford  Township,  March  30,  1820.  She 
had  one  brother  and  three  sisters,  all  of  whom  are 
deceased.  They  were  named  Jane  E.,  Elizabeth  E., 
Fitche  M.  and  Frederick  R.  They  came  to  Lee  Co., 
111.,  in  the  fall  of  1841,  and  there  the  mirriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ramsay  occurred.  In  1876  her  par- 
ents became  inmates  of  her  home  in  Hume  Town- 
ship. Her  father  died  Dec.  26,  1884,  and  was  89 
years  old.  Her  mother  died  in  October  of  the  same 
year,  aged  86.  They  spent  65  years  of  married  life 
together,  and  were  separated  by  death  but  a  few 
weeks.  They  were  active  and  consistent  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church.  Mrs.  Ramsay  is 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


their  oldest  child,  and  the  only  one  who  survived 
them.  She  has  had  five  children :  William  F.  mar- 
ried Alida  Kleespie,  and  lives  in  Mitchell  Co.,  Kan. 
(They  have  two  children, — David  M.  and  Royal  R.) 
Kate,  Elizabeth  and  Luman  live  at  home.  Mrs. 
Ramsay  had  been  a  teacher  from  the  age  of  15  years 
to  her  marriage.  She  was  educated  at  Oxford  Acad- 
emy, in  Chenango  County,  which  was  one  of  the  best 
schools  of  that  period.  The  Ramsays  resided  on 
section  10  for  seven  years,  when  they  went  to  Como 
for  the  purpose  of  educating  their  children,  and  were 
resident  there  seven  years.  7n  the  fall  of  1858  the 
family  took  possession  of  a  new  farm  purchased  by 
the  father,  including  182  acres  lying  in  the  "Ox- 
Bow  "  of  Rock  River,  below  Como,  in  Hume  Town- 
ship, and  situated  on  sections  2,  3,  and  u.  The 
homestead  residence  is  situated  on  section  2,  and  is 
beautifully  located  near  the  river.  The  entire  prop- 
erty was  unimproved,  and  the  work  of  transforma- 
tion has  been  all  done  by  the  proprietor.  One  of 
the  most  noticeable  belongings  of  the  household  is  a 
finely  selected  library,  all  its  members  being  readers 
of  sense  and  judgment.  Mrs.  Ramsay  is  inter- 
ested in  the  progress  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
of  which  she  is  a  member.  Mr.  Ramsay  is  an  act- 
ive and  zealous  Republican. 

Mr.  Ramsay  was  the  first  individual  to  assume 
the  bonds  of  matrimony  in  Hume  Township.  His 
sister,  Hannah  Maria,  died  in  the  fall  of  1842,  and 
her  demise  was  the  first  event  of  that  character  in 
the  township. 


;"ohn  Weaver,  a  farmer  on  section  24,  Ster- 
ling Township,  has  been  a  preacher  in  the 
Reformed  Mennonite  Church  for  20  years. 
He  was  born  Oct.  12,  1806,  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  and  his  parents,  John  and  Barbara  (Lan- 
dis)  Weaver,  were  natives  of  the  same  State 
where  they  passed  their  entire  lives.  Four  of  their 
children  lived  to  maturity, — John,  David,  Henry  and 
Nancy. 

Mr.  Weaver  was  brought  up  a  farmer  and  engaged 
in  that  calling  in  his  native  State  until  his  removal  in 
1854  to  Whiteside  County.  He  bought  270  acres  of 
land  in  the  same  township  of  which  he  is  now  a  resi- 
dent, and  his  estate  in  Whiteside  County  includes 

^^^ Q^< 


817  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  in  Sterling  Town- 
ship. He  is  also  the  owner  of  150  acres  of  land  in 
Lee  County.  Nearly  all  his  estate  is  under  tillage. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Weaver  took  place 
March  3,  1831,  to  Anna  Snavely.  She  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  bore  eight  children,  named  Ben- 
jamin, Abram  S.,  John  S.,  Frank  S.,  Elizabeth  and 
Israel.  Two  children  died  in  infancy,  and  Israel 
when  a  small  boy.  The  mother  died  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.  He  was  again  married  in  the  same  county,  to 
Fanny  Hoover,  also  a  native  of  the  same  State.  One 
child  born  to  them  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  died 
Aug.  11,  1882. 


yman  Blake,  proprietor  of  Blake's  Addition 
to  Fulton  City,  and  dealer  in  real  estate, 
was  born  in  Merrimac  Co.,  N.  H.,  town  of 
Chichester,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Jane 
(Sherbourne)  Blake.  He  came  West  in  1838, 
when  about  25  years  of  age.  He  stopped  at 
Fulton  City — then  a  town  on  paper  only — and  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  village  plat,  and  also 
purchased  a  claim  of  80  acres  on  the  river,  on  sec- 
tion 28,  which  he  subsequently  entered  at  Govern- 
ment price  at  the  land  sale  of  1839.  He  remained 
only  a  few  months  on  his  first  trip,  and  returned  to 
the  East.  He  came  again  to  Fulton  in  1839  to  en- 
ter his  land,  and  again  went  East.  He  spent  some 
time  in  New  Hampshire,  and  then  went  to  Boston, 
where  he  was  employed  in  a  wholesale  mercantile 
house.  He  next  went  to  Buffalo,  and  from  there  to 
Cincinnati,  where  he  engaged  in  commercial  busT 
iness  and  spent  the  ensuing  twelve  years,  except 
one  year  and  a  few  months — 1848-9 — which  he 
passed  in  Mexico.  He  returned  to  Fulton  in  1855, 
when  he  sold  a  portion  of  his  land  to  the  railroad 
company  ("  Dixon  Air  Line,"  now  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern),  and  laid  out  the  fractional  80  acres 
into  village  lots,  naming  it  "Blake's  Addition  to 
Fulton  City."  The  plat  is  now  well  settled,  and  the 
property  quite  valuable.  Mr.  Blake  engaged  in  the 
grain  and  warehouse  business  soon  after  the  railroad 
was  completed  to  this  place,  and  continued  it  for  a 
number  of  years,  besides  dealing  extensively  in  real 
estate. 

He   has  never  aspired  to  the  honors    of  public 


*    - 

;( 


j »  office,  but  has  unwillingly  allowed  his  name  to  be 
used  as  a  candidate  for  Alderman.  He  was  elected 
to  the  Common  Council  of  Fulton  for  the  years 
1859-60,  and  again  for  the  years  1885-6.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by 
his  fellow  townsmen  as  an  upright,  honorable  busi- 
ness man,  who  has  done  much  to  improve  the  city 
and  develop  its  advantages.  He  has  resided  here 
continually  since  1855. 


Tames  H.  Van  Demark,  general  farme'r  and 
fc  stock-grower  on  section  25,  Hume  Town- 
ship, was  born  March  12,  1830,  in  Marble 
Township,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  Jacob  S.  Van 
Demark,  his  father,  was  born  in  the  same  town 
and  was  a  farmer  and  carpenter.  The  family 
is  of  Dutch  descent,  the  ancestral  progenitors  having 
come  to  America  from  the  Netherlands  at  a  period 
between  the  two  struggles  with  the  Government  of 
Great  Britain.  Maria  (Parker)  Van  Demark,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  of  pure  Yankee  lineage. 
She  and  her  husband  were  married  in  Ulster  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  the  family  were  resident  there  until  1867, 
when  they  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  located 
at  Sterling.  The  father  died  there  in  August,  1872, 
age  70  years.  The  mother  died  in  the  same  place 
in  January,  1882,  when  78  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Van  Demark  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  of 
seven  children,  and  he  remained  a  member  of  the 
parental  household  some  time  after  reaching  matur- 
ity, receiving  a  good  common-school  education.  He 
had  obtained  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  occupation  of  a 
carpenter,  working  with  his  father  as  opportunity 
served.  He  was  married  in  Olive  Township,  Ulster 
County,  Jan.  12,  1854,  to  Judith  Winchell.  They 
had  three  children :  Delia  is  the  wife  of  H.  H. 
Chapin,  of  whom  a  sketch  is  to  be  found  elsewhere; 
Watson,  born  March  10,  1860,  was  married  Jan.  17, 
1883,  to  Lou  E.  Wilber.  She  was  born  Sept.  6, 
1863,  in  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  and  resides  with  her  husband 
in  Hume  Township,  on  the  homestead  of  his  parents. 
Her  father  and  mother,  Edwin  B.  and  Harriet  (Col- 
lar) Wilber,  reside  in  Hume  Township.  She  was 
brought  up  to  the  age  of  15  years  in  Linn  Co.,  Iowa. 
(Jtilla  is  the  youngest-child,  and  she  was  born  Aug. 
25,  1862.  She  has  been  educated  with  care  and  re- 


sides  at  her  father's  home.  Mrs.  Van  Dem  ark  was 
born  in  Olive  Township,  Ulster  Co.,  in  1831,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Phebe  (Boice)  Win- 
chell.  She  died  in  Hume  Township,  July  23,  1883. 
Her  father  died  when  she  was  young.  She  was  the 
oldest  of  three  children,  and  her  brother  Jacob  and 
sister  Elizabeth  are  still  her  survivors. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Van  Demark  lived  with  his 
parents  for  some  years,  following  his  trade  and  work- 
ing on  the  farm.  In  1867  he  removed  his  family  and 
interests  to  Sterling,  where  he  pursued  his  mechani- 
cal calling  and  superintended  the  construction  of 
some  of  the  most  important  buildings  at  Rock  Falls. 

In  1867  he  purchased  120  acres  of  land  in  the 
township  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  resident,  and 
where  he  has  devoted  much  of  his  time  and  energies 
to  its  improvements.  He  built  a  school -house  within 
the  first  year  after  his  change  of  base,  and  has  fol- 
lowed his  trade  to  some  extent  in  conjunction  with 
his  farming.  He  is  now  the  proprietary  owner  of 
360  acres  of  land,  all  under  advanced  cultivation 
and  with  creditable  and  valuable  buildings. 

Mr.  Van  Demark  is  a  Republican  in  political  sen- 
timents, and  is  active  in  local  and  in  general  affairs. 
He  has  officiated  as  Township  Treasurer  between 
seven  and  eight  years. 


.avid  B.  Grove,  farmer,  residing  on  section 
3,  Hahnaman  Township,  is  a  son  of  David 
and  Margaret  (Bruner)  Grove,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,   in    which    State  they  resided 
until  their  death.     Their  family  consisted  of 
six  children,  namely:  Charles,  David,  Philip, 
Mary,  Anna  and  Catharine. 

David  B.  Grove,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  born  in  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  15,  1828.  He  re- 
ceived the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county  and  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  until  he  came  to  this  county,  in 
1855.  On  arrival  here  he  located  at  Sterling,  where 
he  continued  to  reside  until  1864.  During  that  year 
he  returned  to  his  native  State  and  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  in  Philadelphia.  He  continued 
in  the  business  at  the  place  last  named  until  1878, 
when  he  returned  to  this  county  and  settled  in 
Hahnaman  Township. 

Mr.  Grove  had  previously,  in  1860,  purchased  155 


ti 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


- 


acres  on  section  3,  Hahnaman  Township,  and  on 
this  land  he  settled,  on  his  return  to  the  county  in 
1878,  and  entered  vigorously  and  energetically  upon 
its  cultivation.  About  140  acres  of  the  tract  is  in 
good  tillable  condition. 

Mr.  Grove  was  united  in  marriage  in  Montgomery 
Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  15,  1849,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Mary  (Smith)  Sorver,  natives  of  that 
State,  and  where  they  resided  until  their  death. 
Their  family  comprised  nine  children,  namely : 
Oliver,  Elmira,  Joseph,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Jacob,  John, 
Barbara  and  Jennie. 

Mrs.  Grove  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa., 
Aug.  12,1830.  She  and  her  husband  are  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  namely  :  Cordelia  Lizzie,  David 
V.,  Edward  E.,  Mary  and  Kate. 

Politically,  Mr.  Grove  is  a  Democrat. 

torace  H.  Chapin,  far.ner,  section  24,  Hume 
Township,  was  born  July  28,  1852,  in  Litch- 
field,  Conn.  Hart  H.  Chapin,  his  father, 
was  a  cabinet-maker  and  died  two  months  after 
the  birth  of  the  son.  The  latter  was  brought  to 
Prophetstown,  this  county,  when  he  was  five 
years  of  age,  by  his  mother,  Julia  (Johnson)  Chapin, 
and  they  were  residents  of  that  village  until  about 
the  spring  of  1864,  when  they  went  to  Hamilton, 
Hancock  Co.,  111.  The  mother  died  there  about  nine 
years  after.  Mr.  Chapin  became  a  farm  assistant 
on  removal  to  Hamilton,  coming  later  to  Sterling  and 
moving  thence  to  Hume  Township,  where  he  was 
similarly  occupied.  Later  still,  he  was  employed  on 
a  farm  in  Lee  County. 

He  was  married  Feb.  19,  1880,  to  Delia,  daugh- 
ter of  James  H.  Van  Demark.  (See  sketch.)  She 
was  born  Nov.  4,  1854,  in  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  She 
came  to  Illinois  when  she  was  12  years  of  age,  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Sterling  and 
Hume  Townships.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chapin  have  one 
child,  Myrta,  born  Dec.  14,  1883. 

They  spent  the  year  succeeding  their  marriage  on 
a  rented  farm.  In  1882  Mr.  Chapin  took  possession 
of  80  acres  of  land  on  section  24,  belonging  to  the 
father  of  his  wife.  In  political  faith  and  affiliation 
he  is  a  Republican. 


rlando  Sprague,  surveyor  and  retired  farm- 
er, residing  at  Fulton,  was  a  pioneer  of 
Illinois,  of  June,  18.36,  and  of  Whiteside 
County,  of  June,  1842.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  was  born  in  Broome 
County  Jan.  4,  1815,  the  son  of  Charles  and 
Luanna  (Bennett)  Sprague,  and  was  reared  in  his 
native  county,  receiving  a  liberal  education  and 
learning  the  gunsmith's  trade. 

In  June,  1836,  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  located 
at  Chicago,  where  he  spent  two  years  working  at  his 
trade.  In  1838  he  removed  to  Ottawa,  and  from 
there  to  Fulton  in  June,  1842.  Soon  after  reaching 
this  place  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Daniel 
Lamberton,  who  had  been  his  companion  on  coming 
to  the  city,  and  under  the  firm  name  of  Sprague  & 
Lamberton  they  entered  upon  the  manufacture  of 
furniture.  At  that  early  day  their  machinery  was 
not  very  perfect,  and  their  lathes  were  turned  by 
horse  power.  However,  they  turned  out  all  sorts  of 
useful  and  substantial  furniture,  and  were  the  first 
in  their  line  of  business  in  the  place.  Thus  they 
continued  till  1847,  when  they  closed,  and  Mr. 
Sprague  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cut  shingles, 
using  horse  power  and  a  machine  of  his  own  inven- 
tion. His  machine  turned  out  6,000  shingles  per 
hour,  of  fine  quality.  • 

He  continued  the  shingle-making  business  up  to 
the  fall  of  1849,  when,  having  caught  the  California 
gold  fever,  he  began  preparations  for  a  trip  to  that 
region.  On  the  8th  of  April,  1850,  he  started  over- 
land for  California,  in  company  with  a  party  of  his 
fellow  townsmen,  and  arrived  at  Hangtown.Cal.,  the 
8th  of  August  following.  Instead  of  undertaking 
placer-mining,  he  engaged  in  hunting,  in  company 
with  the  well  known  hunter,  W.  Y.  Ives ;  and 
they  did  a  fine  business,  killing  antelope,  which 
they  sold  at  25  cents  per  pound.  They  frequently 
killed  from  20  to  25  antelope  a  day.  Learning  of  a 
good  opening  at  Shasta,  in  Northern  California,  for  a 
gunsmith,  Mr.  Sprague  proceeded  to  that  point  and 
opened  a  gunsmith  shop.  Business  prospered  with 
him  beyond  his  expectations,  but  his  health  failed 
him  and  he  was  obliged  to  suspend  operations  and 
return  to  the  States,  which  he  did  via  the  Panama 
and  New  Orleans  route. 


>  * 

; 

• » 


He  then  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  lying  in 
Fulton  Township,  amounting  to  840  acres,  situated 
on  sections  26,  35  and  27.  He  then  engaged  in 
farming,  while  still  residing  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Sprague  was  married  at  Fulton,  111.,  Nov.  17, 
1845,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Hamilton,  a  daughter  of  Wm. 
Hamilton  ;  she  was  born  in  Indiana.  Two  children 
were  born  of  this  marriage.  The  elder,  Cora  E.,  is 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Winchester,  of  Chicago ;  and  Helen, 
the  younger,  died  in  childhood,  from  burns  received 
in  falling  into  a  fire  in  the  street !  A  separation  oc- 
curred between  Mr.  Sprague  and  his  wife  in  1872, 
and  she  now  resides  with  her  daughter  in  Chicago. 
He  married  again  Sept.  26,  1872,  at  Rock  Island. 
His  present  wife  was  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Bradway, 
widow  of  William  Bradway,  and  daughter  of  Edson 
and  Sophronia  (Marsh)  Smith.  Mrs.  Sprague  was 
born  in  Connecticut  and  came  West  to  reside  in 
1865.  She  had  one  child  by  her  former  marriage,  a 
daughter,  named  Stella  M.,  and  born  Sept.  27,  1867. 

Mr.  Sprague  sold  his  farming  lands,  and  for  the 
past  ten  years  has  devoted  his  attention  to  survey- 
ing, the  lending  of  his  capital  and  the  care  of  his  ex- 
tensive village  property.  He  had  made  a  study  of 
surveying  in  his  younger  days;  and,  having  a  natural 
love  of  mathematics,  he  soon  became  an  expert  in 
his  business  and  authority  on  the  subject  of  land 
boundaries  in  this  region. 

In  politics  he  is  an  earnest  Republican,  and  has 
voted  with  that  party  since  its  organization.  He 
still  resides  in  the  comfortable  house  he  erected  in 
Fulton  in  1846. 


tt  •* 


artin  L  Bush,  retired  farmer  and  dealer 
in  real  estate,  at  Sterling,  was  born  in  that 
village,  Nov.  22,  1838.  His  parents  were 
Luther  and  Eunice  (Cornish)  Bush,  natives 
respectively  of  Connecticut  and  New  York. 
His  father,  a  mason  by  occupation,  came  to 
Bureau  Co.,  111.,  in  1836,  and  in  1839  to  Sterling. 
He  died  in  October,  1870,  and  Mrs.  Bush  is  still  liv- 
ing, with  her  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

The  latter,  after  receiving  a  common-school  edu 
cation  and  attaining  legal  age,  left  home  and   com- 
menced working  at  the  business  of  an  artist.     About 
nine  years  afterward  he  went  to  Iowa  and  took  up  a 


homestead  of  80  acres,  and  also  bought  80  acres,  on 
which  he  lived  and  labored  for  ten  years.  He  then 
moved  back  to  Sterling,  renting  his  farms  in  Iowa, 
and  engaging  in  the  real-estate  business.  Mr.  Bush 
is  a  good  business  man;  in  political  matters  he  votes 
for  the  "  best  man,"  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F. 

March  17,  1860,  he  married  Catherine  Wexler,  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  they  have  three  children, — 
Laura,  Bertha  E.  and  Eva  J. 

~Hf»— 

Ibert  Ferris,  farmer,  section  7,  Hahnaman 
Township,  is  a  son  of  B  and  Martha  J. 
(Currey)  Ferris,  natives  of  Indiana,  who 
came  to  Whiteside  County  in  1871,  settling  in 
the  township  of  Tampico,  where  Mr.  F.  died, 
May  18,  1877  ;  Mrs.  F.  survives.  Their  chil- 
dren were  nine  in  number,  namely,  Edwin  C.,  Ralph, 
John,  Albert,  Lucy,  Mary,  Chester,  Noble  and  Nora. 
Mr.  Ferris,  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Metamora, 
Franklin  Co.,  Ind.,  March  4,  1859,  and  was  12  years 
of  age  when  his  parents  came  with  him  to  this 
county.  In  1882  he  purchased  80  acres  of  land  in 
Hahnaman  Township,  to  which  he  added  80  more 
in  1884,  on  section  7,  where  he  resides.  All  his 
land  is  good. 

Mr.  Ferris  was  married,  in  this  township,  Oct.  1 2, 
1882,  to  Rebecca  J.,  daughter  of  A.  J.  Glassburn; 
see  sketch  of  the  latter  in  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ferris  have  become  the  parents  of  two  children, — 
Daisy  M.  and  Clarence  E. 

In  his  political  relations  Mr.   Ferris   is  identifie 
with  the  Republican  party. 

-»~*9{« — 


^ichael  Mannion,  farmer  on  section  4, 
Sterling  Township,  was  born  in  Septem- 
ber, 1830,  in  Ireland.  His  father,  Ed- 
ward Mannion,  was  born  in  Ireland  and 
died  there.  Mr.  Mannion  is  one  of  seven  chil- 
dren born  to  his  parents,  and  they  were  named 
Patrick,  Michael,  Margaret,  Bridget,  John,  Mary  and 
Catherine.  Catherine  Mannion,  their  mother,  came 
to  America  in  1858. 

Mr.  Mannion  lived  seven  years  in  New  Hampshire, 


f  ««-..-,„  .~.f 

UuuAKT 

IJNIVERSilY  OF  ILLINOIS 


W   VV."UM«I>MM':/"V 
WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


397 


coming  to  Whiteside  County  in  1862.  He  obtained 
employment  at  Como,  working  by  the  month  two  years. 
In  1864  he  bought  40  acres  of  land  in  the  township 
of  Sterling,  where  he  established  his  homestead.  He 
has  pursued  his  farming  with  success,  and  bought 
additional  land,  until  he  is  the  owner  of  112  acres 
under  excellent  tillage.  He  is  a  Democrat  of  liberal 
views. 

Mr.  Mannion  was  united  in  marriage,  Feb.  12, 
1859,  in  New  Hampshire,  to  Catherine  Mitchell,  and 
they  have  five  children, — Mary  A.,  Margaret,  Bern- 
ard, Catherine  and  Michael.  Mrs.  Mannion  died 
April  30,  1878.  The  family  belong  to  the  Catholic 
Church. 


ilinton   C.    Buell,   one   of  the  citizens   of 
Whiteside   County  who  has  become  dis- 
tinguished through  the  merits  of  his  efforts  in 
whatever  he  has  undertaken,  is   a  farmer  on 
section  8,  Montmorency  Township,  and  has 
been  prominent  in  the  advancement  of  the 
agricultural  interests  of  the  county  and  State  since  he 
became  a  resident  here  in  1865.     He  was  one  of  the 
first  to  introduce  Jersey  cattle  in  Whiteside  County, 
and  was  at  the  outset  the  subject  of  frequent  derision 
on  account  of  the  stunted  appearance  of  his  "  Alder- 
neys  ;"  but  he  has  passed  to  the  last  of  the  three  stages 
which  the  leader  in  a  novel  project  must  undergo, — 
derision,  possibility  and  practicability, — and  proved 
that  he  who  "  laughs  last,  laughs  best." 

Mr.  Buell  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Madison  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  March  22,  1828.  He  is  the  second  son  and 
fourth  child  of  Elijah  and  Polly  (Higgins)  Buell. 
His  parents  were  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
settled  in  Madison  County,  where  they  lived  during 
the  entire  period  of  their  married  lives.  The  grand- 
parents—Thomas and  Irene  (Blodgett)  Buell— 
came  from  Western  Massachusetts.  Elijah  Buell 
was  a  man  of  earnest  piety,  which  he  carried  into 
practice  under  all  circumstances.  He  was  in  the 
habit  of  making  a  yearly  call  on  each  family  in  the 
town  where  he  lived,  for  prayer  and  religious  conver- 
sation. He  met  with  uniform  courtesy  and  was 
always  received  with  kindly  consideration,  even  by 
infidels  and  others  who  differed  with  him  in  religious 
opinions.  He  was  for  many  years  a  Deacon  in  the  Bap- 


tist  Church.  His  death  occurred  May  16,  1854.  His 
wife  died  July  29,  1856.  Their  children  were  named 
Mary  A.,  Irene  B.,  Hiram  E.,  Clinton  C.  and  Ira  W. 

Until  he  was  17,  Mr.  Buell  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  town.  He  then  attended  Ham- 
ilton Academy,  in  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  for  some  time,  and 
in  1850  entered  the  Sophomore  class  of  Madison 
University,  matriculating  in  the  third  term.  He 
commenced  teaching  a  common  school  at  18  years 
of  age,  and  during  his  entire  preparatory  and  under- 
graduate course,  with  the  exception  of  one  term, 
gave  instruction  to  classes  either  in  the  Academy  or 
in  the  Preparatory  Department  of  the  University, 
thereby  meeting  the  expenses  of  his  own  education. 
About  the  middle  of  his  Senior  year  he  was  elected 
Principal  of  the  Hamilton  Academy,  but  retained  his 
standing  in  his  class  by  extra  labor,  and  at  gradua- 
tion in  1852  received  the  "  first  honors  "  of  his  class, 
as  he  had  also  done  at  the  Junior  exhibition  the  pre- 
ceding year. 

He  continued  Principal  of  the  Academy  about 
four  years  and  until  the  burning  of  its  principal 
building.  He  then  founded  and  conducted  for  four 
years  the  "  Hamilton  Female  Seminary,"  which  grad- 
uated during  the  time  39  young  ladies  from  a  course 
of  study  as  thorough  and  complete  as  was  then  to  be 
found.  The  seminary  was  established  as  a  stock  en- 
terprise,— a  fatal  weakness,  which  in  the  crisis  of 
1857  and  in  the  unprosperous  years  preceding  and 
following,  brought  financial  disaster  to  Mr.  Buell, 
and  in  1857  he  separated  his  connection  with  the 
seminary,  but  in  a  manner  entirely  honorable  to  all 
concerned. 

Collecting  the  merest  fragments  of  what  had  been 
a  comfortable  property,  Mr.  Buell,  in  the  fall  of  1859, 
removed  with  his  family  to  Anamosa,  Jones  Co.,  Iowa, 
where  he  established  a  trade  in  groceries  and 
provisions,  and  also  a  lumber  agency,  which  were  a 
marked  success  from  the  outset,  and  he  soon  found 
himself  at  the  head  of  his  line  of  traffic  in  that  city. 
The  events  of  the  spring  and  summer  of  1861  en- 
gaged his  interested  attention,  and  in  the  fall  of  that 
year  he  sold  his  business  preparatory  to  entering  the 
military  service  of  the  United  States.  He  raised 
about  two-thirds  of  a  company  of  volunteers  for  the 
I4th  Iowa  Infantry,  and  was  elected  its  Captain ;  but 
in  the  organization  of  the  regiment  it  became  neces- 
sary to  consolidate  the  companies,  and  his  com- 
mand was  merged  in  another.  In  view  of  his 


v/ 


398 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


I 

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V 


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qualifications  as  a  business  man,  he  was  offered  the 
position  of  Regimental  Quartermaster,  with  the  rank 
of  First  Lieutenant,  and  served  three  years.  After 
the  first  three  months'  service  with  his  regiment, 
he  was  almost  constantly  on  duty  by  special  order  as 
Acting  A.  Q.  M.,  or  as  Acting  A.  C.  S.  His  Brigade 
was  the  first  to  scale  the  ramparts  of  Fort  Donelson, 
and  as  a  mark  of  honor  occupied  the  barracks  of  the 
fort,  after  its  surrender  the  captured  stores  being 
taken  possession  of  and  accounted  for  by  Lieut. 
Buell. 

An  epitome  of  Lieut.  Buell's  service  in  the  Civil 
War  would  be  about  as  follows : 

In  the  fall  of  1861  he  raised  a  company  as  Captain 
and  was  mustered  into  service  as  First  Lieutenant 
and  R.  Q.  M.,  I4th  Iowa  Inf.  Vols.  Equipped  the  reg- 
iment at  Camp  McClellan,  Iowa,  and  at  Benton  Bar- 
racks, Mo.,  fall  and  early  winter  of  1861.  Was  Acting 
A.  Q.  M.  and  Acting  A.  C.  S.  at  Fort  Donelson. 
Same  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  or  Shiloh,  in  the  spring 
of  1862.  Was  ordered  on  recruiting  service  at  Camp 
McClellan,  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  August,  1862,  and 
on  reporting  was  immediately  ordered  on  duty  as 
Quartermaster  and  Commissary  of  the  Post.  At  his 
own  request  he  was  ordered  to  join  regiment  in  the 
field  at  Cairo,  111.,  in  the  spring  of  1863.  Served 
with  the  regiment  at  Cairo,  III.,  and  Columbus,  Ky., 
in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1863,  in  the  meantime 
building  extensive  barracks  and  military  prisons  at 
Columbus.  Thence,  in  the  winter  of  1863-4,  he 
went  to  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  thence  to  Meridian  on 
what  is  known  as  "Sherman's  raid  to  Meridian," 
serving  as  A.  A.  Q.  M.  Thence,  in  the  spring  of 
1864,  on  Banks'  expedition  up  Red  River  in  Gen.  A. 
J.  Smith's  Corps.  Thence  returning  to  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  and  making  two  expeditions  into  Mississippi 
as  A.  A.  C.  S.  of  Gen  A.  J.  Smith's  Corps,  on  one  of 
which  occurred  the  battle  of  Tupelo.  Thence  from 
Memphis  to  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo.,  as  A.  A.  Q.  M., 
in  charge  of  the  entire  Quartermaster's  Department 
of  the  Left  Wing  of  the  1 6th  Army  Corps.  Thence 
in  the  pursuit  of  Price  through  Missouri  to  the  Kan- 
sas line.  Thence  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  Dav- 
enport, Iowa,  to  be  mustered  out,  in  November, 
1864. 

Lieut.  Buell  was  present  at  the  important  battles 
of  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  siege  of  Corinth,  Fort  De 
Kussey,  La.,  Pleasant  Hill,  La.,  Old  Oaks,  La.,  and 

LPrSN/A— 


Tupelo,  Miss.,  not  to  mention  numerous  smaller 
engagements  and  skirmishes.  The  position  of  A. 
Q.  M.  and  a  Captain's  commission  were  at  one  time 
open  to  him,  but  he  declined  to  seek  them,  the  folly 
of  which  act  he  did  not  at  that  time  see. 

In  the  winter  and  spring  of  1864-5  Mr.  Buell  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Sterling,  111.,  in  which,  owing  to 
circumstances  connected  with  the  close  of  the  war, 
he  was  again  a  heavy  loser.  In  the  summer  of  1865, 
associated  with  Capt.  J.  W.  Niles,  he  bought  a  half 
section  of  unimproved  prairie  land,  of  which,  changed 
by  some  additions  and  subtractions  by  purchase 
and  sale,  he  is  now  the  owner.  He  ascribes  his 
success  during  the  last  15  years  entirely  to  the  dairy 
business,  to  which  he  has  given  persistent  and  thor- 
ough attention.  He  has  been  an  efficient  promoter 
of  the  dairy  interests  through  active  membership  in 
different  dairymen's  associations,  and  has  contributed 
largely  to  the  practical  literature  relating  to  the  dairy 
industry  in  the  Northwest. 

Mr.  Buell  delivered  the  first  annual  address  before 
the  Illinois  State  Grange,  and  also  wrote  the  his- 
torical sketch  of  the  Grange  for  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Report   for    1873.     That   report   presents   hi 
ideas  of  the  possibilities  of  that  institution. 

In  the  fall  of  1866  he  received  an  application  to 
take  charge  of  the  Third  Ward  School  at  Sterling, 
and  he  filled  the  position  two  terms,  afterward  as- 
suming the  management  of  the  Second  Ward  School, 
which  he  organized  and  conducted  about  three  years. 

Mr.  Buell  was  married  July  21,  1853,  in  Madison 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Mosely)  Niles.  Mrs.  Buell  was  born  Nov.  5, 1828,  in 
Madison  County,  of  which  her  parents  were  also  na- 
tives. They  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  1869,  and 
for  several  years  were  members  of  the  family  of  their 
daughter.  Later  on,  they  removed  to  Sterling,  where 
they  died.  The  decease  of  the  father  took  place 
Nov.  23,  1882.  That  of  the  mother  occurred  Sept. 
i,  1884.  Their  children  were  A.  Mosely,  Sarah  S., 
Susan  A.,  Mary  A.,  John  W.,  Harvey,  Anna  H.  and 
S.  Wheeler.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buell  have  lost  three 
children  by  death.  They  were  named  John  E.,  Ira 
J.  and  Mary  A.  Four  children  are  still  living,  named 
Jewett  C.,  Fred,  Charles  C.,  Jr.,  and  Sarah  I. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Buell  will  be  cordially  received 
by  the  patrons  of  the  WHITESIDE  COUNTY  ALBUM. 
His  record  in  three  of  the  noblest  States  of  the  Union 
reflects  credit  of  no  ordinary  degree  upon  his  abilities  f 

® 


i 


as  a  scholar,  patriot  and  man  of  business.  He  is  a 
representative  of  the  best  type  of  the  American  citi- 
zen, who  surpasses  the  men  of  all  other  nationalities 
in  versatility  of  powers,  and  who  can  achieve  equal 
success  in  diverse  avenues  of  business.  Mr.  Buell's 
portrait,  which  appears  on  a  previous  page,  is  a  copy 
of  a  likeness  taken  in  1885. 


i  illiam  Reecher,  proprietor  and  manager 
of  the  Transient  Hotel  and  restaurant,  at 
Coleta,  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Leah 
(Hoffman)  Reecher,  of  whom  an  extended 
personal  account  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  He  was  born  in  the  village  of  Ring- 
gold,  Washington  Co.,  Md.,  July  19,  1856.  He  was 
nine  years  old  when  his  parents  removed  their  fam- 
ily from  "  My  Maryland  "  to  Sterling,  111.,  and  was 
an  aid  on  the  farm  in  Jordan  Township  where  the 
family  was  resident  one  year,  and  he  proved  a  val- 
uable assistant  on  the  home  place  in  Genesee  Town- 
ship, as  he  was  the  eldest  surviving  child.  His 
education  was  meanwhile  looked  after,  and  he  ob- 
tained a  fair  degree  of  mental  cultivation  in  the 
district  schools. 

He  continued  a  member  of  the  home  circle  until 
lie  was  24  years  of  age,  when  he  went  back  to  his 
native  State.  While  there  he  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  his  wife,  then  Sarah  C.  Mentzer,  to  whom  he 
was  married  in  Sterling,  Jan.  17, 1882.  Mrs.  Reecher 
is  the  daughter  of  John  W.  and  Esther  (Hoffman) 
Mentzer,  and  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Md., 
May  8,  1855.  Her  great-grandparents  were  natives 
of  Germany,  and  emigrated  thence  to  the  United 
States  in  early  life.  Her  parents  were  married  in 
Washington  County  and  there  passed  their  entire 
lives,  acquiring  a  competency.  Her  father  died  Jan. 
u,  1879,  aged  about  55  years.  The  death  of  her 
mother  transpired  Jan.  22,  1881.  She  was  then  54 
years  of  age.  Mrs.  Reecher  was  brought  up  .at 
home,  and  at  the  age  of  18  years  learned  the  trade 
of  a  tailoress,  in  which  she  was  occupied  until  she 
was  married.  She  is  the  mother  of  two  children, — 
Elsie  M.,  born  Nov.  20,  1882,  and  John  M.,  born 
Jan.  21,  1884. 
After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reecher  lo- 


V-  -X 


cated  at  Coleta,  where  the  former  obtained  a  clerk- 
ship in  the  mercantile  establishment  of  S.  S.  Cobb. 
On  leaving  his  employ  he  established  a  restaurant 
business,  in  which  he  was  interested  a  short  time 
and  sold  out,  after  which  he  again  became  a  clerk  in 
the  store  in  which  he  liad  formerly  been  employed, 
and  which  was  then  under  the  management  of 
Messrs.  Cobb  &  Howe.  A  year  later  he  purchased 
a  hotel,  and  soon  after  added  a  restaurant  to  its  reg- 
ular business,  and  has  since  conducted  their  joint 
relations. 

Mr.  Reecher  is  a  Democrat  in  political  connection 
and  he  has  officiated  as  Constable  of  his  Township. 
Mrs.  Reecher  belongs  to  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church. 


odfrey  Munz,  one  of  the  large  land-hold- 
ers of  Jordan  Township,  whose  estate  in- 
cludes 370  acres,  situated  upon  section  19, 
was  born  Aug.  i,  1823,  in  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many. His  father  was  a  farmer  in  the  same 
place,  and  died  in  1868.  Christiana  (Strobel) 
Munz,  his  mother,  was  born  in  Wurtemberg  and  died 
in  1852.  They  had  seven  children. 

Mr.  Munz  was  next  to  the  youngest  child,  and 
was  about  23  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  leaving  the  old  country  for  the  new 
in  1850.  He  located  in  Huntington  Co.,  Pa.  He 
readily  obtained  employment  as  a  common  laborer 
and  passed  some  time  as  a  farm  assistant.  He  was 
married  May  31,  1853,  to  Margaret,  daughter  of 
George  Blum.  She  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  June, 
16,  1828.  When  she  was  in  infancy,  being  less 
than  two  years  of  age,  her  mother  died.  Her  father 
was  again  married  and  she  grew  up  under  the  care 
of  her  stepmother.  At  19  years  of  age  she  came  to 
the  United  States,  and  located  in  Huntington  Co., 
Pa.  She  has  had  seven  children,  one  of  whom  is 
deceased.  John  married  Marion  M.  Thompson  and 
is  a  farmer  in  Jordan  Township.  Emma  is  the  wife 
of  Walter  Shoup,  a  farmer  in  Genesee  Township. 
William  married  Lizzie  Wolber,  and  they  live  on  the 
homestead,  which  they  manage  on  shares.  Charles, 
George  and  Rena  are  the  names  of  the  younger  chil- 
dren. 

Mr.  Munz  removed  his  family  to  Dixon,  Lee  Co. 


X 

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WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


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111.,  in  1856,  and  conducted  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of 
that  city  until  1860,  when  he  came  to  Whiteside 
County  and  rented  a  farm  in  Jordan  Township.  He 
continued  to  operate  in  that  method  for  some  years, 
finally  locating  on  80  acres  of  unimproved  land 
which  he  purchased  in  1853.  It  is  situated  on  sec- 
tion 19,  and  he  has  improved  it  and  made  additional 
purchases  until  his  estate  now  includes  370  acres  of 
land  under  tillage  and  14  acres  of  timber.  The 
buildings  on  the  place  are  valuable  and  add  greatly 
to  the  beauty  and  value  of  the  farm. 

In  political  choice,  Mr.  Munz  is  a  Democrat. 
With  his  wife,  he  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  Church, 
of  which  he  has  been  a  prominent  official,  in  the 
capacities  of  Deacon,  Elder  and  Trustee.  He  was 
one  of  its  members  at  the  time  of  the  local  organiza- 
tion. 


enry   F.    Batcheller,   manufacturer,  Rock 
Falls,  was  born  Jan.  13, 1834,  in  Peninsula, 
Ohio.     His   parents   were   Daniel   F.  and 
*  Caroline  (Maynard)  Batcheller,  natives  of  Ver- 
^     mont,  who  moved  to  Ohio  in   1837.     Daniel  F. 
I      was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  owned  a  farm  at 
Peninsula,  where  his  wife  died,  in  1838. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Sterling  with 
his  father  and  family,  where  they  remained  five  years. 
They  then  bought  an  8o-acre  farm  in  Coloma,  where 
they  resided  until  the  death  of  the  father.  Henry 
F.  remained  at  his  parental  home  until  of  legal  age, 
receiving  a  common-school  education  and  learning 
the  carpenter's  trade,  of  his  father,  with  whom  he 
worked  until  1867.  He  commenced  the  manu- 
facture of  corn-planters,  on  a  style  of  which  he  had 
received  a  patent  in  1859.  At  first  he  manufactured 
only  by  hand,  but  by  1873  the  increase  of  his  busi- 
ness enabled  him  to  erect  a  shop,  with  machinery, 
which  he  is  now  conducting.  In  addition  he  man- 
ufactures dog-powers,  churns  and  other  dairy  appli- 
ances. A  year  ago  he  also  added  a  foundry,  and 
during  the  year  1884  he  did  a  business  amounting  to 
$30,000.  He  has  bought  three  lots  adjoining  one 
another,  and  at  present  his  buildings  cover  the  ground 
of  all  three. 

In  his  political   views  Mr.  B.  is  a  Republican,  has 
held  the  office  of  Supervisor  since    1873,  has  been 
<-^/J>>_  ->yagi^-  /-N   v> 


School  Director,  etc.  He  is  one  of  the  representa- 
tive men  of  Rock  Falls,  and  deeply  interested  in  the 
public  weal.  He  attends  religious  services  at  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

He  was  married  July  i,  1852,  to  Mary  McNeil,  a 
native  of  Scotland,  and  they  have  had  three  children, 
namely:  Addison  M.,  who  is  married  and  lives  at 
Rock  Falls;  Imogene  M.  and  Carrie  Fay. 


eter  Andreas,  farmer,  section  14,   Sterling 
Township,  was  born  Jan.  19,  1822,  in  Lan-  , 
caster  Co.,  Pa  ,  which  was  the  native  State 
of  his  parents,    Martin    and  Nancy  (Metzler) 
Andreas,  who  had  four  children, — Peter,  Henry, 
John  and  Martin. 

At  the  age  of  23,  Mr.  Andreas  rented  a  farm  and 
was  engaged  in  agriculture  in  Pennsylvania  until  his 
removal  to  Illinois,  which  event  transpired  in  the 
spring  of  1865.  He  bought  about  160  acres  on  sec- 
tion 25,  Sterling  Township,  on  which  he  settled  and 
lived  14  years.  In  1882  he  bought  a  small  tract  of  2 
land  on  section  14,  where  he  erected  excellent  farm  _ 
buildings,  and  has  since  occupied  the  place.  He  \ 
owns  137  acres  at  present,  which  is  all  under  tillage.  * 
In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Andreas  is  a  Republican,  ( 
and  he  has  officiated  in  township  offices  18  years. 

He  was  married  Oct.  10,  1844,  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  to  Mary  Geist,  and  they  have  eight  children, 
named  and  born  in  the  following  order :  Martin  G., 
Mary  A.,  Catherine,  Philip,  Amanda,  Frank,  Lizzie 
and  Harry.  Mrs.  Andreas  is  the  daughter  of  Philip 
and  Mary  (Book)  Geist,  who  were  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  who  were  the  parents  of  two  daughters, — 
Catherine  and  Mary. 


[  dam  Horlacher,  farmer,  section  12,  Gen- 
esee  Township,  was  born  Aug.  2,  1857,  in 
Sterling,  this  county.  The  sketch  of  his 
parents,  Godfrey  and  Elizabeth  (Spies)  Hor- 
lacher, appears  elsewhere  in  this  book.  After  . 
his  birth,  they  settled  on  a  farm  in  Genesee 
Township  where  he  was  brought  up  and  thoroughly 
instructed  in  farming.  He  acquired  a  fair  education^, 

-yftygyX^/S) 
?\V=> 





-  ..  - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


in  the  district  schools  and  was  an  inmate  of  the  par- 
ental home  until  he  was  about  22  years  of  age. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  Myers  took  place  Dec.  18, 
1879,  in  Sterling.  She  was  born  Oct.  17,  1862,  in 
Jordan  Township,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Francis 
and  Elizabeth  Myers.  Her  parents  are  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  are  Germans  by  ancestral  origin. 
They  are  farmers  in  Jordan  Township,  where  they 
own  an  extensive  estate. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horlacher 
they  took  possession  of  a  farm  on  section  12,  Gen- 
esee  Township,  owned  jointly  by  the  former  and  his 
father,  their  respective  claims  being  80  and  120 
acres.  The  entire  tract  is  still  under  the  same  man- 
agement, which  has  met  with  marked  success.  The 
place  is  stocked  with  Short-Horn  cattle  of  valuable 
grades,  and  valuable  horses.  Extensive  improve- 
ments in  the  number  and  character  of  farm  build- 
ings have  been  made. 

Mr.  Horlachex  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  act- 
ive in  the  minor  local  offices  of  the  town. 


^ecius  O.  Coe  is  one  of  the  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Whiteside  County,  from  the  extent 
and  character  of  his  business  relations, 
and  from  the  fact  that  he  is  connected  by 
descent  and  marriage  with  two  of  its  earliest 
pioneers.  His  parents,  Simeon  M.  and  Mary 
(Miles)  Coe — of  whom  an  extended  account  is  pre- 
sented in  connection  with  the  personal  narration  of 
S.  M.  Coe,  of  Jordan  Township — came  to  Whiteside 
County  in  1838,  and  settled  in  Jordan  Township. 
Mr.  Coe  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Monroe  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Nov.  23,  1820,  where  he  lived  until  1838, 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Jordan  Town- 
ship, and  was  a  resident  there  about  three  years, 
when  he  removed  to  Sterling  Township  with  his 
parents.  He  located  on  a  farm  on  section  n,  which 
he  received  by  inheritance  from  his  father,  and  on 
which  he  resided  about  20  years.  At  the  expiration 
of  that  time  he  sold  his  place,  and  not  long  after- 
ward went  to  the  city  of  Sterling,  where  he  has  re- 
sided six  years. 

He  has  been  identified  with  the  growth  of  the  city, 
and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Sterling,  in  which  he  was  also  one  of  the 

• /->  ,v 


401 


Directors.  He  has  been  a  Republican  since  the 
organization  of  the  party,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  first  mass  convention  held  at  Springfield,  111.,  for 
the  purpose  of  organizing  that  element  in  Illinois. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  several  years, 
and  Justice  of  the  Peace  one  term  and  served  as 
Alderman.  He  has  also  been  active  in  the  promo- 
tion of  the  educational  interests.  He  was  one  of 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  when  the  county  seat  was 
removed  to  Morrison,  and  served  on  the  committee 
appointed  to  fix  the  sites  of  the  county  buildings. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Agricultural  Society 
of  Whiteside  County  from  its  organization  for  about 
20  years,  being  a  member  of  the  Executive  Board 
most  of  the  time.  He  was  President  of  the  society 
one  year. 

In  June,  1872,  he  settled  on  the  section  where  he 
now  resides,  and  is  the  owner  of  245  acres  of  land 
located  in  the  townships  of  Sterling,  Jordan  and 
Hume,  which  is  all  in  a  state  of  advanced  culti- 
vation. Mr.  Coe  is  the  possessor  of  a  fine  estate,  for 
which  he  is  indebted  to  his  own  energy,  perseverance 
and  industry. 

His  marriage  to  Eveline  N.,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Ellen  (Bowman)  Stevens,  took  place  Nov.  8, 
1844.  Her  father  was  born  Dec.  31,  1798,  in  Ston- 
ington,  Conn.,  and  he  was  married  Jan.  13,  1824. 
His  wife  was  born  Feb.  2,  1807,  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
after  their  marriage  they  located  in  Luzerne  County, 
in  that  State,  where  they  remained  until  their  re- 
moval to  Whiteside  County.  They  arrived  in  the 
Township  of  Sterling  on  the  same  day  in  which  S.  M. 
Coe  came  to  Jordan  Township.  Mr.  Stevens  settled 
on  a  farm  on  section  15,  just  north  of  Harrisburg,  now 
incorporated  within  the  limits  of  Sterling.  On  this 
he  lived  33  years,  and  died  Sept.  14,  1870.  Mrs. 
Stevens  died  Jan.  22,  1876.  Mrs.  Coe  is  their  only 
daughter  and  second  child.  Thomas  W.  is  the  name 
of  her  oldest  brother.  Marshall  S.  and  John  N.  are 
the  youngest  children  of  the  family.  Mrs.  Coe  was 
born  May  8,  1827,  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  and  she  is 
the  mother  of  one  surviving  child,  Marcus  L.,  who 
married  Julia  A.  Gait,  of  Sterling,  Aug.  26^875.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Coe  have  buried  four  children :  Marcus 
La  Fayette,  Augustus  J.,  Ellen  M.  and  Albert  L. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  with  which  the  father  has  been  many  years 
connected.  He  has  been  an  Elder  many  years, 
and  is  the  oldest  incumbent  of  that  position  in  the 


\* 

S* 

•it* 


WHITES  IDE  COUNTY. 


Church  at  Sterling,  and  when  he  was  elected  he  was 
the  third  Elder  in  that  body.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Coe  are  decidedly  radical  in  their  temperance  views, 
and  adopt  the  principles  of  the  Prohibition  element. 
The  brothers  of  Mr.  Coe  have  been  prominent  in 
the  localities  in  which  they  settled.  George  A.  Coe, 
second  eldest  brother,  went  to  Coldwater,  Mich., 
where  he  became  distinguished  in  political  circles. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  the  Penin- 
sular State,  when  he  was  the  only  Whig  in  the 
Assembly,  all  the  other  members  being  Democrats. 
He  was  afterward  elected  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
the  State.  He  died  at  Coldwater.  Albert  S.  Coe 
went  to  Rock  Island,  and  represented  that  county  in 
the  Legislature  of  Illinois.  He  settled  on  a  town- 
ship previous  to  its  organization,  and  when  that 
event  occurred  it  was  called  "  Coe "  in  his  honor. 
He  died  Oct.  17, 1869. 


amuel  G,  Bryning,  M.  D.,  Fulton,  is  a 
native  of  Canada,  and  a  graduate  of  the 
Medical  Department  of  Victoria  University, 
Toronto,  Canada.  He  was  born  in  Norfolk 
County,  now  Ontario,  Nov.  29,  1826,  and  is 
the  son  of  Rev.  John  and  Nancy  (Lee)  Bry- 
He  received  his  literary  education  at  Mt. 
Pleasant  Academy,  studied  medicine  with  Drs.  J.  B. 
Culver  and  I.  White,  of  Florence,  Canada,  and  with 
Dr.  James  Lee,  of  London,  Canada.  He  attended 
lectures  at  Victoria  University,  Toronto,  at  which  in- 
stitution he  graduated.  He  began  practice  at  Mel- 
bourne, Canada,  in  1860,  which  he  continued  till 
1864,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  at  Rock- 
ton.  He  pursued  the  practice  of  medicine  at  that 
place  till  September,  1868,  when  he  came  to  Fulton, 
this  county,  and  has  been  in  practice  here  contin- 
uously since. 

Dr.  Bryning  was  married  at  Simcoe,  Norfolk  Co., 
Canada,  Nov.  26,  1848,  to  Miss  Catharine,  daughter 
of  Captain  Jacob  Davis.  Mrs.  Bryning  was  born  at 
Yarmouth,  Nova  Scotia.  They  had  two  sons :  the 
elder,  Samuel  L.,  married  Esther  Barr,  and  lives  at 
Wheaton,  111. ;  John  A.  married  Nillie  Smith,  and 
died,  aged  25  years,  leaving  a  wife  and  one  child, 
now  residing  at  Fulton. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bryning  are  members  of  the  Presby- 


nmg. 


terian  Church  of  Fulton.  The  Doctor  votes  the 
Republican  ticket ;  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor  of  Iowa,  and  of  Camp  No.  2  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  Fulton. 

Dr.  Bryning  has  had  35  years' experience  in  the 
practice  of  medicine,  17  of  which  he  has  passed  at 
Fulton.  His  practice  extends  to  neighboring  coun- 
ties, and  has  reached  very  flattering  and  lucrative 
proportions.  He  has  certainly  been  eminently  suc- 
cessful, and  success  is  the  standard  by  which  the 
world  forms  its  judgment. 


homas  Conboy  is  a  farmer  on  section  i, 
Hume  Township.  He  was  born  Sept.  12, 
1842,  in  Galway,  Ireland,  and  is  the  son  of 
Patrick  and  Margaret  Conboy.  They  were 
natives  of  the  same  part  of  Ireland.  In  1861 
the  son  emigrated  to  America.  He  made  his 
first  location  in  the  town  of  Clarence,  in  Cedar  Co., 
Iowa.  A  year  later  he  came  to  CoTno,  in  Whiteside 
County.  He  engaged  as  a  laborer  on  .the  farm  of  C. 
H.  Holmes,  where  he  was  employed  four  years.  A 
year  after,  in  1868,  he  purchased  80  acres  on  section 
i,  Hume  Township,  on  which  he  had  resided  during 
the  year  1866  as  a  renter.  In  1873  he  bought  80 
acres  more  and  in  1882  he  made  another  purchase  of 
43  acres.  The  tract  is  now  all  under  improvement, 
and  is  supplied  with  a  fine  large  residence  and  suit- 
able farm  buildings.  Mr.  Conboy  is  engaged  to  a 
considerable  extent  in  raising  fine  graded  stock. 

April  8,  1866,  he  was  married,  in  Hume  Town- 
ship, to  Mary,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Bridget  (Ely) 
Noonen.  Her  parents  were  born  and  married  in  the 
west  of  Ireland.  A  few  years  later  they  emigrated 
to  America  and  made  a  temporary  settlement  in 
Monmouth  Co.,  N.  J.,  where  Mrs.  Conboy  was  born, 
May  15,  1848.  Later,  her  parents  came  to  Como, 
where  they  located  when  she  was  a  small  girl.  Her 
mother  lives  with  her.  Her  children  are  eight  in 
number  and  are  named  Martin,  Maggie,  Mary,  Ed- 
die, Thomas,  Anna,  Willie  and  John.  The  family 
belong  to  the  Catholic  Church. 

Mr.  Conboy  is  Democratic  in  political  opinion. 
He  has  officiated  as  School  Director  and  as  Highway 
Commissioner. 




WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


; 


i 


harles  E.  Langford,  President  of  the 
Langford  &  Hall  Lumber  Company,  of 
Fulton,  111.,  and  the  pioneer  lumberman  of 
this  city,  established  himself  in  this  business 
at  Fulton  in  1859.  He  began  by  running 
lumber  across  the  river  from  Lyons.  He  next  leased 
a  saw -mill  just  above  town,  which  he  operated  till 
1862,  when  he  built  a  small  mill  on  the  site  of  his 
present  one.  He  operated  the  first  mill  till  1876, 
when  he  moved  it  off,  and  built  the  present  extensive 
concern.  The  mill  was  begun  in  1876  and  com- 
pleted in  1877.  The  Langford  &  Hall  Lumber 
Company  was  incorporated  Jan.  26,  1878,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $75,000,  all  of  which  is  paid  up. 
The  mill  has  a  cutting  capacity  of  75,000  feet  per 
day,  and,  when  running  a  full  force,  130  men  are 
employed  ten  hours  a  day.  The  company  carries 
an  average  stock  of  7 ,000,000  feet  of  lumber.  It  was 
inventoried  Jan.  r,  1885,  at  a  net  value  of  $97,181. 
Mr.  Langford  was  elected  President  and  Treasurer 
at  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  held  the 
office  for  several  years.  Mr.  George  S.  Sardam  is 
the  present  efficient  Secretary.  Mr.  Langford  holds 
half  the  company  stock,  while  the  balance  is  divided 
between  the  heirs  of  Warren  P.  Hall  and  others. 

Mr.  Langford  was  born  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  14,  1816,  and  is  the  son  of  Charles  and  Fannie 
(Mansfield)  Langford.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
New  York :  his  father  was  born  in  Genesee,  and  his 
mother  in  Oneida  County.  When  two  years  of  age 
Charles  removed  with  his  parents  to  Upper  Canada, 
to  St.  John's.  Seven  years  later  they  went  to  North- 
ern Ohio,  where  they  resided  till  1829,  when  they 
changed  to  Erie  Co.,  Pa.  At  the  age  of  14  years 
Charles  bought  his  time  of  his  father,  who  was  a 
carder  and  clothier,  and  began  life  for  himself. 
He  had  learned  the  carding  business,  at  which  he 
worked  till  the  fall  of  1 836,  when  he  started  out  to 
seek  his  fortune.  He  traveled  South  as  far  as  New 
Orleans,  and  the  following  June  (1837)  he  came  up 
the  Mississippi  River  to  Lyons,  Iowa.  He  made  a 
claim  on  unsurveyed  land  between  Lyons  and  Sa- 
bula before  the  Indians  were  removed. 

His  experience  while  a  squatter  is  well  worth  re- 
lating. He  built  a  log  shanty,  and  hired  five  acres 

S^n 


broken,  which  he  planted  to'  sod  corn.  He  soon 
after  bought  a  pair  of  old  oxen  on  time  ;  then,  having 
a  chance  to  exchange  one  of  his  oxen  for  breaking,  he 
did  so,  and  added  nine  acres  to  his  plowed  land,  and 
paid  for  the  cattle  with  the  proceeds  of  his  sod  corn. 
The  following  season  he  sowed  a  part  of  his  land 
with  wheat  and  planted  the  balance  with  corn.  He 
then  rigged  his  odd  ox  with  an  old  mule's  har- 
ness, with  ropes  tied  to  his  horns  for  lines,  and 
with  this  novel  outfit  he  cultivated  his  corn !  His 
wheat  yielded  30  bushels  to  the  acre,  which  he 
hauled  to  Chicago,  and  sold  for  90  cents  a  bushel. 

He  sold  his  claim  for  a  small  consideration  the 
second  year,  and  the  following  winter  engaged  in 
cutting  cord-wood  for  the  boats.  He  sold  his  wood 
the  next  spring,  and  with  the  proceeds  purchased  a 
carding-machine  at  St.  Louis,  which  he  set  up  the 
following  July,  on  a  little  water  power  on  Elk  River, 
between  Sabula  and  Lyons.  He  built  a  dam  and  a 
small  mill  and  began  business  as  a  carder.  As  many 
of  the  old  settlers  kept  a  few  sheep  and  used  the  old- 
fashioned  spinning  v,  heels,  he  found  plenty  to  do. 
He  continued  that  business  about  five  or  six  years, 
when  he  sold  out.  He  then  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  in  Clinton  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1852  he  leased  a  small  water-power 
saw-mill,  on  Elk  River,  above  Lyons,  which  he  sub- 
sequently bought.  He  operated  that  mill  only  a 
short  time,  when  he  sold  out  and  resumed  farming. 

In  1856  he  retired  from  the  farm  and  located  at 
Lyons.  Soon  after  the  financial  storm  of  1857  he 
leased  what  was  known  as  the  Stambaugh  Saw-Mill 
at  Lyons — since  burned — which  he  operated  till 
1859,  when  he  leased  the  mill  on  the  Fulton  side  of 
the  river,  above  town.  In  1862  he  built  the  small 
steam  mill  on  the  site  of  his  present  mill,  as  before 
mentioned.  He  is  still  the  owner  of  500  acres  of  his 
old  farm  in  Clinton  Co.,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Langford  has,  by  the  exercise  of  good  judg- 
ment and  untiring  energy,  developed  an  important 
and  extensive  business.  He  is  a  fair  type  of  the 
self-made  Western  man,  starting  as  he  did  at  the  age 
of  14  years,  buying  his  time  of  his  father,  and  going 
out  into  the  battle  of  life  with  only  his  bare  hands, 
shrewd  judgment  and  indomitable  will  to  back  him. 
His  marked  success  has  been  won  after  many  a  hard 
struggle  against  discouraging  circumstances. 

Mr.  Langford  has  been  twice  married:  first  in 
Pennsylvania,  to  Miss  Hannah  Shadduck,  in  1836. 
^A 


fi 


WHITES! DE  COUNTY. 


His  second  wife  was  Miss  Maria  Sherman,  to  whom 
he  was  married  in  Fulton,  111.,  June'iS,  1874.  He 
had  seven  children  by  his  first  marriage,  three  sons 
and  four  daughters  ;  by  his  second  marriage  he  has 
one  daughter. 

Mr.  Langford  was  a  Whig  in  early  life,  and  since 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  has 
voted  that  ticket. 


(Si 


ohn  F.  Dickinson,  of  the  firm  of  Dickinson 
&  James,  dealers  in  general  hardware, 
agricultural  implements,  farm  machinery, 
etc.,  at  Erie,  is  a  son  of  Chauncey  B.  and 
Clarissa  (Ingles)  Dickinson,  and  was  born  in 
Auburn,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  26,  1828.  His  father 
was  a  stone  mason  and  dock  builder  on  the  Erie 
Canal,  in  New  York,  for  a  number  of  years.  The 
parents  were  natives  of  New  England,  and  the  father 
died  in  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  in  1880,  and  the  mother  in 
Forest ville,  same  State,  in  1878.  The  issue  of  their 
union  was  seven  children.  Their  record  is  as  fol- 
lows :  Orlando  E.  enlisted  in  the  late  Civil  War, 
was  in  the  artillery  service  on  the  Potomac,  was 
wounded  and  returned  home  to  Lockport,  where  he 
died.  Edward  S.  enlisted  in  the  13111  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
was  flag-bearer,  then  promoted  First  Lieutenant,  and 
again  as  Government  Inspector  with  rank  as  Major. 
Russell  I.  is  a  retired  farmer,  residing  at  Prophets- 
town,  this  county.  Eliza  A.  is  the  widow  of  Daniel 
W.  Parsons,  formerly  a  farmer  and  merchant.  Augus- 
tus enlisted  in  the  131)1  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  was  promoted, 
discharged,  re-enlisted  and  has  never  since  been 
heard  from,  and  is  undoubtedly  sleeping  his  last 
sleep  in  an  unknown  soldier's  grave.  John  D.,  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  is  next  in  order  of  birth.  Louisa 
is  the  wife  of  Orland  Elmore,  a  farmer  in  Chautau- 
qua  Co.,  N.  Y. 

In  1843,  when  15  years  of  age,  Mr.  Dickinson 
came  to  Lawrence  Co.,  111.,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
He  soon  afterward  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and 
engaged  in  clerking,  which  he  followed  for  two  years 
and  then  went  to  Forestville,  where  he  learned  the 
harness  trade,  which  he  followed  in  connection  with 
railroading  several  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1860,  Mr.  Dickinson  came  to  Erie, 
this  county,  and  opened  a  harness-shop,  which  he 
conducted  till  1875  and  then  sold.  In  the  spring  of 


1880  he  opened  a  hardware  store  at  Erie,  and  in 
August  of  that  year  formed  a  partnership  with  R.  T. 
James  in  the  same  business,  the  firm  becoming  Dick- 
inson &  James,  and  which  relation  exists  at  the 
present  writing.  They  carry  a  well  selected  stock  of 
goods  adapted  to  the  wants  of  their  customers,  own 
their  building  and  warehouse  and  are  doing  a  good 
business.  Mr.  D.  owns  his  residence  and  five  lots 
in  the  village. 

Mr.  Dickinson  was  married  Nov.  26,  1848,  to  Miss 
Helen  Ferguson.  She  was  born  Sept.  18,  1830,  in 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  has  borne  him  five  children, — 
Orlando  P.  D.,  born  Sept.  8,  1849;  Harriet  A.,  Nov. 
i,  1851;  Raymond  F.,  born  Jan.  10,  1855,  died 
March  14,  1858;  William  W.,  born  Oct.  8,  1858; 
and  Samuel  B.,  Dec.  27,  1862. 

Mrs.  Dickinson  died  in  Erie,  June  22,  1866,  and 
Mr.  D.  was  again  married,  in  Forestville,  Chautau- 
qua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  30,  1867,  to  Miss  Emma  J. 
Cranston.  She  was  born  in  Forestville,  Nov.  22, 
1835,  and  is  the  mother  of  one  child,  Martha  W., 
born  Oct.  29,  1868. 

Mr.  Dickinson,  politically,  is  a  Democrat.  He 
has  been  Chairman  of  the  Township  Democratic 
Committee  25  years,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  County  Committee.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and  was  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  Erie  Lodge,  No.  667,  also  char- 
ter member  of  Portland  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  and 
Eastern  Star  Lodge  of  Evangeline  Chapter,  No.  53, 
and  of  the  latter  is  a  Past  Grand  Patron.  He  is 
also  one  of  the  Pilgrim  Knights  of  the  Palm  and 
Shell  Order  of  Jerusalem.  Religiously,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


saac   S.   Bressler,  of  the  firm  of  Bressler 
Bros.,  farmers  and  stock-growers  on  section 
35,  Jordan  Township,  was  born  Aug.  23, 
1851,  on   the  section  adjoining  that  on  which 
he  lives  in  Jordan  Township.     He  is  a  son  of 
Henry  Bressler,  of  whom  a  personal  account 
is  given  in  connection  with  that  of  Levi  Bressler. 

Mr.  Bressler  spent  the  succeeding  years  of  his 
youth  in  obtaining  a  fair  elementary  education  at  the 
common  schools,  He  finished  his  education  at  Mt. 
Vernon,  Iowa,  and  he  remained  at  home  until  his 
majority.  At  21  he  assumed  the  management  of  his 


• 


r 

\ 


0 


UNlYtKSIIT 


,» 


J 


grandfather's  farm,  which  was  his  first  independent 
venture  in  that  direction. 

He  was  married  Jan.  14,  1874,  at  Sterling,  to 
Delora,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Green) 
Brewer.  She  was  bom  in  the  city  of  Sterling,  where 
her  parents  yet  reside,  and  where  she  was  reared 
and  educated.  She  is  the  mother  of  two  boys,  Fred 
and  George. 

Mr.  Bressler  continued  the  management  of  the 
farm  of  his  grandfather  until  December,  1878,  when 
he  formed  a  business  relation  with  his  younger 
brother,  John.  They  commenced  farming  together 
on  305  acres  of  land  in  Sterling  Township,  at  the 
same  time  establishing  "  Bressler's  Dairy."  They 
kept  a  dairy  herd  of  60  cows,  selling  milk  in  the  city 
of  Sterling.  After  two  years  of  joint  operation  as 
general  farmers,  they  began  to  breed  superior  Short- 
Horn  cattle.  They  are  the  owners  of  a  stock  farm 
on  section  35,  the  old  homestead,  Jordan  Township, 
which  includes  220  acres  of  land  under  tillage. 
They  have  220  head  of  cattle  in  their  herds,  60  head 
of  which  are  Short-Horn,  and  the  rest  principally 
high  grades.  They  have  erected  buildings  especially 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  their  stock  every  care  and 
protection  suited  to  their  wants.  They  maintain  a 
drove  of  Poland-China  swine,  averaging  50  in  num- 
ber. 

Since  September,  1884,  Mr.  Bressler  has  been  a 
resident  and  personal  superintendent  of  the  farm  in 
Jordan  Township,  while  his  brother  is  similarly  sit- 
uated on  the  rented  place  in  Sterling  Townsip. 

They  take  much  interest  in  the  exhibitions  of  lo- 
cal agricultural  societies,  in  which  they  have  been 
successful  competitors  as  farmers  and  stock-growers. 

Mr.  Bressler  is  a  Republican  in  political  faith, 
and  belongs  to  the  Fourth  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Sterling,  of  which  society  his  wife  is  also  a 
member. 


^ .0^0.. 1  e^t'   .— y—» 

;,,enry  C.  Fellows,  capitalist  '  at  Fulton 
City,  was  one  of  the  first  party  of  pio- 
neers at .  that  place,  and  also,  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  first  town  plat.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  New  York,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of 
New  Lebanon,  Columbia  County,  March  10, 
1813,  and  is  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Juliet  (Darling) 
Fellows.  His  early  life  wasnpassed^on^his  father's 


farm,   till   he  became  ambitious  of  being   his  own 
master. 

He  learned  the  carpenter  and  joiner's  trade,  and  «^s 
in  the  fall  of  1835  started  for  the  West,  arriving  at 
Joliet,  111.,  in  November  of  that  year.  He  worked  at  \& 
his  trade  in  Joliet  till  the  spring  of  1837,  when  he 
started  out  in  search  of  an  opening  for  business.  He 
was  joined  by  a  party  of  land-seekers ;  and,  after 
fording  swollen  streams  of  ice-cold  water  and  spending 
two  nights  on  the  open  prairie  without  shelter,  they 
reached  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  at  the  present 
site  of  Fulton,  on  the  first  of  March,  1837.  Here 
they  found  a  deserted  shanty  that  had  been  built  by 
John  Baker,  who  had  erected  a  better  house  to  the 
eastward,  over  the  hill,  where  he  was  then  living. 
They  took  possession  of  the  old  shanty  and  for  a 
considerable  time  it  was  headquarters,  or  bachelor's 
hall,  for  themselves  and  others  who  soon  after  joined 
them.  In  May  of  that  year  their  party  consisted  of 
H.  C.  Fellows,  James  McCoy,  John  B.  Jenkins,  Geo. 
W.  Kellog. 

A  bargain  was  made  with  Mr.  John  Baker,  who 
claimed  the  town  site,  and  who  had  made  a  rude 
survey  of  a  plat,  by  which  the  old  plat  was  aban- 
doned and  a  new  survey  made,  with  the  new-comers 
as  joint  proprietors.  The  survey  was  made  by  Mc- 
Coy, Fellows,  Jenkins  and  Kellog.  The  principal 
proprietors  of  the  town  site  were  H.  C.  Fellows, 
James  McCoy,  George  W.  Kellog,  John  B.  Jenkins, 
Alvin  Humphries,  R.  J.  Jeoks,  Lyman  Blake,  John 
Baker  and  Jeremiah  Humphries. 

It  was  some  time  before  the  land  came  into  mar- 
ket and  real  titles  could  be  obtained.  In  the  mean- 
time other  emigrants  joined  them,  and  the  town  of  ^ 
Fulton  soon  became  an  established  fact.  The  found- 
ers of  the  youhg  town  had  many  privations  to  endure.  i 
The  low  prices  of  produce  and  great  distance  from 
market  made  incomes  necessarily  small.  Had  mos- 
quitoes and  malaria  been  marketable,  the  young  col- 
ony would  have  been  rich.  However,  the  pleasure 
peculiar  to  a  frontier  life  partially  compensated  for 
the  lack  of  the  comforts  of  more  mature  civilization. 

Mr.  Fellows  took  an  active  part  in  encouraging 
the  improvement  and  development  of  the  town,  and 
soon  became  prominent  in  public  affairs.  He  was 
appointed  Deputy  Sheriff  under  John  W.  LeMore 
in  1844,  for  two  years.  He  was- elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace  in  the  early  days  of  the  town,  was  re- 
elected  and  held  that  office  14  years.  Litigation 


««[» 


\r  Xri  M  M  «I»  N  M  •  X  v    *^ 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


1 
5 


: 
I 


was  mote  common  in  early  times  than  in  later  years, 
as  the  machinery  of  society  could  not  be  expected  to 
run  smoothly  at  first,  where  there  were  many  con- 
flicting interests  and  numerous  turbulent  spirits  that 
naturally  gravitate  to  the  frontier.  'Squire  Fellows' 
Court  was  kept  in  active  operation  and  justice  was 
meted  out  with  a  view  to  equity  as  well  as  law.  His 
decisions  were  deemed  so  just  and  fair  that  an  ap- 
peal was  seldom  made  from  them.  He  was  elected 
Supervisor  of  Fulton  Township  in  1857,  and  again 
in  1860-3-4-70,  and  was  appointed  in  1871  to  fill  a 
vacancy,  and  re-elected  again  in  1872.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  Aldermen  of  the  city  and  has  held  other 
local  offices. 

In  April,  1850,  he  joined  a  party  of  his  fellow 
townsmen  in  a  trip  to  California,  going  across  the 
plains.  He  spent  two  years  in  the  gold  regions,  and 
returned  well  satisfied  with  his  experience. 

In  1859  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Irving 
G.  Gates,  under  the  firm  name  of  Fellows  &  Gates, 
lumber  merchants,  and  carried  on  an  extensive  busi- 
from  1859  to  1862,  when  they  sold  out.  In  1864  he 
removed  to  Union  Grove,  to  one  of  his  farms,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1868, 
when  he  returned  to  Fulton.  In  1871  he  went  into 
the  livery  business,  which  he  conducted  till  1876. 

Mr.  Fellows  is  a  man  of  keen  business  sagacity, 
of  unquestioned  integrity,  whose  word  is  as  good  as 
his  bond.  By  strict  attention  to  business  and  ju- 
dicious investment,  he  has  acquired  a  large  and 
valuable  property.  He  has  several  well  improved 
farms,  aggregating  1,500  acres,  besides  valuable  city 
property  and  securities. 

He  was  married  in  Union  Grove  Township,  Nov. 
9,  1843,  to  Miss  Lydia  Baker,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  Baker.  Mrs.  Fellows  was  born  in  Trum- 
bull  Co.,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Fulton  with  her  parents 
in  1839.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fellows  have  had  seven 
children, — four  daughters  and  three  sons.  The  eld- 
est, Robert  ].,  married  Hattie  Burns,  and  resides  at 
"Union  Grove,  111.  They  have  three  children,  all  girls, 
—Augusta  E.,  Lola  M.  and  Mabel  E.  The  second 
child,  Augusta  E.,  died  aged  18  years.  The  thkd,  Ella 
H.,  died  aged  17  years.  Florence  A.  resides  with  her 
parents.  Mary  died  aged  two  years.  William  H., 
a  lawyer,  and  Fred  A.  are  in  business  in  Northern 
Dakota. 

In  all.  matters  of  public  enterprise  calculated  to 


benefit  his  town  or  county,  Mr.  Fellows  has  acted 
with  his  characteristic  earnestness  and  decision,  ren- 
dering wise  counsel,  and  material  aid.  When  the 
project  of  constructing  a  railroad  as  an  outlet  from 
Fulton  to  the  East  was  under  consideration,  he  was 
one  of  those  whose  earnest  efforts  secured  its  ac- 
complishment. 

The  portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fellows  are  pre- 
sented in  this  volume  with  much  satisfaction,  as  the 
subjects  are  inseparably  connected  with  the  earliest 
history  of  Fulton  and  the  county  of  Whiteside.  Time 
has  dealt  kindly  with  them,  as  they  deserve  from 
their  lives  of  thrift  and  usefulness. 


-X  • 


- 


S.  Coe,  general  farmer  on  sec.   12,  Hun 
Township,   was  born  Sept.   21,  1832,  in 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  son  of  one 
of  the  earliest  of  the    pioneer   settlers   in 
Whiteside  County,     The  sketch  of  his  brother, 
S.  M.  Coe,  contains  a  detailec}  account  of  his 
parents,  Simeon  and  Mary  Miles  Coe. 

Mr.  Coe  was  in  early  childhood  when  the  family 
came  to  Whiteside  County.  His  father  died  while 
he  was  yet  a  lad,  and  he  remained  the  companion  of 
his  mother  and  sister  until  he  was  nearly  of  age.  He 
started  his  career  on  his  own  responsibility  as  a  day 
laborer,  and  he  bought  a  claim  of  160  acres  of  unim- 
proved land  in  Jordan  Township,  where  his  father 
had  located  on  removal  to  this  county. 

He  was  married  Marches,  1855,  in  Sterling 
Township,  to  Rachel,  daughter  of  Edwin  and  Mary 
(Spencer)  Penrose.  The  father  was  of  English  de- 
scent and  of  Canadian  parentage,  and  both  were 
born  in  Pennsylvania.  They  went  to  Ohio  when 
young,  and  were  married  in  that  State.  They  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Belmont  County,  where  Mrs.  Coe 
was  born  Aug.  22,  1835.  When  she  was  n  years 
of  age  her  parents  removed  to  Whiteside  County  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Sterling  Township.  They  were 
prominent  members  of  the  "  Society  of  Friends,"  or 
Quakers.  In  the  spring  of  1864  they  sold  their  farn 
and  went  to  Keokuk  Co.,  Iowa.  Later  they  removed 
to  Jasper  County,  in  the  same  State,  where  the 
mother  died,  when  66  years  old.  The  father  re- 
turned to  Keokuk  County,  and  died  there,  aged  72 
years. 

Mr.  and   Mrs.   Coe  have  two  children  :     Edwin 
'  _^ &s 


r&s 


-     ..    :- 


.- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


f 

K> 


M.,  who  was  born  Jan.  5,  1858,  and  married  Adele 
Mangan :  they  reside  in  Hopkins  Township,  and 
have  two  children, — Albert  E.  and  Lauren  M. ;  Al- 
bert L.  was  born  Sept.  27,  1861 ;  he  married  Eva  B. 
Bancroft,  and  is  managing  his.  father's  property. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coe  located  on  the  farm  in  Jordan 
Township,  which  Mr.  Coe  put  in  good  farming  con- 
dition and  afterwards  sold.  In  1869  he  came  to 
Hume  Township,  where  he  purchased  200  acres  of 
land  as  a  beginning,  on  section  12,  and  later  added 
40  acres  adjoining  on  section  n.  The  farm  is 
one  of  the  best  improved  and  most  valuable  in 
the  township.  The  dwelling  is  of  the  finest  type 
and  the  stock  on  the  farm  is  well  graded.  Mr. 
Coe  ranks  as  a  leading  agriculturist.  He  is  prom- 
inent as  an  uncompromising  Republican,  and  has 
been  Township  Trustee  for  six  years.  He  has  been 
Trustee  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  he  and  his  wife  are  earnest  members. 


lark  R.  Powell,  farmer  and  nurseryman, 
section  23,  Sterling  Township,  was  born 
Sept.  12,  1826,  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is 
the  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Bowerman) 
Powell,  and  his  parents  were  born  and  passed 
their  entire  lives  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
The  names  of  their  children  were  Jacob,  Lydia  Ann, 
Nathaniel,  Martha,  Eliza,  Henry  S.,  Clark  R.  and 
Nelson. 

Mr.  Powell  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  attended  academy  at  Macedon 
Center  four  months,  and  at  the  age  of  23  left  home  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He  came  to  White- 
side  County  in  1849.  His  first  purchase  of  land  was 
made  in  Lee  County  and  comprised  160  acres,  which 
he  afterwards  sold,  and  bought  30  acres  where  he 
has  since  operated.  In  1850  he  engaged  in  the 
nursery  business,  and  he  now  owns  80  acres,  of  which 
about  20  acres  is  devoted  to  nursery  and  orchard. 
His  place  is  known  as  the  Sterling  Nurseries,  and 
he  is  engaged  in  the  growth  and  sale  of  all  kinds 
of  trees  common  to  the  trade,  besides  general  nur- 
sery stock  of  a  miscellaneous  character.  Mr.  Powell 
is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiments,  and  supports 
the  issues  of  that  party. 

was  married   in   Mendon,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 

Pf^/s..     


Oct.  17,  1853,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Judith  S.  (Russell)  Quick.  Mrs.  Powell  was  born 
Oct.  12,  1834,  in  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  her  parents 
were  born  in  the  same  State.  Their  children  were 
named  James  S.,  Mary  E.,  Rachel  J.,  Susan  M., Sid- 
ney, Minnie  A.  and  Madison  D.  The  names  of  the, 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powell  are  Albert,  Melissa 
A.,  Edwin,  Theron  and  Martha. 


illiam  C.  Green,  (ist) — this  "  ist  "  is  used 
to  distinguish  Mr.  Green  from  a  nephew 
...  of  the  same  name — Mayor  of  Fulton, 
i'  and  by  occupation  a  wagon  and  carriage 
maker,  was  born  in  Bono,  Lawrence  Co., 
Ind ,  Dec.  14,  1822,  and  is  the  son  of  David 
and  Margaret  C.  (Coots)  Green.  He  was  brought  up 
upon  his  father's  farm,  and  varied  farm  life  by  run- 
ning flat-boats  between  Bono  and  New  Orleans,  car- 
rying produce  to  market.  He  became  expert  as  a 
pilot,  and  made  a  great  many  flat-boat  trips.  He 
also  learned  the  carpenter  and  boat-builders'  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  several  years.  He  came  to 
Fulton  in  the  middle  of  October,  1849,  and  was  en- 
gaged for  a  time  with  his  brothers,  N.  and  R.  Green, 
in  merchandising.  He  quit  the  store,  and  spent  one 
year  on  a  farm  near  Fulton.  He  then  returned  to 
the  city,  and  re-entered  the  store  with  his  brothers, 
and  continued  with  them  till  the  business  was  closed, 
in  1860.  He  then  engaged  at  carpenter  work,  and 
in  1864  opened  a  wagon  and  carriage  shop,  since 
which  time  he  has  carried  on  the  business  continu- 
ously. 

He  was  married  at  Fulton,  Nov.  21,  1850,  to  Mrs. 
Harriet  Carpenter,  widow  of  Ralph  Carpenter,  and 
daughter  of  Jesse  and  Mary  (Webb)  Johnson.  Mrs. 
Green  was  born  in  Lowville,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.  She 
had  two  children  by  her  former  marriage,  a  son  and 
daughter.  The  son,  Ralph,  was  a  soldier  of  the  late 
war,  and  died  in  his  country's  service  at  Kennerville, 
La.  The  daughter,  Minnie,  is  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Pierce,  of  Green  County.  Mrs. Green's  father,  Jesse 
Johnson,  was  among  the  pioneers  of  Fulton  of  1838. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  have  four  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters:  Harriet  E.,  William  E.,  Clarence 
and  Clara,  the  last  two  being  twins. 

Mr.  Green  has  frequently  been  chosen  to  fill  pub- 


] 


9 

I 


• 


N^ 

I 


lie  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  He  has  served  as 
School  Director  14  years,  and  as  Alderman  four 
years ;  is  now  serving  his  sixth  year  as  Assessor  and 
his  third  term  as  Mayor  of  Fulton.  He  is  also  the 
present  Clerk  and  Director  of  the  School  Board.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  of  the  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las school. 

It  is  no  idle  compliment  to  say  of  Mr.  Green  that 
he  has  always  discharged  the  duties  of  office  with 
ability  and  fidelity,  while  his  private  life  is  without 
reproach.  His  fellow  citizens  paid  him  the  hand- 
some compliment,  in  the  spring  of  1885,  of  electing 
him  the  third  time  as  Mayor,  and  without  opposition. 
Mrs.  Green  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Fulton. 


Daniel  Schryver,  liveryman  at  Erie,  is  a  son 
of  Abraham  and  Charity  Schryver,  and 
was  born  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  21, 
1833.  His  parents  were  natives  of  New 
York,  and  died  in  Illinois.  The  issue  of  their 
union  was  five  children,  of  whom  three  are  liv- 
ing: Sally  A.,  widow  of  Nevatus  Webster,  deceased, 
formerly  a  farmer  near  Polo,  111.;  Joseph  A.,  a  far- 
mer near  Marysville,  Kan.;  and  Daniel. 

Daniel's  mother  died  when  he  was  six  years  old, 
and  he  remained  with  his  father  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  1 3  years,  when  he  left  home  and  went  to 
Galena,  111.,  where  he  remained  about  three  months 
and  then  went  to  New  Orleans.  He  was  only  about 
three  months  at  the  latter  place,  and  went  thence  to 
Columbus,  Ky.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  driving 
stage  to  Mayfield  for  about  six  months. 

In  1851  he  came  to  Erie  and  drove  stage  between 
Erie  and  Port  Byron  two  years.  He  was  then,  in 
1853,  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lennora,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Orpha  Atwood.  She  was  born  in 
Vermont,  Dec.  31,  1835,  and  bore  him  nine  children, 
five  of  whom  survive :  Herman  is  a  farmer  in  Erie 
Township.  Libbie  is  the  wife  of  Lemuel  Cane,  a 
barber  in  Nebraska.  Horace  is  at  home.  Lucy  is 
the  wife  of  Marsh  Batie,  a  resident  of  Montana,  and 
Lena  is  at  home.  The  deceased  were  Luella,  Ho- 
mer, Harry  and  Lorena. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Schryver  purchased  80 
acres  of  land  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Erie, 

& **@V*— 


and  also  rented  the  S.  L.  Wilder  tract,  embracing 
3,000  acres.  He  herds  cattle  on  the  rented  land, 
and  farms  a  portion  of  it. 

Mr.  Schryver  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  75th  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
in  1862,  as  private  and«served  three  years.  He  was 
in  a  number  of  engagements,  prominent  among 
which  were  Perryville,  Nashville,  Murfreesboro,  Stone 
River,  Atlanta,  Chattanooga,  Lookout  Mountain, 
Mission  Ridge,  Jonesboro,  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  and  a 
second  time  at  Nashville,  besides  numerous  skir- 
mishes, and  escaped  the  perils  of  war  without  any 
serious  injury. 

Returning  from  the  war  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming  and  herding.  He  now  has  the  3,000  acres 
under  fence,  still  owns  the  80  acres  he  originally 
purchased,  and  has  since  purchased  120  acres.  He 
also  owns  his  residence  and  lot  in  Erie.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1882,  he  moved  to  Erie,  and  in  the  fall  of  1884 
purchased  the  livery  stable  at  that  place.  He  keeps 
eight  horses  and  six  carriages. 

Mr.  Schryver  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order, 
and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is 
also  Constable. 


ohn  W.  Hull,  farmer,  section  32,  Ustick 
Township,  is  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Bet- 
sey (Wolcott)  Bull,  who  were  born  respect- 
ively in  Vermont  and  New  York,  and  who 
were  the  parents  of  four  children, — John  W., 
Benjamin,  Elzina  and  Lyman.  The  oldest 
son  was  born  April  26,  1822,  in  Watertown,  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  N.  Y.  Until  he  was  15  years  of  age  he  at- 
tended the  common  schools,  and  since  that  time  he 
has  been  engaged  in  farming  most  of  the  time.  In 
July,  1854,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  fixing  his 
residence  in  Ustick  Township.  He  owns  about  166 
acres  of  land  and  has  improved  125  acres. 

In  political  faith  he  is  not  the  adherent  of  any 
party;  he  has  held  several  official  positions,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 

Mr.  Bull  has  been  married  three  times.  Huldah 
Wilson,  of  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  became  his  wife  May 
22,  1849.  She  was  born  July  13,  1827,  in  Jefferson 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  became  the  mother  of  four  children, 
Ellen  M.,  Wilson  B.,  Bion  B.  and  Adela  B.  She 
died  July  6,  1863,  in  Ustick  Township.  Mr.  Bull 


f 
' 


• 

> 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


was  a  second  time  married,  in  Ustick  Township,  to 
Fhilena  Gordon.  She  was  born  in  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  died  Feb.  12,  1874,  leaving  three  children, — 
Benjamin,  Abraham  and  Ezra.  Mr.  Bull  was  again 
married  May  19,  1877,  in  Fulton,  111.,  to  Isabella 
Gatton,  a  native  of  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  where  she  was 
born  Dec.  15,  1851.  Of  the  last  marriage  three 
children  have  been  born,  named  Charles  J.,  George 
S.  and  Fred  W. 


tavid  A.  Slick,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
man, located  on  section  13,  Genesee 
Township,  is  the  son  of  Jeremiah  and 
Elizabeth  (Leady)  Slick.  They  were  both 
born  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were 
married  in  Pennsylvania,  where  they  engaged 
in 'agricultural  pursuits  until  their  removal,  in  1853, 
to  Carroll  Co.,  111.  They  settled  in  the  township  of 
Freedom,  where  the  son  was  born,  October  5  of  the 
same  year.  The  parents  are  now  residents  of  Lan- 
ark, Carroll  Co.,  111. 

Until  he  was  1 6  years  of  age,  Mr.  Slick  remained 
at  home,  attending  the  district  school.  He  then  be- 
gan a  regular  course  of  study  at  the  college  of  Lan- 
ark, Carroll  Co.,  111.,  and  continued  till  Oct.  6,  1870. 
Soon  after  he  entered  the  mercantile  establishment 
of  Henry  Wickey,  at  Coleta.  He  was  a  salesman 
there  10  years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  he 
purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  business.  The  re- 
lationship was  in  active  existence  two  years,  with 
successful  results.  On  the  termination  of  his  com- 
mercial enterprise,  Mr.  Slick  bought  a  farm  of  80 
acres,  on  section  13,  Genesee  Township.  Since 
1883,  the  year  in  which  he  engaged  in  farming,  he 
has  given  considerable  attention  to  agricultural  oper- 
ations, and  to  raising  valuable  stock.  He  contem- 
plates another  change  a  year  hence,  in  1886,  and 
preliminary  thereto  he  has  sold  his  farm. 

His  marriage  to  Celesta  Wetzel  took  place  Sept. 
19,  1 88  r.  Mrs.  Slick  was  born  Oct.  30,  1854,  in 
Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
George  aad  Mary  (Lineroad)  Wetzel,  both  being  of 
German  extraction,  and  by  birth  natives  of  Ohio. 
She  is  the  youngest  of  three  daughters,  there  being 
no  sons  in  the  family.  Her  father  was  a  mechanic, 
and  he  came  West  when  she  was  a  child  of  five 


years.  Her  mother  died  in  Ohio  in  1856,  aged  25 
years  and  six  months.  The  daughter  was  placed  in 
charge  of  her  uncle,  Joseph  Hannah,  by  whom  she 
was  brought  up.  She  was  educated  at  Mt.  Carroll, 
111.,  and  Mt.  Vernon,  Iowa,  and  later,  was  sent  to 
the  Northwestern  College  at  Naperville,  111.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Slick  have  been  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren— Josephine  Natalie,  Emory  D.  and  Harold  R. 
Mrs.  Slick  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  political  sentiment  Mr.  Slick  is  a  Re- 
publican. 


B.  Prey  is  a  farmer  on  section  28, 
Jordan  Township,  and  was  born  July  16, 
1841,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  His  father,  Henry 
Frey,  was  a  native  of  the  same  State,  and  was 
a  farmer  by  vocation.  He  was  reared  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  homestead,  and,  in  1865, 
was  married  to  Lizzie  Keider.  She  was  a  native  of 
Lancaster  County,  where  she  was  married,  and  has 
become  the  mother  of  12  children.  One  named  An- 
nie died  in  infancy.  Lizzie  A.,  Hattie,  John,  Amos, 
Henry,  Jacob,  Abraham,  Daniel,  Mary,  Martin  and 
Noah  were  born  in  the  order  named. 

The  family  remained  in  Lancaster  County  until 
1863,  coming  West  to  Sterling  in  the  spring  of  that 
year.  In  1869  Mr.  Frey  bought  80  acres  of  land  on 
section  28,  which  had  been  partly  improved.  His 
farm  now  includes  240  acres  in  advanced  agricultur- 
al'condition,  and  well  stocked  with  excellent  grades 
of  cattle. 

Mr.  Frey  is  a  Republican  in  political  preference 
and  relations. 

- ^  _<.>•  ^ j. 


obert  G.  Barber,  a  farmer  on  section  27, 
Ustick  Township,  is  the  son  of  Millard 
and  Margaret  (Glenn)  Barber,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania. 
They  removed  with  their  family  to  Whiteside 
County  in  the  spring  of  1856,  settling  in  Us- 
tick Township,  where  the  father  died  April  5,  1874. 
The  mother  is  still  living.  Mary,  Robert  G.,  Martha 
J.  and  George  P.  are  the  names  of  their  children. 


"  ..  - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


I 

(§; 


- 


Mr.  Barber  was  born  in  what  is  now  Montour  Co., 
Pa.,  Sept.  2,  1841.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  came  in  1856  to  Whiteside  County 
with  his  parents.  He  engaged  in  the  business  of 
farming,  in  which  he  operated  independently  until 
1868,  when  he  removed  to  Fulton  and  engaged 
in  the  omnibus  business,  in  which  he  was  interested 
until  1874,  when  he  returned  to  his  homestead.  He 
is  now  the  owner  of  198  acres  of  land,  which  is  all 
improved. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Barber  to  Delia  E.,  daughter 
of  A.  C.  and  Amerita  (Pierce)  Crouch,  took  place  at 
Morrison.  Their  five  children  were  born  as  follows  : 
Cora  A.,  Aug.  9,  1868;  Percy  L.,  Sept.  24,  1870; 
Harley  P.,  Sept.  10,  1874;  Mirtie  M.,  March  7, 
1876;  Delia  M.,  Sept.  30,  1879.  Mr.  Barber  was  a 
second  time  married,  in  Garden  Plain  Township,  to 
Jane,  daughter  of  James  K.  and  Rachel  (Phinney) 
Kinard.  She  was  born  Nov.  6,  1849,  in  Ohio,  and 
has  had  one  child,  Inis  V,  born  July  8,  1884.  For 
12  years  previous  to  her  marriage  she  was  engaged 
in  teaching  in  Kansas  and  Illinois.  Her  parents  re- 
side in  Kansas,  whither  they  emigrated  in  1869. 


Andrew  J.  Osborne,  contractor  and  bridge 
builder,  resident  at  Erie,  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Rebecca  (Glass)  Osborne,  and  was 
born  in  Ashfield,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  Dec.  17, 
1828.  His  father  was  a  miller  by  vocation, 
and  died  when  Andrew  was  four  years  of  age. 
His  mother  died  when  he  was  eight  years  old,  and 
Andrew  and  his  brother  James,  who  constituted  the 
issue  of  his  parents'  union,  were  left  orphans. 

Andrew  J.  Osborne,  after  the  death  of  his  parents, 
went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  1 2  years.  He  then  left 
his  uncle's  house  and  went  to  Livingston  Co.,  Mich, 
where  he  worked  on  farms  summers  and  attended 
school  about  six  months  during  winters,  and  also  im- 
proved his  leisure  time  in  study  at  home. 

In  1844  Mr.  Osborne  left  Michigan  and  came  to 
this  State,  where  he  remained  four  years,  and  then 
went  to  New  York.  He  was  in  the  latter  State  one 
year,  and  then  came  to  Rock  Island  County,  this 
State.  Here,  when  57  years  of  age,  he  taught  school 
for  a  time  in  Canoe  Creek  Township. 

§$$» = 


In  the  fall  of  1850  he  came  to  this  county  and 
taught  an  arithmetical  school  evenings  in  Erie 
Township.  He  taught  what  was  then  known  as 
the  Prussian  System  of  Calculation.  He  continued 
teaching  during  the  winters  of  1851-2-3  in  Portland 
Township,  and  met  with  success  in  his  profession. 

Mr.  Osborne  was  united  in  marriage  in  Erie 
Township,  March  24,  1853,  to  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  H.  and  Mary  J.  Smith.  She 
was  born  in  Aurora,  111.,  April  12,  1833,  and  bore 
him  ii  children,  namely:  Charles  F.,  Ella  C., 
Henry  A.,  Barnett  A.,  Jesse  E.,  Grant  S.,  Rachel  M. 
(deceased),  Elizabeth  C.,  Rebecca  M.,  Lucy  E.  and 
Andrew  J. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Osborne  purchased  160 
acres  of  land  in  Canoe  Creek  Township,  Rock  Island 
County,  which  he  cultivated  for  one  year  and  then 
sold.  He  next  came  to  Erie,  this  county,  and 
erected  a  saw-mill  there,  which  he  ran  for  a  year  and 
then  failed.  His  next  move  was  to  Cass  Co.,  Iowa, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  milling  for 
five  years,  when  he  returned  to  Genesee,  Henry  Co., 
this  Slate.  He  remained  at  the  latter  place  two 
years,  and  then  came  to  Erie  Township,  this  county, 
and  moved  on  a  farm  his  wife  had  received  from  her 
father,  on  section  15.  He  worked  hard  and  indus- 
triously, and  soon  succeeded  in  paying  all  the  debts 
he  had  contracted  prior  to  his  failure,  and  also  pur- 
chased 1 60  acres  of  land  on  section  16,  same  town- 
ship. He  resided  on  the  latter  place  for  several 
years,  and  then  moved  to  Erie. 

In  1882  he  ran  on  the  Greenback  ticket  for  State 
Representative;  and,  although  his  popularity  placed 
him  several  hundred  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket,  he 
was  not  successful.  After  moving  to  Erie  he  en- 
gaged in  contracting-  to  build  bridges  for  wagon 
roads,  and  has  continued  in  the  business  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  has  made  a  number  of  improve- 
ments in  bracing  bridges  for  wagon  roads,  and  has 
continued  in  the  business  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  has  made  a  number  of  improvements  in  bracing 
bridges  and  so  constructing  the  bridge  as  to  prevent 
the  timber  from  rotting.  He  has  built 
bridges  in  this  and  adjoining  counties. 

Mr.  Osborne  still  owns  the    160  acres  on  the  sec- 
tion which  he  rents.     He  is  an  original  thinker  of   J 
some  merit,  and    has   written   numerous   articles  o 
finance,  which  have  been  published   in   the  pai 
and  has   also  lectured  on  this  subject ;  lie  has  al 


a  number  of  ' 


UNIVERSITY  OF 
UfffiAM 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


written  a  pamphlet  on  finance  entitled  "New  Treat- 
ise on  Money,"  and  has  also  written  an  article,  now 
in  process  of  compilation,  on  formation  of  coal  and 
rocks,  which  promises  to  show  a  new  departure  in 
the  science  of  geology. 


Dt.  John  W.  Niles,  a  retired  farmer  re- 
siding at  Sterling,  was  born  in  Madison 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  ii,  1832.  His  parents,  John 
and  Sarah  (Mosely)  Niles,  emigrated  West  in 
1855,  settling  in  Jones  Co.,  Iowa,  upon  a 
tract  of  480  acres  of  land,  where  they  resided, 
following  agricultural  pursuits  for  13  years.  They 
then  sold  that  place  and  removed  to  Sterling,  this 
county,  and  resided  with  their  son,  named  at  the 
head  of  this  paragraph,  until  their  death.  Mr.  Niles 
died  in  November,  1882,  aged  82  years,  and  Mrs.  N. 
died  Sept.  i,  1884,  also  aged  82  years.  They  had 
lived  together  in  the  married  relation  59  years. 

Capt.  Niles,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  an  in- 
mate of  his  parental  home  until  he  was  20  years  of 
age,  receiving  an  academical  education  at  Hamilton, 
N.  Y.  Then,  in  1850,  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  was  a 
clerk  in  a  bank  for  a  year.  Returning  to  the  State 
of  New  York,  he  taught  district  school  winters  until 
1853,  when  he  moved  to  Iowa  and  followed  farming 
until  the  summer  of  1861. 

At  this  time  the  tocsin  of  war  was  sounded,  and 
he  regarded  it  as  a  call  to  exhibit  his  patriotism  by 
engagement  in  the  field  of  carnage.  Accordingly  he 
enlisted,  in  the  Ninth  Regt.  Iowa  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was 
immediately  appointed  Sergeant.  Going  with  Gen. 
Curtis'  army  to  the  southwestern  part  of  the  State  of 
Missouri,  he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge. 
Next,  he  was  in  Gen.  Grant's  army  during  the  Vicks- 
burg  campaign,  was  at  the  charge  on  Vicksburg  on 
the  22d  of  May,  1863,  and  for  gallantry  in  action  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant.  He 
was  also  engaged  in  the  campaign  of  Lookout  Moun- 
tain and  Missionary  Ridge  in  the  fall  of  1863.  In 
the  summer  of  1864  he  was  Regimental  Quarter- 
master in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  participated  in 
Gen.  Sherman's  grand  "march  to  the  sea,"  when  he 
received  his  commission  as  Captain.  Was  with  Gen. 
Sherman  at  the  surrender  of  Jo  Johnston  at  Raleigh, 
N.  C.  He  took  part  in  many  battles  and  skirmishes 
s2esit£~ '^tsL&'Su^. -">  A. 


too  numerous  to  mention  here.  After  participating 
in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  the  i5th 
Corps,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  was  taken  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  in  July,  1865,  and  mustered  out. 
Thus,  after  a  service  of  four  years  in  the  greatest  war 
ever  waged,  Capt.  Niles  was  honorably  discharged. 

Returning  from  the  war  to  this  county,  he  pur- 
chased 200  acres  of  land  four  miles  south  of  Sterling, 
and  occupied  it  as  an  agriculturist  until  October, 
1875,  when  he  sold  it  and  moved  into  a  residence  he 
bought  on  Walnut  Street  in  the  city  of  Sterling, 
where  he  is  now  a  resident.  He  is  Alderman  of  the 
Second  Ward,  and  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion of  that  ward.  Is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  Commander  of  the  Post  of  G.  A.  R.,  a 
Republican  in  his  political  sympathies,  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church  of  Sterling,  and  a  leading,  repre- 
sentative citizen  of  Whiteside  County.  Accordingly 
a  portrait  of  the  Captain  is  given  in  this  volume,  ac- 
companying this  sketch. 


'oseph  Hannah,  farmer,  section  14,  Gene- 
(£•  see  Township,  was  born  Dec.  14,  1834,  in 
Somerset  Co.,  Pa.  His  parents,  Daniel 
and  Susan  (Ferdinand)  Hannah,  were  natives 
of  the  same  State  and  county,  and  were  there 
united  in  marriage.  They  had  nine  children. 
The  father  died  in  Bakersville,  Somerset  Co.,  Pa.,  at 
the  age  of  82  years.  The  mother  is  85  years  of  age, 
and  lives  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa.  She  was  born  in 
1800. 

After  he  was  eight  years  of  age  Mr.  Hannah  was 
dependent  on  his  own  exertions  for  support,  and  he 
performed  labor  suited  to  his  age  and  size  in  the  in- 
terest of  various  farmers.  When  he  reached  the  age 
of  16  years  he  was  apprenticed  to  Adam  Kellering,  a 
miller  in  his  native  county,  with  whom  he  remained 
between  two  and  three  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
his  obligations  he  went  to  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
operated  as  a  journeyman  miller. 

His  marriage  to  Emmeline  Lineroad  took  place 
Oct.  2,  1855,  in  Stark  County.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Hannah,  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Deardoff)  Line- 
road,  were  respectively  natives  of  Germany  and 
Maryland,  and  were  both  descended  from  German 
ancestry.  They  died  in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  and  at  the 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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time  of  their  deaths  the  father  was  aged  75  years 
and  the  mother  was  68  years  old.  The  mother's 
parents  were  born  in  New  England.  Mrs.  Hannah 
was  born  June  n,  1826.  She  came  with  her  hus- 
band to  Genesee  Township  in  1856.  They  engaged 
in  farming,  and  lived  some  years  on  rented  places. 
In  1865  Mr.  Hannah  bought  80  acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  began  to  make  improvements.  He  also 
built  a  new  house  on  the  place,  and  has  continued 
the  efforts  of  a  provident  farmer  until  his  pioperty  is 
much  increased  in  value  and  affords  valuable  re- 
turns for  the  expenditure  of  time  and  effort.  He  is 
engaged  to  considerable  extent  in  raising  stock,  and 
is  the  owner  of  swine  of  valuable  breeds.  He  is  a 
Republican  of  positive  type,  and  has  been  active  in 
township  offices.  Mrs.  Hannah  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


fames  W.  Entwhistle,  of  Ustkk  Township, 
is  a  farmer  on  section  35,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  and  Margaret  (Wilson)  Entwhistle, 
who  were  born  in  Ireland.  They  each  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  in  early  life  and 
were  married  and  settled  in  Philadelphia.  Later 
they  came  with  their  family  to  Jo  Daviess  Co.,  111., 
and  resided  there  from  1834  to  1874,  a  period  of  40 
years.  The  mother  died  in  1854.  In  1875  the 
father  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  lived  four 
years  in  the  family  of  his  son,  dying  in  1879.  Their 
family  of  children,  six  in  number,  were  born  in  the 
following  order:  Mary  A.,  Ellen,  Thomas,  John, 
James  W.  and  Robert. 

Mr.  Entwhistle  was  born  Aug.  30,  1831,  in  Phila- 
delphia. He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  Jo  Daviess  County,  after  which  he  became  a 
farmer.  In  1870  he  came  to  Whiteside  County  and 
bought  120  acres  of  land  in  the  township  of  Ustick. 
He  is  now  the  owner  of  240  acres  of  fine  and  valu- 
able land,  all  under  good  cultivation. 

Mr.  Entwhistle  was  married  Jan.  4,  1855,  in  Jo 
Daviess  County,  to  Ellen,  daughter  of  John  and  Ann 
(Statham)  Lawton.  The  parents  were  born  in  Eng- 
land. The  daughter  was  born  June  13,  1835,  in 
Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Entwhistle  are  named  Margaret  A.,  John  J.,  Carrie, 


Hannah  and   George  W.     Elmer  E.  and  Ella  are 
the  names  of  two  that  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Entwhistle  is  a  Republican  in  political  senti- 
ment. He  has  served  as  School  Trustee  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry.  Both  himself  and 
his  wife  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


'otham  McKee,  farmer,  section  22,  Ustic 
jijr  Township,  was  born  Oct.  27,  1821,  in  Jef- 
ferson Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father  and  mother, 
Horace  and  Clarissa  (King)  McKee,  were  born 
and  lived  all  their  lives  in  the  same  State.  Of 
their  family  of  nine  children,  six  lived  to  grow 
up,  as  follows:  Sophronia,  Joseph,  Horace,  Sally 
A.,  Jotham  and  Hiram  W. 

Mr.  McKee  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  his  native  county  until  January,  1866.  He  then 
came  to  Whiteside  County  and  lived  in  the  city  ut 
Morrison  12  years,  during  which  time  he  was  en- 
gaged in  a  meat  market.  He  officiated  ten  years  as 
City  Marshal.  He  acted  as  Constable  and  a  part  of 
the  time  served  as  Deputy  Sheriff.  He  was  also 
Street  Commissioner  four  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1878  he  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  Ustick  Town- 
ship, which  has  since  been  his  field  of  operation. 
Politically,  Mr.  McKee  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has 
been  a  Constable  in  Ustick  Township  four  years.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

His  marriage  to  Delight  Frink  took  place  April 
7,  1846,  and  they  have  one  child,  James  F.,  who  is 
a  resident  of  Rockford,  111.  Mrs.  McKee  was  born 
Nov.  30,  1824,  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Esther  (Palmer)  Frink.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


eorge  F.  Shuler  is  a  farmer  of  Sterling 
Township  and  is  located  on  section  9.  His 
parents,  John  G.  and  Christian  (Bristle) 
Shuler,  were  born  in  Germany  and  passed 
their  who)e  lives  in  their  native  country.  Four 
of  their  six  children  lived  to  maturity  and 
were  named  George  F.,  John  G.,  Anna  M.  and 
Mathtas. 

Mr.  Shuler  was  born  April  26,  1835,  in  Germany, 


WH1TES1DE  COUNTY. 


\ 


and  at  18  came  to  America,  leaving  his  native  land 
forever  in  1853.  He  went  first  to  Butler  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  eight  months,  after  which  he 
came  to  Whiteside  County,  arriving  in  the  State  of 
Illinois  in  August,  1854.  He  was  a  farm  laborer 
until  1856,  when  he  bought  40  acres  of  land,  which 
is  now  included  in  his  fine  farm  in  Sterling  Town- 
ship, and  is  on  section  9.  His  estate  comprises  530 
acres  of  land,  and  is  chiefly  under  cultivation. 

Mr.  Shuler  obtained  a  fair  education  in  his  native 
country.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  his  township  and  served  17  years  as  High- 
way Commissioner:  is  now  serving  another  term  of 
three  years;  has  been  School  Director  15  years.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment,  and  was 
reared  in  the  principles  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

He  was  united  in  marriage,  Feb.  14,  1856,111  Ster- 
ling Township,  to  Elizabeth  D.  Rosenberry,  and  they 
have  had  six  children,  three  of  whom  they  have  lost 
by  death.  Three  daughters  are  living, — -Ann  E., 
Emma  R.  and  Mary  R.  John  died  when  nearly 
three  years  of  age.  Two  children  died  in  infancy. 


manuel  S.  Landis  is  a  farmer  of  Sterling 
Township,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel  and 
Margaret  (Shaffer)  Landis,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  parents  of  five  children, 
—Eliza,  Emanuel  S.,  Maria,  Henry  S.  and 
Anna.  The  subject  of  this  personal  narration 
was  born  Dec.  27,  1816,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1852.  He  settled  in  Sterling  Toivnship,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  88  acres 
of  land,  which  is  nearly  all  under  cultivation.  He 
was  first  married  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  24, 
1857,  to  Mary  Linginfield,  who  was  a  native  of  that 
State.  Their  two  children  were  named  A.  May  and 
Benjamin  F. ;  the  latter  is  deceased.  The  mother 
died  in  July,  1866,  in  Sterling  Township. 

Mr.  Landis  was  again  married,  in  Sterling  Town- 
ship, Dec.  29,  1867,  to  Susan,  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  (Herr)  Hoover,  and  widow  of  John  tan- 
dis.  Her  first  husband  died  July  8,  1855,  in  Ster- 
ling Township,  and  by  this  marriage  there  were  nine 
children, — David  H.,  Mary  A.,  Phares  H.,  Abraham 
H.,  Ann  M.,  Lizzie  E.,  Emma,  Martha  E.  and  John. 


Three  of  these  are  living, — Anna  M.,  Phares  H.  and 
Martha  E.  Mrs.  Landis  was  born  June  9,  1820, 
in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  With  her  husband,  she  is  a 
member  of  the  Mennonite  Church. 


ay  Cleaveland,  general  farmer,  on  section 
29,  Hume  Township,  was  born  March 
25,  1844,  in  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  has 
been  a  resident  in  the  township  where  he  now 
lives  since  he  was  eight  years  old,  his  father 
and  mother,  David  and  Amy  (Hawkins) 
Cleaveland,  having  removed  hither  from  the  State  of 
New  York  in  1852.  They  settled  on  a  farm  which 
the  father  had  purchased  two  years  before.  (See 
sketch  of  Nelon  Cleaveland.) 

Mr.  Cleaveland  was  educated  and  reared  to  man- 
hood at  home,  and,  on  reaching  his  majority,  he  was 
married  to  Fanny  Denison.  The  ceremony  was 
performed  at  Morrison,  May  24,  1865.  Mrs.  Cleave- 
land was  born  Aug.  9,  1845-,  in  Massachusetts.  She 
came  thence  with  her  parents  to  Prophetstown. 
Shortly  after  their  arrival  there  her  father  died,  and 
she  was  afterward  cared  for  by  her  mother.  She 
has  been  the  mother  of  two  children,  the  older  of 
whom  died  in  infancy  :  Earl  was  born  Aug.  7,  1874. 
In  1869  Mr.  Cleaveland  became  the  owner  by  pur- 
chase of  the  farm  on  which  he  has  since  operated, 
consisting  of  160  acres.  It  was  under  very  imper- 
fect improvement,  but  now  shows  the  quality  of  the 
energy  and  judgment  brought  to  bear  on  it. 

Mr.  Cleaveland  is  a  Republican  in  political  faith 
and  connection.  He  has  officiated  in  several  town- 
ship offices. 


.imeon  Miles  Coe,  a  farmer  in  Whiteside 
County,  "  jumped  "  a  claim  on  section  33 
in  what  is  now  Jordan  Township,  on  the 
loth  of  April,  1835,  nine  months  prior  to  the 
separation  of  the  county  from  Jo  Daviess 
County.  There  were  then  three  families  resi- 
dent within  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Whiteside 
County,  who  had  come  here  in  1834.  At  Dixon 
there  was  one  double  log  house,  owned  by  a  man  of 

-txtSJC®. 


i 

•*•  • 

VX 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


• 


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t 


that  name  who  was  engaged  in  farming  on  the  site 
of  the  present  beautiful  city.  Mr.  Coe  was  guided 
in  his  selection  by  what  he  believed  a  necessity,  his 
object  being  to  secure  timber  land,  which  predomi- 
inated  where  he  located.  The  settlers  who  had 
come  here  from  places  where  prairies  were  unknown 
did  not  believe  the  immense  tracts  of  treeless  acres 
would  ever  be  settled,  on  the  premise  that  it  was 
impossible  for  humanity  .o  endure  the  winter  winds. 
The  absence  of  landmarks  on  the  sweeping  expanse 
destitute  of  trees  made  them  appalling. 

Mr.  Coe  built  a  log  cabin  in  the  edge  of  the  tim- 
ber, and  broke  20  acres  of  prairie,  putting  in  grain 
and  vegetables.  He  lived  alone  in  bachelor  freedom 
three  years,  and  on  the  event  of  his  marriage,  in 
1838,  he  built  the  "  best  log  cabin  "  in  the  county 
for  the  reception  of  his  bride.  Harriet  Hull,  to 
whom  he  was  joined  in  marriage  in  the  winter  of 
1838,  was  born  in  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  she 
came  in  very  early  life  with  her  parents  to  Illinois, 
who  located  at  Buffalo  Grove,  Ogle  County.  She 
died  in  1842.  Mary,  the  only  child  born  to  her, 
died  in  infancy.  June  22,  1847,  Mr.  Coe  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  D.,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Mary  (Kress) 
Walling.  She  was  born  March  27,  1824,  in  Barring- 
ton,  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.  Her  father  was  of  German 
origin,  and  her  mother  was  a  descendant  of  one  of 
the  early  Dutch  settlers  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
whose  second  generation  settled  in  New  Jersey. 
Levi  Walling  held  a  commission  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  was  by  calling  a  farmer.  He  removed  in  1846 
to  Sterling,  Whiteside  County.  He  died  there  in 
1868,  and  was  about  75  years  of  age.  The  mother 
of  Mrs.  Coe  traced  her  ancestry  to  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  this  country.  They  were  Puritans  and  held 
to  the  most  rigid  regulations  of  the  sect.  The  landed 
property  of  the  grandfather  is  held  by  Isaac  Kress,  a 
descendant  in  direct  line.  Mrs.  Coe  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  was  22 
years  of  age  when  she  accompanied  her  parents  to 
Illinois.  A  year  later  she  gave  her  hand  in  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Coe,  and  they  have  had  eight  children, 
namely:  Levi  W.  (ist)  died  in  infancy;  Henry  W., 
born  June  21,  1848,  is  married  and  lives  in  Lee  Co., 
111. ;  Isaac  N.  was  born  Dec.  9,  1852,  is  married  and 
lives  at  Ellendale,  Dak.;  Levi  W.  (zd)  was  born 
Sept.  21,  1855  J  Jesse  F-  was  born  Jan.  9,  1857,  and 
lives  in  Iowa;  Aurora  B.  was  born  April  8,  1860, 
is  teaching  in  Lee  Co.,  111. ;  Simeon  M.  was  born 


Aug.  7,  1863;  Fred  W.,   July   19,    1866;  Mary   R., 
July  it,  1869. 

Mr.  Coe  was  born  March  12,  1810,  in  Paris  Town- 
ship, Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father,  Simeon  M. 
Coe,  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  Oct.  29,  1784. 
His  immediate  ancestors  descended  from  several 
brothers  who  came  from  England  and  were  the  found- 
ers of  a  lineage,  where  succeeding  generations  have 
continued  in  the  vocation  of  their  progenitors,  who 
were  farmers,  and  who  have  sustained  the  prestige 
of  an  honorable  name.  Simeon  Coe  and  Joshua 
Miles,  his  grandfathers,  were  both  soldiers  of  the 
Revolution,  and  the  latter  became  a  Captain  in  the 
command  of  General  Putnam.  The  diffusion  of 
generations  have  settled  in  New  England,  New  York 
and  Ohio.  Simeon  M.  Coe,  senior,  descended  from 
the  New  England  branch  of  the  family,  and  married, 
Sept.  i,  1807,  Mary  Miles,  who  was  born  in  Connec- 
ticut. After  their  marriage  they  removed  to  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  located  near  the  city  of  Utica, 
which  then  had  no  existence.  They  were  pioneers, 
and  Mr.  Coe  cleared  and  otherwise  improved  two 
farms.  They  had  13  children,  all  but  one  attaining 
mature  age.  Lucy  M.  married  George  Stull  and  is 
deceased."  Mr.  Coe  of  this  sketch  is  next  in  order  of 
birth.  George  A.,  Frederick  W.,  Henry  A.  and 
Albert  S.  are  not  living.  Jonathan  F.  and  Decius 
O.  succeeded  them  in  birth.  Adeline  E.  married 
Thomas  Stevens  and  is  deceased.  Helen  A.  is  a 
resident  of  Whiteside  County,  as  are  all  the  surviv- 
ors. Marcus  L.  died  in  Rock  Falls,  Whiteside  Co., 
111.  Mortimer  S.  is  the  youngest. 

When  Mr.  Coe  of  this  sketch  was  a  child  of  less 
than  four  years  of  age,  his  parents  went,  in  the  win- 
ter of  1814-15,  to  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  traveling  on 
sleds  drawn  by  ox  teams.  The  family  located  in  the 
dense  forest  of  Monroe  County,  where  the  woods 
were  so  thick  that  in  portions  the  light  of  day  was 
softened  to  a  mellow  twilight,  and  at  the  bases  of 
the  huge  'rees  grew  the  Indian  pipe,  a  plant  six 
inches  in  height,  and  in  color  and  appearance  like 
white  wax.  After  a  residence  of  more  than  20  years, 
in  the  fall  of  1838,  the  parents  removed  to  Sterling 
Township,  where  the  father  died  May  18,  1848. 
The  mother  died  in  October,  1857.  The  former 
was  a  man  of  ability,  and  in  1840  was  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  a  tribunal 
which  was  succeeded  in  1849  by  the  County  Court. 
He  was  a  Whig,  and  was  always  active  in  local  po- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


litical  affairs.  He  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Coe  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Monroe  County, 
obtaining  an  excellent  common-school  education, 
which  he  made  available  as  a  teacher,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  that  vocation  four  winters.  He  remained 
on  his  father's  farm  in  the  State  of  New  York  until 
he  was  25  years  of  age,  aiding  in  the  improvement 
of  the  homestead.  The  family  was  large,  and  the 
high  price  of  land  rendered  the  prospects  of  advance- 
ment to  young  ambitions  rather  narrow.  Mr.  Coe 
inherited  his  proclivities  for  an  agricultural  life,  and 
his  chief  incentive  to  his  removal  to  Illinois  was  a 
desire  to  secure  a  broader  opportunity  for  the  life  of 
effort  which  was  the  height  of  his  ambition.  He 
came  West  in  company  with  Isaac  and  John  Albert- 
son,  twin  brothers,  who  had  the  same  purposes  in 
view.  After  looking  about  other  parts  of  the  State 
they  went  to  Joliet,  but  Mr.  Coe  accepted  the  judg- 
ment of  a  man  named  Philip  Townsend,  and  came 
to  Whiteside  County.  One  of  the  unique  experi- 
ences of  the  bachelor  life  of  Mr.  Coe  was  his  manu- 
facture of  a  pair  of  pantaloons.  He  understood  that 
it  was  necessary  that  the  seams  should  be  pressed, 
and  he  accomplished  that  accessory  to  fine  tailoring 
by  the  aid  of  an  iron  wedge.  Mr.  Coe's  first  pur- 
chase of  land  comprised  160  acres,  and  has  made 
later  purchases,  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  273 
acres,  all  being  under  good  tillage.  The  work  of 
improvement  has  been  done  by  his  own  hands 
and  under  his  supervision,  and  the  family  occupy  a 
frame  house  on  section  34.  The  ruins  of  the  first 
log  cabin  are  still  standing,  and  a  tree  which 
is  growing  up  through  it  marks  the  first  home  of 
civilization  in  Jordan  Township.  The  tree  is  two 
feet  in  diameter.  On  section  34  Mr.  Coe  set  out  an 
evergreen  grove  of  various  kinds  of  trees.  In  con- 
formity with  the  recommendation  of  Horace  Greeley, 
he  set  out  a  balsam  tree  as  a  memorial  to  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  1865,  which  is  now  30  feet  in  height. 

Mr.  Coe  was  a  Whig  when  he  first  obtained  the 
privileges  of  citizenship,  but  he  had  an  admiration 
for  the  character  of  Andrew  Jackson,  for  whom  he 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican of  positive  stamp,  and  all  the  male  members  of 
the  family  to  which  he  belongs  support  the  issues  of 
that  poliiical  element.  He  has  been  unflinching  in 
his  local  duties,  and  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor 


of  his  township  seven  years ;  he  has  also  served  sev- 
eral terms  as  Clerk,  and  has  acted  16  years  in  the 
capacity  of  Treasurer.  He  and  his  estimable  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


I;  hilip  Nice,  a  merchant  on  Spruce  Street, 
Sterling,  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa., 
Nov.  12,  1845.  His  parents  were  Henry 
and  Levinah  (Tyson)  Nice,  natives  also  of  the 
Keystone  State,  who  moved  to  Ohio  in  1850, 
and  in  1865  to  Sterling,  this  county.  Mr. 
Henry  Nice  is  a  farmer  and  is  at  present  residing 
north  of  Morrison. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  received  in  his  youth  a 
common-school  education,  and  at  the  age  of  19  left 
his  paternal  home  and  was  a  farm  laborer  by  the 
month  for  seven  years ;  then  worked  a  rented  farm 
for  three  years ;  next  he  was  a  clerk  at  Sterling 
four  years,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful merchant  in  independent  business.  He  deals 
honorably  and  is  known  to  be  a  man  of  firm  princi- 
ples. 

Dec.  25,  1873,  is  the  date  of  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Anna  Konhaus,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  they  are 
the  parents  of  five  children,  namely  :  Amelia,  Jo- 
seph, Emma,  Tobias  and  Edith. 

Mr.  Nice  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views, 
and  both  himself  and  wife  belong  to  the  old  Men- 
nonite  Church  of  Sterling  Township. 


^ 


taniel  B.  Henwood,  farmer,  and  owner  of 
the  Henwood  Ferry,  near  Erie,  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Erie,  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
July  22,  1824.  His  father,  Abraham  Hen- 
wood,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  a  blacksmith 
by  occupation,  and  moved  from  Pennsylvania 
to  Ohio,  where  he  followed  his  trade,  and  died  about 
the  year  1828.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  one  of 
the  New  England  States.  The  issue  of  his  parents' 
union  was  three  children,  all  living,  of  whom  Daniel 
B.  is  the  oldest.  Peter  is  a  blacksmith  and  farmer, 
and  resides  in  Angola,  Ind.,  and  Thomas  is  a  hotel- 
keeper  and  farmer  in  Washington  Co.,  Kan. 

Mr.  Henwood  remained  at  home  until  he  attained 


I 

•3  :* 


161 


v 


his  majority,  and  then  traveled  some  years  as  a  ped- 
dler. He  then  came  to  Springfield,  this  State,  and 
acted  as  nurse  under  Dr.  J.  L.  Dunyon.and  continued 
at  that  vocation  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1851  he 
came  to  Erie  Township,  and  purchased  the  Evie 
Ferry  and  60  acres  of  land.  He  cultivated  his  land 
and  ran  the  ferry  for  a  time,  and  then  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  at  Erie,  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Sim- 
mons, afterward  with  Dr.  Springer,  and  then  with 
Dr.  Jackson,  and  was  quite  successful.  In  1881  he 
sold  out  his  drug  business,  and  since  then  has  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  has  about  20  acres  in  timber 
land,  and  60  acres  on  sections  7  and  8,  Erie  Town- 
ship. He  owns  his  residence  in  Erie,  and  two  lots, 
besides  three-quarters  of  an  acre  of  land  on  Main 
Street,  three  store  buildings  and  two  or  three  other 
buildings. 

Mr.  Kenwood  was  married  in  Erie,  June  27,  1852, 
to  Miss  Lydia  E.,  daughter  of  Charles  R.  and  Han- 
nah (Maxwell)  Coburn,-born  in  New  York,  Jan.  4, 
1828.  They  have  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living :  Butler  now  tends  the  Erie  Ferry  and  fol- 
lows the  vocation  of  farming ;  Carrie  is  the  wife  of 
F.  E.  Burridge,  a  drug  clerk  at  Erie;  Frank  resides 
at  home,  and  is  a  farmer  by  occupation ;  Ida  is  the 
wife  of  George  Baker,  a  farmer  in  Montana. 

Mrs.  Henwood  commenced  teaching  at  an  early 
age,  and  taught  in  this  county  a  number  of  years. 
Her  parents  were  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  she 
has  witnessed  all  the  trials  incident  to  a  pioneer  life. 


tt 

Lamuel  Landis,  farmer,  section  10,  Sterling 
Township,  has  been  a  citizen  of  Whiteside 
County  since  1866.  In  that  year  he  pur- 
chased 60  acres  of  land  in  the  township  where 
he  is  now  a  resident.  He  was  born  June  25, 
1824,  in  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  son  of 
Benjamin  and  Eve  (Segor)  Landis.  His  parents 
were  born  and  passed  their  entire  lives  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. 'Their  n  children  were  named  Elizabeth, 
Sarah,  John,  Mary,  Susan,  Henry,  Benjamin,  Samuel, 
Abraham,  Rebecca  and  Catherine. 

Mr.  Landis  passed  his  minority  under  the  author- 
ity of  his  parents  and  obtained  a  common-school 
education.  He  learned  the  business  of  chair-making, 
which  he  followed  some  years  and  was  afterwards 


variously  employed,  until  his  removal  to  VVhitcside 
County.  Mr.  Landis  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
has  officiated  as  School  Director. 

He  was  first  married  in  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1848, 
to  Lavina  Martock,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
two  children— Mary  A.  and  Rebecca.  The  mother 
died  in  1851.  Mr.  Landis  was  a  second  time  united 
in  marriage  Oct.  29,  1864,  to  Susan  Nagle,  and  of 
their  marriage  nine  children  were  born,  as  follows : 
George  T.,  Alvin,  Sarah,  Agnes,  Samuel,  John,  Ida, 
Emma  and  Amanda.  Mrs.  Landis  was  born  March 
3,  1842,  in  Pennsylvania.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church,  and  her  husband  belongs 
to  the  Presbyterian  denomination. 


ohn  H.  Moyers,  retired  farmer,  residen 
on  Sixth  Street,  Sterling,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, Nov.  12,  1818,  his  parents  being 
Samuel  and  Barbara  (High)  Moyers,  natives 
also  of  the  Keystone  State  ;  both  were  born  in 
Bucks  County  and  passed  all  their  lives  there. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  at  his  parental 
home  until  he  was  22  years  of  age,  receiving  a  com- 
mon-school education  and  assisting  on  the  farm.  At 
the  age  mentioned  he  left  home,  and  commenced 
dealing  in  horses  and  cattle,  which  he  followed  for 
1 8  years.  Two  years  after  leaving  home  he  bought 
a  lot  of  15  acres,  on  which  he  lived  four  years:  he 
was  engaged  in  merchandising  one  year  during  this 
time.  Then  he  sold  out  and  bought  a  tract  of 
too  acres,  on  which  was  a  water-power,  and  on  that 
he  built  a  mill.  The  farm  and  mill  he  conducted  for 
six  years;  he  then  sold  out  and  bought  15  acres, 
which  he  occupied  for  four  years ;  he  sold  again,  and 
in  1861  came  to  Sterling,  rented  a  farm  and  culti- 
vated it  14  years;  and  finally  he  bought  a  residence 
tm  Sixth  Street,  in  Sterling,  with  three  lots,  for  $1,660, 
which  he  now  occupies. 

In   his  political  views,  Mr.  Moyer  is  a  Republican. 
He  was  married  in  1842,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  My 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and   they  have  had   i 
children,  two  of  whom   have  deceased.     The  livi 
are  Barbara,  Hiram,  Mary,  Hannah,  Susan,  Amanda, 
Elizabeth,  Samuel  and  John,  all  of  whom  are  married 
except  John,  as  follows :  Barbara  married  Abraham 
Cassel  and  has  five  children, — Henry  C.,  Mamie 


lamie  V., 
V*' 


UNIVERSITY  of  ILLINOIS 


I    «r*rtMr-«, 

UNIVERSE  OF  ILLINOIS' 
URBAJM 


: 


^ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


'  Elizabeth  C.,  Rena  and  Mabel  D.  Hiram  married 
Fannie  Reinhart  and  has  four  children, — Eva,  Amy, 

i  John  and  Hiram.  Mary  married  Anthony  Trudo,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Harry.  Hannah  married  Martin 

.  Grubb.  Susan  married  Allen  R.  Hendricks,  and  has 
one  child  living,  Olive  G.  Amanda  married  Warren 
Roath,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Belle  E.  Eliza- 
beth married  John  Reitz,  and  their  two  children  are 
Arthur  and  Edith  M.  Samuel  married  Lorenza 
Hamblin. 

/ 


\\  ichard  T.  Hughes  has  been  a  farmer  in 
Whiteside  County  since  1839,  and  has  re- 
sided in  Illinois  51  years.  He  came-,  in 
1834,  to  a  location  south  of  Elkhorn  Grove, 
now  in  Carroll  County,  which  was  then  in  the 
county  of  Jo  Daviess.  He  settled  on  a  claim 
of  440  acres  of  land,  and  put  a  considerable  propor- 
tion under  improvement.  In  1839  he  sold  out,  pre- 
paratory to  removal  to  Genesee  Grove.  He  bought 
a  large  acreage  in  Genesee  Township,  and  improved 
two  farms.  In  1848  he  again  sold  his  estate,  and 
bought  2r5  acres  of  Jonathan  Haines  on  section  7, 
Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  which  was  under  partial 
improvement,  embracing  68  acres  of  timber.  It  is, 
in  point  of  location,  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
township,  the  timber  being  situated  on  a  rise  of 
ground  and  the  broad  acres  of  prairie  stretching 
south  and  west.  Mr.  Hughes  has  placed  his  farm 
under  advanced  cultivation,  with  good  and  suitable 
buildings.  He  made  later  purchases,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  480  acres,  a  large  proportion  of  which  is 
under  cultivation. 

He  was  born  Oct.  17,  1812,  in  Clermont  Co., 
Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  Allen  and  Elizabeth  (Tilton) 
Hughes.  His  grandfather,  Allen  Hughes  (ist),  was 
a  native  of  Virginia,  where  his  son  Allen  (2d)  was 
born.  The  latter  went  to  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
married.  Richard  Tilton,  the  maternal  grandfather 
of  Mr.  Hughes  of  this  sketch,  was  a  member  of  a 
prominent  Kentucky  family,  noted  for  the  charac- 
teristics which  distinguished  the  pioneer  inhabitants 
of  that  State.  The  traditions  which  have  come  to 
their  descendants  preserve  the  memory  of  the  beauty 
of  their  women,  and  the  bravery  of  the  male  mem- 
bers of  the  family  in  the  historic  times  when  Ken- 


tucky  was  placed  on  permanent  record  as  the  "  dark 
and  bloody  ground."  Richard  Tilton  was  a  Meth- 
odist minister  of  prominence  and  influence,  and 
preached  many  years  in  Kentucky.  His  family  in- 
cluded 12  or  13  children;  and,  after  they  had  at- 
tained to  the  growth  if  not  the  years  of  maturity, 
they  removed  to  Okaw,  the  southeastern  township  of 
Bond  County,  on  the  Kaskaskia  River,  in  Illinois. 
They  were  pioneers,  and  received  the  full  benefit  of 
the  poisonous  emanations  from  the  low  marshes  in 
their  vicinity,  which  resulted  in  the  most  terrible 
mortality.  One  by  one  the  stalwart  sons  and  fair 
Daughters  succumbed,  and  the  parents  followed  in 
their  turn.  Five  individuals  lay  dead  in  the  house 
at  one  time.  Several  recovered,  and  as  soon  as  was 
possible  they  went  back  to  the  old  home  in  Ken- 
tucky, leaving  a  monstrous  estate,  including  thou- 
sands of  acres,  under  the  control  of  a  lawyer  named 
Robert  Turner,  through  whose  chicanery  the  entire 
property  was  wasted,  and  availed  nothing  to  its 
rightful  owners,  the  heirs  of  Richard  Tilton.  One  of 
the  daughters,  Oletha,  married  Samuel  Parker,  a 
Methodist  divine  of  distinction,  the  record  of  whose 
labors  and  abilities  are  preserved  with  just  pride  in 
the  annals  of  the  Church,  and  who  died  at  New 
Orleans,  to  which  place  he  had  been  sent  by  the 
Conference. 

Allen  and  Elizabeth  Hughes  had  15  children,  13 
of  whom  lived  to  adult  age,  and  were  born  in  the 
following  order:  Melinda,  John  A.,  Sarah,  Elizabeth, 
PollVj  Nancy,  Richard  T.,  Oletha,  Amanda,  Emily 
Allen,  Perry  and  James  P.  The  parents  were  earn- 
est believers  in  the  principles  of  Christianity,  and 
lived  in  the  satisfaction  of  a  belief  which  crowned 
their  lives  with  triumph,  having  received  satisfactory 
evidence  of  every  child  following  where  they  had  led 
in  faith  and  humility.  Six  are  now  deceased,  dying 
in  the  exultant  faith  of  Christian  believers.  Those 
who  survive  are  passing  their  sunset  years  in  the 
calmness  and  content  of  the  trust  in  which  they 
were  trained.  The  senior  Hughes  removed  to  Ohio 
with  his  wife  and  children,  in  the  closing  years  of 
the  1 8th  century,  where  he  became  prominent  in 
business  relating  to  the  development  of  the  part  of 
the  State  where  he  settled.  He  owned  immense 
tracts  of  land,  on  which  he  induced  settlers  to  locate; 
he  built  mills,  and  operated  extensively  as  a  finan- 
cier; but  troublesome  times  came,  and  the  scarcity 
of  money  induced  ruin  from  the  impossibility  of 


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making  assets  available,  and  in  1823  he  removed  to 
White  Co.,  III.  Later  he  went  to  Morgan  County, 
where  he  died,  in  1834.  While  a  resident  of  Ohio  he 
held  several  public  of  offices  trust,  while  at  the  same 
time  he  was  burdened  with  heavy  business  cares. 
His  commercial  operations  extended  upon  the  prin- 
cipal rivers.  He  went  even  to  New  Orleans,  being 
absent  for  a  month  at  a  time  and  thus  increasing  the 
home  cares  of  Mrs.  H.,  as  she  had  the  hired  hands 
at  Mr.  Hughes'  mills  to  look  after,  etc.  In  the  even- 
ing of  his  closing  career  of  55  years,  he  often  re- 
marked that  his  sleep  was  sweet  to  him  on  account 
of  his  freedom  from  business  cares.  He  died  a  tran- 
quil death,  as  did  Mrs.  Hughes. 

Mr.  Hughes  is  the  seventh  child  of  his  parents, 
and  he  was  12  years  of  age  when  they  removed  to 
White  Co.,  111.  He  went  with  them  to  Morgan  Co., 
and  in  1834  he  came  to  Jo  Daviess  County,  now 
Carroll.  His  father  died  within  the  year,  and  his 
mother,  with  six  children,  joined  him  at  Elkhorn 
Grove.  They  were  without  means  of  support ;  but 
the  son  only  felt  that  he  was  happy  in  having  them 
to  provide  for,  and  he  bent  every  energy  to  the  ful- 
fillment of  the  duty,  whose  magnitude  will  be  appar- 
ent to  those  who  consider  the  fact  that  the  nearest 
point  of  supplies  was  at  Hennepin  on  the  Illinois 
River.  Mr.  Hughes  was  in  his  young  manhood; 
and,  through  the  first  winter  at  Elkhorn  Grove,  he 
made  frequent  trips  to  Hennepin  for  the  necessaries 
of  life,  encountering  all  the  trials  and  hardships  of 
an  unsettled  portion  of  country.  His  mother  was  a 
host  in  herself,  and  her  Christian  courage  proved  a 
support  to  her  children,  and  was  the  center  of  the 
first  religious  movement  in  that  locality.  An  old  log 
school-house,  which  served  several  purposes,  was  the 
place  of  a  weekly  gathering  for  prayer,  the  assembly 
consisting  of  herself,  another  old  lady,  and  two  men, 
who  came  long  distances  with  the  utmost  regularity 
to  sustain  the  prayer-meeting.  Later  there  were 
regular  religious  services  at  the  same  place,  con- 
ducted by  a  clergyman.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Hughes 
was  a  thorough  mistress  of  Holy  Writ,  and  conducted 
all  her  religious  movements  with  ability  and  fear- 
lessness. Notwithstanding  the  pioneer  conditions 
and  attendant  privations,  that  time  is  remembered 
as  full  of  happiness.  '  The  two  nearest  neighbors 
were  John  Ankeny,  who  lived  a  mile  and  a  half 
north,  and  Pearson  Shoemaker.  The  latter  is  now 
living  at  Lanark,  Carroll  County.  He  then  lived 


two  miles  east  of  the  Grove.  Mr.  Uixon  (so  often 
quoted  in  this  work)  lived  on  the  site  of  the  city 
which  bears  his  name,  and  was  the  only  resident  in 
that  vicinity.  The  first  winter  Mr.  Hughes  passed 
in  his  cabin  alone  in  the  midst  of  hundreds  of  Indi- 
ans, whose  revengeful  spirits  had  been  wholly  sub- 
dued by  the  terrible  punishment  they  had  received 
in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  They  showed  the  utmost 
solicitude  to  be  on  friendly  terms  with  the  solitary 
youth  in  the  Grove;  but  he  was  unable  to  trust  them 
fully,  and  spent  many  nights  in  terror,  lest  some 
skulker  might  kill  him  to  obtain  possession  of  his 
flour,  pork,  sugar  and  other  supplies.  He  had  con- 
stant applications  to  exchange  a  pint  of  flour  for  a 
venison  ham,  and  once  "swapped"  pork  for  deer's 
meat.  The  experiment  was  a  success,  as  the  In- 
dians were  wholly  unaccustomed  to  the  use  of  salt, 
and  wanted  no  more  pork.  On  one  occasion  they 
invited  Mr.  Hughes  to  dine  at  a  wigwam,  and  at 
the  time  appointed  he  went,  to  find  a  spread  of 
dried  venison  on  a  blanket  laid  out  on  the  ground. 
The  Indians  urged  him  to  eat  a  "  big  heap,  " 
and  also  to  help  himself  to  honey  from  a  bucket 
which  stood  near.  Not  understanding  the  etiquette 
of  dining  in  that  fashion,  he  waited  to  take  observa- 
tions. The  Indian  dogs,  part  canine  and  part 
prairie  wolf,  running  about,  picking  up  pieces  of 
meat,  and,  after  chewing  for  a  time,  dropping  them 
where  chance  directed,  settled  the  question  of  Mr. 
Hughes'  dining  on  venison ;  and  when  he  saw  his 
hosts  dip  their  fingers  in  the  honey,  and,  after  licking 
their  digits,  wipe  them  on  the  dogs,  he  flatly  declined 
their  hospitality.  The  grief  of  his  would-be-enter- 
tainers was  deep  and  genuine.  The  early  settlers 
were  in  constant  terror  of  the  Indians,  but  there  was 
not  an  instance  when  harm  was  done  to  any  indi- 
vidual. 

Mr.  Hughes  split  8,000  rails  the  first  winter.  He 
afterward  hewed  the  timber  for  the  two  first  mills 
built  north  of  Rock  River,  for  which  there  was  no 
use  when  they  were  completed.  The  first  grist 
ground  was  a  peck  of  coffee,  in  the  possession  of  one 
of  the  mill-owners,  and  was  the  first  grist  in  Jo  Da- 
viess  County.  Mr.  Hughes,  a  little  later,  carried  the 
best  of  wheat  flour  to  Galena,  which  he  sold  for  a 
dollar  a  hundred,  and  pork  at  the  same  rate.  He 
also  carried  wheat  to  Chicago,  which  he  sold  for  75 
cents  a  bushel.  An  idea  of  comparative  values  may 
be  gained  from  the  fact  that  200  pounds  of  pork  were 


, 


X'rtHOtHH'.X 

N^UflAJIIlfy' 


WHITES 'IDE  COUNTY. 


I 
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in  one  instance  exchanged  for  a  teapot.  Expenses 
were  so  heavy  that  in  these  expeditions  the  settlers 
carried  their  provisions  with  them  and  camped  under 
their  wagons  on  the  prairie.  The  utmost  harmony 
prevailed  among  the  new  settlers.  Sympathy  made 
sorrow  lighter  and  increased  the  joy  of  happiness. 
The  fact  that  flour  was  twenty  miles  away  and  $15 
a  barrel,  increased  rather  than  diminished  the  gen- 
eral good  feeling. 

After  a  few  months  Mr.  Hughes  grew  desirous  to 
obtain  a  sight  of  white  faces;  and,  mounting  his 
pony,  he  rode  to  the  home  of  Jesse  Hill,  the  first 
settler  in  Genesee  Township.  He  dismounted  and 
called  at  the  door  of  the  log  cabin,  where  three  girls, 
a  boy  and  a  large  dog  were  partaking  of  a  meal  of 
baked  potatoes,  served  on  the  puncheon  floor  with- 
out dishes.  The  unaccustomed  presence  of  a  stranger 
sent  three  of  the  children  to  a  hiding  place  beneath 
the  "  bunk,"  only  the  oldest  girl  standing  her  ground. 
The  bunk  was  the  pioneer  bed,  the  frame  of  which 
was  made  by  driving  crotched  sticks  into  the  ground 
to  support  poles,  the  ends  of  which  were  lodged  in 
holes  bored  in  the  logs  in  the  cabin  walls.  The  girls 
were  clad  in  garments  made  in  the  most  primitive 
manner,  being  mere  sacks  tied  about  their  necks, 
with  their  arms  thrust  through  holes  cut  for  that 
purpose.  The  cloth  was  also  a  home-made  material. 
While  the  startled  family  recovered  their  equilibrium, 
the  dog  secured  his  share  of  the  rations.  Mr. 
Hughes  made  his  visit  a  brief  one,  as  the  father  was 
absent.  The  wife  and  mother  died  before  the  family 
removed  to  Whiteside  County,  and  the  daughter  had 
received  no  instruction  in  domestic  affairs,  save 
such  as  the  father  could  bestow. 

Mr.  Hughes'  mother  returned  to  Morgan  County, 
on  a  visit,  where  she  died  in  the  fall  of  1858. 

He  was  married  March  13,  1844,  in  Whiteside 
County,  to  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Susan 
(Case)  Scoville,  and  they  had  four  children :  James 
S.  was  born  Feb.  r,  1845.  He  was  drowned  June  4, 
1855,  m  tne  miH  pond  near  Jacobs'  Mill.  He  has 
been  dead  30  years;  but  the  pang  of  the  terrible' 
event  is  still  fresh  in  his  parents'  hearts.  John 
M.  was  born  Aug.  24,  r846,  and  is  a  prosperous  and 
thrifty  farmer  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township ;  Caroline 
L.  was  born  Feb.  18,  r849,  and  married  James  Brown. 
They  live  on  the  homestead  with  her  parents.  Mr. 
Brown  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  in  Ustick  Township. 

*-    :s^pz o^i 


He  removed  his  family  to  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hughes  on  account  of  the  death  of  the  youngest 
daughter,  which  is  a  sharp  affliction  to  her  aged 
father  and  mother;  Oletha  was  born  March  19, 1859, 
and  became  the  wife  of  George  Johnson.  She  died 
June  23,  1882,  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  in  the 
dawn  of  womanhood.  Her  death  was  marked  by  the 
calm  and  earnest  faith  of  a  genuine  Christian  be- 
liever. Mrs.  Hughes  was  born  in  Batavia  N.  Y. 
The  portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughes  are  given 
on  previous  pages  and  do  not  require  comment. 
They  are  engraved  from  photographs  taked  in  1885. 
Their  worthy,  useful  lives  have  their  best  commem- 
oration in  the  esteem  of  their  neighbors,  and  their 
permanent  record  in  this  boqk  is  but  their  just  meed 
of  reward.  They  are  zealous,  consistent  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Morrison. 


nry  Bush  is  a  farmer  on  section  9,  Sterling 
Township,  and  is  the  oldest  son  of  Luther 
Bush,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  White- 
side  County.  The  father  was  born  Aug.  12, 
1794,  and  he  married  Eunice  Cornish,  locating 
in  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  whence  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  Whiteside  County.  He  was  a  mason 
by  trade,  which  pursuit  he  followed  all  his  life.  His 
memory  is  cherished  with  the  utmost  respect,  his 
mental  capacity  and  moral  rectitude  being  unusually 
prominent.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  religious 
organization  in  Sterling  Township,  which  was  the 
foundation  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Sterling.  Luther  Bush  died  Nov.  29,  1870,  of  dropsy. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  July  28,  1800,  is  still  living. 
She  is  85  years  of  age.  Their  children  were  named 
Henry,  Edward,  Esther  H.,  Andrew  J.,  Alfred,  Julia 
V.  and  Martin  L.  Edward  died  July  14,  r87i,  at 
the  age  of  47  years.  Alfred  died  Feb.  25,  1860;  he 
was  28  years  old.  Esther  H.  was  married  June  18, 
1843,  to  John  Dippell,  and  is  now  a  widow.  Julia 
V.  married  Joseph  M.  Martin  and  lives  in  Iowa. 

Mr.  Bush  was  born  in  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  17, 
1822.  In  1836  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Bureau 
Co.,  111.,  and  accompanied  them  to  Whiteside  County. 
He  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  business  of  his 
father  and  passed  r5  years  in  its  pursuit.  He  is 
now  engaged  in  farming. 

In  political  affiliation,  Mr.  Bush  is  a  Republican. 

"*  ^tf^aL*"^  geJlAaX^ 

-     -  •.          -\ 


- 
' 


I 


I 


ir 


(Qf 


His  marriage  to  Sarah  E.  Judd  took  place  at  Ster- 
ling, Dec.  4,  1850.  Of  this  union  three  children 
were  born,  as  follows:  Lewis  C.,  Jeannette  G.  died 
Sept.  22,  1855,  Norton  G.  The  mother  died  in  Ster- 
ling March  9,  1857.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Charles 
C.  Judd.  Mr.  Bush  was  again  united  in  marriage, 
to  Elizabeth  J.  (  Bressler  )  Nichols,  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Frances  (Neff)  Bressler,  and  widow  of  Nor- 
ton J.  Nichols.  The  latter  died  Jan.  7,  1854,31 
Sterling.  The  only  child  of  that  marriage  was 
Amoret  F.,  who  was  born  Nov.  22,  1853,  and  died 
Aoril  i,  1854.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr, 
and  Mrs.  Bush:  Emma  E.,  Phebe  C .,  Isaac  I.  and 
Henry  L.  (twins),  Nathan  G.  Mrs  Bush  was  born 
July  10,  1822,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  (See  sketch  of 
Isaac  Bressler.)  The  family  attend  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Bush  is  a  member. 


I 


ames  E.  Summers  is  a  farmer  on  section 
25,  Hopkins  Township.  He  was  born 
Aug.  25,  1839,  in  Susquehanna  Co.,  Pa., 
of  which  State  his  parents,  Levi  and  Sarah 
(Smith)  Summers,  were  also  natives.  Their 
five  children  were  born  in  the  following  order : 
William  H.,  James  E.,  a  daughter  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, Harvey  and  Leland. 

Previous  to  his  arrival  at  22  years  of  age,  he 
passed  his  time  in  obtaining  an  education  and  in 
farm  labor  on  his  father's  homestead.  In  the  spring 
of  1861,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  for  four 
years  subsequently  he  was  engaged  as  a  farm  assist- 
ant. In  1865  he  rented  a  farm,  and  later  bought  a 
small  piece  of  real  estate  in  Lyndon  Township. 
This  he  afterwards  sold  and  bought  62  acres  where 
he  has  since  been  a  resident.  He  has  increased  his 
possessions  until  he  now  owns  222  acres,  which  is 
all  under  tillage  excepting  a  small  proportion.  He 
is  a  staunch  Republican. 

Mr.  Summers  was  married  June  4,  1877,  in  Gait, 
Hopkins  Township,  to  Orpha  D.  (Freeman)  Carr.  She 
was  born  Nov.  17,  1839,  in  Lyndon  Township,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Henry  B.  and  Zimrhode  A.  (Sum- 
mers) Freeman,  who  Vere  among  the  oldest  settlers 
of  Whiteside  County.  She  was  the  widow  of  Robert 
M.  Carr,  a  lawyer  who  resided  at  Hennepin,  Putnam 
Co.,  111.,  when  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  United  States 


Army.     He  was  Sergeant  in  Henshaw's  Battery,  111. 
Lt.  Art.  Vol.,  and  before  they  were  called  into  action   ' 
he  died  in  camp  at  Ottawa,  Jan.    31,    1862,   leaving 
one  child,  Robert  M.,  who  was  born  April  4,  1863. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Summers  are  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 

-* •*•*• i- 


braham  S.  Weaver,  a  farmer  on  section  13, 
Sterling  Township,  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Anna  (Snavely)  Weaver,  of  whom  a  personal 
sketch  may  be  found  elsewhere.  The  son  was 
born  Oct.  23,  1835,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  His 
father  came  to  Whiteside  County  with  his  family 
when  he  was  17  years  of  age,  and  he  has  been  a 
farmer  in  Sterling  Township  since  that  date  (1852). 
He  was  married  Jan.  20,  1861,  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  John  and  Martha  (Kreider)  Hoover,  and  they  had 
one  child,  Mary,  who  died  when  six  years  of  age. 
The  mother  died  July  10,  1862.  The  second  mar- 
raige  of  Mr.  Weaver,  to  Annie  Hoover,  the  sister  of 
his  first  wife,  took  place  in  Sterling  Township.  She 
was  born  Sept.  24,  1842,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
has  become  the  mother  of  four  children:  Benjamin, 
Louetta,  Cora  and  Emma  G. 

Mr.  Weaver  is  identified  in  politics  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  has  been  School  Director. 


saac  Sturtevant,  retired  farmer,  residing  at 
Rock  Falls,  was  born  in  the  State  of  New    i  \ 

I 


Hampshire,  June  10,  1810.  His  parents, 
Perez  and  Dorothy  (Kimball)  Sturtevant,  were 
also  natives  of  the  old  Granite  State,  and 
moved  to  Vermont  in  1825,  where  his  mother 
died,  after  which  event  his  father  came  West,  and 
resided  with  him  until  his  dealh. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  resident  of  the 
parental  homestead  until  he  was  24  years  of  age, 
receiving  in  his  youth  a  common-school  education. 
After  leaving  home  he  bought  a  farm  in  Vermont  of 
1 60  acres,  where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
for  nine  years.  He  then,  in  1843,  sold  out  there 
and  came  to  Sterling,  renting  a  farm  north  of  that 
place  for  a  year.  Next  he  purchased  a  farm  of  117 


I 


/ 


acres  in  Coloma  Township,  where  he  followed  his 
calling  for  30  years.  This  place  he  now  leases 
to  other  parties.  He  also  owns  600  acres  of  im- 
proved land  in  Iowa,  where  he  has  a  herd  of  75 
catlle.  In  1870  he  purchased  four  acres  of  ground 
in  Rock  Falls,  and  built  upon  it  a  substantial  resi- 
dence, which  he  now  occupies;  its  cost  was  $2,500. 

In  his  politics  Mr.  S.  is  a  Democrat,  and  as  a  c'ti- 
zen  he  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  representative 
men  of  Rock  Falls. 

He  was  married  Nov.  25,  1834,  to  Miss  Susan 
Summers,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  of  their  nine 
children  seven  are  living,  namely :  Jane,  who  mar- 
ried Frank  June,  July  29,  1856,  and  has  six  children 
— Minnie,  Emmaroy,  Susie,  Frank,  Paul  and  Jesse; 
Maria,  who  married  Joseph  Spear,  April  5,  1859, 
and  has  five  sons — Harry,  William,  Eugene,  Ernest 
and  Jessie;  William,  who  married  Mary  McGee 
June  23,  1866,  and  has  three  children  —  Edna, 
Gracie  and  William  ;  Emily,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Dwight  Johnson  Sept.  6,  1872,  and  now  has  four 
children — Elmer,  Flossie,  Bert  and  Arthur ;  Susie, 
now  Mrs.  Jake  Bowers,  and  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren, Roy  and  William  ;  Jerome,  who  married  Currie 
Hand  in  1870,  and  is  the  parent  of  five  chidren — 
Maud,  May,  Jannie,  Frank  and  Isaac. 


I 


erome  E.  Sands,  a  farmer  in  Lyndon 
jr  Township,  residing  on  section  12,  was  born 
December  23,  1830,  in  Hornby,  Steuben 
Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is  the  second  child  and  oldest 
son  of  John  P.  and  Candace  (Gaylord)  Sands. 
When  he  was  14,  his  parents  removed  to 
Whiteside  County,  and  he  remained  with  them  dur- 
ing his  minority.  At  21,  he  entered  the  employment 
of  Marcus  Sperry,  a  merchant  in  Lyndon,  with 
whom  he  remained  most  of  the  time  for  three  years. 
He  was  married  Aug.  23,  1854,10  Violetta  A., 
daughter  of  Ruel  and  Sally  Lathe.  About  the  same 
dine  he  bought  120  acres  of  unimproved  land  on 
section  iz,  township  20,  range  5,  which  is  now  the 
township  of  Lyndon.  He  built  a  house  14  x  22  feet 
on  the  ground  with  lo-foot  joists,  in  which  his  family 
lived  until  1876,  when  they  took  possession  of  the 
new  dwelling  which  they  have  since  occupied.  In 


1879  Mr.  Sands  built  his  fine  large  barn,  and  all  the 
buildings  on  the  place  are  of  a  valuable,  convenient 
and  well-arranged  class.  The  estate  of  Mr.  Sai  ds 
now  includes  400  acres  of  land,  which  exhibits  the 
possibilities  of  Illinois  farms  under  judicious  man- 
agement. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sands  are  three  in 
number,  and  are  named  Frank  E.,  who  was  born 
April  6,  1856;  Fred  L.,  born  Nov.  18,  1860;  and 
Ella  J.,  born  June  13,  1869.  The  mother  died  Nov. 
16,  1881. 


eorge  Hagey,  a  jeweler  by  trade,  but  now 
retired  from  business,  and  a  resident  on  the 
corner  of  Fourth  and  Chestnut  Streets, 
Sterling,  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa., 
Feb.  14,  1808.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Garehart)  Hagey,  who  lived  and 
died  in  their  native  State,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  George  Hagey  received  in  his  youth  a  limited 
education,  remaining  at  his  parental  home  until  of 
age  and  learning  the  jewelry  trade  of  his  father.  He 
then  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  in  his  native 
county,  for  two  years,  and  then  for  17  years  at 
Trappe,  in  the  same  county.  Then  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  in  acres  in  Bucks  County,  that  State,  and 
resided  upon  it  six  years.  Selling  out  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time,  he  came  to  Sterling,  this  county,  in 
1855,  engaging  in  the  jewelry  business  and  following 
it  until  1 88 1.  He  then  sold  his  stock  and  interest 
in  the  business  and  has  since  lived  in  quiet  retire- 
ment. In  his  religious  relations  he  belongs  to  the 
New  Mennonites. 

He  was  married  in  October,  1830,  to  Sarah  Myers, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  seven  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living,  namely,  Jacob  M., 
William  H.  H.  and  Elizabeth.  Jacob  M.  married 
Sjphina  Briggs,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  their  children  are  Maud,  Blanch  and  John. 
Wm.  H.  H.  married  Emily  M.  Humphrey,  a  native 
of  New  York,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  Emma  J. 
and  Charles  H.  Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  Wm. 
W.  Pratt,  of  K  insa-;,  and  the  mother  of  Julius  B., 
George  H.,  Mary  L.,  Emma  J.  and  Zella. 

Mrs.  Higey  du-d  in  1849,  and  Mr.  H.,  in  1851, 
married  Susan  Pool,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  By 
this  marriage  one  daughter  has  been  born,  Emma 


- 

. 


I 


(® 


• 


L.,  who  married  Walter  C.  G.  Sackett  in  1878,  and 
has  one  son,  Walter  G. 

Abraham  G.,  the  second  son  of  Mr.  George  Hagey, 
died  in  1878.  He  married  Agnes  Lyle,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  and  had  four  children, — George,  Jamie, 
Fannie  and  John. 


athaniel  L.  Bond,  a  farmer  of  Union  Grove 
Township,  resident  on  section  12,  came  to 
Whiteside  County  in  1843.  Henry  and 
Betsey  (Graves)  Bond,  his  father  and  mother, 
were  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  they 
were  married  and  became  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren,— Egbert,  Nathaniel  L.,  Elizabeth,  Henry,  Har- 
riet, Warren  and  Allen.  On  removal  to  Whiteside 
County,  they  located  on  a  farm  in  CJstick  Township, 
and  there  their  lives  terminated,  the  mother  dying 
first,  April  7,  1857,  the  father  July  18,  1862.  Henry 
Bond  bought  the  farm  of  Roys  Oatman,  who  went  in 
1850  with  his  family  to  California.  In  Arizona  they 
were  attacked  by  Indians,  and  the  father,  mother 
and  four  children  were  murdered.  One  child  was 
left  for  dead,  but  recovered  and  made  his  way  to 
safety.  Two  daughters  were  carried  into  captivity. 
One  died  of  want.  The  other  was  rescued  after  five 
years  of  indescribable  suffering. 

Mr.  Bond  was  born  Jan.  26,  1815,  in  Lewis  Co., 
N.  Y.  He  lived  in  his  native  township  until  1843, 
when  he  set  out  for  Whiteside  County,  where  several 
brothers  had  preceded  him.  The  entire  journey  was 
made  by  the  aid  of  horses,  and  consumed  41  days. 
The  family  arrived  at  their  destination  in  October, 
and  Mr.  Bond  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  Fulton 
Township.  After  an  occupancy  of  six  years,  he  sold 
out  and  located  on  a  farm  in  the  township  of  Lyn- 
don. He  purchased  a  farm,  on  which  he  resided 
about  20  years.  He  again  sold  out  and  went  to  the 
county  of  De  Kalb,  111.,  where  he  was  a  resident  one 
year,  when  he  returned  to  Whiteside  County,  buying 
120  acres  of  land  in  Union  Grove  Township.  This 
was  his  field  of  agricultural  operations  until  1881. 
In  that  year  he  determined  to  secure  release  from 
agricultural  labor  and  responsibilities,  and  accord- 
ingly sold  his  farm.  He  bought  a  home  in  Union- 
ville,  where  he  fixed  his  residence.  In  his  political 


• 


relations  and  views,  he  assimilates  with   the   Repub- 
lican party. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  March  4,  1841,  in 
Lewis  Co.,"  N.  Y.,  to  Sally  M.  Canfield,  and  they 
had  ten  children,  namely:  Sarah  L.,  Laura  A., 
Mary  J.,  Alzina  L.,  Charles  M.  and  Rosetta  C.  are 
living.  George  E.,  Norton  H.,  Ellen  L.  and  Sewell 
L.  are  deceased.  Mrs.  Bond  was  born  Feb.  3,  1822, 
in  Denmark,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Norton  and  Sally  C.  (Lockwood)  Canfield.  Her 
parents  were  born  in  New  England  and  had  13  chil- 
dren,— Harriet,  M.,  Sally  M.,  James  L.,  Mary  J., 
Lucy  A.,  John  N.,  Laura  E.,  Henry  H.,  William 
M.,  George  M.,  Lorenzo  B.,  Jay  F.  and  Edna  A. 
All  of  Mr.  Bond's  children  were  born  in  Whiteside 
Co.,  111.,  except  Lucinda,  who  was  born  in  Lewis 
Co.,  N.  Y. 


illiam  Hardy,  general  farmer  on  section 
13,  Ustick  Township,  has  been  a  resident 
of  Whiteside  County  since  1853.  He 
was  a  citizen  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Township  un- 
til 1877,  when  he  removed  to  Morrison.  In 
1879  he  became  a  land-holder  in  Ustick  Town- 
ship by  the  purchase  of  162  acres  of  land,  which  is 
still  in  his  possession,  and  he  has  also  added  160 
acres  by  later  purchase,  the  whole  tract  being  in 
Whiteside  County.  It  is  practically  all  under  cul- 
tivation. 

Mr.  Hardy  was  born  Jan.  27,  1832,  in  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  and  is  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Sarah 
Hardy.  The  father  died  in  England,  and  the 
mother  is  still  living.  Mr.  Hardy  is  their  fifth  child, 
and  he  had  seven  brothers  and  sisters.  He  was 
brought  up  a  farmer.  In  1852  he  came  to  the 
United  States.  He  spent  one  year  in  New  York, 
and  in  1853  came  to  Whiteside  County  as  stated. 

Mr.  Hardy  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  served  in 
the  capacity  of  School  Trustee. 

His  first  marriage,  to  Mrs.  Keziah  (Richardson) 
Hardy,  took  place  at  Unionville,  and  they  had  seven 
children, — Amos  W.,  Richardson  L,  Wingfield  J., 
Horace  G.,  Olive,  Alice  J.  and  Ruby  K.  Thomas 
Hardy,  her  first  husband,  died  in  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township.  The  mother  died  in  August,  1869,  and 

•^ggur' ^Aisv 


r 


Mr.  Hardy  married  Alicia  (Richardson),  widow  of 
William  Kennen.  The  latter  died  in  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township.  Mrs.  Hardy  died  April  2,  1885,  in  Us- 
tick  Township. 


M.  Hansen,  A.   M.,  Ph.  D.,    President  of 
^_^_     the  Northern  Illinois  College  at  Fulton,  is 
:-; '.;      ™  a  native  of  the  State  of  Ohio  and  was  born 
in  Gibesonville,  Hocking  County,  March    17, 
1850.     His  parents  were  Samuel  C.  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Kinser)  Hansen.     His  father  was  born 
in  England  and  his  mother  in  Ohio. 

Mr.  Hansen  received  his  primary  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  was  next  a  student  at  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  He 
subsequently  took  a  regular  course  at  the  National 
Normal  University  of  Lebanon,  of  the  same  State, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1875,  in 
the  classical  course.  He  entered  upon  the  career 
of  educational  instructor  in  Hocking  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
v  he  taught  school  one  year.  From  there  he  went  to 
Linn  Co.,  Mo.,  where  he  was  employed  as  teacher 
ty  about  the  same  length  of  time.  He  next  accepted 

*  the  positions  of  President  of  Taylorville  College  and 
)  Superintendent  of  City   Schools,  of  Taylorville,   111. 

After  two  years  devoted  to  the  duties  of  these  offices, 
he  removed  to  Dixon,  111.,  and  was  elected  Presi-- 
dent  of  the  Rock  River  University  of  that  city, 
which  position  he  held  till  the  spring  of  1879,  when 
he  came  to  Fulton  to  accept  the  chair  of  Professor 

/  of  Natural  Sciences  and  Director  of  Study  of  the 

|  Northern  Illinois  College.  As  the  President  was 
necessarily  absent  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  the 
responsibility  of  conducting  the  college  devolved 
upon  Prof.  Hansen  from  the  start.  In  June  of  the 
following  year  (1880),  he  was  elected  President  of 

I  the  college  for  the  term  of  eight  years,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1884  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position 

\  for  ten  additional  years.     The  history  of  the  college 

•  for  the  past  six  years,  while  under  the  management 
^of  President  Hansen,   covers  the  most    prosperous 

•' period  of  its  existence.  As  extensive  improvements 
^/in  the  way  of  buildings  were  in  contemplation  by  the 
•^  Board  of  Trustees,  in  1884,  it  was  determined  to  se- 
'  cure  the  services  of  President  Hansen  for  the  term 
(  of  ten  years  in  addition  to  his  unexpired  term,  be- 


fore  the  expense  of  improvement  should  be  incurred. 
The  action  of  the  Trustees  in  this  matter  is  a  well 
merited  compliment  to  the  ability  and  able  manage- 
ment of  the  President.  A  history  and  description  of 
the  college  is  given  in  another  department  of  this 
work. 

Mr.  Hansen  was  married  at  Blue  Mcund,  Macon 
Co.,  111.,  Nov.  n,  1877,  to  Miss  Laura  Wilcox, 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Sims)  Wilcox.  Mrs. 
Hansen  was  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.  Two  children 
have  been  born  of  their  union,  a  son  and  a  daughter : 
Charles  Roy.  Jan.  8,  1879,  and  Lena  May,  May  i, 
1882. 

Professor  Hansen's  portrait,  on  a  preceding  page, 
forms  one  of  the  most  important  additions  to  the 
ALBUM  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY.  To  him  is  entrusted 
one  of  the  leading  enterprises,  not  only  of  Fulton 
and  the  county,  but  of  Northern  Illinois.  He  has 
accomplished  a  work  that  will  perpetuate  his  name 
as  one  of  the  benefactors  of  his  generation  ;  and  those 
who  have  been  connected  as  pupils  with  the  noble 
institution  to  which  he  is  devoting  the  best  energies 
of  his  prime,  will  give  a  hearty  welcome  to  his  like- 
ness. 

Marbles  crumble  in  decay;  men  forget  in  the 
tumultuous  haste  of  successive  years,  even  those  to 
whom  they  owe  the  most ;  but  an  engraving  on  the 
pages  of  accredited  history  is  imperishable. 


oseph  K.  Robertson,  farmer,  section  23, 
'f  Ustick  Township,  is  one  of  the  leading 
agriculturists  of  Whiteside  County,  with 
whose  development  he  has  been  identified 
since  his  removal  here  in  1853.  He  first 
bought  200  acres  of  Government  land  in 
Ustick  Township,  on  which  he  established  his 
homestead.  His  operations  have,  met  with  success, 
and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  250  acres  additional  in 
Whiteside  County,  160  acres  in  Iowa  and  240  acres  in 
Missouri.  On  his  home  place  he  has  erected  build- 
ings which  add  greatly  to  its  value  and  beauty.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  Robertson  is  a  Democrat.  He  has 
served  as  Collector  two  years,  and  as  School  Director 
27  years. 

He  was   born  Sept.  7,  1825,  in  Clark  Co.,  Ind., 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Riddle)  Rob- 


! 


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ci) 


to) 

it 


• 


..      - 


ertson.  To  his  father  is  nccorded  the  honor  of 
having  been  the  first  child  of  American  parents  born 
in  Indiana.  The  mother  w.is  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
After  their  marriage  they  located  in  Clark  Co.,  Ind., 
and  were  residents  of  that  State  until  the  fall  of 
1828,  when  they  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  that 
part  of  Cass  County  which  was  (hen  included  in 
Morgan  County.  The  mother  died  there  in  Janu- 
ary, 1839.  The  death  of  the  father  occurred  Dec. 
22,  1870.  Their  children  were  named  Margaret, 
Joseph  K.,  Isaac  R.,  Susan  E.,  Cornelius  and  Mary. 
At  the  time  the  family  came  lo  Whiteside  County, 
Mr.  Robertson's  father  wanted  him  to  go  to  Missouri, 
but  he  refused,  preferring  to  live  in  a  free  State. 

Mr.  Robertson  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois 
since  he  was  three  years  old.  He  grew  to  manhood 
in  Cass  County,  and  was  there  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1853  he  fixed  his  residence  in  the  county  of 
Whiteside,  as  slated.  He  was  married  in  Virginia, 
Cass  Co.,  111.,  May  27,  1852,  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Pashley)  Needham.  She  was 
born  May  ir,  1834,  in  England,  and  is  one  of  two 
children  born  to  her  parents. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robertson  of  this  sketch  have  had 
nine  children,  as  follows:  John  H.,  Sarah  J.,  James 
B.,  Joseph,  Isaac,  Mary  A.,  Susan,  Margaret  and 
Christian  C.  Isaac  and  Susan  died  in  infancy ; 
John  amd  James  are  farmers  in  Missouri,  where 
they  are  engaged  in  stock-raising. 


Christian  Hutten  is  a  farmer,   pursuing  his 
noble    calling    on    section    6,    Hahnaman 
Township.     His  parents,  John  and  Katherina 
(Asser)  Hutten,  natives  of  Prussia,  came  to 
America  in  1863,  settling  in  Jordan  Township, 
this   county,  where   they  resided    until  their 
death. 

He  was  born  in  Prussia,  July  16,  1827,  the  second 
in  a  family  of  eight,  and  was  about  25  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  this  country.  He  located  in  this 
county  in  1858,  purchasing  240  acres  of  land  in 
Hahnaman  Township  in  1863,  where  he  finally  set- 
tled and  has  since  made  his  home.  He  has  200 
acres  of  land  in  good  cultivation,  and  his  entire  tract 
constitutes  a  valuable  farm. 

Mr.  Hutten  was  married  in  Freeport,  111.,  May  25, 

^>    !^S 


1863,  to  Anna  Tieman,  a  native  of  Ireland.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  H.  are  the  parents  of  three  children, — 
William  J.,  Mathias  J.  and  one  who  died  when  an 
infant. 

Mr  H.  has  been  School  Director  15  years  and 
Constable  three  years  ;  in  his  political  principles  he 
is  a  Democrat,  and  both  himself  and  Mrs.  H.  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


•+~t&'~ 


saac  Fletcher,  farmer,  located  on  section 
7,  Clyde  Township,  was  born  April  23, 
1826,  in  Saltford,  Somersetshire,  England. 
His  father,  Isaac  Fletcher,  was  born  in 
England,  and  belonged  to  a  family  of  unmixed 
English  ancestry.  He  was  an  employe  of  the 
government,  and  operated  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent as  a  contractor  on  public  works,  occupying 
positions  of  trust  and  responsibility.  He  died  at 
Saltford,  Somersetshire,  in  1879,  and  was  nearly  90 
years  of  age.  Betsey  (Smith)  Fletcher,  the  mother, 
was  born  Oct.  31,  1791,  in  the  same  shire,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Thomas  Smith,  an  English  yeoman. 
She  died  in  1862,  aged  71  years.  Their  family  in- 
cluded 10  children — one  daughter  and  nine  sons. 

Mr.  Fletcfier  remained  under  the  control  of  his 
parents  until  he  was  16  years  of  age,  when  he  began 
to  operate  on  his  own  account,  and  worked  some 
years  on  the  docks,  canals  and  railroads  in  the  in- 
terests of  his  government.  He  was  married  in  Liv- 
erpool, England,  March  4,  1850,  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Valentine  Shaw.  The  father  was  born 
Feb.  14,  1801,  in  Northamptonshire,  England,  and 
when  he  was  in  advanced  age  (1851)  came  to  the 
United  States,  dying  18  days  after  landing  at  the 
port  of  New  York.  Deborah  (Clark)  Shaw,  her 
mother,  was  born  in  Welton,  Northamptonshire,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  with  her  husband,  t\vi 
daughters,  one  son  and  a  son-in-law,  in  the  year  fol- 
lowing the  marriage  of  the  daughter.  The  mother 
died  at  Morrison.  March  n,  1869,  aged  62  years. 
Mrs.  Fletcher  was  born  in  Newnham,  Northampton- 
shire, Oct.  15,1833,  and  was  a  resident  there  until 
she  was  14  years  of  age,  when  she  went  with  her 
parents  to  Liveri>ool.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fletcher  have 
been  the  parents  of  13  children,  two  of  whom  are 
deceased.  Emma  S.  was  born  July  21,  1851,  mar- 

i ^^z «|*§£»C@ 


\ 


ried  Fayette  Dimick,  Oct.  12,  1874,  and  they  live  at 
.  Exeter.  Fillmore  Co,  Neb.  Mr.  Dimick  is  a  town 
official  where  he  lives,  and  is  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
agricultural  implements.  He  is  a  prominent  and  en- 
terprising citizen.  Debbie  A.,  born  March  8,  18153, 
married  Alexander  Wil?on,  June  15,  1876,  and  re- 
sides on  a  farm  in  Ustick  Township.  She  was  a 
teacher  for  many  years.  Mary  E.  was  born  Aug.  23, 
1855.  Phebe  was  born  Nov.  28,  1859,  and  married 
James  Stapleton,  a  farmer  in  Clark  Co.,  D.  T.  She 
was  also  a  teacher.  Those  named,  besides  one 
daughter,  deceased,  were  born  in  Fredonia,  N.  Y. 
William  was  born  Oct.  4,  1862;  Charles,  March  14, 
1863;  Allie  E,  Feb.  24,  1845;  Jennie  and  James 
(twins)  were  born  Dec.  19,  1867;  Arthur,  Jan.  31, 
1869;  Theophilus,  Nov.  14,  1871.  Amelia,  and  an- 
other child  who  was  not  named,  are  deceased. 

The  family  left  England  for  America  May  13, 
1851,  and  they  landed  at  the  port  of  New  York. 
From  there  they  proceeded  to  Fredonia,  Chautauqua 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  resided  some  years.  In  1860 
they  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  located  on  the 
section  on  which  they  have  since  resided.  It  was 
under  some  improvements,  and  at  the  date  of  pur- 
chase contained  80  acres.  The  farm  now  comprises 
200  acres,  all  under  excellent  cultivation.  The  farm 
buildings  are  first-class,  and  the  place  is  stocked 
with  cattle  of  the  best  grade.  Mr.  Fletcher  justly 
ranks  among  the  best  citizens  of  his  township,  and 
is  considered  a  representative  agriculturist.  The 
younger  members  of  the  family  are  well  educated, 
and  their  social  position  second  to  none.  Mr. 
Fletcher  is  active  and  influential  in  political  con- 
nection, and  is  a  Republican.  He  has  acted  in  the 
local  offices  of  the  township,  and  is  at  present 
Commissioner  of  Highways.  He  knows  of  no  rela- 
tive in  America  save  his  own  family. 


{.erman  Worthington  is  one  of  the  substan- 
tial   agriculturists    of    Ustick    Township, 
and  owns  a  farm  on  section  19.     He  is  the 
proprietor  of  385   acres  of  land  in   Whiteside 
County  and  has  80  acres  under  culture.     He 
was  born  June  26,  1836,  in  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  is  the  son  of  William  S.  and  Sarah  E.   (Jenkins) 
Worthington..    They  were  born  in  the  State  of  New 


York  and  there  the  mother  died,  April  14,  1885. 
The  father  is  still  living.  They  had  seven  children, 
of  whom  three  lived  to  grow  up.  They  were  named 
Elizabeth,  Herman  and  Solomon  F. 

Mr.  Worthington  obtained  a  common-school  edu- 
cation of  limited  scope,  and  resided  with  his  parents 
until  the  age  of  25  years.  In  1861  hecame  to  White- 
side  County.  He  has  since  pursued  his  interests  in 
agricultural  directions,  with  the  exception  of  five 
years  when  he  was  interested  in  shipping  live  stock 
at  Morrison  and  in  the  sale  of  clothing. 

Mary  Hollinshead  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Worth- 
ington April  5,  r865.  She  is  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Rush)  Hollinshead,  of  whom  a  sketch 
is  given  with  that  of  Joshua  Hollinshead.  She  was 
born  July  21,  1839,  in  Clyde  Township,  Whiteside 
County,  and  is  the  first  child  born  to  her  parents  af- 
ter their  removal  to  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Worth- 
ington have  two  children, — Sarah  E.  and  Mary. 

Mr.  Worthington  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been 
Supervisor  and  Trustee  of  Ustick  Township.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 


ames  W.  Fraser,  marble  manufacturer, 
Sterling,  was  born  in  Huron  Township, 
Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  12,  1832.  His 
parents,  Henry  and  Lucinda  (Stewart)  Fraser, 
were  also  natives  of  the  Empire  State,  and 
came  West  in  1849,  arriving  at  Genesee  Grove, 
this  county,  Sept.  i.  Mr.  Henry  Fraser  was  a 
farmer,  and  on  coming  here  he  purchased  415  acres 
of  land,  on  which  he  pursued  his  vocation  until  1873, 
when  he  changed  his  residence  to  Sterling,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Mrs.  F.  is  also 
deceased . 

Mr.  James  W.  Fraser  was  an  inmate  of  the  par- 
ental home  until  he  was  r4  years  of  age,  receiving  a 
common-school  education ;  he  then  went  to  Clyde, 
N.  Y.,  to  learn  the  printer's  trade,  serving  at  that 
business  a  year  and  a  half,  the  proprietor  then  sell- 
ing out;  he  continued  four  months  longer  in  the  vo- 
cation, working  as  a  journeyman  ;  returning  home, 
he  attended  school  during  the  winter  of  1848-9; 
then  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father's  family,  and 
taught  school  three  terms  at  Genesee  Grove ;  en- 
gaged in  printing  again  for  about  six  months,  at  Mt. 


SP 
}* 


Morris,  111.;  worked  on  his  father's  farm  again;  in 
1851  he  was  engaged  half  a  year  in  a  printing-office 
at  Galesburg,  111. ;  worked  on  the  home  farm  again, 
for  a  year;  then  about  a  year  and  a  half,  all  to- 
'  gether,  in  a  printing-office  at  Mt.  Carroll,  111. ;  the 
winter  of  1855-6,  taught  school  three  months;  in 
1858  he  and  his  brother  commenced  the  manufac- 
ture of  marble,  which  they  continued  for  a  year; 
1861-4,  was  employed  as  a  printer  at  Morrison;  re- 
sided at  Genesee  Grove  for  eight  years;  and  finally, 
in  1872,  he  moved  to  Sterling,  where  he  has  since 
resided,  engaged  in  marble  manufacture  and  con- 
ducting a  prosperous  business.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  his  political  views, 

Mr.  Fraser  was  married  Oct.  9,  1864,  to  Harriet 
E.  Leland,  and  by  this  union  six  children  have  been 
born,  in  the  following  order :  James  L.,  Edgar  L., 
Maud  L.,  Pliny  L.,  Grace  L.  and  Annie  L. 


saac  Body,  a  prominent  farmer,  on  section 
12,  Ustick  Township,  is  a  native  citizen  of 
the  State  of  Illinois,  having  heen  born  July 
12,  1837,  in  Iroquois  County,  to  which  place 
his  parents,  Isaac  and  Mary  (Myers)  Body, 
removed  from  their  native  State— Pennsyl- 
vania— in  the  pioneer  days  of  Illinois.  Their  eight 
children  were  named  Catherine,  Susan,  Mary  A., 
John,  George,  Isaac,  Sarah  and  Eliza. 

Mr.  Body  has  been  all  his  life  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture, and  when  he  was  26  years  of  age  set  out  for 
himself  independently,  and  in  October,  1863,  came 
to  Whiteside  County.  He  spent  the  first  year  on  a 
rented  farm  in  Ustick  Township,  and  in  the  year 
succeeding  bought  80  acres  of  land.  On  this  he  has 
operated  with  satisfactory  and  substantial  results. 
He  has  erected  an  excellent  class  of  buildings,  and 
the  place  is  one  of  the  pleasantest  in  location  in  the 
township.  His  estate  now  includes  220  acres  in  the 
townships  of  Ustick  and  Clyde,  and  120  is  in  till- 
age. Mr.  Body  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been 
School  Director;  he  has  also  officiated  in  other  town- 
ship offices. 

Mr.  Body  was  married  Nov.    13,  1860,  in   Carroll 
Co.,  111.,  to  Cyrena  Dyson,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  seven  children  :  Adda  F.,  Charles   C.,  Delia  E., 
ary   L.,  Samuel  M.,  Elmer  I.  and  Etta  C.     The 

" 


oldest  daughter  is  the  wife  of  John  Bristol,  of  Ustick, 
Township.  Mrs.  Body  was  born  Nov.  15,  1839,  in 
Carroll  Co.,  111.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Hezekiah  and 
Ruth  (Mclndoo)  Dyson.  Her  parents  were  born  in 
Indiana,  from  which  State  they  removed  to  Carroll 
Co.,  111.,  in  its  earliest  period.  Their  children  were 
named  James,  Charles,  William,  Cyrena,  Hezekiah, 
Ruth.jCornelius,  Margaret  A.,  Dimmis  D.  and  Mary 
E.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Body  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church. 


itus  J.  Twombly,  resident  on  section  12, 
Union  Grove  Township,  was  born  in  Shef- 
field, Orleans  Co.,Vt.,Dec.  n,  1823.  His 
parents,  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Jenness)  Twom- 
bly, were  natives  of  Vermont,  were  there  mar- 
ried, and  passed  all  the  years  of  their  united 
lives  in  that  State.  The  mother  died  in  Browning- 
ton,  Orleans  Co.,  Vt.,  in  March,  1870.  The  father 
is  still  living.  They  had  ten  children,  named  Sylva- 
nia,  Lyman,  Titus  J.,  Joshua,  Hannah,  Susan,  Wil- 
liam B.,  George,  Jefferson  J.  and  Hiram  M. 

Mr.  Twombly  spent  the  years  of  childhood  and 
early  youth  in  the  pursuits  and  methods  so  common 
in  those  days  in  his  native  State,  and  he  learned 
the  business  of  carpenter  of  his  father,  who  was  a 
builder.  He  was  occupied  in. its  pursuit  in  his  na- 
tive State  until  his  removal  to  Whiteside  County, 
which  occurred  in  January,  1857.  He  was  married 
March  29,  1854,  in  Derby,  Vt.,  to  Rosena  J.  Cass. 
Mrs.  Twombly  was  born  Oct.  29,  1831,  in  Lyndon, 
Vt.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Jehiel  and  Sally  (Scott) 
Cass.  Her  father  and  mother  were  born  in  Ver- 
mont, and  in  1854  removed  to  Whiteside  County, 
locating  in  the  Township  of  Union  Grove,  where  the 
latter  died  July  26,  1869.  Their  children  were 
named  Cynthia  C.,  Rosena  J.,  Maria  J.,  Mary  E., 
Sarah  H.,  George  W.,  Albert  A.,  Emily  J.  and  Es- 
tella  A. 

Mr.  Twombly  rented  a  farm  for  seven  years  after 
he  located  in  Whiteside  County,  after  which  he 
followed  his  trade  until  1877,  when  he  bought  80 
acres  of  land,  situated  in  the  Townships  of  Union 
Grove  and  Mt.  Pleasant.  Of  this  three-fourths  is 
under  tillage.  Mr.  Twombly  assimilates  with  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  element  in  politics. 


i 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


Mass. 


He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  They  have  two  children  :  Hor- 
ace E.,  born  March  9,  1855,  and  Adah  Belle,  born 
June  13,  1857. 


Charles  Adams  Wetherbee,  a  farmer  on 
section  12,  Sterling  Township,  is  a  pioneer 
of  Whiteside  County,  and  he  is  the  owner 
of  the  claim  on  which  his  parents  settled  in 
1838.  His  father,  Luther  B.  Wetherbee,  was 
born  June  23,  1809,  in  the  town  of  Hardwick, 
The  wife  of  the  latter,  who  was  Charlotte 
Adams  before  her  marriage,  was  also  a  native  of  the 
same  State,  in  which  they  lived  until  their  removal 
to  Whiteside  County.  The  senior  Wetherbee  built 
the  first  frame  house  between  Sterling  and  Sugar 
Grove.  He  had  been  a  machinist  in  Barre,  Mass. 
L.  B.  Wetherbee  came  to  Illinois  in  1838,  went  to 
Massachusetts  in  1845  and  returned  to  Illinois  in 
1848.  He  returned  to  his  farm  and,  finding  con- 
ditions belter  from  the  progress  in  development  of 
this  section  of  Illinois,  he  entered  heartily  into  the 
prosecution  of  his  farming  interests,  in  which  he  was 
successful.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
ability,  and  proved  a  valuable  citizen.  He  died 
Nov.  6,  1873.  His  wife  survived  him  until  Oct.  8, 
1878.  They  had  six  children,  —  Martha  A.,  Charles 
A.  (ist),  Jane  L.,  Charles  A.  (zd),  Mary  A.  and  Ed- 
win C.  The  three  elder  children  died  in  early  life. 
Mr.  Wetherbee  was  born  Dec.  17,  1839,  in  Ster- 
ling Township.  He  received  all  the  advantages 
possible  in  the  common  schools  and  fitted  for  col- 
lege at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.  He  was  still  engaged  in 
preparatory  studies  when  the  nation  was  turned 
from  its  wonted  ways  by  the  advent  of  civil  war. 
Mr.  Wetherbee  yielded  to  the  pressure  of  succeeding 
events,  and  in  September,  1861,  enlisted  in  the  34th 
Regt.  111.  Inf.  for  three  years.  At  the  battle  of  Stone 
River  he  was  taken  prisoner,  but  his  captivity  was 
ended  during  the  same  conflict  by  the  Union  forces. 
He  testifies  that  an  examination  of  the  business  end 
of  a  loaded  revolver  at  short  range  has  a  hair-lifting 
influence  of  the  most  persuasive  order.  He  was  in 
the  military  service  of  the  United  States  three  years, 
and  experienced  all  the  vicissitudes  of  war.  He  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and 


returned  to  his  home.  He  has  since  pursued  the 
life  of  a  farmer.  In  1876  he  bought  the  old  home- 
stead of  his  parents  in  Sterling  Township,  which  in- 
cludes 200  acres  of  land,  all  under  tillage. 

Mr.  Wetherbee  is  a  Republican  m  political  senti- 
ment, and  has  been  active  in  local  official  affairs. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  United  Workmen. 

His  marriage  to  Margaret  L.  Penrose  took  place 
Oct.  5,  1865,  in  the  township  of  Sterling.  She  was 
born  May  26,  1840,  in  Belmont,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Mark  und  Harriet  (Johns)  Penrose.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  her  mother  was 
a  native  of  England.  They  removed  to  Sterling 
Township  in  the  spring  of  1844.  The  mother  died 
Feb.  17,  1848.  Their  children  were  Robert  F., 
William  M.,  Margaret  L. ,  Rachel  C.,  Edwin  J.  and 
Harriet.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wetherbee 
are  May  P.,  Ella  D.,  Harriet  A.  and  Charles  Earl. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 


illium  Thomson,  farmer,  section  28,  Us- 
tick  Township,  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
Margaret  (Skeoch)  Thomson.  His  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Scotland,  and  died 
there  in  the  year  1848.  Their  surviving 
children  were  born  in  the  following  order : 
Mary,  Jeannette,  John,  William,  Margaret  and  Jane  ; 
two  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Thomson  was  born  March  19,  1822,  in  Scot- 
land. He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1850,  and 
settled  in  Virginia,  where  he  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  1 3  years ;  after  which  he  passed  two 
years  as  a  construction  hand  on  a  railroad  in  Mary- 
land. In  1865  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  enga- 
ging first  as  a  renter  in  Hopkins  Township.  In  1870 
he  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  the  Township  of 
Ustick.  To  this  he  has  added  by  later  purchase 
until  he  owns  380  acres,  nearly  all  of  which  is  under 
cultivation.  The  place  is  supplied  with  handsome 
and  valuable  buildings. 

Mr.  Tompson  was  married  June  2,  1847,  in  Ayr- 
shire, Scotland,  to  Jane,  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Walker)  Burns.  She  was  born  Nov.  16, 
1820,  in  Scotland.  She  has  become  the  mother  of 


1 
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.-- 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


eight  children :  Elizabeth  W.,  Anna  B.,  William, 
Archibald  T.,  Robert  B.,  Margaret  ].,  Hugh  D.  and 
Mary  ]. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  an  adherent  in  politics  of  the 
National  Greenback  party,  and  in  temperance  prin- 
ciples  is  a  prohibitionist.  He  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church. 


ohn  Dickinson,  a  farmer  on  section  8, 
Jordan  Township,  was  born  in  England, 
Jan.  9,  1841.  His  parents  emigrated  with 
their  family  to  the  United  States  when  he 
was  a  child,  and  made  a  settlement  in  Rush, 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father,  Thomas  Dick- 
inson, died  when  he  was  five  years  of  age,  and  he 
was  afterwards  cared  for  by  John  P.  Furry  (whose 
sketch  is  given  on  another  page),  by  whom  he  was 
brought  up,  and  with  whom  he  lived  through  his 
minority. 

He  was  married  Dec.  22,  1869,  to  Diana  Pierce. 
She  was  born  Dec.  22, 1844,  in  East  Mendon,  Monroe 
Co.,  N.  Y.  She  was  two  years  of  age  when  her 
parents  came  to  Illinois  and  lived  with  them  in  Jor- 
dan Township  until  she  was  married.  She  died  Nov. 
13,  1883,  at  her  home  in  Jordan  Township.  Mr. 
Dickinson  entered  into  a  second  matrimonial  alli- 
ance March  24,  1885,  with  Alma  I.  Gordon.  Her 
parents,  James  W.  and  Mary  A.  (Orr)  Gordon,  were 
respectively  of  Scotch,  English  and  French  descent, 
and  were  born  in  the  province  of  Ontario,  Canada. 
Their  daughter  was  born  March  14,  1856,  in  Dur- 
ham Co.,  Ont.  Her  parents  came  when  she  was 
about  14  years  of  age  to  Sterling,  111.  She  and  a 
younger  sister  went  back  to  Canada,  where  she  was 
mostly  educated,  and  afterwards  moved  to  Vinton, 
Iowa.  The  parents  reside  at  the  latter  place. 

Mr.  Dickinson  earnestly  indorses  the  views  of  the 
party  known  as  Anti-monopolists.  He  is  at  present 
a  School  Director. 

In  the  spring  of  1863  he  made  a  purchase  of  40 
acres  of  land  on  section  8,  Jordan  Township.  It 
had  been  somewhat  improved,  and  Mr.  Dickinson 
added  20  acres  to  his  estate  by  a  later  purchase. 
His  farm  is  all  under  tillage,  with  necessary  farm 
buildings. 


evi  Suavely,  farmer,  section  n,  Sterling 
Township,  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Barbara 
(Hess)  Snavely.  His  parents  were  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  10  children,  who 
were  born  in  the  order  in  which  their  names 
are  given,  as  follows :  Elias,  Elizabeth,  Jacob, 
Moses,  Henry,  John,  Anna,  Levi,  Mary  and  Su- 
san. Levi  was  born  Jan.  23,  1837,  in  Lebanon 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  he  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  1855, 
first  buying  a  farm  in  Jordan  Township.  He  took 
possession  of  his  property,  and  resided  thereon  until 
1868,  when  he  bought  140  acres  in  Sterling  Town- 
ship. He  has  pushed  his  business  operations  \vith 
profitable  results,  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  262 
acres  of  valuable  land  in  Whiteside  County,  198  in 
Lee  Co.,  111.,  and  540  in  Marion  Co.,  Kan.,  which  is 
mostly  under  tillage.  The  proprietor  has  erected  ex- 
cellent buildings,  which  add  materially  to  the  gen- 
eral appearance  of  the  place.  Politically  Mr.  Snavely 
is  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
been  active  in  the  well-being  and  progress  of  the 
schools  of  the  township. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Jan.  6,  1860,  in  Ster- 
ling Township,  to  Anna,  daughter  of  Henry  S.  and 
Fanny  (  Stauffer )  Landis.  (See  sketch  of  H.  S. 
Landis.)  They  have  10  children,  as  follows: 
Emma  J.,  Willliam,  Francis,  Alice,  Anna,  Henry, 
Jacob,  Ervin,  John  and  Mabel.  William  and 
Francis  are  deceased. 


ohn  B.  Hughes,   Clerk  of   Jordan  Town- 

jjf  ship,  is  a  farmer  and  prominent  stock- 
grower  on  section  24.  He  was  borfi  March 
23,  1857,  in  St.  Clair,  Schuylkil!  Co.,  Pa. 
William  Hughes,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
Columbia  C.O.,  Pa.,  and  was  a  farmer.  The 
family  is  of  Welsh  descent,  as  is  indicated  by  the 
name,  although  the  later  general  ions  are  all  of 
American  birlh.  The  father  went  to  Schuylkifl 
County  when  lie  was  young,  and  he  there  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  St.  Clair,  where  he  established 
his  interests  on  a  scale  of  considerable  magnitude. 
Later,  he  went  to  Beaver  Meadow,  where  he  was 


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similarly  occupied  for  a  time,  but  he  returned  to  St. 
Clair,  where  he  was  married  June  2,  1856,  to  Eliza- 
beth Bam  ford.  She  was  born  Feb.  6,  1832,  in  the 
city  of  Liverpool,  England.  Her  parents,  John  and 
Sophia  (Goodacher)  Bamford,  were  natives  of  Derby- 
shire. She  was  but  a  few  weeks  old  when  her  father 
emigrated  with  his  family  to  Canada.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  two  years  in  the  Dominion  they  went  to 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  where  they  reared  and  educated 
their  children.  Mrs.  Hughes  has  become  the  mother 
of  two  children — John  B.,  of  this  sketch,  and  Sophia 
E.,  who  is  her  mother's  companion  still. 

When  Mr.  Hughes  was  five  years  old,  in  1862,  his 
parents  came  to  Illinois.  In  May  of  that  year  they 
located  on  160  acres  of  unimproved  land  on  section 
24,  Jordan  Township.  To  this  the  father  added  40 
acres  on  section  23  by  a  later  purchase;  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Oct.  14,  1877,  he 
was  the  owner  of  200  acres  of  land  in  a  valuable 
agricultural  condition.  The  buildings  on  the  place 
are  eminently  creditable  to  the  judgment  and  taste 
of  the  former  proprietor,  who  has  left  a  fine  estate  as 
a  memorial  of  a  life  of  useful  effort.  He  died  at  53 
years  of  age.  He  was  prominent  as  an  agriculturist 
and  generally  esteemed  as  a  substantial  and  reliable 
citizen.  The  mother  is  yet  living.  She  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  Hughes  passed  the  first  17  years  of  his  life  on 
the  homested  farm  and  attended  the  public  schools. 
At  that  age  he  entered  the  Second  Ward  School  at 
Sterling,  and  was  graduated  June  21,  1876,  when  he 
was  19  years  of  age.  He  began  the  profession  of  a 
teacher  in  Genesee  Township,  which  he  pursued 
until  his  own  plans  were  interrupted  by  the  death  of 
his  father.  Since  that  date  he  has  been  engaged  in 
the  management  of  the  homestead.  He  is  interested 
in  growing  stock  and  owns  a  fine  herd  of  Short-Horn 
cattle  and  a  drove  of  full-blooded  Poland-China 
swine.  His  home,  "  West  Lawn,"  is  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  Whiteside  County,  and  his  herd,  "West  Lawn 
Herd  "  comprises  many  animals  of  fashionable  breed- 
ing and  rare  individual  merit.  He  has  met  with 
success  in  that  branch  of  business,  and  has  competed, 
with  gratifying  results,  with  other  stock-growers  at 
the  local  fairs. 

Mr.  Hughes  is  possessed  of  a  well-trained  and  dis- 
ciplined mind,  is  a  great  reader  and  has  a  well  as- 
sorted and  valuable  library.  He  was  elected  Town- 
ship Clerk  in  the  spring  of  1879,  and  has  held  the 


office  ever  since.  He  received  the  election  to  the 
same  position  in  the  spring  of  the  current  year.  He 
is  also  officiating  as  School  Treasurer. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  Bennison  occurred  Dec.  18, 
1878,  at  Kewanee,  Henry  Co.,  111.  She  was  born 
Oct.  17,  1854,  in  Shullsburg,  Lafayette  Co.,  Wis.,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Walton)  Ben- 
nison, the  former  a  native  of  England  and  the  latter 
of  Pennsylvania.  Both  are  of  English  origin.  They 
were  married  in  Wisconsin.  In  1865  they  removed 
to  Kewanee,  where  her  father,  who  was  a  merchant 
in  Wisconsin,  resumed  that  occupation.  He  died  in 
1871,  when  the  daughter  was  17  years  of  age.  Her 
mother  is  still  living.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hughes  are  recorded  as  follows:  Winifred  B.,  born 
Dec.  18,  1879;  Raymond  G.,  born  Nov.  12,  1881; 
Bert  E.,  born  Dec.  2,  1883. 

Mr.  Hughes  is  a  Republican  in  political  opinion 
and  action.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 


homas  B.  King,  dealer  in  country  produce 
and  manufacturer  of  creamery  butter,  resid- 
ing at  Morrison,  was  born  Feb.  25,  1844,  in 
the  parish  of  Street,  Somersetshire,  England. 
His  forefathers  were  residents  of  the  same 
parish  and  shire  for  many  generations  before 
His  grandfather,  Robert  King,  was  born  in 
and  married  a  Miss  Reives.  She  died  in  1838, 
aged  78  years.  Charles  King,  his  father,  was  born 
March  n,  1805,  in  Overleigh.  Street  (parish),  Somer- 
setshire, and  married  Jane  Lessey.  She  was  born 
March  25,  1805,  at  Midney,  near  Longport.  They 
had  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Sarah 
and  Catherine  live  in  England.  Mary  Ann  is  the 
wife  of  Josiah  Lamport,  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo. 

Mr.  King  began  to  operate  in  his  own  behalf  in  his 
native  country  when  he  was  but  14  years  of  age,  and 
cpmmenced  by  trafficking  in  live  stock.  He  followed 
the  business  in  his  own  country  until  1865,  when  he 
emigrated  to  America.  He  began  dealing  in  butter 
at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he  prosecuted  his  inter- 
ests about  five  years,  spending  one  summer  at 
Belvidere,  Boone  Co.,  111.,  buying  butter  for  the 
Memphis  market.  In  1871  he  established  himself  at 
Morrison,  and  began  to  deal  in  butter  and  farm 

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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


produce.  At  present  he  is  conducting  two  cream- 
eries in  Whiteside  County,  situated  respectively  at 
Round  Grove  and  at  Prairie  Center.  His  daily  ag- 
gregate product  of  butter  in  the  best  part  of  the  sea- 
son averages  from  2,500  to  3,500  pounds.  He  is 
the  owner  of  a  large  refrigerator  building  for  the  stor- 
age of  butter  and  eggs,  situated  at  Maquoketa,  Iowa, 
35  x  62  feet  in  dimensions,  and  acknowledged  to  be 
the  best  structure  of  its  kind  in  the  State.  He  makes 
his  shipments  chiefly  to  New  York  and  Philadelphia, 
and  transacts  business  amounting  annually  to  $300,- 
ooo.  To  farmers  who  furnish  the  cream  for  his 
creameries,  he  supplies  the  necessary  outfit. 

Mr.  King  owns  the  building  at  Morrison  where  he 
operates,  his  residence  and  grounds,  which  are  located 
in  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  prominent  parts  of 
the  city. 

Mr.  King's  marriage  to  Louisa  Gibbs  took  place 
Aug.  23,  1862,  at  Glastonbury,  Somersetshire,  Eng- 
land, and  they  have  five  children,  whose  record  is  as 
follows:  Harry  C.  was  born  Dec.  23,  1863,  in  Eng- 
land; Kate  G.  was  born  Feb.  17,  1870,  in  Memphis, 
Tenn.;  Lilly  M.  was  born  March  T3,  1873,  in  Mor- 
rison, and  died  Aug.  16,  1873;  Edna  L.  was  born 
Oct.  5,  1874;  George  E.  was  born  June  20,  1884. 
Mrs.  King  was  born  March  25,  1843,  in  Kingston, 
Somersetshire,  England,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Ann  (Damphier)  Gibbs. 

The  possibilities  under  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  are  exemplified  in  the  history  of  Mr. 
King,  and  form  a  strong  contrast  to  those  offered  to 
the  class  to  which  he  belongs  by  birth.  His  portrait 
is  presented  on  a  preceding  page.  His  character  as 
a  business  man  and  citizen  of  Whiteside  County  ren- 
der it  a  significant  addition  to  the  collated  records  of 
the  community  in  which  he  is  a  resident. 


acob  Powell  is  a  farmer  of  Sterling  Town- 
ship, and  owns  220  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 13,  where  he  settled  in  the  fall  of 
1845.  He  was  born  Jan.  19,  1814,  in  Dutchess 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Han- 
nah (Bowerman)  Powell.  Their  children  were 
eight  in  number,  and  the  son  who  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  the  oldest.  He  lived  in  his  native 
State  chiefly  until  his  removal  to  Whiteside  County. 




He  made  a  purchase  of  160  acres  of  land  at  first,  to 
which  he  has  added  60  acres,  and  the  entire  trad  is 
under  cultivation.  Mr.  Powell  is  a  Republican  in 
political  preference. 

His  marriage  to  Eliza  (Corscaden)  Brown  took 
place  in  Sterling  Township,  April  15,  1863.  She 
was  the  widow  of  Joseph  Brown,  who  died  July  24, 
1862,  at  Sterling.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
War  and  belonged  to  Cheney's  Battery.  He  was 
taken  ill  while  at  his  post  of  duty,  and  obtained  a 
furlough.  Before  its  expiration  he  died  as  stated. 
He  left  two  children, — Jennie  and  Jessie.  Arthur 
died  previous  to  his  father's  death.  Mrs.  Powell  is 
the  daughter  of  Richard  and  Jane  Crawford  Cors- 
caden. Her  father  was  born  in  Scotland  ;  her  mother 
was  born  in  Ireland,  of  Scottish  parentage.  Mrs. 
Powell  was  also  born  in  Ireland,  in  October,  1824. 


Ifred  M.  Earley,  D.  D.,  Ixjcal  Elder  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Erie, 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Graesberry) 
Earley,  and  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
June  i,  1811.  His  father  and  mother  were 
natives  of  New  Jersey.  The  latter  was  born 
in  June,  1777,  and  died  in  Philadelphia,  June  12, 
1865,  aged  87  years.  They  had  four  children,  of 
whom  Alfred  M.  is  the  only  survivor.  He  remained 
at  home  until  18  years  of  age,  and  then  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  in  Philadelphia. 

In  1839  Mr.  Earley  came  West,  locating  in  Platte- 
ville,  Wis.,  where  he  became  a  minister  in  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  Soon  after  he  came  to  Jo  Daviess 
County,  this  State,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
ministry,  and  has  continued  to  labor  in  that  profes- 
sion ever  since.  His  labors  have  been  distributed 
in  Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson,  Bureau,  Kane  and  this 
county  since  1839.  He  has  also  preached  the  gospel 
in  Wisconsin,  and  has  preached  in  Albany,  Union 
Grove  and  Prophetstown,  this  county,  off  and  on 
since  1843.  Rev.  Earley  has  resided  in  Erie  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  owns  a  nice  residence  and  an  acre 
of  land  there.  He  is  now  74  years  old,  and  occa- 
sionally fills  an  appointment. 

Mr.  Early  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ruth  B. 
Childs.at  Philadelphia,  in  July,r839.  Shewas,born 
in  that  State,  in  1820,  and  bore  him  eight  children, 
only  two  of  whom  survive.  The  record  is  as  follows 


• 


15 

» 

: 


-> 


.   - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Henry,  who  was  a  Sergeant  in  the  late  war,  came 
home  sick  from  disease  contracted  in  the  army,  and 
died ;  Israel,  who  was  also  in  the  army,  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  received  his  discharge, 
came  home  and  died ;  Amelia  is  the  wife  of  William 
Smith,  book-keeper  in  a  mercantile  establishment  at 
at  Erie;  a  son  and  daughter  who  died  in  their  in- 
fancy ;  Minnie  and  Frank  are  also  deceased,  and 
Charles  is  carrying  on  a  carriage  and  harness  busi- 
ness in  Erie. 

Mrs.  Barley  died  in  Erie,  March  24,  1873  ;  and 
Mr.  Barley  was  again  married,  in  Scott  Co.,  Iowa,  to 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Carpenter,  a  native  of  Ohio. 


^amuel  W.  Rutt,  retired  farmer,  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Sterling,  was  born  Oct.  7,  1821,  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  His  parents,  Samuel 
and  Susannah  (Whisler)  Rutt,  also  natives  of 
the  Keystone  State,  were  members  of  the 
farming  community.  He  was  brought  up,  as 
farmers'  sons  usually  are,  at  school  and  on  the  farm, 
and  when  22  years  of  age  he  left  the  parental  roof- 
tree  and  rented  a  farm,  which  he  conducted  for  four 
years.  He  then  bought  65  acres  in  •  Lancaster 
County,  and  followed  his  calling  there  for  three 
years,  at  which  time  he  sold  that  place,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  120  acres  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  followed  farming  another  three  years. 
Selling  out  again,  he  bought  a  farm  of  125  acres, 
which  he  kept  for  five  years.  Selling  out  again,  he 
packed  up  his  goods  and  emigrated  to  the  Great 
West,  settling  first  on  a  farm  in  Lee  County,  this 
State,  where  he  remained  14  years.  Finally,  in 
1878,  he  came  to  Sterling,  this  county,  and  bought  a 
house  and  lot  on  the  corner  of  Spruce  and  Fifth 
Streets,  where  he  now  resides. 

Oct.  12,  1843,  he  was  married  to  Magdalene  Rutt, 
and  they  have  had  n  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  Levi  R.,  born  Aug.  3,  1844;  Abra- 
ham, Aug.  17,  1852;  Henry,  July  8,  1856;  Leah, 
April  22,  1859;  Fanny,  Jan.  28,  1862;  David,  May 
26,  1865,  and  Emma,  Jan.  19,  1869;  Levi  R.  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Weaver,  .1  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  they  have  two  children,  Ella  and  Leroy.  Henry 
married  Amanda  Bressler,  of  Sterling;  Leah  married 
Marcus  Bressler,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  is  the 


mother  of  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living, 
Lura  Belle  and  Edith  Merl;  Abraham  married  Maria 
Landis,  a  native  of  this  State,  and  has  foui  sons, 
Clarence,  Amos,  Loren  and  Ralph. 

Mr.  Rutt  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  princi- 
ples, and  in  respect  to  religion  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Mennonite  Church,  as  is  also  Mrs.  Rutt. 


_.      •  • 


K.  Mellinger,  a  farmer  on  section  23, 
Jordan  Township,  was  born  Nov.  14,  1854, 
in  the  Township  of  Manor,  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.  Benjamin  Mellinger,  his  father,  a  farmer 
of  that  State  and  county,  where  he  was  also 
born,  spent  his  entire  days  there,  dying  Feb. 
J5i  '^55,  a  few  months  after  the  birth  of  his  son.  The 
wife  and  mother  (Anna  Kauffman  before  her  mar- 
riage) subsequently  married  H.  Peters  and  removed 
to  Whiteside  County.  She  was  born  and  reared  in 
Manor  Township,  where  she  was  twice  married.  She 
bore  five  children  by  her  first  husband.  Mr.  Mel- 
linger resided  with  his  stepfather  and  mother  in  his 
native  State  until  1869,  when  he  accompanied  them 
to  Whiteside  County,  and  he  was  an  inmate  of  their 
home  until  he  established  himself  at  the  head  of  a 
family.  Since  the  second  widowhood  of  his  mother, 
he  has  had  the  supervision  of  her  welfare.  She  is  64 
years  of  age  and  is  in  excellent  mental  and  physical 
health. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Mellinger  to  Emma  Hess 
took  place  July  19,  1874.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Magdalena  (Eshleman)  Hess,  and  her 
parents  were  born  in  the  same  place  where  her  hus- 
band's parents  had  their  origin.  She  was  born  March 
3,  1854,  in  Conestoga  Township,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa-. 
She  was  13  years  of  age  when  her  parents  came 
West  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Jordan  Township. 
The  births  of  the  two  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mel- 
linger occurred  as  follows  :  Lillie  B.,  Feb.  22,  1875  ; 
Benjamin,  April  9,  1880. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Mellinger  has  conducted 
his  mother's  farm.  It  consists  of  80  acres  of  good 
farm  land,  under  good  improvements  and  supplied 
with  creditable  and  necessary  farm  equipments.  The 
place  is  well  stocked.  In  political  preference  and 

-$@5§^ 


Sx 

5 


.  ..  - 


f^r^C^ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


d) 


f 


connection,  Mr.  Mellinger  is  a  Republican,  and  he 
has  officiated  in  several  local  offices.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church. 

— K^^IH— 

Christian  Overholser,  farmer,  section  3, 
''  Genesee  Township,  was  born  Dec.  9, 
1831,  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio.  He  is  the 
son  of  Martin  and  Barbara  (Arford)  Over- 
holser, the  former  a  native  of  Bucks  Co.,  Pa., 
and  the  latter  of  Washington  Co.,  Md.  The 
ancestral  stock  in  the  paternal  and  maternal  lines  of 
descent  is  German.  The  parents  of  Barbara  Arford 
died  when  she  was  three  years  of  age,  and  she  was 
brought  up  by  the  father  and  mother  of  h.er  husband, 
to  whom  she  was  married  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
with  him  and  their  children  came  to  Illinois,  arriving 
in  Genesee  Township,  May  4, 1854.  Both  are  living 
in  Coleta  village ;  they  are  aged  respectively  7  6  and 
73  years. 

The  family  removed  in  1834  to  Tuscarawas  Co., 
Ohio.  Mr.  Overholser  is  the  oldest  of  the  children 
now  surviving.  He  came  to  Genesee  Township 
with  his  parents  in  1854,  and  enjoyed  all  the  expe- 
riences of  the  pioneers  of  Whiteside  County,  enter- 
ing heartily  into  the  work  of  improving  a  prairie 
farm  from  its  original  condition.  The  claims  had 
been  held  some  time,  but  only  as  bones  of  conten- 
tion among  the  speculators.  The  parents  are  active 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  which 
the  father  has  held  the  offices  of  Trustee,  Steward 
and  Class-leader.  He  was  in  early  political  life  a 
Whig,  and  has  latterly  acted  with  the  Reptfblican 
party. 

The  son  was  married  Sept.  27,  1857,  to  Sarah 
Kilmer,  in  Genesee  Township.  Mrs.  Overholser  is 
the  daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Shoop)  Kilmer. 
Her  father  was  a  carpenter  by  vocation,  and  both 
he  and  her  mother  were  descended  from  ancestors 
of  pure  German  origin.  They  were  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  went  soon  after  to  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio, 
which  was  then  unsettled  and  not  organized.  Mrs. 
Overholser  was  born  there,  March  19,  1832,  and  is 
the  youngest  of  seven  children.  She  came  with  her 
sister,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Hurless,  to  Genesee  Township,  in 
1857,  and  was  married  as  stated.  The  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Overholser  are  recorded  as  follows : 


_ 


Frances  A.  vnarried  Charles  Lunn,  and  they  reside 
on  a  farm  in  Hancock  Co.,  Iowa;  they  have  two 
children,  Oliver  N.,  born  April  2,  1882,  and  Ada  B., 
born  Dec.  4,  1883;  Delilah  J.  married  Volney  G. 
Chaffee,  and  they  are  farmers  in  Wysox  Township 
Carroll  Co.,  111.  Their  children  were  born  as  fol- 
lows: Jessie  M.,  Sept.  n,  1880  ;  Henry  L.,  April  30, 
1882;  Christian,  Feb.  23,  1884.  Henry  H.  married 
Louisa  Horlacher,  and  they  live  in  Coleta,  where  the 
former  is  operating  as  agent  for  the  creamery  estab- 
lishment of  T.  F.  King  &  Co.,  at  Morrison  ;  their 
daughter  Erma  was  born  Feb.  20,  1884.  Edwin  W., 
William  I.  and  Florence  M.  live  at  home ;  James  L. 
and  an  infant  unnamed  are  deceased. 

The  first  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Overholser  was 
a  pioneer's  cabin  16  feet  square,  located  on  40  acres 
of  land,  on  section  three,  presented  to  them  by  th 
senior  Overholser.  The  proprietor  applied  his  effor 
to  its  improvement,  and  purchased  17  acres  of  tim- 
ber and  80  acres  of  prairie  adjoining,  the  farm  now 
containing  an  aggregate  of  137  acres  of  land  in  ex- 
cellent condition.  The  place  exhibits  a  valuable 
and  tasteful  collection  of  farm  buildings,  includir 
a  good  residence.  It  is  stocked  with  high  grades 
Short-horn  cattle  and  Poland  swine.  Mr.  Overhc 
ser  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
has  held  every  office  within  the  scope  of  the  society ; 
has  been  Sunday-school  Superintendent,  and  has 
been  an  indefatigable  worker  in  that  capacity.  Polit- 
ically, he  is  a  Republican  in  sentiment  and  action. 
He  has  served  long  and  arduously  in  local  offices. 
He  officiated  three  terms  as  Collector  of  Taxes,  six 
years  as  Constable,  four  years  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  a  long  period  as  Township  Trustee. 


larles  W.  Barley,  a  son  of  Rev.  A.  M. 
and  Ruth  B.  Earley,  was  born  in  1'rophets- 
town,  this  county,  Sept.  28,  1859.  He  is 
a  manufacturer  of  and  dealer  in  harness,  car- 
riages, saddlery  goods,  collars,  whips,  fly-nets, 
buggiy  cushions,  etc.,  in  Erie.  At  the  age  of 
14  he  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  harness- 
maker;  when  1 8  years  of  age  he  entered  into  busi- 
ness for  himself  in  Port  Byron,  Rock  Island  County. 
In  1879  he  removed  to  Erie  and  has  continued  in 
business  in  that  place  until  the  present  time, 
strict  attention  to  business,  honest  dealing  and  turn- 

<^ * 


••- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


ing  out  good  work,  he  has  built  up  a  fine  trade.  He 
carries  a  stock  of  from  $2,500  to  $3,000,  and  em- 
ploys one  assistant. 

Mr.  Earley  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Belle 
M.  Berry,  Sept.  26,  1882,  at  Erie.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  John  R.  and  Elizabeth  M.  Berry,  and  was  born  in 
Portland  Township,  this  county,  Sept.  24, 1862.  Mrs. 
Earley  was  educated  in  a  convent,  entering  the 
Immaculate  Conception  Academy  at  Davenport, 
Iowa,  when  13.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  she  com- 
menced the  study  of  music,  which  she  continued,  to- 
gether with  her  other  studies.  When  18  years  of 
age  she  finished  in  the  other  branches,  and  then  de- 
voted her  time  entirely  to  music.  In  i88p  she  went 
to  Chicago  and  entered  the  Chicago  Musical  College, 
and  in  1882  finished  her  musical  education,  under 
the  instruction  of  Dr.  F.  Ziegfeld,  President  of  the 
College.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earley  have  one  child — 
Alfred  Berry,  born  Aug.  7,  1884. 


Tames  L.  Peugh,  section  10,  Genesee  Town- 
j^-  ship,  was  born  on  section  17,  in  the  town- 
ship where  he  has  always  lived,  Dec.  n, 
1854.  He  is  the  son  of  C.  B.  Peugh,  of  whom 
an  account  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
He  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer's  son,  and  re- 
mained at  home  until  he  was  18  years  old,  mean- 
while obtaining  such  education  as  was  possible  at  the 
district  schools  of  Genesee  Township.  In  1872  he 
entered  the  College  at  Wheaton,  111.,  where  he 
studied  a  year. 

Mr.  Peugh  was  married  June  29,  1878,  at  Coleta, 
to  Alice,  daughter  of  W.  H.  Colcord,  whose  personal 
sketch  may  be  found  on  another  page.  She  was 
born  June  28,  1860,  in  Genesee  Township.  Mrs. 
Peugh  is  an  accomplished  musician,  and  has  given 
much  attention  to  the  acquisition  of  superior  skill  in 
instrumental  music.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peugh  located 
on  a  farm  of  80  acres  in  their  native  township,  of 
which  he  had  become  the  owner  previous  to  his 
marriage.  They  were  its  occupants  three  years, 
after  which  it  was  sold,  and  the  family  removed  to 
Coleta.  Mr.  Peugh  had  contracted  a  disease  of  the 
eyes  and  was  obliged  eventually  to  abandon  his  busi- 
ness, in  order  to  take  a  course  of  systematic  treat- 
ment. The  disease  was  technically  termed  granu- 

z*^ ^A< 


lated  eye-lids  and  he  was  treated  by  Dr.  Gait,  of 
Rock  Island,  111.,  and  also  by  Dr.  Holmes. 

In  the  fall  of  1881  he  made  a  purchase  of  60  acres 
of  land  on  section  10,  in  his  native  township,  on 
which  he  and  his  wife  have  since  resided.  The 
place  is  all  under  tillage.  Mr.  Peugh  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church  and  is  a  Trustee  of  the  so- 
ciety. He  is  a  Democrat  in  political  persuasion. 


rancis  Marion  Allen,  youngest  son  of 
George  W.  and  Sophronia  (Besse)  Allen, 
resident  on  section  9,  Lyndon  Township, 
was  born  Oct.  30,  1835,  in  the  township  of 
Wales,  -Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  was  nine  years  of 
age  when  the  family  residence  was  transferred 
to  Kankakee  Co.,  111.,  where  he  attained  to  man's 
estate.  A  full  personal  account  of  his  parents  is 
given  in  the  sketch  of  A.  B.  Allen.  Mr.  Allen  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Melvina  Mann,  Aug.  8, 
1858.  She.  was  born  in  Richland  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Maria  (Bumpus) 
Mann. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Allen  and  his  wife  assisted 
his  parents  on  the  homestead  until  1869,  when  he 
removed  to  Lyndon  Township.  He  purchased  a 
farm  on  section  9,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  265 
acres,  fenced  and  under  advanced  improvements, 
and  including  six  acres  of  timber. 

Roderick  D.,  Rhoda,  Henry  and  Ralph  are  th'e 
names  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen. 


,ohn  Smith,  general  farmer,  residing  on 
section  18,  Clyde  Township,  was  born 
Oct.  25,  1815,  in  Columbia  Co.,  Pa.  He 
is  of  mixed  English  and  German  extraction, 
his  parents,  David  and  Catherine  (Hiner) 
Smith,  belonging  respectively  to  those  nation- 
glides  in  lineal  descent.  They  were  born  in  New 
Jersey,  were  married  in  the  State  of  their  nativity, 
and  lived  there  some  time  as  farmers.  Later  they 
removed  to  Pennsylvania,  and  were  among  the  pio- 
neers of  Columbia  County,  in  that  State.  Their  16 
children — eight  sons  and  eight  daughters — nearly  all 
attained  adult  age. 

Mr.  Smith  is  the  sixth  child,  and  he  lived  at  home 


$ 


XX 

4  * 

i 


until  he  was  24  years  old.  His  mother  died  when 
he  was  16  years  of  age.  He  was  married  in  his 
native  county  to  Jane  H.,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Laub)  Flick.  Both  were  of  German  de- 
scent, and  came  in  early  life  to  Pennsylvania.  They 
were  married  in  Northampton  County,  and  afterward 
located  in  Columbia  County,  where  Mrs.  Smith  was 
born,  Oct.  28,  1818,  and  she  is  the  youngest  but  one 
of  a  family  of  10  children.  When  she  was  nine 
years  of  age  she  became  a  member  of  the  family  of 
her  sister,  Mrs.  Catherine  L.  Appleman,  in  Montour 
Co.,  Pa.  Her  father  died  March  6,  1864,  in  Lyco- 
ming  Co.,  Pa.,  aged  85  years.  Her  mother  died 
there  also,  Oct.  28,  1860,  aged  79  years. 

The  qhildren  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were  six  in 
number :  Catherine  is  now  the  wife  of  H.  P.  Smith ; 
Peter  married  Ada  Hiner,  and  is  engaged  in  farming 
in  Clyde  Township ;  William  B.  married  Susannah 
L.  Sykes,  and.  resides  in  Union  Grove  Township; 
Ettie  M.  is  the  wife  of  John  Taylor,  of  Morrison ; 
Stephen  P.  married  Lucy  Stapleton,  and  lives  in  the 
township  of  Union  Grove ;  Mathias  became  "a  sol- 
dier in  the  Union  army,  and  died  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.;  he  was  24  years  of  age. 

The  family  remained  in  Pennsylvania  until  1859, 
when  they  removed  to  Illinois,  and  located  near 
White  Rock  in  Ogle  County.  After  a  brief  residence 
there  they  settled  on  a  farm  in  Lee  County,  which 
they  occupied  some  years.  In  1869  they  located  on 
a  farm  of  76  acres  on  section  19,  Clyde  Township, 
where  they  have  since  resided,  and  have  made  ex- 
cellent improvements.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Democrat. 


|  oswell  G.  Pinney,  deceased,  formerly  a 
resident  on  section  8,  came  to  Lyndon 
Township  in  1868,  and  bought  a  farm  of 
288  acres,  located  on  sections  5  and  8.  He 
also  bought  20  acres  of  timber  at  Round 
Grove,  and  five  acres  in  what  was  designated 
the  "Big  Woods."  Mr.  Pinney  was  born  March  30, 
1809,  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and  there  passed  his 
childhood  and  youth,  and  prepared  to  follow  the 
business  of  a  clothier.  He  was  married  Sept.  3, 
1835,  to  Abbie  Louisa  Strong.  She  was  born  Sept. 
i,  1812,  in  Hebron,  Tolland  Co.,  Conn.  Mr.  Pin- 

' r\   A. 


ney  was  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of  the  business 
of  a  clothier  in  Glastonbury  two  years  after  marriage, 
but,  his  health  becoming  impaired,  he  went  to  Erie 
Co.,  Pa.,  to  which  place  his  parents  had  removed. 
He  bought  a  farm,  which  he  occupied  several  years, 
and  removed  thence  to  another  in  Crawford  County, 
in  the  same  State,  of  which  he  was  the  proprietor 
until  1868,  the  year  in  which  he  sold  the  place  and 
removed  to  Lyndon  Township,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  which  transpired  in  June,  1882.  To 
him  and  his  wife  seven  children  were  born,  of  whom 
four  are  now  living:  George  R.  is  a  resident  of  Ster- 
ling; Emily  J.  is  the  wife  of  George  Eiteman,  and 
lives  at  Round  Grove;  Jennie  L.  is  the  youngest 
daughter. 

Elizur  E.  is  the  owner  of  part  of  the  homestead. 
He  was  born  July  7,  1847,  and  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm,  receiving  a  good  education,  which  he 
made  available  as  a  teacher  before  he  settled  in  life. 
He  was  married  Nov.  4,  1874,  to  Carrie,  daughter  of 
Alexander  and  Almeda  (Gait)  Thompson.  Francis 
B.,  Clara  Belle,  Nina  E.  and  Earl  T.  are  the  names 
of  their  children. 


ohn  E.  Stauffer  has  been  a  farmer  in 
Sterling  Township  since  1858.  He  was 
born  Aug.  2,  1827,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Barbara  (Eby) 
Stauffer,  who  were  natives  of  the  same  county 
where  their  son  was  born.  They  had  nine 
children,  as  follows:  Benjamin,  Francis,  Peter, 
Christian,  Henry,  John  E.,  Margaret,  Ann  and 
Barbara.  The  senior  Stauffer  was  a  miller  by  pro- 
fession, and  when  the  son  was  of  suitable  age  he 
was  instructed  in  the  same  pursuit,  in  which  he 
passed  15  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  came, 
as  stated,  to  Whiteside  County.  He  first  bought  60 
acres  in  Sterling  Township,  located  on  sections  3 
and  4.  He  fixed  his  residence  on  the  former,  where 
he  has  since  lived.  He  is  at  present  the  owner  of 
too  acres  of  improved  land.  He  is  an  apiarist,  and 
his  yard  is  stocked  with  66  stands  of  bees.  He  is 
operating  in  that  line  with  satisfactory  results.  Mr. 
Stauffer  has  officiated  several  years  as  School  Direc- 
tor. He  is  a  believer  in  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa., 


« 


UNIVERSITY  OF 
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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


i 

» 


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> 


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*  * 

I 


Dec.  14,  1848,  to  Catherine,  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Frances  (Neff)  Bressler,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
the  parents  of  1 1  children  who  grew  to  be  men  and 
women.  They  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Eliza,  Levi,  Ann,  Henry,  Catherine,  Peter,  Isaac, 
Benjamin,  Lydia,  Mary  and  Frances.  Mrs.  Stauffer 
was  born  (une  2,  1827,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
she  has  become  the  mother  of  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Ema  F.,  Isaac,  Arthur  F.  and  Mary  F. ;  one 
child  died  in  infancy. 


•'arnes  Wood,  general  farmer  on  section  19, 
Clyde  Township,  was  born  March  $,  1832, 
in  Sattelworth,  Yorkshire,  England,  and  he 
is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Brodbent) 
Wood,  who  were  farmers  in  England,  their  na- 
tive country.  They  had  four  children,  the  two 
oldest  being  twins,  and  the  third  in  order  of  birth 
being  the  son  who  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
was  eight  years  of  age  when  the  family  abandoned 
their  native  land  to  find  a  home  across  the  sea. 
They  located  in  Worcester.  Mass.,  and  later  went 
thence  to  Rockland  Co.,  N.  Y.  Soon  afterward  they 
made  another  removal,  to  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. 

In  1848  Mr.  Wood  came  to  Clyde  Township  with 
his  father.  At  that  date  trie  township  was  compara- 
tively in  its  original  state,  being  mostly  unimproved 
and  the  prairie  still  lying  fallow  as  it  had  done 
through  all  the  years  in  which  it  had  spread  its 
broad  acres  to  the  sunlight.  Newcomers  experienced 
the  inconveniences  and  privations  of  the  pioneer 
period,  chief  among  which  were  the  remoteness  of 
the  markets.  For  ordinary  supplies  it  was  necessary 
to  go  to  Albany  and  Mt.  Carroll.  To  sell  stock,  a 
distance  of  60  miles  must  be  traversed,  to  Rockford. 
Mr.  Wood's  first  purchase  of  land  included  69 
acres,  which  he  let  to  another  party  some  time  after. 
In  company  with  three  others, — Thomas  Alldritt, 
Ephraim  Bestle  and  Richard  Trye, — he  went  to  Pike's 
Peak.  This  was  in  1869,  when  the  gold  fever  was 
at  its  height,  and  they  made  the  route  thither  with  a 
four-horse  team  across  the  plains,  and  encountered 
the  experiences  common  to  the  emigrants  of  that 
year.  They  met  with  disaster,  as  there  was  no 
work  for  any  one  and  they  had  no  means  to  aid  them 
in  returning.  They  finally  sold  some  mining  imple- 


ments, comprising  picks  and  shovels,  which  they 
found  in  a  deserted  camp.  They  were  thereby  en- 
abled to  buy  a  sack  of  flour  at  Denver,  for  which 
they  paid  $16,  and  which  served  as  supply  until 
they  came  within  the  limits  of  civilization.  After 
reaching  his  home  Mr.  Wood  located  on  his  farm. 

Aug.  17,  1862,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  J.  (Marshall)  Demmon,  at  Fulton,  White- 
side  County.  Mrs.  Wood  is  the  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander A.  and  Elizabeth  (Chalbiant)  Marshall.  She 
was  born  June  16,  1832,  at  Lexington,  Ky.  Her 
parents  were  born  in  the  State  of  Kentucky  and  were 
of  English  descent.  The  mother  died  when  the 
daughter  was  12  years  of  age.  After  that  she  lived 
in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  By  her  first  husband  she  is  the 
mother  of  one  child,  Edway  C.  Tucker.  By  her 
second  husband  she  had  no  children.  Lulu  G.  is 
the  name  of  the  only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood. 

They  have  now  160  acres  of  land  in  Clyde  Town- 
ship, all  of  which  is  under  excellent  cultivation. 
They  also  own  three  lots  in  Morrison.  Mr.  Wood  is 
also  joint  owner  of  160  acres  in  Dakota.  .He  is 
rapidly  gaining  ground  as  a  stock  man.  He  is 
zealous  and  active  in  the  interests  of  the  Republican 
party  and  has  held  several  township  offices.  Mrs. 
Wood  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


Ij-ufus  K.  Hiddleson,  resident  at  Unionville, 
where  he  is  living  in  retirement,  has  been 
a  citizen  of  Whiteside  County  since  1850. 
,-N  His  father  and  mother,  John  and  Mary 
(Pimm)  Hiddleson,  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  came  in  1865  to  this  county,  where 
they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The  mother, 
who  was  born  in  1786,  died  April  19,  1866,  in  the 
township  of  Mt.  Pleasant.  The  father,  who  was  born 
in  1789,  died  Oct.  25,  1875.  Edwin  M.,  Rufus  K., 
Jane  S.,  Wm.  P.,  Rebecca,  John  A.,  Joseph  H.,  Lydia 
A.' and  Mary  E.  were  the  names  of  their  children. 

Mr.  Hiddleson  was  born  Jan.  19,  1813,  in  Chester 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  he  lived  in  that  State  until  his  removal 
to  Whiteside  County,  obtaining  there  a  common- 
school  education  and  laboring  as  a  farmer.  On  com- 
ing to  Illinois,  he  located  in  the  township  of  Mt. 
Pleasant,  where  he  became  an  extensive  land-holder, 
owning  440  acres  of  the  variety  of  land  which  gives 
Whiteside  County  its  prestige,  located  on  one  of  the 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


creeks  which  traverses  the  township.  He  has  dis- 
posed of  the  major  portion  to  relieve  himself  of  the 
cares  of  extensive  business  connections  in  his  ad- 
vancing years,  and  is  at  present  the  owner  of  about 
122  acres  of  land  in  Whiteside  County.  He  also 
owns  1 60  acres  of  land  in  Mitchell  Co.,  Kan. 

In  political  sentiment  he  is  a  Republican.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years 
and  also  has  officiated  in  other  township  offices. 

He  was  first  married  March  12,  1836,  in  Lycoming 
Co.,  Pa.,  to  Caroline  Converse,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  three  children, — Sarah  E.,  Lydia  J.  and 
William  P.  The  wife  and  mother  was  born  in  the 
State  of  Vermont,  and  died  in  March,  1883,  in  Mt. 
Pleasant  Township.  Mr.  Hiddleson  was  again  mar- 
ried Aug.  28,  1883,  in  Grundy  Co.,  Iowa,  to  Mrs. 
Charlotte  (Dening)  Long.  Mrs.  Hiddleson  was 
born  June  n,  1832,  in  England,  where  she  grew  to 
womanhood  and  was  married  to  Simeon  Long,  who 
died  there  June  9,  1877.  By  her  first  marriage  she 
had  four  children, —  Ellen  A.,  Emily  M.,  Daniel  D. 
and  Charles.  In  1882  she  came  with  her  children 
to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Iowa. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiddleson  are  members  of  the  Prot- 
estant .Methodist  Church. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Hiddleson  which  appears  on  a 
preceding  page  is  made  from  a  likeness  taken  in 
1885. 


rbuthnot  W.  Kitchie,  farmer,  section  15, 
Ustick  Township,  is  a  citizen  of  the  United 
1  States  by  adoption,  his  birth  having  taken 
place  May  r,  1825,  in  Scotland.  His  parents, 
""•George  and  Margaret  (Reed)  Ritchie,  were 
born  in  Scotland.  While  a  resident  in  his  na- 
tive land  he  was  interested  in  agricultural  business 
and  in  quarrying  stone.  In  the  summer  of  r853  he 
came  to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Ustick 
Township.  He  owns  334  acres  of  land,  which  is 
chiefly  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Ritchie  is  a  Republi- 
can in  political  connection,  and  he  has  filled  several 
of  the  township  offices. 

His  marriage  to  Rachel  Adan  took  place  June 
9,  1854,  in  Ustick  Township.  They  have  had  nine 
children, — Charles  A.,  George  A.,  William  A.,  Mar- 
garet J.,  James  A.,  Steward  D.,  John  N.,  Agnes  N. 


of 


and  May  E.  Mrs.  Ritchie  is  the  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Margaret  (Rae)  Adan.  She  was  born  March  2, 
1831,  in  Scotland,  of  which  country  her  parents  also 
were  natives.  She  and  her  husband  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 


eorge  Diehl,  general    farmer  on  section  8 
Clyde  Township,  was  born  Jan.  21,  1840, 
in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.     Samuel    Diehl,  his 
father,  was  born  in  the  same  State,  and  was  of 
German  descent  and  parentage.     He  was  born 
in  1800  and  died  in  Pennsylvania  in  Septem- 
ber, 1883.     The  mother  of  Mr.  Diehl,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Elnora  Cook,  and  was  also  a  native 
Franklin  County,  was  of  Irish  ancestry  and  died  o: 
the  family  homestead  in  January,  1843.     The  famil; 
included  seven  children,  —  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, —  who  are  all  living. 

Mr.  Diehl  was  two  years  of  age  when  his  mother 
died.  His  father  was  soon  after  married  again,  and 
he  remained  at  home  until  he  was  18  years  of  age, 
obtaining  a  common-school  education.  He  then  be- 
gan an  independent  life  as  a  farm  laborer  and  was 
employed  at  various  points  un'til  he  was  married  and 
settled  in  life. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Susannah  Zook, 
Nov.  21,  1861,  in  Greene  Township,  Franklin  Co., 
Pa.  She  was  born  there  Feb.  19,  1844,  and  is  the 
sister  of  Abraham  Zook,  of  whom  a  sketch  appears 
on  other  pages  of  this  ALB  UM.  She  is  the  child  of 
her  father's  second  marriage.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Diehl  five  children  have  been  born  :  Mahala  mar- 
ried Charles  Etter,  Dec.  25,  1879,  and  they  reside  in 
the  township  of  Hopkins,  and  have  three  children,  — 
Cora  M.,  Elmer  C.  and  Mabel  E.  Jacob,  Katie  A., 
Elnora  and  Oliver  are  living  at  home. 

The  family  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Illinois 
in  the  fall  of  1864,  and  they  located  on  the  farm  of 
which  they  have  since  been  the  occupants.  It  con- 
tained 120  acres  of  land  and  at  the  date  of  purchase 
was  partly  improved.  With  the  exception  of  about 
ten  years  this  has  been  their  residence,  and  the  place 
is  under  complete  improvements.  A  further  pur- 
chase of  So  acres  has  been  made,  and  the  farm  is  in 
excellent  agricultural  condition.  The  proprietor  is 
engaged  to  some  extent  in  dealing  in  live  stock. 


9 

/ 


A 


V 


Mr.  Diehl   is  a   Democrat  and  has  held  various 
/(3     offices.       The    entire   family    are    members   of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


Carles  A.  Griswold,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  one  of 

the  leading  physicians  of  Western  Illinois, 
and  the  oldest  resident  medical  practi- 
tioner of  Fulton,  was  born  in  Saybrook,  Conn., 
Nov.  24,  1830,  and  is  the  son  of  Selah  and 

<  Rosana  (Bull)  Griswold.  His  father  was  a 
descendant  of  the  Griswold  family  prominent  in  the 
early  history  of  Connecticut,  after  whom  Fort  Gris- 
wold was  named,  and  whose  membership  included 
one  Governor  of  the  State.  The  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Griswold  was  a  pensioner  of  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, while  his  father  was  a  pensioner  of  the  War  of 
1812-14. 

Charles  A.  received  his  primary  education  at 
Cheshire,  Conn.,  entered  Yale  College,  where  he  took 
a  regular  course,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1852. 
He  took  two  courses  of  medical  lectures  at  Yale, 
and  spent  three  years  in  study  in  connection  with 
the  State  Lunatic  Asylum,  at  Utica,  N.  Y.  He  fin- 
ished one  course  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  of  New  York  City,  and  received  the  de- 
gree of  M.  D.,  in  March,  1856,  from  the  last  named 
institution. 

He  came  to  Fulton,  111.  early  in  September,  1856, 
and,  unlike  most  young  physicians,  he  entered  upon 
a  successful  practice  almost  immediately.  He  pur- 
sued his  profession  at  Fulton  till  October,  1862, 
when  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Government,  in 
the  late  war,  as  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  93d  Regi- 
ment, 111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  was  in  the  Yazoo  Pass  ex- 
pedition, in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  entered  the 
city  after  its  surrender,  remaining  there  till  Septem- 
ber. He  was  at  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  and 
followed  Sherman  in  his  celebrated  march  to  the 
sea.  He  was  detailed  for  special  duty  on  many  oc- 
casions, and  in  December,  1864,  he  was  prompted 
to  Regimental  Surgeon  of  the  93d.  He  served  in 
the  1 5th  and  i7th  Army  Corps,  till  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  in  July,  1865,  having 
served  three  years,  without  meeting  with  a  casualty, 
or  failing  for  a  day  to  be  on  hand  for  duty.  While 
he  endured  many  hardships  incident  to  army  life, 


his  experience  gained  on  the  field,  especially  in 
surgery,  has  amply  repaid  him.  In  fact,  his  term  of 
service  in  the  late  war  marks  an  epoch  in  his  life,  of 
which  he  may  well  be  proud,  while  the  vivid  recol- 
lection of  the  scenes  through  which  he  passed,  often 
terrible,  and  sometimes  humorous,  will  always  supply 
interesting  matter  for  retrospection. 

After  his  return  from  the  war,  the  Doctor  resumed 
his  practice  at  Fulton,  and  has  steadily  advanced  to 
an  honorable  position  in  his  profession. 

He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Union 
Medical  Society,  of  Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  and  Clinton 
Co.,  Iowa,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Whiteside 
County  Medical  Society.  He  was  appointed  Dele- 
gate to  the  American  Medical  Association,  which 
convened  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  in  June,  1882- 
He  was  connected  with  the  Northern  Illinois  College 
three  years,  during  which  time  he  lectured  on  Physi- 
ology, Anatomy  and  Hygiene.  He  was  appointed 
Examiner  of  Pensions,  on  his  return  from  the  war, 
and  has  held  that  position  continuously  since.  He 
has  held  various  local  offices,  having  served  as  May- 
or of  Fulton  in  1868,  Supervisor  of  Fulton  Township 
two  terms,  and  three  terms  as  School  Director. 

He  has  been  a  Freemason  many  years,  and  is  a 
member  of  Fulton  City  Lodge,  No.  1 89,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  which  he  has  been  Master  four  years. 

Dr.  Griswold  was  married  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  July 
5,  1866,  to  Miss  Alice  E.  Smith.  They  had  four 
children,  three  daughters  and  one  son,  namely : 
Marietta  Alice ;  Joe  Adelaide,  born  March  8,  1870, 
died  Sept.  30,  1870;  Henrietta  Beaumont;  Charles 
Richard,  born  Dec.  i,  1874,  died  July  19,  1875. 

Marietta  and  Henrietta,  his  surviving  children, 
are  attending  school  at  Cleveland,  under  the  care,  of 
relatives.  Mrs.  Griswold  died  Dec.  10,  1874.- 

The  Doctor  has  been  addicted  to  literary  pursuits, 
more  or  less,  as  the  spirit  moved  him,  and  has  been 
a  liberal  contributor  to  the  local  press.  At  one  time 
he  was  associate  editor  of  the  Fulton  Advertiser,  a 
Republican  paper  of  this  city,  since  changed  to  the 
Journal.  He  is  a  terse  and  expressive  writer,  whose 
articles  are  always  of  interest,  on  whatever  subject 
he  may  touch.  In  politics  he  is  a  "  stalwart  Repub- 
lican." He  has  always  taken  a  .lively  interest  in 
politics,  and  has  done  good  service  for  the  party. 
He  has  been  a  delegate  to  many  local  conventions. 

There  is  one  episode  in  the  Doctor's  life  that  he 


<J   VV. 
WHJTESIDE  COUNTY. 


I! 
(§, 


will  never  forget,  and -from  the  effects  of  which  he 
will  never  fully  recover.  He  was  returning  from 
Connecticut,  where  he  had  been  to  attend  the  funeral 
of  his  father,  who  died  in  his  971)1  year,  and  was  a 
passenger  on  the  ill-fated  train  that  made  the  fearful 
plunge  through  the  Ashtabula  bridge,  Dec.  29,  1876, 
a  distance  of  140  feet,  to  the  river  below!  He  was 
taken  from  the  wreck  in  an  insensible  condition,  but 
with  whole  bones.  He  is  satisfied  that  one  such  ex- 
perience in  a  lifetime  is  enough. 


/jj'|[[  Ifred  H.  Daniel  is  a  prominent  agricultur- 
ist of  Whiteside  County,  and  is  a  citizen  of 
Clyde  Township,  where  he  is  located  on 
section  21.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county, 
having  been  born  in  Jacobstown,  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township,  June  15,  1842,  and  was  one  of  the 
first  white  children  who  began  life  in  Whiteside 
County.  His  father,  Henry  Daniel,  was  a  miller  by 
profession,  and  was  born  in  England.  In  early  life 
he  emigrated  thence  to  Canada,  where  he  married 
Lydia  Hollenhead,  and  lived  a  considerable  time 
with  his  family  in  Ontario.  The  father  was  the 
operator  there  of  a  wa'er-power  grist-mill,  which  he 
managed  some  time,  and  afterwards  became  the 
owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Clyde  Township. 
Later  he  went  to  Houghton,  on  the  Mississippi  Riv- 
er, in  Iowa,  where  he  operated  as  a  miller  until  his 
death  about  the  year  1848.  The  mother,  so  far  as 
known,  was  born  in  the  province  of  Ontario,  where 
she  was  brought  up  and  educated.  Her  death  took 
place  in  the  township  of  Clyde  about  the  year  1857. 
The  son,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  lived 
with  his  mother  until  her  death.  He  was  then  15 
years  of  age,  and  he  entered  the  family  of  a  man 
named  Dent,  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship of  Clyde,  who  is  still  living.  Mr.  Dent  released 
him  from  his  obligations  to  himself,  when  he  was  20 
years  of  age,  and  he  passed  some  time  in  general  farm 
labor.  The  first  event  of  any  importance  was  his 
marriage  Feb  12,  1866,  to  Cynthia  Mutart,  who  was 
born  in  Canada,  and  came  after  reaching  woman- 
hood to  Whiteside  County,  where  she  found  a  home 
with  her  relatives.  She  was  of  mixed  French  and 
English  extraction,  and  died  Aug.  9,  1871,  in  Clyde 
Township.  Ol  this  marriage  two  children  were  born, 


as  follows  :  Lydia,  Oct.  9,  1867  ;  and  Ora,  Oct.  16, 
1869.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Daniel,  to  Mrs. 
Jennie  (Schwarer)  Lay,  occurred  Jan.  31,  1878,  in 
Ustick  Township.  She  is  the  daughter  of  John  V. 
and  Marie  (Oberacker)  Lay.  Her  parents  were 
born  respectively  in  Prussia  and  Bavaria,  and  were 
both  of  German  ancestry.  Mrs.  Daniel  was  born 
Oct.  25,  1855,  in  Germany,  and  when  she  was  six 
years  of  age  emigrated  with  her  parents  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
The  father  died  there  in  1864,  of  quick  consump- 
tion, and  the  death  of  the  mother,  of  the  same  dis- 
ease, occurred  in  1866.  The  daughter  was  n  years 
of  age  when  she  was  wholly  orphaned,  and  she  was 
cared  for  by  strangers  until  she  was  married  to 
Harry  K.  Lay,  that  event  occurring  July  29,  1874. 
She  became  the  mother  of  one  child,  Roswell  L., 
born  Aug.  1 6,  1875.  At  the  time  of  her  second 
marriage  she  was  a  resident  of  Clyde  Township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  have  three  children,  born  as 
follows:  Bertha  L.,  Nov.  29,  1878;  Reuben  H.,  May 
17,  1882  ;  and  Alfred  D.,  Sept.  12,  1884. 

After  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Daniel  located  on  the 
homestead  of  his  father,  where  he  had  control  of 
one-fifth  of  the  estate  for  some  time,  and  later  pur- 
chased the  interests  of  the  other  heirs.  He  owns 
170  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  well  improved, 
fenced,  stocked  and  supplied  with  good  buildings, 
among  which  is  one  of  the  best  stock  and  grain 
barns  in  the  county.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
never  aspired  to  the  honors  of  official  life. 


,ornelius  Springer  is  a  farmer  on  section 
33,  Ustick  Township,  and  the  son  of 
"^  Jacob  H.  and  Hannah  (Davoe)  Springer. 
His  parents  were  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  in  1866  came  to  Whiteside  Coun- 
ty, locating  in  Union  Crove,  where  the  father 
died,  Aug.  26,  1876.  The  mother  still  lives  in  Union 
Grove  Township.  Their  children,  who  numbered 
1 2,  were  named  :  Clarinda,  Henry,  Jacob,  Corne- 
lius, Daniel,  Eleanor  C.,  Lavina  E.,  Martin,  Wynard, 
John  G.,  Alonzo  and  Alexander. 

Mr.  Springer  was  born  Oct.  9,  1830,  in  Herkimer 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  obtained  his  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  since  the  beginning  of  his  life  of  active 


. 


t 

I 

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i 


> 


: 


( 

i 


independence,  he  has  been  occupied  chiefly  with 
agricultural  pursuits,  although  he  has  given  some 
attention  to  the  business  of  a  carpenter.  In  1860 
he  left  his  native  State  to  engage  in  farming  in  Illi- 
nois, and  he  settled  in  Ustick  township,  where  he  is 
now  the  owner  of  155  acres  of  land.  He  also  owns 
640  acres  in  Dakota. 

Mr.  Springer  is  a  Republican  in  political  principle, 
and  accepts  the  doctrines  of  the  Prohibitionists.  He 
has  filled  the  offices  of  Road  Commissioner,  Col- 
lector, School  Director  and  Overseer  of  Highways. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Hiram  and 
Nancy  (Munger)  Stratton,  took  place  Oct.  28,  1852,  in 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  parents  came  in  1859  to 
Whiteside  County,  and  located  in  Ustick  Township. 
The  mother  died  in  November,  1876,  in  Morrison. 
The  father  is  still  living.  Their  children  are  Ada- 
line  E.,  Theresa  N.,  Mary  A.,  Calista  F.,  Ellen  L., 
Emeline  and  Celia.  Mrs.  Springer  was  born  Oct. 
23,  1831,  in  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.  Nine  children  have 
been  born  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Springer — Hiram 
A.,  Martin  J.,  Eleanor  T.,  Eber  D.,  Alonzo  J.,  Will- 
iam D.,  Grant  U.,  Herbert  and  J.  D.  Eber  is  not 
living.  i 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Springer  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  ;  also  their  sons,  Hiram  and 
Alonzo. 


;~ohn  H.  Wetzell,  farmer,  section  34,  Hume 
j?  Township,  is  a  native  citizen  of  Whiteside 
County,  having  been  born  April  20,  1857, 
in  Genesee  Township.  His  parents  had  a 
family  of  six  children.  He  is  the  youngest, 
and  also  the  only  son.  In  1865  the  family  re- 
moved to  the  township  of  Hume.  Mr.  Wetzell  was 
fond  of  study,  and  made  good  use  of  such  school 
privileges  as  the  times  afforded.  When  he  was  18 
years  of  age  he  put  his  education  to  practical  use  by 
teaching  in  "Genesee  Township.  He  supplemented 
his  stock  of  knowledge  by  attendance  at  five  local 
Normal  institutes.  He  passed  the  winters  of  five 
years  in  teaching,  and  worked  on  farms  summers. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  found  his  health  was 
suffering  from  confinement*  and  the  routine  of  the 
duties  attendant  upon  his  profession,  and  he  aban- 
doned it  to  mnke  a  specialty  of  agriculture.  He 

i  '*mi&*^'  ^ 


became  the  owner  of  his  father's  homestead,  and 
after  his  marriage  fixed  his  residence  thereon.  He 
is  now  the  owner  of  338  acres  of  land,  chiefly 
under  a  good  order  of  cultivation,  and  furnished 
with  convenient  and  well-built  structures  suited  to 
the  necessities  of  the  farm.  He  is  in  accord  with  the 
tenets  of  the  Republican  faith,  and  is  at  present  a 
Township  Trustee. 

On  the  i4th  day  of  June,  1881,  his  marriage  to 
Katie  Horlacher  took  place.  She  was  born  Nov.  26, 
1859,  in  Genesee  Township,  and  is  the  daughter  ot 
Godfrey  Horlacher,  of  whom  a  personal  narration  is 
given  in  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wetzell  have  two 
children,  who  were  born  as  follows  :  David  A.,  May 
1 6,  1882,  and  Emma  E.  Oc.t.  30,  1884. 

Mr.  Wetzell  is  a  member  of  the  Wesleyan  Metho- 
dist Church,  with  which  he  has  been  connected  since 
he  Tvas  1 1  years  old. 


acob  W.  Hollinshead,  a  farmer  in  Ustick 
Township,  located  on  section  7,  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Betsey  (Rush)  Hollinshead,  of 
whom  a  personal  sketch  is  given  elsewhere, 
with  that  of  Joshua  Hollinshead.  They  died 
in  Ustick  Township,  respectively  in  March, 
1843,  and  in  June,  1863.  Their  children  were 
named  Joshua,  Julia  A.,  Jacob  W.,  Daniel,  Lydia, 
Charles,  Mary  and  Emily. 

Mr.  Hollinshead  was  born  Aug.  22,  1831,  in  Can- 
ada, and  he  was  about  nine  years  of  age  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Whiteside  County.  He  re- 
ceived the  advantages  of  the  common  schools,  and 
was  occupied  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  28 
years  of  age.  He  then  undertook  the  management 
of  the  homestead,  in  which  he  continued  two  years, 
and  after  that  bought  94  acres  of  land  situated  on 
sections  7  and  8,  in  Ustick  Township.  On  this  he 
at  once  located  and  erected  the  buildings  which  he 
has  since  occupied  and  utilized  in  his  agricultural 
operations.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  about  217  acres 
in  the  county,  and  has  194  acres  under  good  tillage. 
In  political  connections  Mr.  Hollinshead  is  in 
sympathy  with  the  Democrats.  He  has  been  Con- 
stable three  years,  Collector  four  years,  Road  Com- 
missioner about  ten  years,  has  served  as  School 
Director,  and  in  the  spring  of  1885  was  elected  As- 


#!• 

1 

i 


\s 

*.  v 

i 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


sessor.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  and, 
with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

He  was  married  in  Mt.  Carroll,  111.,  Sept.  12,  1858, 
to  Jeannette,.  daughter  of  Orange  and  Margaret 
(Johnson)  Benton,  who  had  nine  children,  named  as 
follows :  Johnson,  Lafayette,  Rebecca,  Edwin,  Wil- 
lard,  Maria,  Jasper,  Jeannette  and  Emmett.  Mrs. 
Hollinshead  was  born  Feb.  n,  1837,  in  Chenango 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  to  her  and  her  husband  three  chil- 
dren have  been  born:  Ethel  L.,  Elizabeth  M.  and 
Frank  L. 


Augustus  N.  Mallory,  of  the  firm  of  Cavert 
&  Mallory,  proprietors  of  the  Sterling  Iron 
Works,   residence   on    Spruce  Street,  was 
born  June  7,  1846,  in  Canada,  his  parents  be- 
ing  L.   D.    and   Malinda    (Plumb)   Mallory 
natives  also  of  the  Dominion,  who  came  to 
Sterling  in  1859. 

Mr.  Mallory  received  a  common-school  education ; 
from  1863  to  1878  he  followed  the  printing  business, 
and  since  then  has  been  a  machinist.  In  1865  he 
enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  Union,  in  Co.  A,  341)1 
Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  engaged  in  the'battle  of 
Raleigh,  N.  C.  At  the  close  of  his  four  months' 
service  he  was  honorably  discharged.  In  his  polit- 
ical views  he  is  a  Republican;  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic. 

He  was  married  Nov.  4,  1873,  to  Miss  Josephine 
Adams,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  named  Bertha. 


ohn  C.  Parnham,  farmer,  section  27,  Us- 
tick  Township,  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Craven)  Parnham,  whose  family 
comprised  six  children,  five  of  whom  were 
younger  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  They 
were  born  in  the  order  in  which  their  names 
are  here  given  :  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Ann  (ist),  Charles 
and  Ann  (2d).  The  fourth  child  is  dead. 

Mr.  Parnham  was  born  in  England,  where  his  par- 
ents passed  their  entire  lives.  His  birth  occurred 
Nov.  1 1,  1836,  and  he  was  19  years  of  age  when  he 


came  from  his  native  country  to  the  United  States. 
He  located  in  Lyndon  Township,  Whiteside  Co., 
where  he  rented  farms  until  1867,  the  year  in  which 
he  removed  to  200  acres  which  he  had  purchased  in 
Ustick  Township,  and  where  he  fixed  his  homestead. 
He  was  married  in  Lyndon  Township  to  the  widow 
of  Alfred  Parnham,  Mrs.  Jane  (Ridley)  Parnham. 
Her  first  husband  died  June  5,  1860,  from  injuries 
received  in  the  tornado  of  June  3,  two  days  before. 
The  house  in  which  the  family  lived  was  torn  to 
atoms  by  the  fearful  storm  which  crossed  from  Iowa 
and  struck  the  western  side  of  Whiteside  County, 
just  at  evening  on  Sunday,  June  3,  1860.  The  two 
children — Charles  and  William  A. — were  in  bed,  and 
after  the  storm  had  passed  the  first  child  was  found 
dead  some  distance  from  the  house.  Mrs.  Parnham 
was  born  June  25,  1833,  in  England,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Rush)  Ridley, 
whose  family  included  six  children.  The  brothers 
and  sister  of  Mrs.  Parnham  are  John  R.,  Joseph, 
Matthew,  Charles  and  Elizabeth.  By  her  second 
marriage  Mrs.  Parnmam  has  three  children — Lydia 
A.,  Katie  M.  and  Gertie  A.  She  and  her  husband 
belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
Parnham  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  temperance  principle. 
He  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  third  year  as  Road  Commissioner. 


£  ohn  Sykes,  retired  farmer,  resident  on  sec- 
tion 1 8,  Clyde  Township,  is  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States  by  adoption,  having  been 
born  Nov.  14,  1818,  in  Huddersfield,  Yorkshire, 
England.  Charles  Sykes,  his  father-,  was  a 
craftsman,  and  worked  in  the  woolen  mills  ot 
Yorkshire.  Sarah  (Croft)  Sykes,  his  mother,  was 
born  in  England  and  was  reared  by  her  uncle,  her 
parents  having  died  when  she  was  an  infant.  She 
lived  all  her  life  in  her  native  country  and  died 
there.  After  her  demise  the  father  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  and  located  in  Scott  Co.,  Iowa, 
where  he  died,  in  Letare  Township,  about  1862, 
aged  73  years.  They  had  seven  children.  Four 
are  still  living,  of  whom  Mr.  Sykes  is  the  oldest. 

He  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  country, 
and  at  the  age  of  16  years  he  was  apprenticed  to 
learn  the  tnde  of  a  weaver,  in  which  he  was  occu- 


( 

v 


: 


©»*f- 


- 


LIUKARY 

UNIVERSITY  OK  ILLINOIS 
URIBANA 


••• 

• 


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) 


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» 
I 


pied  until  1841,  when  he  came  to  America  and  lo- 
cated in  the  State  of  New  York.  He  operated  as  a 
journeyman  weaver  for  some  years  in  various  parts 
of  the  State,  and  held  the  position  of  foreman  in 
several  factories.  He  managed  the  carpet  factory 
of  Higgins,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  seven  years,  and 
operated  also  at  Poughkeepsie  and  at  Haverstraw. 
He  next  engaged  in  the  management  of  a  carding- 
machine  for  Alexander  Smith  at  another  place  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  where  he  was  employed  one 
year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  came  West  to  es- 
tablish a  permanent  home,  and  located  on  400  acres 
of  land  in  Clyde  Township,  which  he  had  purchased 
a  year  previous  to  his  removal  hither.  He  was 
among  the  earliest  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
township,  and  at  the  date  of  his  taking  possession  of 
his  farm  neighbors  were  few  and  widely  scattered. 
Morrison  was  not  in  existence,  even  in  the  sanguine 
imagination  of  speculation.  Sterling  was  in  its 
swaddling  clothes.  Some  months  after  becoming  a 
resident  of  the  township,  in  company  with  a  brother, 
he  made  a  trip  with  ox  teams  to  Chicago.  He  had 
shipped  a  considerable  amount  of  personal  property 
from  the  East,  which  was  detained  for  want  of  trans- 
portation facilities.  The  time  was  early  September, 
and  the  heat  was  so  excessive  as  to  necessitate  night 
travel.  On  one  of  the  nights  just  preceding  their 
arrival  in  the  city,  an  Irishman  proposed  to  purchase 
one  of  the  teams.  Mr.  Sykes  mentioned  his  price 
and  the  Irishman  accepted  the  terms,  as  teams  were 
scarce  and  the  opportunity  to  purchase  a  good  team, 
even  at  extravagant  rates,  could  not  be  allowed  to 
pass. 

Mr.  Sykes  cultivated  an  ambition  to  convert  his 
farm  into  one  of  the  best  in  the  county.  He  is  now 
the  owner  of  380  acres,  which  includes  his  first  pur- 
chase of  1 60  acres.  The  entire  acreage  is  improved 
and  supplied  with  a  class  of  buildings  which  are  in 
fair  rank  with  the  best  in  the  county.  He  also  owns 
200  acres  in  Iowa,  which  is  under  good  improve- 
ments with  excellent  buildings.  He  is  also  engaged 
in  traffic  in  graded  cattle  and  other  classes  of  stock, 
and  is  dealing  in  them  to  considerable  extent. 

Mr.  Sykes  was  married  Nov.  29,  1843,  at  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  to  Susannah,  daughter  of  Richard  and 
Elizabeth  (Peterson)  Owens,  the  former  a  descendant 
of  Welsh  parents,  the  latter  of  German  ancestry,  and 
both  were  born  in  the  city  of  New  York.  On  the 
mother's  side  Mrs.  Sykes  is  a  descendant  of  John 


Paulding,  one  of  the  captors  of  Major  Andre.  Richard 
Owens  was  a  skillful  painter,  and  himself  and  wife 
passed  their  whole  lives  in  the  place  where  they  were 
born.  The  death  of  the  former  took  place  in  1822; 
that  of  the  latter  in  1840.  Mrs.  Sykes  was  born  Jan. 
5,  rSrs,  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Her  father  died 
when  she  was  seven  years  of  age,  and  she  was 
reared  by  her  mother.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sykes 
seven  sons  and  daughters  were  born,  and  two  have 
died.  The  record  is:  Richard  married  Harriet 
Ridmon  and  they  reside  in  Iowa;  John  E!  is  the 
second  in  order  of  birth ;  Susannah  is  the  wife  of 
William  Smith,  and  they  are  farmers  in  Ustick 
Township;  Helen  is  an  accomplished  musician; 
William  H.  C.  is  conducting  the  agricultural  affairs 
of  the  homestead ;  Sarah  A.  and  Mary  E.  are  de- 
ceased. 

Mr.  Sykes  is  a  decided  Republican.     His  wife  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


ernon  Sanford  is  a  pioneer  of  Jordan  Town- 
ship of  1836,  and,  after  nearly  50  years' 
identification  with  the  development  of 
Whiteside  County,  is  living  in  retirement  on 
his  farm  on  section  i  of  the  township  where  he 
settled  in  its  earliest  period.  He  was  born 
April  4,  i8ro,  in  the  township  of  Middletown,  Dela- 
ware Co.,  N.  Y.  Cyrenius  Sanford,  his  father,  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  of  New  England  parentage,  and 
married  Anna  Hubbell.  Both  were  of  pure  Yankee 
lineage.  They  were  married  in  Connecticut,  and 
went  to  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  remained 
until  1834,  the  date  of  their  coming  to  Ogle  Co.,  111., 
where  they  were  among  the  earliest  settlers. 

Mr.  Sanford  is  the  sixth  of  his  parents'  children, 
andjie  lived  at  home  until  he  was  married.  Catherine 
Campbell  became  his  wife  Sept.  7,  1834.  She  was 
born  Nov.  18,  iSc;,  in  Dutchess  Co,  N.  Y.,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Rachel  (Martin)  Camp- 
bell. Her  parents  were  natives  of  the  State  of  New 
York  and  were  farmers.  They  moved  to  Delaware 
County,  where  her  father  died.  Her  mother  after- 
wards came  to  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  where  she  spent  the 
closing  years  of  her  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanford  located  on  section  i,  Jordan 
Township,  Nov.  8,  1836.  They  came  direct  from 


V§> 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


the  town  of  Middletown,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y., 
They  bought  320  acres  of  land,  chiefly  located  on 
section  i.  They  lived  at  first  in  a  pioneer's  cabin, 
built  of  logs  in  primitive  style,  which  they  abandoned 
in  a  very  few  years  to  take  possession  of  the  first 
frame  house  built  in  the  township,  erected  by  the 
proprietor.  The  entire  property  of  Mr.  Sanford  is 
under  improvement,  including  204  acres  which  he 
owns  in  Jordan  Township  and  101  in  Ogle  County. 

In  1848  the  ancient  .village  of  Sanfordville,  which 
was  named  for  Mr.  Sanford,  was  laid  out,  but  is  now 
in  decay. 

The  following  record  is  that  of  the  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sanford:  Mary  Jane  was  born  Feb.  5,  1837, 
and  married  Edwin  Wolcot  Dec.  13,  1854.  She  died 
March  25,  1861.  Nancy  was  born  April  15,  1839, 
and  was  married  Oct.  22,  1857,  to  Gilbert  Finkle. 
(See  sketch.)  Rachel  A.  was  born  Oct.  12,  1852, 
and  died  Dec.  4,  1855.  Mrs.  Sanford  belongs  to  the 
Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Sanford  is  a  Democrat  in 
political  faith. 

Probably  the  familiar  features  of  no  pioneer  of  the 
county  will  be  more  welcomed  within  this  ALBUM  by 
the  people  of  Whiteside  County  than  those  of  this 
venerable  man ;  and  accordingly  a  lithographic  like- 
ness of  him  is  given  upon  a  page  in  proximity. 

avid  Cowan,  farmer,  section  27,  Ustick 
Township,  has  been  a  citizen  of  Whiteside 
County  since  June,  1854.  He  is  the  son 
of  Robert  and  Mary  (Sellers)  Cowan,  and  his 
parents  were  born  and  died  in  Scotland.  Their 
seven  children  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
William,  Mary,  Robert,  Adam,  John,  David  and 
Elizabeth. 

Mr.  Cowan,  the  youngest  son,  was  born  June  22, 
1822,  in  Scotland.  He  was  educated  in  the  parish 
school  near  his  early  home,  and  he  was  a  farmer  on 
his  native  heather  until  1854.  In  June  of  that  year 
he  bade  a  final  farewell  to  the  land  'of  his  birth,  and 
on  reaching  Whiteside  County  went  to  the  township 
of  Union  Grove,  where  he  remained  ten  months.  He 
went  next  to  Clyde  Township,  where  he  passed  a 
similar  period,  working  by  the  month.  In  1857  he 
located  where  he  has  since  lived  and  managed  his 
farm,  which  comprises  123  acres  in  tillage. 

Mr.  Cowan  was  married  April  10,  1857,  in  Union- 

^€^ — ^7 


ville,  Union  Grove  Township,  to  Agues,  daughter  of 
Archibald  and  Agnes  (Wilson)  Taylor.  She  was 
born  April  25,  1822,  in  Scotland,  which  was  also  the 
native  land  of  her  parents.  Robert  S.,  Archie  T., 
Mary  A.,  Lizzie  W.  and  Margaret  B.  are  the  names 
of  the  children  of  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cowan  have 
been  the  parents.  The  youngest  daughter  died 
when  five  years  old.  The  parents  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Cowan  is  a  Nationalist  in  political  sentiment ; 
in  temperance  principle  he  is  a  prohibitionist.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  School  Director  three  years. 

Mrs.  Cowan  had  ten  brothers  and  sisters,  born  as 
follows  :  Robert  (ist),  Elizabeth,  John,  Robert  (2d), 
Agnes,  Archibald,  James,  Margaret  (ist)  Gilbert, 
Margaret  (ad)  and  Mary.  Five  of  the  above  only 
are  now  living,  all  of  whom  are  residing  in  the  United 
States. 


ohn  P.  Hey,  general  farmer,  section  23, 
Jordan  Township,  was  born  Feb.  n,  1856, 
in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  His  parents, 
Jacob  and  Klementina  (Dal)  Hey,  were  born 
respectively  in  Bavaria  and  Baden,  Germany. 
She  is  a  sister  of  Dr.  Jacob  Dal,  of  Chicago. 
They  came  to  America  in  early  life,  and  were  mar- 
i  ried  in  Poughkeepsie.  Their  son,  who  is  the  sub- 
Iject  of  this  sketch,  was  but  two  months  old  when 
\  they  removed  to  Illinois.  The  mother  was  a  second 
i  wife,  and  Mr.  Hey  is  the  oldest  child  of  the  later 

•  marriage.     The  family  settled  in  Lee  Co.,  111.,  near 
|  Gap    Grove,    in    Palmyra  Township.     Later,   they 
!  came  to    Whiteside    County    and    the    father    pur- 

•  chased  80  acres  of  land  on  section  23,  Jordan  Town- 
ship (1858),  which  is  now  the  residence  of  Mr.   Hey, 
of  this  sketch. 

The  latter  was  reared  at  home  and  educated  at 
!  the  public  schools.     At  21,  he  worked  for  his  father 
:  by  the  month,  and  in  the  next  year  he  became  the  • 
husband  of  Elizabeth  Baer,  to  whom  he   was  mar- 
ried Feb.  26,  1878.     She  is  the  daughter  of  Martin 
Baer,  of  whom  a  sketch    is  given    elsewhere.     She 
was  born  Jan.  2,   1854,  in   Manor  Township,  Lan- 
caster   Co.,    Pa.     When    she    was   little  more  than 
three  years  of  age,  hpr  parents  came  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  Jordan  Township,  where  she  has  lived  and 


E3 
$ 


» \ 


•>.  f 


obtained  her  education.  To  her  and  her  husband 
three  children  have  been  born,  as  follows:  Mary 
A.,  March  14,  1880;  Clement,  March  8,  1882  ;  Henry, 
March  8,  1884. 

Since  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hey  have 
lived  on  the  Hey  homestead.  The  former  has  be- 
come a  prominent  agriculturist.  He  first  purchased 
100  acres  of  land  on  section  22,  adjoining  the  home- 
stead. Later,  he  bought  the  i6o-acre  homestead 
on  sections  23  and  26,  and  the  entire  tract  is  under 
an  excellent  order  of  tillage.  Mr.  Hey  is  engaged  in 
raising  horses,  cattle  and  hogs,  and  buying  and  feed- 
ing cattle.  He  is  a  Republican  in  political  prefer- 
ence. 


) 


}  arcellus  Kidder,  is  a  prominent  and  en- 
^,  terprising  farmer  of  Jordan  Township, 
and  is  located  on  section  14,  where  he 
owns  a  large  farm  comprising,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  acreage  on  sections  u  and  15, 
300  acres  in  a  solid  body.  It  is  all  well  im- 
proved and  supplied  with  fine  farm  buildings.  Mr. 
Kidder  is  also  succassfully  engaged  in  raising  stock. 

He  was  born  Sept.  8,  1840,  in  Bristol,  Grafton 
Co.,  N.  H.  Benjamin  Kidder,  his  father,  was  a 
native  of  the  same  place,  and  was  a  descendant 
from  a  family  who  came  to  America  during  the 
Colonial  period,  and  were  participants  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution. 

Benjamin  Kidder  married  for  his  second  wife,  Mary 
Doton,  whose  father,  Ephraim  Doton,  was  born  in 
New  Hampshire,  and  was  of  English  lineage,  his 
progenitors  having  come  to  America  previous  to 
the  war  for  Colonial  independence.  The  first  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Dodge,  was  also 
born  in  New  Hampshire  and  bore  three  children. 
One,  named  Adniram,  is  still  living,  in  O'Brien  Co., 
Iowa.  Of  the  second  marriage,  three  children  were 
born  :  Electa  married  H.  Taylor  and  died  in  Powe- 
shiek  Co.,  Iowa,  June  9,  1878.  She  was  born  Nov. 
15,  1837.  Nelson  B.  is  a  farmer  in  Ogle  Co.,  111. 

Mr.  Kidder  's  parents  came  West  when  he  was  15 
years  old,  in  1856.  They  located  on  section  n, 
on  a  farm  containing  160  acres  of  land,  where  soil 
had  never  seen  the  implements  of  agriculture.  On 
this  place  the  family  lived  for  years,  the  son  re- 


maining at  home  until  he  was  married.  The  parents 
went  later  to  Ogle  County,  where  the  father  died, 
at  Woosung,  Aug.  6,  1883,  aged  88.  He  was 
an  active  and  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  The  mother  is  78  years  old. 

Mr.  Kidder  was  married  April  25,  187  r,  at  Dixon, 
Lee  Co.,  111.,  to  Ella  J.,  daughter  of  John  G.  and 
Hannah  B.  (Torcy)  Annan.  Her  father  was  of  Scotch 
lineage,  and  her  mother  descended  from  parents  of 
English  extraction.  They  were  natives  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  were  married  in  the  city  of  Man- 
chester. Mrs.  Kidder  was  born  Sept.  2,  1848,  in 
Grafton,  N.  H.  She  was  reared  and  educated  prin- 
cipally in  that  county  and  completed  her  studies  at 
New  Hampton  Institute.  When  she  was  18  years  of 
age,  she  began  teaching  and  made  that  her  occu- 
pation until  1869,  when  she  came  to  Ogle  County. 
She  is  the  mother  of  two  children.  Ida  L.  was  born 
May  9,  1875  ;  Royce  A.  was  born  July  8,  1878. 

Mr.  Kidder,  at  the  outset  of  his  married  life,  lo- 
cated on  80  acres  of  the  homested  of  his  father, 
which  is  now  included  in  his  estate.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  political  persuasion. 


eorge  W.  Allen,  deceased,  came  to  White- 
side  County  in  1869,  and  located  on  sec- 
tion 4  of  "  township  20,  range  6  east," 
now  Lyndon  Township.  Associated  with  his 
son,  A.  B.  Allen,  whose  biography  is  given 
elsewhere,  he  bought  547  acres  of  land  situ- 
ated on  sections  4,  9  and  1 6,  most  of  which  was 
already  improved.  Mr.  Allen  was  born  in  Skene- 
ateles,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  22,  1801.  His 
father  was  named  Ethan  Allen.  George  W.  grew  to 
manhood  in  his  native  county,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Sophronia  Besse,  in  1825.  She  was  born  in 
Westmoreland,  N.  Y.,  March  n,  1802.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Allen  bought  a  tract  of  land  in  Wales, 
situated  in  the  Holland  Purchase,  on  which  he  re- 
sided until  1844,  when  he  sold  and  came  to  Illinois. 
He  drove  the  entire  distance,  conveying  his  family 
and  portable  property  in  two  covered  wagons  drawn 
by  four  horses.  He  first  made  a  location  in  Du  Page 
County,  removing  in  1846  to  Kankakee  County,  and 
settling  in  the  township  of  Rockville.  He  bought  a 
soldier's  warrant  of  160  acres,  on  which  he  built  a 


*  .• 


frame  house  and  barn,  and  fenced  and  made  the 
usual  improvements.  He  sold  the  place  in  1868  for 
,*,  $45  per  acre.  He  came  to  Lyndon  in  the  spring  of 
1869,  and  was  a  citizen  of  that  township  until  his 
death,  July  21,  1884. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Allen  died  in  1850,  in 
Kankakee  County.  Her  successor  was  M^ry  Ann 
Kearns,  to  whom  Mr.  Allen  was  married  Aug.  4, 
1853.  The  record  of  the  children  of  the  first  mar- 
riage, five  in  number,  is  as  follows :  Albert  B.  is  the 
oldest,  and  a  personal  account  of  him  is  given  else- 
where in  this  volume;  Sarah  Ann  married  L.  G. 
Tubbs,  and  resided  for  a  number  of  years  in  Iowa; 
she  died  in  Kankakee,  while  visiting  in  that  city  ; 
Seymour  J.  lives  in  Kankakee ;  Mandane  married 
Milton  Bloom,  who  entered  the  military  service  of 
the  United  States  during  the  Civil  War,  and  died 
before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment.  His 
widow  lives  in  Lyndon  Township,  with  her  son, 
Bernard  Bloom.  Two  children  were  born  of  the 
second  marriage,  viz. :  Ethan  G.,  who  lives  in  Ten- 
nessee ;  and  Ada,  who  is  the  wife  of  W.  E.  Free- 
man, of  Lyndon  Township. 


. 
' 


-fr- 


-*H* 


ohn  Avery,  a  farmer,  section  16,  Portland 
?•  Township,  is  a  son  of  Milburn  and  Eliza- 
beth (Green)  Avery,  and  was  born  in  Wal- 
ton, Northamptonshire,  England,  May  29,  1809. 
His  parents  were  poor,  and  when  he  was  a  very 
small  boy  he  went  to  work  in  a  sack  factory  to 
turn  a  wheel  (or  spinning-wheel),  and  afterward  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Feb.  21,  1854,  he  emigrated  to 
this  country,  and  after  a  residence  in  New  York  State 
of  a  few  months,  he  came  in  the  fall  of  1854  to  the 
township  of  Portland,  this  county,  with  no  means  in 
his  possession.  He  rented  a  few  years  and  then 
bought  75  acres  where  he  now  resides ;  but  at  pres- 
ent he  is  the  proprietor  of  135  acres.  For  the  last 
two  years  he  has  rented  his  farm  to  his  sons. 

Mr.  Avery  was  first  married  in  Huntingtonshire, 
England,  to  Elizabeth  Culpin,  and  by  that  marriage 
there  were  three  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  A,  died  in  the  old  country,  and  Mr. 
Avery  was  again  married,  in  that  country,  to  Hannah 
Coaten,  Oct.  22,  1838;  she  was  born  in  Helpstone, 
England,  Sept.  i,  1811.  By  this  marriage  there  were 


seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living.  The 
record  at  present  stands  as  follows:  James  is  a 
farmer  in  Portland  Township;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of 
Stanley  Fuller,  also  a  farmer  in  the  same  township; 
Martha  is  deceased ;  Ruth  is  the  wife  of  Silas 
Dickerson,  a  farmer  in  Nebraska;  John  is  a  resident 
of  this  township;  George  is  a  fanner  here,  and  Mil- 
burn  is  deceased. 


obert  Wallace,  Mayor  of  Morrison,  was 
born  June  17,  1841,  in  Lochwinnoch,  near 
Paisley,  Scotland.  His  parents,  William 
and  Margaret  (Dinsmore)  Wallace,  were  na- 
tives of  the  same  country,  and  the  father  was 
born  in  1812.  The  son  was  less  than  a  year 
old  when  the  family  emigrated  from  "  auld  Scotia  " 
to  the  New  World,  and  located  at  Newburg,  N.  Y., 
where  the  father  maintained  his  family  by  labor  in  a 
cotton  factory.  They  came  in  1851  to  Whiteside 
County,  and  located  in  Clyde  Township,  where  the 
father  bought  a  farm  of  120  acres.  On  this  Mr. 
Wallace  was  reared,  and  when  he  attained  to  the 
period  of  independent  manhood,  purchased  80  acres 
of  land  in  the  township  of  Ustick.  He  conducted 
its  agricultural  progress  for  four  years,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  that  time  came  to  Morrison,  where  he 
bought  the  hardware  business  of  W.  I,.  Robinson  & 
Bro.  He  became  associated  with  N.  S.  Forsting  in 
its  interests  and  relations,  and  they  managed  their 
affairs  jointly  about  two  and  a  half  years.  He  oper- 
ated alone  about  the  same  length  of  time,  after  which 
he  sold  the  business  to  its  original  proprietors. 

In  1879,  in  partnership  with  his  cousin,  William 
H.  Wallace,  he  established  a  private  banking  enter- 
prise at  Exeter,  Neb.  It  was  operated  as  a  private 
institution  until  February,  1884,  when  a  stock  com- 
pany was  formed,  and  the  establishment  was  con- 
verted into  the  National  Bank  of  Exeter,  with  Mr. 
Wallace  as  its  President,  which  position  he  still 
holds,  and  at  intervals  he  gives  its  affairs  his  per- 
sonal superintendence.  In  May,  1879,  he  was 
appointed  to  the  position  of  cashier  of  Smith  & 
Mackay's  Bank,  at  Morrison,  and  discharged  its 
obligations  until  July,  1884.  At  that  date  he  re- 
signed his  connection  with  active  business  interests. 
He  was  elected  Mayor  of  Morrison  in  the  spring  of 


a 


1883.       He 
Church. 

Mayor  Wallace  was  married  Oct.  10,  1866,  at 
Milledgeville,  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  to  Malinda,  daughter 
of  George  B.  and  Mary  M.  Dodd.  Mrs.  Wallace 
was  born  in  Ohio.  The  family  includes  an  adopted 
daughter,  Julia  Wallace. 


acob  Smaltz  is  a  farmer  on  section  23,  Us- 
?  tick  Township.  He  was  born  in  Germany 
Nov.  9,  r8i4,  and  is  the  son  of  George  and 
Kalhrina  Smaltz,  who  were  also  natives  of 
Germany.  He  was  married  in  his  native  land, 
Sept.  25,  1846,  to  Anna  Fichter,  and  they  are 
now  the  parents  of  ten  children — Jacob,  Mathias, 
Anna,  Christiana,  Dora,  George,  Mary,  John,  Eliza 
and  William. 

Mr.  Smaltz  emigrated  with  his  wife  and  children 
to  the  United  States  in  1852.  He  went  first  to  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  10  years,  coming,  in  1862,  to  White- 
side  County.  Soon  after  his  arrival  in  Illinois  he 
bought  80  acres  of  land  in  Ustick  Township,  on 
which  he  has  since  lived.  He  has  exerted  the  thrift 
and  energy  which  make  continued  existence  possible 
in  his  own  country,  on  the  acres  which  he  owns  in 
Illinois,  and  has  shown  the  worth  of  one  man  in  the 
field  of  well  directed  effort.  The  habits  he  formed 
from  necessity  in  early  life  have  proved  resources  of 
profit  to  him  under  the  privileges  of  a  republic.  He 
is  now  the  owner  of  203  acres  in  VVhiteside  County 
and  1 60  acres  in  Iowa.  The  home  farm  displays 
buildings  of  an  excellent  and  valuable  type.  Polit- 
ically Mr.  Smaltz  is  a  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 


illiam  B.  Gsell,  farmer,  section   30,  Clyde 
Township,  was  born  Feb.    15,    1854,  near 
Chambersburg,    Franklin  Co.,  Pa.     Will- 
iam Gsell,  his  father,  was  a  farmer,  and  was 
also  a  native  of  the  State  of    Pennsylvania, 
where  he  attained  to  the  estate  of  manhood, 
A  and  married  Maria  Burkhart.     In   1864,  the  family 
)    removed  to  Clyde  Township,  where  they  settled  on 
y  section  30.     The  father  died  Sept.  8,  1881,  aged  61 


years.  He  was  the  proprietor  of  627  acres  of  land 
which,  upon  his  decease,  was  divided  among  his  1 1 
heirs.  His  death  occurred  in  Ustick  Township, 
where  the  mother  still  resides,  and  has  reached  the 
age  of  64  years. 

Mr.  Gsell  obtained  a  practical  common-school 
education,  and  passed  21  years  of  his  life  under  the 
guardianship  of  his  father.  The  two  years  subse- 
quent he  lived  with  his  oldest  brother.  He  was 
married  Oct.  7,  1879,  in  Sterling,  at  the  residence  of 
Rev.  J.  T.  Mason,  to  Katie  Wilson.  John  Wilson, 
her  father,  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  married  Jane 
Blue,  who  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia  of  Scotch  parent- 
age. They  were  married  in  Whiteside  County, 
whither  they  had  come  a  short  time  previous.  They 
were  thereafter  residents  of  Whiteside  County,  and 
were  among  the  agricultural  class.  The  father  died 
March  9,  1883,  in  Clyde  Township.  The  mother  is 
69  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Gsell  was  born  in  Clyde 
Township,  Nov.  9,  1861,  and  is  the  mother  of  one 
child,  Earl,  born  Aug.  18,  1882. 

After  the  event  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Gsell  located 
on  1 15  acres  of  land  on  section  30,  Clyde  Town- 
ship, and  has  every  prospect  of  a  sucessful  career 
as  a  farmer.  He,  is  a  Republican  and  has  held  sev- 
eral official  positions  in  the  township.  Both  himself 
and  wife  occupy  a  good  social  standing,  and  are 
generally  esteemed. 


.arrison  L.  Houghton,  farmer,  section  8, 
Ustick  Township,  is  the  son  of  Levi  and 
and  Clarissa  B.  (Jackson)  Houghton,  pio- 
neers of  1843  in  Whiteside  County,  whither 
they  came  from  their  native  county  of  Herki- 
mer  in  the  State  of  New  York.  They  passed 
the  first  year  in  Fulton  and  removed  thence  perma- 
nently to  Ustick  Township.  The  mother  died  there 
Oct.'  25,  1 86 1,  and  after  that  event  the  father  went 
to  Fulton,  where  he  is  now  a  resident.  Their  chil- 
dren were  named  Harrison  L.,  George,  Amelia  C., 
Samuel  N.,  Clarence  B.,  Sedate  W.,  Stewart  D. 

The  oldest  son  was  born  Dec.  i,  1831,  in  Herki- 
mer  Co,  N.  Y.,  and  he  was  12  years  old  when  he 
became  a  resident  in  Whiteside  County.  He  lived 
with  them  at  Fulton  and  has  continued  to  live  in 
Ustick  Township  since  1844.  He  is  now  a  promi- 
nent and  progressive  farmer,  and  owns  260  acres  of 


c 


c 
r. 


I 
\ 


/N 


land,  of  which  130  acres  is  in  excellent  agricultural 
condition.  In  his  political  affiliation  Mr.  Houghton 
is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  held  several  official 
township  positions. 

He  was  married  March  15,  1857,  in  Mt.  Carroll, 
Carroll  Co.,  Ill ,  to  Clarissa  A.,  daughter  of  Canfield 
and  Emily  (Sylvester)  Blodgett.  Her  father  and 
mother  were  natives  of  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
the  latter  died.  Her  father 'removed  in  the  spring  of 
1857  to  Whiteside  County,  and  located  in  the  town- 
ship of  Union  Grove.  He  died  March  10,  1877, 
in  Morrison.  The  nine  children  of  the  family  were 
born  in  the  following  order :  Rufus  K.,  Clarissa  A., 
Sylvester  S.,  Jennie  M.,  Douglass  D.,  Emily  L, 
Harrison  H.,  Guvera  M.  and  Phebe  E.  Mrs. 
Houghton  was  born  July  2,  1831,  in  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y.  Of  two  children  born  to  herself  and  her  hus- 
band, only  Hattie  C.  is  living.  Emily  died  Jan.  25. 
1 86 1,  aged  three  years. 


>a  M.  Abbott,  farmer,  section  32,  Ustick 
Township,  has  been  prominent  in  the  affairs 
of  his  township  since  his  removal  hither. 
He  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Dorcas  (Noyes) 
Abbott,  and  his  parents  were  born  in  New 
Hampshire.  In  1848  they  came  to  Whiteside 
County  to  spend  their  remaining  years  with  their 
son.  The  father  died  Feb.  24,  1854,  at  the  residence 
of  the  latter  in  Ustick  Township,  when  67  years  of 
age.  The  mother  died  at  the  same  place  Feb.  27, 
1877,  at  the  greatly  advanced  age  of  92  years.  Their 
children  were  born  in  the  following  order :  Ephraim 
( i st),  deceased,  Susan  M.,  Ephraim  (2d),  Peter  G., 
Enoch  N.,  Asa  M.,  Laura  D.  and  Ruth  M. 

Mr.  Abbott  was  born  Nov.  16,  1820,  in  Hartland, 
Windsor  Co.,  Vt.  He  lived  in  his  na'ive  State  until 
he  was  14  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Massachu- 
setts to  learn  the  trade  of  a  machinist,  and  he  spent 
about  six  yea's  in  the  manufacture  of  shelf  hard- 
wire. He  went  next  to  Springfield  in  the  same  State, 
where  he  w.is  employed  in  the  arsenal  about  one 
year,  after  which  he  went  to  Richmond,  Ky.,  where 
he  spent  a  year  in  gunsmithing.  He  then  went  to 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  was  there  employed  at  his  trade 
about  two  years.  He  came  thence  to  Oquawka, 
Henderson  Co.,  111.,  where  he  opened  a  gunsmith's 
shop,  which  he  managed  about  three  years.  In 

*&>*— 


July,  1847,  he  came  to  Fulton,  111.  He  worked  at 
his  trade  about  six  months,  and  in  the  following 
spring  he  located  in  the  township  of  Ustick,  buying 
120  acres  of  land  on  section  32,  and  there  estab- 
lished his  homestead.  He  lias  erected  excellent 
buildings.  His  estate  includes  420  acres  of  land  in 
Whiteside,  some  timber  land  in  Carroll  County  and 
a  large  tract  in  Kansas.  Nearly  all  his  land  in 
Whiteside  County  is  in  tillage. 

Mr.  Abbott  was  married  Dec.  6,  1 846,  in  Oquawka, 
to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Jay  and  Mary  (Lamoret) 
Sperry.  Her  parents  were  born  respectively  in  Con- 
necticut and  New  York.  After  her  parents'  mar- 
riage they  went  to  Ohio,  where  they  remained  till 
1837.  They  came  thence  to  Hancock  Co.,  111., 
where  they  resided  till  they  went  to  Iowa,  as  stated. 
In  1846  they  moved  from  Illinois  to  Iowa  and  lo- 
cated at  Council  Bluffs,  where  they  remained  until 
the  termination  of  their  lives.  Their  children  were 
as  follows:  John,  Mary  A.,  Betsey,  Phebe,  Sarah, 
William,  Aaron,  Charles  and  Harrison.  Mrs.  Ab- 
bott was  born  Feb.  18,  1822,  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio. 
The  family  circle  now  includes  six  children, — Charles 
E.,  Jay  M.,  Theo.  S.,  Edward  L.,  William  L.  and 
Alfred  N.  Ruth  M.,  third  child,  died  of  lung 
fever  when  she  was  three  years  old.  She  was  not 
fully  grown  to  the  size  common  to  children  of  her 
age  and  was  considered  a  dwarf.  The  oldest  son 
was  educated  at  the  (then)  Military  College  at  Ful- 
ton, and  when  he  was  17  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in 
the  T47th  111.  Vol  Inf.,  and  was  in  the  military  ser- 
vice one  year  as  a  musician.  He  is  now  a  conductor 
on  the  Denver  &  Rio  Grande  Railroad.  J.  Morion 
is  a  farmer  in  Kansas.  Theo.  S.  was  graduated  at 
the  State  University  of  Illinois.  He  is  operating  as 
a  civil  engineer,  and  has  occupied  prominent  posi- 
tions at  different  points,  and  for  some  years  in  Mex- 
ico. Edward  L.  is  a  graduate  from  the  same 
institution  and  is  engaged  in  the  same  business,  in 
the  city  of  New  York.  William  L.  is  also  a  graduate 
from  the  University  of  Illinois,  and  is  a  mechanical 
engineer  in  Chicago.  Alfred  N.  was  also  graduated 
at  the  same  University. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Oa'tman,  the  eldest  sister  of  Mrs. 
Abbott,  was  murdered  by  the  Indians  in  Arizona 
while  on  the  way  to  Southern  California  in  1849.  A 
full  account  of  the  massacre  of  the  family  is  given 
elsewhere. 

Mrs.  Abbott  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


, 


rr 
«, 


• 


LIBRARY 

Of  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


(LL(NO(S 


II 


^>\r  V.  H  H  V*  H  H '  r~*f~ 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Abbott  has  been  a  Trustee  in  the  Methodist 
E])iscopal  Church  since  its  organization  in  1872  in 
Ustick  Township,  although  not  a  member.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Masonic  Order  and  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  political  opinions  and  connec- 
tions, was  in  earnest  sympathy  with  the  North  in  the 
Civil  War,  and  before  it  he  was  the  practical  friend 
of  the  fugitives  from  bondage,  to  whom  his  house 
was  open  for  protection  on  their  way  to  freedom. 


ohn  F.  Demmon,  located  on  section  4, 
Clyde  Township,  is  one  of  the  heaviest 
land-holders  in  the  county  of  Whiteside. 
He  was  born  April  15,  rSaS,  in  Windsor  Co., 
Vt.  Roswell  Demmon,  his  father,  was  a  far- 
mer, and  was  born  in  Hartford,  Vt.  His  lin- 
eage was  all  traceable  in  America,  through  descend- 
ing generations  from  English  ancestors,  who  came 
from  the  mother  country  at  an  early  period  of  Colo- 
nial history.  The  same  facts  pertain  to  the  record 
of  the  mother  of  Mr.  Demmon,  who  was  born  Ame- 
lia Farnsworth,  in  Woodstock,  Vt.  His  parents  died 
in  Hartford,  respectively  in  r855  and  1840.  They 
had  five  children. 

Mr.  Demmon  was  16  years  of  age  when  his 
mother  died,  but  he  remained  with  his  father,  at- 
tending the  schools  of  Hartford  until  1850.  At  the 
age  of  22  years,  he  made  the  beginning  in  his  single- 
handed  contest  with  life.  Coming  to  Belvidere,  111., 
he  entered  the  employment  of  Frink,  Walker  & 
Co.,  who  controlled  the  mail  routes  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  State.  He  acted  as  their  agent 
1  1  years,  operating  successfully  at  Belvidere,  Cherry 
Valley,  Rockford,  Freeport,  and  Warren,  and  later  at 
Galena.  The  completion  of  lines  of  railroad  over 
his  accustomed  routes  put  an  end  to  his  connection 
therewith,  and  he  went  to  Madison,  Wis.,  where  he 
was  connected  with  another  branch  of  stage-route 
business,  acting  as  collector,  a  position  which  necessi- 
tated his  personal  examination  of  the  accounts  at  all 
stations.  He  had  some  unique  and  peculiar  ex- 
periences, one  of  which  was  his  visit  in  December, 
1855,  to  Sunrise  City,  an  extreme  northern  post, 
where  the  cold  was  so  intense  as  to  freeze  the  mer- 
cury. In  1853  he  had  entered  a  claim  of  land  in 
Clyde  Township,  of  which  he  took  possession  in 


1  86  1.  It  comprised  800  acres  of  land  and  was  en- 
tirely guiltless  of  acquaintance  with  the  implements 
of  the  agriculturist.  The  history  of  Mr.  Demmon's 
connection  with  the  development  of  the  farming  re- 
sources of  the  township  and  county  of  which  he  is  a 
resident,  is,  practically,  the  oft-told  tale  of  the  pioneer 
of  the  prairies.  The  degree  of  his  success  is  com- 
mensurate with  his  plans  and  purposes,  and  the 
quality  of  his  efforts,  tk  owns  840  acres  in  Clyde 
Township,  and  240  acres  connected  therewith  in  an 
adjacent  part  of  Carroll  County.  He  is  also  the 
owner  of  320  acres  in  the  northern  part  of  the  same 
county,  —  in  all  1,400  acres  of  farming  land  of  valu- 
able character.  On  his  home  estate  are  fine  build- 
ings suited  to  the  business  of  the  place,  and  a  large 
residence.  He  markets  annually  200  cattle,  and 
makes  specialties  of  raising  Cotswold  sheep  and 
Short-Horns.  He  is  also  raising  thoroughbred 
Hambletonian  colts. 

His  marriage  to  Eliza  A.  Van  Patten  took  place 
Dec.  20,  1864,  at  Chicago,  and  they  have  been  the 
parents  of  five  children,  one  of  whom  is  no  longer 
living.  Charles  R.,  John  B.,  Rose  and  Stephen  are 
the  names  of  those  who  survive,  and  the  family  are 
resident  at  Mt.  Carroll  to  obtain  the  benefit  of  the 
educational  institution  at  that  place. 

Mr.  Demmon  is  a  Republican  of  active  and  de- 
cided type.  He  has  little  affinity  for  the  honors  of 
official  life,  but  has  offiiciated  through  one  term  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace. 


aron  Young,  a  farmer  of  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township,  resident  on  section  12,  was  born 
Aug.  r,  1830,  in  Benton,  Columbia  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Ann  (Peter- 
man)  Young.  The  former  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  the  latter  was  born  in  Pennsylvnia, 
where  their  marriage  took  place  and  where  they  lo- 
cated and  reared  their  family.  The  father  died  in 
the  Keystone  State,  and  the  mother  has  never  left 
the  place,  where  all  her  life  has  been  spent.  Their 
seven  children  were  named  Thomas  W.,  John  K., 
Amanda,  Mercy  A.,  Aaron,  Sarah  and  Abraham  P. 
All  attained  to  adult  age. 

When  he  was  of  age  Mr.  Young  came  West.     He 
left  his  native  State  in  the  spring  of  1852,  and  lo- 


-.' 


470 


COUNTY. 


4* 

i 


cated  at  Dixon,  Lee  Co.,  111.,  where  he  remained  until 
his  removal  from  there  to  VVhiteside  County,  an  event 
which  occurred  in  the  spring  of  1859.  He  then 
engaged  iii  farming,  and  about  1863  he  purchased 
120  acres  of  land  on  section  12,  where  he  established 
his  homestead,  and  has  since  maintained  his  resi- 
dence there.  He  has  added  53  acres  by  subsequent 
purchase,  constituting  an  estate  of  173  acres,  on 
which  he  has  erected  fine  farm  buildings. 

Mr.  Young  was  educated  primarily  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county,  and  also  passed 
nearly  two  years  in  study  at  Rock  River  Seminary, 
after  coming  to  Lee  County.  He  taught  several 
terms  of  school  while  living  at  Dixon,  and  he  also 
worked  as  a  carpenter  during  his  residence  there. 

He  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Sterling,  111.,  April 
i,  1858,  to  Rhoda  E.  Gardner,  and  their  family  of  six 
children  are  named  Lester  C.,  Helen  A.,  Mary  E., 
Dora  A.,  Clara  M.  and  Marcia  L.  Mrs.  Young  was 
born  April  4,  1834,  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Asahel  and  Rebecca  (Colvin)  Gardner, 
the  former  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  the  latter  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  had  four  children, — Almira, 
Adaline,  Esther  and  Rhoda.  Mrs.  Young  attended 
the  district  schools  of  her  native  county  until  she  was 
1 5  years  of  age,  and  after  that  she  was  a  student  about 
two  years  at  Madison  Academy  in  Luzerne  County. 
After  completing  her  education  she  engaged  in  teach- 
ing, with  successful  results,  and  was  occupied  in  that 
vocation  until  her  marriage.  She  came  to  Whiteside 
County  in  1857. 

Mr.  Young  affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  has  acted  in  several  official  positions  in  his 
township. 

His  portrait  and  that  of  his  estimable  wife  appear 
on  previous  pages.  The  photographs  from  which 
they  were  copied  were  taken  in  1885. 


•j 

[Ibert  B.  Allen,  a  substantial  farmer  and 
prominent  citizen  of  Lyndon,  was  born 
Nov.  1 8,  1826,  in  the  town  of  Benningtori, 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  When  he  was  17  years  old 
he  accompanied  his  parents  (see  sketch  of 
George  W.  Allen)  to  Illinois,  and  he  remained 
a  member  of  the  parental  household  until  he  became 
himself  the  head  of  a  family.  He  was  married  Nov. 
25,  1852,  to  Ann  M.,  daughter  of  Alexander  and 

^mug^jT^      ,c  '^^Do 


Maria.  (Bumpus)  Mann:  she  was  born  in  Richland 
Co.,  Ohio.  His  father  settled  in  the  township  of 
Rockville,  Kankakee  County,  and  he  bought  a  tract 
of  land  adjoining  the  paternal  homestead,  where  he 
was  a  resident  until  1866,  when  he  bought  an  im- 
proved farm  in  Iroquois  County.  After  two  years  he 
came  to  Lyndon  Township,  where  he  bought  land 
in  company  with  his  father.  He  has  improved  his 
property,  and  is  now  a  leading  agriculturist,  owning 
400  acres  of  land  in  most  excellent  agricultural  con- 
dition, with  valuable  buildings  suited  to  the  variety 
of  husbandry  to  which  the  farm  is  devoted.  In 
political  connection  and  views  Mr.  Allen  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

Sophronia,  Ida,  May,  Elmer,  Maud,  George,  Sadie 
and  Laura  are  the  names  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Allen. 


eorge  O.  Odlin,  of  Morrison,  was  born 
Aug.  26,  1823,  in  the  town  of  Exeter, 
Rockingham  Co.,  N.  H.  His  parents, 
James  and  Martha  (Osborn)  Odlin,  were 
natives  of  the  same  place.  The  founder 
of  the  family  in  the  United  States  was  born 
in  England.  He  is  prominent  in  the  colonial  his- 
tory of ,  Massachusetts,  from  the  fact  that  he  was 
one  of  the  original  owners  of  the  land  now  included 
in  Boston  Common.  The  Odlin  family  were  among 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  New  Hampshire,  and  were 
identified  with  the  days  of  first  things  in  the  Granite 
State.  Rev.  John  Odlin  became  the  Pastor  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  at  Exeter,  in  1706,  and 
retained  his  charge  until  he  was  succeeded,  in  1743, 
by  his  son,  Woodbridge  Odlin.  The  father  died  in 
1776.  The  ministry  of  the  son  covered  a  period  of 
47  consecutive  years,  and  the  combined  pastorate  of 
father  and  son  embraced  83  years. 

Elisha  Odlin,  son  and  brother  of  those  just  named, 
is  the  ancestor  in  a  direct  line  of  Mr.  Odlin  of  this 
sketch,  from  whom  the  latter  is  the  sixth  descend- 
ant. Elisha  Odlin  was  also  a  clergyman  in  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  was  Pastor  of  a  society 
at  Amesbury,  where  the  Quaker  poet,  John  G. 
Whittier,  lives.  Winthrop  Odlin,  great-grandson  of 
Elisha,  was  born  in  Exeter,  which  was  also  the  place 
of  nativity  of  his  son,  William  Odlin,  the  father  of 


.y. 

s 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


James.  William  Odlin  was  a  harness-maker  by 
calling.  James  Odlin  was  a  carriage  manufacturer 
at  Exeter,  where  he  was  born,  and  where  he  lived 
and  died.  The  maternal  great-grandfather  of  Mr. 
Odlin  was  named  Jewett,  and  he  was  a  member  of 
one  of  the  families  who  were  among  the  original  set- 
tlers of  Exeter.  The  Osborn  family  were  early  set- 
tlers at  Salem  and  Danvers,  Mass.,  where  they  are 
still  represented  by  their  descendants.  The  family 
of  William  included  five  sons  :  James,  William,  Jo- 
seph, Benjamin  and  Woodbridge.  They  were  all 
enterprising  and  successful  business  men  at  Exeter. 
They  were  prominent  in  current  affairs,  and  were 
Abolitionists  in  principle.  The  youngest,  Wood- 
bridge  Odlin,  endowed  Phillips  Academy,  at  Exeter, 
with  $20,000,  on  the  condition  that  10  students  from 
Exeter  should  be  made  the  beneficiaries  of  the  priv- 
ileges of  the  institution,  providing  that  there  should 
be  that  number  of  poor  and  worthy  applicant?. 

Mr.  Odlin  of  this  sketch  was  reared  at  Exeter. 
He  was  educated  principally  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  place  and  attended  the  Exeter  Academy 
several  terms.  He  was  17  years  old  when  he  went 
to  Concord  to  learn  the  printer's  trade,  and  was  in 
that  business  there  12  years.  In  1844  he  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  New  Hampshire  Statesman,  which 
was  and  is  now  published  at  Concord.  He  edited 
that  journal  seven  years,  and  sold  out  in  1851.  He 
continued  a  resident  at  Concord  and  Manchester 
until  1856,  when  he  went  to  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.> 
for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  the  milling  business, 
in  which  he  was  employed  until  1858.  In  that  year 
he  came  to  Union  Grove  Township.  He  bought  an 
improved  farm  on  section  5,  and  was  engaged  in  its 
management  until  i88r,  when  he  put  the  property 
into  the  charge  of  his  son,  and  removed  to  Morrison, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Sept.  9,  1846,  to 
Emma  P.  Dustin.  She  was  born  in  Francistown, 
Hillsborough  Co  ,  N.  H.,  and  is  a  lineal  descendant 
of  the  celebrated  Indian  captive,  Hannah  Dustin. 
The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Odlin  are  recorded  as 
follows:  William  was  born  Aug.  3,  1847,  and  died 
May  6,  1865  ;  George  F.  was  born  June  13,  1850, 
and  died  April  6,  1874;  Emma  C.  was  born  Aug.  30, 
1862,  and  died  July  i,  1884;  John  was  born  Jan.  17, 
1855,  and  married  Margaret  Entwhistle;  he  is  con- 
ducting the  affairs  of  his  father's  homestead ;  James 

•ay^e £*-±t 


was  born  June  14,  1859,  and  married  Flora  S.  Cor- 
bett;  they  live  at  Guernsey,  Iowa.  The  first  wife  of 
Mr.  Odlin  died  March  25,  1869.  He  was  a  second 
time  married  to  Harriet  A.,  nee  Fitz,  the  widow  of 
Jason  Childs,  who  died  during  the  war  in  the  mili- 
tary service  of  the  United  States.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  ist  New  Hampshire  Cavalry,  and  died  in 
prison  at  Florence,  S.  C.  She  was  born  Aug.  16, 
1836,  in  Chester,  Rockingham  Co.,  N. -H.,  and  has 
one  child,  Martha  G.  Odlin,  born  April  13,  1877. 


\f 

\ 

*.  ^f 
i& 


ohn  M.  Hughes,  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 7,  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  is  a  son  of 
Richard  T.  and  Mary  J.  Hughes.  He  was 
born  in  Genesee  Township,  this  county,  Aug. 
24,  1847.  The  education  of  Mr.  Hughes  was 
acquired  in  the  common  schools  of  this  county, 
and  his  years  were  spent  on  his  father's  farm  until 
about  1875.  He  then  removed  to  Ustick  Township, 
this  county,  resided  there  a  year  and  then  went  to 
Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  where  he  at  present  resides. 
He  is  the  owner  of  213  acres  of  land  in  the  latter 
township,  located  on  section  7,  and  about  115  acres 
of  the  same  is  in  a  good  tillable  condition. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  united  in  marriage  in  Garden 
Plain  Township,  Oct.  22,  1873,  to  Miss  Phebe  R. 
Thompson.  She  is  a  daughter  of  James  K.  and 

V© *4®^ «|*l^@ 


arren  Graves,  farmer,  section  26,  Ustick 
Township,  was  born  April  18,  1830,  in 
»_  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  1 1 
(>  years  with  his  parents,  David  L.  and  Polly 
Graves.  The  family  came  in  1841  to  Us- 
tick Township.  Both  parents  are  deceased. 
Mr.  Graves  is  the  only  survivor  of  four  children  born 
to  his  father  and  mother.  His  farm  comprises  120 
acres  of  land  in  a  tillable  condition. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  July  3,  1856,  at  Ster- 
ling, 111.,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Annan,  a 
pioneer  settler  in  Whiteside  County.  No  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graves,  but  they 
have  adopted  Hattie,  daughter  of  Henry  Canfield,  a 
resident  of  the  city  of  Morrison.  Mrs.  Graves  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


i 
f 


® 

- 

\ 

i 


Martha  (Kyle)  Thompson,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
They  came  to  this  county  in  1863  and  settled  in 
Garden  Plain  Township,  where  they  at  present  re- 
side. The  issue  of  their  union  was  nine  children, 
namely:  Margaret,  Eliza  J.,  John  R.,  Phebe  R., 
Sarah  E.,  Eva  M.,  Alice  E.,  James  A.  and  King  W. 
Mrs.  Hughes  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  Sept.  16, 
1853.  She  and  her  husband  are  the  parents  of 
three  children,  namely:  Herbert,  Perry  M.  and 
Emma.  Politically,  Mr.  Hughes  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party. 


rimothy  Martin,  deceased,  formerly  a  far- 
mer on  section  31,  Ustick  Township,  was 
born  Aug.  5,  1821,  in  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  brought  up,  and  lived  until  his 
removal  in  1853  to  Whiteside  County.  He 
was  the  proprietor  of  a  farm  in  Ustick 
Township,  which  contained  80  acres.  He  died  Oct. 
21,  1876,  and  his  widow  is  now.  the  owner  of  the 
homestead,  which  is  all  in  tillage. 

Mr.  Martin  was  married  March  8,  1843,  in  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Sally  C.  Paul.  Their  only  child, 
Luna  P.,  was  born  July  31,  1846,  in  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y.,.and  is  now  the  widow  of  Kendrick  Blodgett. 
She  resides  at  Morrison.  Mrs.  Martin  was  born 
April  4,  1823,  in  Middletown,  Vt.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


larence  B.  Houghton,  farmer,  on  section 
8,  Ustick  Township,  is  the  son  of  Levi 
and  Clarissa  B.  (Jackson)  Houghton,  who 
were  pioneers  of  1843  in  Whiteside  County, 
and  of  whom  as  full  a  sketch  as  possible  is 
given  with  that  of  H.  L.  Houghton.  Mr. 
Houghton  of  this  personal  narration  was  born  Nov. 
ii,  1848,111  the  township  where  he  is  now  iden- 
tified with  the  agricultural  class.  He  was  educated 
chiefly  in  the  common  schools,  and  later  went  to 
Bryant  &  Stratton's  Commercial  College  at  Chicago, 
where  he  spent  five  months.  With  the  exception  of 
six  months,  during  which  he  was  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  at  Fulton,  he  has  devoted  his  life  to  the 
pursuit  of  agriculture  and  raising  stock.  His  estate 


includes  300  acres  in  Ustick  Township,  of  which 
three-fifths  is  in  tillage.  Mr.  Houghton  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  has  served  in  several  official  positions. 

His  first  marriage  occurred  Dec.  n,  1872,  in  Car- 
roll Co.,  111.,  when  Jane  E.  French  became  his  wife. 
Her  parents,  Norman  and  Mary  (Dunsbee)  French, 
were  natives  of  Vermont.  The  latter  died  Dec.  n, 
1855,  in  Carroll  County.  Their  family  included 
three  children  :  Jane  E.,  Mary  E.  and  Mary  D. 

Mrs.  Houghton  died  Feb.  9,  1874.  Mr.  Hough- 
ton  was  a  second  time  married,  Oct.  5,  1876,  to 
Mary  D.  French,  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  they 
have  three  children:  Roy  I., Harry  F.,  and  an  infant 
son,  unnamed,  born  May  26,  1885. 


frin  Sholes,  resident  at  Morrison,  formerly  a 
farmer  and  merchant,  was  born  June  19, 
1808,  at  a  place  now  known  as  Chipman's 
Point,  in  Vermont,  and  included  within  the 
township  of  Orwell,  which  was  set  off  from 
Rutland  County  to  Addison  County  some 
years  since.  It  was  formerly  Sholes  Point,  and  is 
located  about  two  miles  south  of  the  old  fort,  Ticon- 
deroga,  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.  (The  outline  of  Lake 
Champlain  at  this  point  is  such  that  a  portion  lies 
due  south  of  the  fort.)  His  father,  Joseph  Sholes) 
was  born  June  T7,  1771,  and  married  Ann  Hull,  who 
was  born  Sept.  23,  1768.  Both  parents  were  born  in 
Connecticut.  Of  their  six  children,  Mr.  Sholes  is 
the  only  survivor.  His  mother  was  within  sight  of 
New  London,  Conn.,  when  it  was  taken  by  Arnold, 
and  her  brother,  who  was  in  the  fortifications,  per- 
ished, with  others,  only  one  person  escaping  with  his 
life. 

Mr.  Sholes  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  was  en- 
gaged in  agriculture  until  1841,  when  he  went  to 
North  Ferrisburg,  Addison  Co.,  Vermont,  and  opened 
a  mercantile  enterprise,  which  he  continued  to  man- 
age 13  years.  In  November,  1854,  he  came  West 
and  located  at  Unionville,  Union  Grove  Township, 
where  he  engaged  in  trade  in  hardware,  tinware,  etc., 
operating  at  that  point  until  1860.  In  that  year 
he  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  the  township  of  Union 
Grove,  located  on  section  29,  where  he  pursued 
his  agricultural  projects  until  187  i,  when  he  leased 
the  farm  and  removed  to  Morrison.  He  owns  his 




< 


»• 


residence,  a  dwelling  adjoining  and  three  lots  con- 
nected therewith,  besides  several  acres  lying  north  of 
the  village  in  the  township  of  Mt.  Pleasant.  He  also 
owns  320  acres  in  Dakota. 

Mr.  Sholes  was  first  married  Oct.  10,  1830,  in 
Orwell,  Vt.,  to  Caroline  Wicker.  They  had  n  chil- 
dren, of  whom  seven  are  still  living,  and  they  were 
born  in  the  following  order:  Lucy  P.  (Savage); 
Louisa  (Steer);  Chipman  W.  resides  in  Lincoln,  Neb., 
but  owns  and  runs  a  cattle  ranch  in  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory; Watson  W.,  a  stockman  in  Fredonia,  Kan.; 
Joseph,  a  farmer  in  Nebraska;  Royce,  a  tinner  in 
Fredonia,  Kan.;  Charlotte  is  now  the  wife  of  Eugene 
Steer,  of  Pierre,  Dak.;  Joseph  and  Rollin  C.  were 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  War,  and  enlisted  in  the  Eighth 
HI  Cav.  The  latter  died  while  in  the  military  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Sholes'  wife  died  at 
Hinesburg,  Vt.  He  was  a  second  time  married  in 
Lyndon  Township,  March  20,  1857,  to  Mrs.  Mary 
J  Loomis.  She  was  born  Oct.  i,  1825,  in  Lewis  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  by  her  first  marriage  had  three  children — 
Alice,  Sue  A.  and  Bert  Loomis.  The  older  daugh- 
ter is  the  wife  of  A.  W.  Hull,  a  railroad  conductor  in 
Minnesota.  The  son  is  a  merchant  in  Hannibal, 
Mo. 


"oh.n  Lawton,  farmer,  section  29,  Ustick 
Township,  is  the  only  son  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Campbell)  Lawton,  who  were  born 
in  England  and  lived  and  died  there.  The 
son  was  born  May  6,  1831,  in  England.  He 
had  -little  opportunity  for  education  save  from 
observation,  and  in  his  early  life  he  was  a  farmer 
and  gardener.  He  improved  an  opportunity  to  study 
the  art  of  a  veterinary  surgeon,  in  which  capacity  he 
has  operated  ever  since.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1859,  settling  primarily  in  Fall  River, 
Mass.,  where  he  operated  two  years  as  a  gardener. 
In  February,  1861,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County 
and  bought  60  acres  of  land  on  the  same  section 
where  he  has  since  been  a  resident.  His  estate  now 
includes  160  acres,  of  which  about  two-thirds  is  in  a 
condition  favorable  to  farming. 

Mr.  Lawton's  marriage  to  Ann  Hurst  took  place 
May  3,  1860.  Mrs.  Lawton  is  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Hibard)  Hurst,  and  her  parents  were 
born  in  England,  where  her  mother  died.  Her 


father  came  with  her  to  Fall  River,  where  he  passed 
the  reinainitig  years  of  his  life.  James,  Mary,  Jane 
and  Ann  were  the  names  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hurst.  Mrs.  Lawton  was  born  in  September, 
1830,  in  England.  She  has  become  the  mother  of 
four  children, — Thomas,  Alfred,  Edwin  C.  and 
Ruth  A. 

In  the  spring  of  1885,  Mr.  Lawton  was  elected 
Supervisor  of  Ustick  Township.  He  is  independent 
in  political  connection  and  adopts  the  views  of  the 
prohibition  element.  Mr.  a;id  Mrs.  Lawton  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


.amuel  A.  Maxwell,  teacher,  at  Unionville, 
has  been  all  his  life  a  resident  in  White- 
side  County,  having  been  born  Dec.  27, 
185 1,  in  the  township  of  Mt.  Pleasant.  His 
father  and  mother  were  Ambrose  I.  and  Arte- 
misia (Hulce)  Maxwell.  His  father  and 
mother  were  natives  of  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  x-i 
came  thence,  in  1837,10  Lyndon  Township,  with  the  {& 
family  whom  they  accompanied  from  their  native  =^ 
State.  They  were  married  in  1839,  and  they  went  ^Y 
for  a  brief  period  to  Ogle  County,  whence  they  re- 
turned to  Lyndon  Township,  the  scene  of  their  life's 
labors,  and  where  they  are  still  resident.  The  father 
was  one  of  the  first  mechanics  in  the  county,  and  his 
services  were  in  eager  demand  among  the  settlers. 

Mr.  Maxwell  is  the  youngest  of  five  children,  and 
he  had  two  brothers  and  two  sisters — Louisa,  Calvin 
A.,  James  H.  and  Mary  M.  He  obtained  his  educa- 
tion previous  to  his  2Oth  year,  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  he  subsequently 
attended  the  High  Schools  at  Lyndon  and  at  Polo, 
Ogle  County.  He  was  graduated  at  the  latter  in- 
stitutio'n  in  1875.  He  interspersed  his  periods  of 
study  with  teaching,  to  which  he  has  since  devoted 
his  time  in  various  parts  of  the  county. 

In  1882  he    took  charge  of  the  school   at  Union- 
ville, in   which  capacity  he   is    still  operating.     Mr. 
Maxwell  holds  credentials  from  the  highest  educa- 
tional tribunals  in  the  State,  and  is  a  member  of  the    .., 
National  Educational  Association. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Dec.  27,  1876,  in  Lyn- 
don Township,  to  Esther  W.,  daughter  of  Dennis 
and  Harriet  (Gary)  Austin,  and  the  three  children 


f 


<§; 


now  belonging  to  the  family  are  named  Edith  L., 
Ralph  E.  and  Vera  J.  Mrs.  Maxwell  was  born 
April  20,  1857,  in  Lyndon  Township.  Her  father 
was  born  in  Indiana,  and  her  mother  in  the  State  of 
New  York.  They  settled  in  Lyndon  Township  in 
1854,  and  had  10  children,  named  Emery,  Willard 
F.,  Franklin  P.,  Harrison  C.,  Esther  W.,  Olive  B., 
Lincoln  A.,  Hattie  B.,  Clara  E.  and  Clark  D. 

In  political  adherence  Mr.  Maxwell  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  supports  the  issues  of  the  party  of  Prohi- 
bition. He  is'  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  to 
which  his  wife  also  belongs. 


g 

I 


bhn  P.  Sands,  deceased,  formerly  a  resi- 
.dent  on  section  7,  Lyndon  Township,  was 
born  Aug.  15,  1803,  in  Westchester  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  was  the  son  of  Jesse  and  Mary 
(Pardee)  Sands,  natives  respectively  of  New 
York  and  Connecticut.  The  family  removed 
to  Yates  County,  in  the  same  State,  in  1819,  whence 
they  went,  two  years  later,  to  Hornby,  Steuben 
County.  Mr.  Sands  was  married  in  Hornby,  June 
8,  1825,  to  Candace  Gaylord.  Following  is  the 
record  of  their  children  :  Ezra,  the  fourth  son,  was 
born  March  9,  1839,  in  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  he  was 
six  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  White- 
side  County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood;  he  was 
22  when  the  Civil  War  made  it  necessary  for  the 
Nation  to  demand  aid  of  her  strong  sons,  and  he  en- 
listed under  the  second  call  for  troops,  enrolling  in 
August,  1 86 1,  in  the  Eighth  111.  Cav.,  Co.  C.  he 
was  killed  Oct.  n,  1863,  in  a  skirmish  at  Raccoon 
Ford,  Rapidan  River,  Va. ;  his  command  had  been 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  from  the  date  of 
taking  the  field,  and  had  participated  in  much  ser- 
vice ;  he  held  the  rank  of  Corporal ;  Pamela,  the 
oldest  daughter,  was  born  Feb.  4,  1828,  in  Hornby, 
and  was  married  April  4,  1849,  to  Jabez  Lathe;  she 
died  Sept.  i,  1854,  of  cholera;  Mary  Jane,  born 
March  18,  1836,  was  married  Dec.  15,  1853,10  Jona- 
than Remington.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  located  in  Lyndon  in  1845  ;  he  died  of  cholera, 
Aug.  28,  1854.  Five  children  survive:  Lydia  was 
born  Nov.  29,  1833  ;  Charles  G.,  Nov.  29,  1845,  and 
Marcus  A.,  Aug.  7,  1848.  The  mother  was  born 


April  8,  1809,  in  Plymouth,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn., 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Marcus  and  Lydia  (Pond) 
Gaylord.  Her  parents  were  born  in  Plymouth,  and 
in  1826  went  to  Hornby,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
they  died.  In  1830  John  P.  Sands  moved  to  Yates 
County  from  Steuben,  and  there  lived  until  1842, 
when  he  returned  to  Hornby.  In  May,  1845,  he 
started  for  Illinois,  in  the  common  way  of  traveling, 
with  a  wagon  to  convey  family  and  household  goods, 
and  a  span  of  horses.  At  Buffalo  they  embarked  on 
a  'steamer,  proceeding  to  Chicago,  where  they  re- 
sumed their  journey  under  the  same  circumstances 
as  they  left  their  home. 

Mr.  Sands  made  a  claim  on  section  7,  of  township 
20,  range  5  east,  which  was  in  its  original  prairie 
condition.  He  built  a  log  cabin,  14x16  feet  in  size, 
which  the  parents  and  eight  children  lived  in  three 
years,  when  they  moved  to  a  new  frame  house  better 
adapted  to  their  changing  and  improving  circum- 
stances. Mr.  Sands  improved  his  farm  according  to 
the  usual  methods,  and  it  was  his  home  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life — a  period  of  almost  40  years. 
He  died  June  11,1883.  Mrs.  Sands  is  still  a  resi- 
dent on  the  homestead,  and  is  76  years  of  age. 


ranklin  B.  GofiF,  farmer,  section  33,  Us- 
tick Township,  is  the  oldest  son  of  Stephen 
W.  Goff,  a  pioneer  of  Whiteside  County 
of  1844.  His  father  was  born  in  1805,  in 
Granville,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  whence  he 
removed  to  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  Watertown,  in  that  county,  in  1827,  to  Almira 
Bull.  When  their  family  came  to  this  county  they 
located  on  section  33,  in  Ustick  Township.  The 
mother  died  April  28,  1874;  the  father's  demise  oc- 
curred Aug.  30,  1884.  Their  children,  nine  in  num- 
ber, were  born  in  the  following  order:  Franklin  B., 
Martin  M.,  Johnson  B  ,  Sarah  R.,  Lorenzo  D.,Lyman 
D.,  Olive  E.,  James  E.  and  Austin  W.  Lyman 
D.  became  a  soldier  in  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States  and  enlisted  in  the  i26th  111.  Vol.  Inf. 
He  died  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  from  the  effects  of  a 
sunstroke.  Martin  M.  died  May  7,  1885,  in  Ustick 
Township. 

Mr.  Goff  was  born  April  22,  1828,  in  Watertown, 


LFBRAKY 
UNIVERSITV  Of  ILLINOIS 


> 


Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  16  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Whiteside  County.  He  ob- 
tained a  common- school  education  and  worked  with 
his  father  at  wagon  making  until  about  the  lime  he 
came  to  Illinois.  Since  his  arrival  in  Whiteside 
County,  he  has  been  occupied  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  is  now  the  owner  of  282  acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  has  erected  good  buildings.  Most  of  his 
estate  is  under  cultivation. 

Mr.  Goff  was  married  Sept.  26,  1851/10  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Sophia  (Eno)  Baker.  She 
was  bom  Oct.  5,  1831,  in  Clay,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goff  have  five  children, — Armenia  M., 
Orena  M.,  Lyman  J.,  Sylvester  W.  and  Nara  D. 
The  oldest  daughter  married  Charles  P.  Roberts 
and  lives  in  Iowa.  Orena  M.  is  the  wife  of  John  J. 
Entwhistle  and  lives  in  Ustick  Township. 

Mr.  Goff  is  a  Republican  in  political  connection 
and  accepts  the  views  of  the  Proh'bitionists.  He 
has  been  many  years  School  Director  and  also  High- 
way Commissioner. 


oodcil  B.  Dillon,  dentist,  corner  of  Third 
and  Locust  Streets,  Sterling,  was  borri  in 
'  Vinton  Co.,  Ohio,  May  27,  1857.  His 
parents,  John  and  Ann  E.  (Newell)  Dillon, 
were  natives  of  Zanesville,  that  State.  His 
i  grandfather,  also  named  John  Dillon,  built  the 
first  furnace  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  at 
Zanesville.  His  father  first  graduated  at  the  Cin- 
cinnati Law  School,  but  abandoned  the  pursuit  of  the 
legal  profession,  at  the  age  of  21,  to  enter  the  Meth- 
dist  Episcopal  ministry,  in  which  he  continued  for 
40  years,  until  his  death,  Aug  26,  1876. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  at  home  with 
his  parents  until  2  i  years  of  age.  completing  his  ed- 
ucation at  the  Normal  Academy  at  Wilkesville, 
Ohio,  afterward  managing  his  father's  farm  until 
1881,  when  he  began  the  study  of  dentistry,  under 
the  supervision  of  his  brother,  Dr.  E.  H.  Dillon,  at 
Elmwood,  III,  graduated  at  the  Ohio  College  of 
Dental  Surgery,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Rock  Falls,  this  county,  in  1884.  After 
remaining  there  nearly  a  year  he  moved  his  office 
to  Sterling.  He  is  a  successful  practitioner,  has  a 

•— **^       Q>' 


growing  business  and  is  a  worthy  citizen.  He.  is  a 
Republican  in  his  political  views,  and  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He,  with  a  sis- 
ter and  three  brothers,  resides  wiih  his  mother. 


ndrew  Wilkinson,  retired  farmer  and  foim- 
|.  erly  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  the 
county,  and  at  present  residing  at  Prophets- 
town,  is  a  son  of  James  and  Samantha  (Field) 
Wilkinson,  and  was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Jan.  3,  1836.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
and  a  native  of  the  same  county,  and  was  born  Jan. 
5,  1814.  His  mother  was  born  April  14,  1814.  The 
former  died  April  7,  1874,  and  the  latter  Aug.  21, 
1882. 

When  a  young  man  of  24  years  of  age,  in  1860, 
Andrew  came  West  to  find  a  wider  field  to  work  in 
and  to  join  with  the  enterprising  men  in  building  up 
the  great  prairie  State.  He  came  to  Whiteside 
County  and  located  in  Prophetstown  Township. 
The  following  autumn  his  father  and  mother  with 
the  other  members  of  the  family — one  son  and  three 
daughters — joined  him.  They  soon  began  to  buy 
land  in  this  section,  and  accumulated  until  at  one 
time  they  owned  2,016  acres  of  fine  farming  land  on 
the  Rock  River  bottom.  Shortly  after  their  arrival 
here,  the  bought  40  acres  of  land  in  Prcphetstown 
Township,  and  subsequently  120  in  Tampico  Town- 
ship, and  afterward  889  in  Hume,  and  at  subsequent 
purchases  in  the  latter  township  .597  acres.  They 
accumulated  all  this  land  before  selling  any-.  A  num- 
ber of  years  after  the  above  named  purchases,  they 
bought  two  farms  in  Lyndon  Township,  one  of  140 
acres  and  the  other  of  416.  Andrew  still  owns  565 
acres  in  Hume  Township  and  one  and  a  half  acres 
in  Prophetstown  city.  While  farming  they  raised 
large  numbers  of  hogs  and  cattle,  doing  their  own 
shipping.  He  now  owns  183  head  of  cattle  and  25 
horses. 

The  members  of  his  father's  family  were  born  in 
the  following  order:  Andrew,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Alonzo,  now  living  at  Sterling;  Ann  Eliza, 
wife  of  George  D.  Wiard,  a  farmer  near  Ypsilanti, 
Mich  ;  Annett,  wife  of  J.  M.  V.  Sanderson,  of  Mo- 
line,  111. ;  Sophronia,  wife  of  C.  H.  Field,  in  the 
American  Express  office,  Chicago.  Those  deceased 


1 


t 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


are  Margaret  Jane  and  Jay.     The  former  died  Sept. 
1 6,  1871,  and  the  latter  April  18,  1873. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  Jan.  i, 
1857,  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.,  daugh- 
ter of  Coonrad  and  Sally  House.  She  was  born  in 
Oneida  County  Dec.  2,1837.  To  them  have  been 
born  two  children, — Irwin  G.,  who  is  a  farmer  in 
Hume  Township,  and  Eva  J.,  wife  of  Henry  Clark, 
of  Prophetstown.  Mrs.  Wilkinson  died  in  Tampico 
Township,  Feb.  23,  1866.  Mr.  W.  was  again  mar- 
ried, March  n,  1879,  this  time  to  Mary  M.  Quigley, 
who  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  10,  1836. 

Mr.  W.  retired  from  the  farm,  where  he  had  been 
eminently  successful,  in  January,  1883,  and  has 
since  resided  at  Prophetstown.  He  is  a  Mason  and 
a  member  of  the  Order  of  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 

As  a  truly  representative  citizen  of  Whiteside 
County,  we  present  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Wilkinson  in 
this  volume. 


'  oseph  M.  Golder,  an  agriculturist  of  exten- 
sive relations  in  Montmorency  Township, 
and  resident  on  section  10,  was  born 
March  8,  1834,  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  He 
is  the  only  son  of  Alonzo  and  Caroline  E. 
Golder,  of  whom  a  sketch  is  presented  on 
other  pages.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the 
public  schools,  and  he  also  attended  a  school  of 
higher  grade  for  a  time.  He  has  always  lived  with 
his  parents ;  and  on  arriving  at  a  suitable  age  he 
became  associated  with  his  father  in  business  opera- 
tions. He  was  22  years  of  age  when  they  made 
their  joint  purchase  of  land  in  Montmorency  Town- 
ship, arid  he  is  the  practical  manager  of  their  large 
estate,  his  father  being  now  in  advan<  ed  life. 

Mr.  Golder  is  a  Democrat  in  political  sentiment. 
He  is  a  useful  and  able  citizen,  and  has  officiated  as 
School  Treasurer  18  years,  and  as  Director  six  years. 
He  hns  served  for  many  years  as  Elder  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

He  was  married  Dec.  n,i86r,  in  Montmorency 
Township,  to  Helen  A  Church.  She  was  born  Oct. 
15,  1839,  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  Artemus  and  Elizabeth  (Peck)  Church,  who  were 
botli  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York.  John  F., 


Carrie  E  ,  Lee  and  Lyle  (twins),  William  L.  and 
Maud  V.,  are  the  names  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Golder.  The  latter  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


esley  V.  Zimmerman,  proprietor  of  the 
St.  Nicholas  Hotel  and  Restaurant  at 
„,  Erie,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Rachel  (Fuller) 
v  Zimmerman,  and  was  born  in  Cattaraugus 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  12,  1840.  His  father  is  a 
native  of  that  State,  is  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  resides  one-half  mile  north  of  Spring  Hill,  this 
county.  The  mother  of  Wesley  is  also  a  native  of 
New  York  and  is  living  with  her  husband  as  above 
stated.  Their  children  were  nine  in  number,  as  fol- 
lows :  Cordelia,  wife  of  Hiram  Gilmore,  a  farmer  in 
Medicine  Co.,  Cal. ;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Levi  Fuller,  a 
resident  of  Eureka  Springs,  Ark. ;  John  D.,  deceased  ; 
Edwin,  a  butcher  in  Prophetstown,  this  county; 
Alice,  wife  of  George  Clifford,  at  work  in  the  piner- 
ies of  Minnesota;  Annie,  wife  of  Clements  Merrill,  a 
farmer  in  Iowa;  George,  a  wholesale  and  retail 
hardware  merchant  in  San  Francisco,  Cal. ;  Frank,  a 
farmer  near  Spring  Hill,  this  county ;  and  Wesley. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  on  at- 
taining adult  age  he  followed  lumbering  during  the 
winter  seasons. 

He  was  married  in  Salamanca,  Cattaraugus  Co  , 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  20,  1864,  to  Miss  Mary  P.,  daughter  of 
James  K.  (a  lumberman  residing  in  New  York)  and 
Elmira  (Kilbourn)  Webb.  Her  mother  is  deceased. 
Mrs.  Z.  was  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Pa.,  July  14,  1845. 
They  have  had  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. The  record  is  as  follows :  Allie,  born  March 
18,  1865  ;  Webb  D.,  born  May  22,  1866,  died  Dec. 
2, -same  year;  Alden,  born  July  25,  1867,  died  Dec. 
17, same  year;  Frank  R.,  born  April  2,  1872;  and 
Fred,  born  Feb.  18,  1877. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  came  West  to  a  point  near  Spring 
Hill,  this  county,  in  1868,  where  he  farmed  one  year, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  railroading  for  several 
years.  In  1876  he  came  to  Erie  and  opened  a  res- 
taurant, which  he  conducted  a  short  time  and  then 
took  possession  of  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel,  which  he 
ran  for  a  time.  He  afterward  opened  a  saloon, 
which  business  he  followed  until  the  spring  of  1883, 


]\ 


vi 


A 


i 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


In  April,  1884,  Mr.  Zimmerman  rented  the  St. 
Nicholas  Hotel,  and  has  continued  to  conduct  the 
same  as  a  first-class  house.  He  can  accommodate 
from  15  to  20  guests,  and  keeps  adjoining  a  restau- 
rant and  ice-cream  parlor,  and  also  a  saloon,  and  is 
doing  a  good  and  increasing  busines.  The  travel- 
ing public  will  find  the  St.  Nicholas  one  of  thepleas- 
antest  places  in  the  county. 


ipley  Stauffer,  general  farmer  and  apiarist 
on  section  23,  Jordan  Township,  was  born 
June  13,  1839,  in  Manor  Township,  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Pa.,  where  his  parents  were  also 
born  and  passed  their  whole  lives.  They 
were  members  of  the  pioneer  Dutch  families 
that  settled  in  considerable  numbers  in  Lancaster 
County.  The  father  was  married  twice,  and  had  n 
children  by  his  first  wife,  all  grown  up  and  married 
but  one.  He  died  in  1852,  when  more  than  70 
years  of  age.  Elizabeth  (Ripley)  Stauffer,  the 
mother,  was  twice  married.  By  her  first  husband, 
William  Rummel,  she  had  three  children.  Christina 
is  the  oldest ;  William  is  deceased ;  John  is  the 
name  of  the  youngest. 

Mr.  Stauffer  is  the  only  child  of  the  second  mar- 
riage. When  he  was  ten  years  of  age  he  found  him- 
self at  liberty  to  maintain  himself,  and  he  earned 
his  own  livelihood  among  strangers  until  he  was 
married.  He  worked  at  various  points  until  he  was 
1 8  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  upon  an  appren- 
ticeship to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  with  his 
cousin,  Zachariah  Winner,  in  the  township  where  he 
was  born.  He  spent  three  years  in  the  acquisition 
of  a  complete  knowledge  of  that  business,  and  after 
he  was  21  years  of  age  was  employed  as  a  journey- 
man in  the  same  place. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  A.  Hess  took  place  in  Lan- 
caster County,  Oct.  16,  1862.  Mrs.  Stauffer  is  the 
daughter  of  Michael  Hess,  and  sister  of  the  wife  of 
Henry  Mellinger.  (See  sketch  of  H.  Mellinger  for  a 
condensed  account  of  the  parents.)  She  was  born 
in  Manor  Township,  March  19,  1843,  and  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Conestoga  Township  in  her  native 
county.  Lizzie,  born  Feb.  5,  1863,  and  now  the 
wife  of  Charles  Bennett,  is  the  oldest  child  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stauffer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  reside  on 


a  farm  in  Jordan  Township.  They  have  one  child, 
Jessie:  Minnie  and  Walter  are  deceased.  Susie, 
second  child,  born  June  18,  1864,  married  Jabez 
Franklin,  and  they  live  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  Willie, 
born  Sept.  12,  1870,  is  the  youngest  and  lives  at 
home. 

Mr.  Stauffer  followed  the  business  of  carpenter 
five  years  in  his  native  county,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  that  time  came  West.  He  purchased  20  acres  of 
land  for  a  homestead  for  his  family,  and  has  culti- 
vated his  place  and  devoted  his  time  to  bee  culture, 
with  satisfactory  results.  He  has  about  40  stands  of 
bees,  and  is  gradually  enlarging  the  number  of  his 
colonies.  His  annual  product  of  honey  averages 
about  one  ton. 

Mr.  Stauffer  is  a  staunch  and  zealous  Republican 
and  has  held  several  township  offices.  He  belongs 
to  the  TJnited  Brethren  Church,  of  which  his  wife  is 
also  a  member,  and  has  acted  as  Steward  and  Class- 
leader  some  years. 


orenzo  D.  Eddy,  poultry  fancier  at  Al- 
bany, was  born  April  9,  1828,  in  St.  Law- 
rence Co.,  N.  Y.  Augustus  Eddy,  his 
father,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  married 
Polly  McKinster,  who  was  a  native  of  Connec- 
{  ticut.  In  1831  the  family  went  to  Potsdam, 
N.  Y.,  and  in  1835  made  another  removal,  to  Du 
Page  Co.,  111.  The  household  included  at  that  time 
five  children.  The  entire  journey  was  made  with 
teams,  except  from  Buffalo  to  Detroit,  when  they  \ 
traveled  on  the  lake.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Eddy 
had  made  a  squatter's  claim  in  1834  and  Augustus  .< 
Eddy  took  possession  of  the  log  house  which  had 
been  built  by  his  father.  They  continued  to  reside 
on  the  farm  in  Du  Page  County  until  1853,  when  it 
was  sold  and  a  removal  to  Whiteside  County  effected. 
A  farm  was  bought  near  Erie,  where  the  parents  re- 
sided during  the  lemaining  years  of  their  lives.  But 
three  of  the  family  of  eight  children  are  now  living 
(1885).  York  and  Noble,  the  two  youngest,  reside  at 
Erie. 

Mr.  Eddy  lived  with  his  father  and  mother  until 
1851,  when  he  went  to  Erie  and  engaged  in  the 
blacksmith  business  with  his  brother-in-law,  where  he 
remained  through  one  winter.  During  two  years 


T 

i 


v 


succeeding  he  was  employed  in  a  hotel  at  Erie.  In 
1853  he  was  married  to  Mary  Early.  They  had  eight 
children,  namely:  Loran  G.,  Susie  A.  (Mrs.  Wm. 
Wingert,  of  Springfield,  Ohio) ;  Tamma,  wife  of  John 
Byers,  of  Albany  Township;  James  A.  (married 
DeLucia  Chamberlain)  ;  Laura  (Mrs.  C.  I.  Barker)  ; 
William  (married  Rosa  Lay)  ;  Perry  and  Delia  (twins). 

After  he  was  married,  Mr.  Eddy  bought  a  tract  of 
wild  land  five  miles  southwest  of  the  village  of  Erie 
and  improved  a  farm.  He  was  its  occupant  until 
1864,  when  he  sold  the  property  and  bought  a  farm 
on  section  25,  of  township  21,  range  2.  He  has 
since  bought  land  adjoining,  included  in  the  town 
plat.  The  place  is  well  supplied  with  an  excellent 
class  of  farm  buildings.  Mr.  Eddy  now  rents  the 
farm  and  lives  in  the  village  of  Albany. 

In  1884  he  began  to  give  his  attention  to  raising 
fancy  breeds  of  poultry  and  has  in  stock  five  full- 
blooded  varieties.  He  has  erected  suitable  quarters 
for  his  fowls.  He  is  the  owner  of  some  fine  Jersey 


fW  scar  Woods,  member  of  the  hardware  firm 
_  _JI>  of  Woods  &  Clendenen,  hardware  mer- 
chants  and  dealers  in  farm  machinery, 
windmills  and  pumps,  at  Morrison,  was  born 
Oct.  18,  r837,  at  Homer,  Licking  Co.,  Ohio. 
Leonard  Woods,  his  father,  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont and  was  but  ten  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
removed  from  the  Green  Mountain  State  to  Ohio, 
where  the  family  was  among  the  first  of  the  pioneer 
element  that  located  at  Granville  in  that  State. 
The  senior  Woods  married  Mary  Sinnet.  She 
was  born  in  Massachusetts  and  went  when  a  little 
girl  with  her  father's  family  to  Granville,  Ohio,  they 
being  also  among  the  first  permanent  white  settlers. 
In  early  life  Leonard  Woods  was  a  teacher,  and 
though  he  became  a  farmer  in  more  advanced  life,  he 
always  recognized  the  value  of  intellectual  culture, 
even  in  the  most  ordinary  walks  of  life,  and  gave 
earnest  attention  to  the  education  of  his  children. 
He  and  his  wife  are  no  longer  living,  but  their  six 
children  survive,  and  in  their  various  positions  sus- 
tain the  honor  of  the  name  they  inherited  and  verify 
the  value  of  mental  training  they  received  through 
the  efforts  and  precepts  of  their  parents.  Mary, 


oldest  child  and  only  daughter,  married  Rev.  A.  A. 
Russell,  who  is  stationed  at  Exeter,  Neb.;  Warren 
belongs  to  a  coal-mining  corporation  near  Warren, 
Ohio;  Arthur  E.  is  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  denom- 
ination, and  is  in  charge  of  a  flourishing  society  at 
Paterson,  N.  J.;  Hubert  C  ,  D.  D.,  is  the  officiating 
clergyman  of  a  Baptist  Church  in  St.  Paul,  Minn.  : 
he  received  his  degree  in  1880;  Byron  A.  is  the 
Pastor  of  a  Baptist  Church  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia. The  three  last  named  completed  their  prepar- 
atory studies  and  were  graduated  at  Madison 
University,  N.  Y.,  and  were  afterwards  graduated  in 
the  theological  department  of  the  same  institution. 
The  parents  removed  to  Illinois  in  1861,  and  settled 
in  Morrison,  where  the  father  lived  in  retirement  till 
the  time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Woods  is  the  third  child  of  his  parents.  He 
was  educated  until  he  was  17  years  "old  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  afterwards  attended  school  at 
Dennison  University,  in  Granville,  Ohio,  after  which 
he  taught  school  and  passed  the  winters  of  six  years 
in  that  vocation,  devoting  his  time  through  the  sum- 
mer seasons  to  farming.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  r86i, 
and  became  a  land-holder  in  the  township  of  Fair 
Haven,  in  Carroll  County.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he 
removed  to  a  farm  of  240  acres  in  Union  Grove 
Township,  where  he  lived  until  187  r,  and  prosecuted 
his  agricultural  interests  with  satisfactory  results, 
owning  a  valuable  farm. 

In  187  i  he  moved  to  the  city  of  Morrison,  where 
he  engaged  in  traffic  in  live  stock,  in  company  with 
George  A.  Whitcomb.  After  a  business  connection 
of  five  years,  he  bought  the  interest  of  his  partner 
and  soon  after  sold  his  entire  business.  In  1876  he 
bought  the  interest  of  A.  A.  Carter  in  the  business  in 
which  he  is  now  engaged,  and  its  relations  were  con- 
ducted for  a  period  of  seven  years,  under  the  firm 
style  of  Ferguson  &  Woods.  In  January,  1883,  he 
became  by  purchase  the  owner  of  the  entire  estab- 
lishment and  sold  an  interest  therein  to  F.  Clen- 
denen,  his  present  business  associate.  Mr.  Woods 
owns  a  half  interest  in  the  buildings  utilized  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  mercantile  interests,  including  a 
store  and  warehouse,  also  his  residence  and  two 
acres  of  ground  in  the  south  part  of  the  city.  He 
has  officiated  several  years  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education  of  Morrison,  and  is  at  present  Super- 
visor of  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  in  which  capacity 
OnM^V^  f-\  >yiBax<iir' 


(> 


he  is  serving  his  fifth    term  :    is    Chairman  of  the 
Board. 

Mr.  Woods  was  married  Nov.  n,  1863,  in  Alex- 
ander, Ohio,  to  Amanda  Shaub,  and  their  three  chil- 
dren were  born  as  follows :  Francie,  Sept.  2,  1865; 
Edna  D.,  Jan.  21,  1868;  Louis  O.  April  28,  1875. 
The  two  oldest  were  bom  in  Union  Grove  Town- 
ship :  the  youngest  at  Morrison.  Mrs.  Woods  was 
born  Dec.  25,  r839,  at  Newark,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Martin  and  Esther  Shaub.  Her  father 
was  born  in  December,  1811,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  still  living.  Her  mother  was  born  Dec.  25, 
1818,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Hon.  John  Sthrom, 
who  was  a  member  of  Congress  from  Lancaster,  Pa., 
at  the  time  Abraham  Lincoln  was  a  member  ofithat 
body.  He  died  in  January,  1885,  aged  89  years. 
He  was  probably  the  oldest  ex-Congressman  in  the 
United  States  at  the  time  of  his  death. 


1 

) 


Idelbert  A.  Church,  farmer,  section  22, 
Montmorency  Township,  was  born  April 
22,  1844,  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents, 
Artemus  and  Elizabeth  (Peck)  Church,  were 
natives  of  the  same  State  and  came  in  1858  to 
Whiteside  County,  locating  soon  after  in  Mont- 
morency Township.  The  father  died  Feb.  ig,  1875, 
in  Coloma  Township.  Their  children,  three  in  num- 
ber, are  named  Helen  A.,  Adelbert  A.  and  Morris  C. 
The  oldest  is  the  wife  of  J.  M.  Golder.  (See  sketch.) 
Mr.  Church  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  also  attended  an  academy  in  his  native  State  for 
a  considerable  period.  He  was  a  lad  of  T4  when  his 
parents  came  to  the  township,  where  he  has  since 
been  interested  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  owns 
400  acres  of  land,  of  which  one-half  has  been  placed 
in  cultivation. 

Mr.  Church  is  in  sympathy  with  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party.  On  first  coming  to  Whiteside 
County  he  was  employed  in  the  office  of  General 
Kilgour  at  Sterling,  where  he  was  occupied  about 
three  years,  and  during  a  part  of  the  time  attended 
school.  He  has  officiated  as  Supervisor  of  Mont- 
morency Township  two  years  and  about  10  years  as 
Clerk.  From  r876  to  1880  he  was  Township  Treas- 
urer, and  in  the  spring  of  1884  he  was  again  elected; 
at  present  he  is  filling  the  unexpired  term. 


The  marriage  of  Mr.  Church  to  Alida  Van  Allen 
took  place  Aug.  30,  1870,  at  Rock  Falls.  Mrs. 
Church  is  the  adopted  daughter  of  Col.  A.  Woodford, 
formerly  a  resident  of  that  place.  She  was  born  July 
20,  1847,  in  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Church  are  named  Earl  F.,  Lawrence  A. 
and  Howard  L. 


Daniel  Wetzell,  general  farmer,  section  27, 
Hume  Township,  was  born  Sept.  2r,  1815, 
in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.    The  record  of  his  par- 
ents  may  be  found  in  connection  with  the 
sketch  of  Jacob  Wetzell.     He  was  the  oldest 
child  and  was  a  member  of  the  parental  house- 
hold until  his  majority. 

He  was  married,  in  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  5, 
1839,  to  Mary  Beidler,  and  they  have  had  six  chil- 
dren,— Elizabeth,  Margaret,  Catherine,  Mary  A.; 
Martha  and  John  H.  They  are  all  married.  Mrs. 
Wetzell  was  born  Dec.  3,  i8ig,  in  Holmes  County, 
where  her  parents  belonged  to  the  wealthy  agricul- 
tural class.  Her  mother  died  when  she  was  a  year 
old,  and  she  was  cared  for  until  her  marriage  by  her 
stepmother.  Her  father  died  in  Ohio. 

In  1855  Mr.  Wetzell  left  Ohio  for  Illinois,  settling 
in  Gene.iee  Township,  in  Whiteside  County.  After 
some  years'  residence  on  a  farm,  he  went  to  Hopkins 
Township  and  was  a  farmer  there  five  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1865  he  located  in  Hume  Township.  He  has 
been  extensively  interested  in  buying  and  improving 
land,  and  has  settled  each  of  his  children  comfort- 
ably in  life.  In  1885  he  removed  to  55  acres  on  the 
section  where  he  ndw  resides.  Mr.  Wetzell  is  a  Re- 
publican politically,  and  both  himself  and  wife  are 
active  in  religious  matters. 


• 


Daveler,  wagon  and  carriage  mak- 
er,  Third  Street,  Sterling,  of  the  firm  of 
Daveler  Bros.,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
June  29,   1850,  his   parents    being   Jacob  and 
Catherine  (Yentzer)  Daveler.     His  father  was 
a  farmer,  and  came  to  Sterling  in  r87o. 
Mr.   D.  received  a  common-school  education   in 
his  youth,  and  at  the  age  of  14  years  left  home  and 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


worked  at  farming,  the  vocation  of  his  father,  until 
he  was  20  years  of  age;  then  worked  at  wagon-mak- 
ing a  year  as  an  apprentice,  then  two  years  as  a 
journeyman;  next  he  followed  farming  again  for 
(5;  seven  years,  on  rented  land;  and  lastly,  in  1882,  he 
came  to  Sterling,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
as  above  mentioned.  He  is  a  Republican  on  na- 
tional issues,  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
as  is  also  his  wife. 

He  was  married  Sept.  30,  1873,  to  Miss  Emma  F. 
\  Jones,   of  Sterling,   and    they    have   one   daughter, 
Malta  L.,  who  was  born  April  7,  1879. 

' 


amuel  Reecher,  general  farmer,  section 
17,  Genesee  Township,  was  born  Nov.  5, 
1828,  in  Frederick  Co.,  Md.  Jacob  Reech- 
er, his  father,  was  of  German  parentage  and 
was  by  calling  a  shoemaker.  The  latter  was 
reared  in  Maryland,  where  he  married  Cather- 
ine Chrise,  who  was  of  the  same  nationality  as  him- 
self. In  1832,  they  transferred  their  residence  to 
Washington  County,  in  the  same  State,  settling  in 
the  now  village  of  Ringgold,  which  was  then  Ridge- 
ville.  There,  among  the  mountains,  they  reared  six 
of  their  seven  children  to  maturity,  and  laid  down 
their  life's  armor  after  years  of  usefulness  and  hon- 
orable struggle.  The  father  died  in  the  autumn  of 
1 866,  aged  about  7  8  years.  The  mother  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 187  i,  when  she  was  about  72  years  old. 

Mr.  Reecher  is  the  fourth  child  in  order  of  birth, 
and,  until  he  was  24  years  of  age,  he  lived  at  home, 
securing  such  education  as  he  could  in  the  common 
schools  of  Washington  County,  augmented  by  home 
reading,  study  and  observation.  The  first  prominent 
event  of  his  life  occurred  on  the  day  made  historical 
in  the  annals  of  the  United  States  by  the  election  of 
President  Pierce,  whose  administration  covered  four 
of  the  most  portentous  years  in  the  history  of  the  re- 
public. That  day  preceded  his  24th  birthday.  Nov. 
4,  1852,  he  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Leah  Hoff- 
man, in  Waynesborough,  Pa.  Jacob  and  Madelina 
(Stoffer)  Hoffman,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Reecher,  were 
of  unmixed  German  descent  and  were  farmers. 
Their  family  comprised  seven  daughters  and  three 
sons,  all  of  whom  attained  adult  age.  They  lived 
nost  of  their  lives  in  Washington  County,  and  there 


/ 


the  father  died  in  1866,  aged  68  ;  the  demise  of  the 
mother  took  place  in  1884,  and  she  was  85  years  of 
age.  Mrs.  Reecher  was  educated  in  the  same  com- 
mon school  as  her  husband.  She  has  been  the 
mother  of  15  children.  Ten  of  the  number  still  sur- 
vive, and  three  are  married.  Following  is  the  record  : 
William  married  Sarah  C.  Mentzer,  and  is  present 
(1885)  proprietor  of  the  Transient  House  at  Coleta. 
Emma  C.  married  Henry  Donahue  of  Coleta.  Aaron 
married  Hattie  C.  Pratt  and  resides  on  his  father's 
homestead.  Louis  lives  at  Coleta.  Anna,  Isaac, 
Samuel,  Margaret  E.,  Leah  and  Jacob  are  under 
their  parents'  care.  Sarah,  Alice,  Benjamin  F.,  Ida 
M.  and  John  H.  are  the  names  of  the  children  who 
are  deceased. 

After  he  was  12  years  of  age  Mr.  Reecher  assisted 
his  father,  as  occasion  required  and  leisure  afforded 
opportunity,  in  the  business  of  shoemaking,  of  which 
he  acquired  a  complete  knowledge,  and  after  his  mar- 
riage he  operated  one  year  as  a  craftsman  in  that 
avenue  of  employ,  after  which  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  business  of  a  marketman,  in  which  he  was 
engaged  as  long  as  he  remained  in  Maryland.  In 
February,  1865,  with  his  wife  and  five  children,  he 
came  to  Illinois,  leaving  forever  the  early  home,  made 
dearer  by  the  fact  that  the  old  soil  contained  the  re- 
mains of  two  deceased  children.  Mr.  Reecher  first 
sought  a  home  at  Sterling,  where  he  operated  as  a 
shoemaker  a  little  more  than  a  year.  He  went 
thence  to  a  point  seven  miles  north  of  that  city  in 
the  township  of  Jordan,  where  he  did  a  country  busi- 
ness for  ojie  year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
decided  to  combine  farming  with  his  trade  and  he 
removed  to  a  farm  near  the  eastern  county  line 
containing  too  acres  of  land.  He  conducted  his 
two-fold  business  one  year,  and  in  March,  1868,  he 
purchased  200  acres  of  land  in  Genesee  Township,  on 
which  he  has  since  resided.  A  large  proportion  was 
in  timber,  and  the  place  was  wholly  unimproved,  but 
has  been  converted  into  a  good  farm.  A  spring  of 
underground  origin  situated  centrally  on  the  farm 
supplies  a  perpetual  flow  of  water  of  remarkable 
coldness  and  purity  and  large  volume,  being  the 
fountain  head  of  a  considerable  stream  which  emp- 
ties into  Rock  Creek.  The  owner  is  constructing  a 
pond  on  his  farm  for  the  artificial  production  of  fish, 
which  will  cover  15  acres  in  area.  He  designs  to 
stock  the  pond  with  German  carp. 


V. 


— •SlA/gv'XA/t 


KARY 
irr  Uf  ILLINOIS 


-z^z ^ 


-^  -  sr 


f 
\ 

3 
3 

s 

) 


^ 


D 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Reecher  is  in  accord  with  the  Democratic  ele- 
ment in  politics  and  has  held  several  township  of- 
fices. Mrs.  Reecher  is  a  member  of  the  Mennonite 
Chur.h. 


'lonzo  Golder,  section  10,  Montmorency 
Township,  has  been  a  resident  of  White- 
side  County  since  1856,  and  he  has  reached 
prominence  as  an  agriculturist  and  promoter 
bf  the  general  welfare  of  the  locality  where 
he  has  lived  nearly  30  years.  He  was  born 
April  24,  1807,  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the 
oldest  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Chase)  Golder,  who 
were  born  respectively  in  New  York  and  Rhode  Isl- 
and. The  native  county  of  William  Golder  was  the 
same  in  which  his  son  was  born,  and  there  he  settled 
with  the  bride  of  his  early  manhood,  who  died  after 
giving  birth  to  six  children — Ellen,  Alonzo,  Eliza- 
beth, Emmeline,  Phebe  and  Joseph. 

The  father  was  married  a  second  time  to  Phebe 
Hewett,  a  native  of  New  York.  She  died  in  Illnois. 
One  child,  Jane  H.,was  born  of  the  second  marriage. 

The  portion  of  New  York  where  Mr.  Golder  was 
born  and  grew  to  maturity  was  in  an  undeveloped 
condition,  and  although  he  acquired  such  education 
as  was  afforded  by  the  schools  of  that  time  he  gath- 
ered a  more  useful  and  mental  training  by  observa- 
tion and  from  the  force  of  circumstances.  He  at- 
tended school  during  the  winter  seasons  until  he  was 
14  years  of  age,  after  which  he  was  a  laborer  on  his 
father's  farm  until  he  was  23  years  old,  with  the 
exception  of  a  single  year  when  he  was  engaged  in 
boating  on  the  Hudson  River.  He  passed  another 
year  in  the  employ  of  an  uncle,  after  which  he  es- 
tablished a  country  store  at  Pleasant  Plains,  Dutchess 
County,  in  partnership  with  John^Bard,  the  son  of  a 
Hessian  soldier.  Their  business  connections  were  in 
existence  one  year,  and,  after  their  dissolution,  Mr. 
Golder  prospected  for  a  time  in  search  of  a  favorable 
location.  He  fixed  upon  Clinton  Hollow,  in  his  na- 
tive county  and  again  established  his  mercantile  en- 
terprise in  connection  with  a  flouring  mill,  associated 
with  Charles  Slate.  At  the  end  of  the  first  year  Mr. 
Golder  became  the  sole  proprietor  by  purchase,  and 
shortly  after  formed  a  partnership  with  Spencer  Ben- 

^*^- 


nett,  under  the  firm  style  of  Bennett,  Golder   &  Co. 
After  three  years  the  business  was  closed. 

Mr.  Golder  bought  a  farm  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  operated  as  farmer  four  years.  He  sold 
his  property  at  the  end  of  that  time  for  the  pur- 
pose of  moving  West,  but  he  yielded  to  the  solicita- 
tions of  friends  in  Dutchess  County,  and  returned 
there  to  engage  in  mercantile  and  lumber  traffic,  set- 
tling at  Hyde  Park.  He  did  not  meet  the  success  he 
anticipated,  and  after  a  fair  trial  of  four  years'  dura- 
tion he  sold  out. 

In  1844  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Hart- 
land,  McHenry  County,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, in  which  he  was  interested  until  1855,  when  he 
sold  his  farm,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he 
came  to  Whiteside  County.  In  the  spring  of  1856 
he  purchased  400  acres  in  Montmorency  Township, 
in  company  with  his  son  Joseph.  Their  joint  owner- 
ship of  real  estate  includes  680  acres,  of  which  500 
acres  are  in  tillage.  They  have  an  average  herd  of 
about  70  cattle,  10  horses,  and  fatten  for  market 
yearly  about  60  hogs.  They  have  erected  suitable 
and  substantial  buildings,  where  father  and  son  re- 
side together. 

Mr.  Golder  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  promin- 
ent promoters  of  the  Grange  movement  and  was  made 
first  Master  of  the  State  organization.  He  repre- 
sented Illinois  four  successive  terms  in  the  National 
Grange.  In  his  native  State  he  was  actively  inter- 
ested in  the  militia  and  belonged  to  the  cavalry.  He 
was  made  Brigade  Inspector  under  General  I.  I. 
Platt,  and  was  a  compeer  of  the  late  General  Van 
Rensselaer. 

He  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations,  and 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson. 
While  in  McHenry  County  he  served  as  Supervisor 
and  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  township 
wher§  he  now  lives  about  16  years. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Golder  to  Caroline  E.  Lloyd 
occurred  in  Blanford,  Hampden  Co.,  Mass.,  June  3, 
1833.  Mrs.  Golder  was  born  in  that  county,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Eunice  (Gibbs)  Lloyd,  who 
were  natives  of  Massachusetts,  of  English  and  Welsh 
descent.  Her  father  died  in  his  native  State.  The 
mother  joined  the  daughter  in  McHenry  Co.,  111., 
where  she  died.  Joseph  M.  is  the  only  son  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Alonzo  Golder,  and  both  are  represented 
by  sketches  on  other  pages.  Ellen  M.  is  their  only 


V§) 


e 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY 


daughter,  and  is  the  wife  of  Alvin   Roper,  of  Wash- 


ington Territory. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Golder,  which  appears  in  this 
work  accompanying  the  above  sketch,  is  engraved 
from  a  photograph  taken  in  1875,  and  presents  the 
facial  features  of  a  worthy  citizen  of  Whiteside 
County. 


,  illiam  H-  Allen,  lawyer,  of  Erie,  is  a  son 
of  S.  V.  R.  and  Sarah  (Richardson)  Al- 
*,-.  len,  born  in  Dublin,  Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H. 
3>  His  father  is  a  farmer,  and  a  native  of 
Stillwater,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
born  Aug.  23,  1812,  and  resides  two  miles  west 
of  Erie  village,  on  his  farm.  His  mother  was  a  na- 
tive of  Newton,  Mass.,  born  Feb.  14,  1803,  and  died 
at  Erie,  June  9,  1862.  They  had  three  children  : 
William  H.,  Colonel  Samuel  R.,  a  lawyer  at  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  and  Sarah  A.,  a  teacher,  who  resides 
with  her  father.  The  family  removed  from  New 
Hampshire  to  Rushford,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
1846;  thence  to  Erie,  this  county,  in  1856. 

While  at  Rushford  Mr.  Allen  attended  Rushford 
Academy  for  a  time.  After  coming  to  Illinois  he 
farmed,  taught  school,  worked  as  engineer  in  mills, 
studied  law  in  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Ottawa,  111.,  April  16,  r866. 

Mr.  Allen  married  Mary  A.  Orr,  daughter  of  John 
and  Catherine  (Bleecker)  Orr,  and  grand-daughter 
and  grand-niece  of  Samuel  and  William  Orr,  and 
was  born  in  the  township  of  Sidney,  Hastings  Co., 
Province  of  Ontario. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  have  seven  children:  William 
C.,  Samuel  R.,  Sarah  R.,  Solomon  V.  R.,  Henry  W., 
Catherine  Bleecker  and  John  O.  Allen,  all  minors. 
Three  children,  Helen,  Jennie  and  Richard,  died 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  Allen  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  a  term,  and  that  of  Supervisor  for  eight  years  at 
different  times,  from  1862  to  1878;  was  Representa- 
tive in  the  Illinois  State  Legislature  for  four  years, 
being  elected  to  the  3ist  and  re-elected  to  the 
32d  General  Assembly;  was  author  of  the  drainage 
laws,  and  promoted  the  passage  of  the  principal  rev- 
enue laws  passed  by  the  last  mentioned  Assembly ; 
was  largely  responsible  for  the  legislation  under  the 


amendment  of  the  Constitution  changing  the  time  of 
election  of  county  officers,  afterward  sustained  by 
the  Supreme  Court ;  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Revenue ;  advocated  and  defended  the  ad-va- 
lorem system  of  taxation;  successfully  resisted  the 
attempts  that  were  made  to  deprive  municipalities, 
towns  and  counties  of  their  portion  of  taxes  derived 
from  railroad  property,  and  to  abolish  the  State 
Board  of  Equalization;  his  argument  thereon  was 
printed  and  published  by  the  State  pursuant  to  a 
resolution  of  the  H-juse  of  Representatives. 

He  is  at  present  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  the  counties  of  Whiteside,  Henry  and 
Rock  Island,  devoting  his  attention  to  all  depart- 
ments of  law  and  chancery,  besides  superintending 
his  farms  in  Erie  and  Fenton  Townships.  He  is  a 
Freemason,  Kn'ght  Templar,  and  a  Presbyterian  in 
religious  faith.  He  resides  on  his  homestead  in  the 
village  of  Erie. 


ohn  M.  Overholser,  general  farmer,  section 
9,  Genesee  Township,  was  born  Jan.  19, 
1854.  He  is  the  son  of  Martin  and  Bar- 
bara (Arford)  Overholser,  of  whom  an  account 
is  given  in  connection  with  that  of  Christian 
Overholser.  The  subject  of  this  personal  rec- 
ord was  reared  and  educated  in  Tuscarawas  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  was  born.  He  was  employed  on  his 
father's  farm  until  he  had  passed  his  2Oth  birthday, 
and  until  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Illinois. 
They  located  on  section  9,  where  the  son  entered 
into  the  work  of  improving  a  new  farm  in  which  he 
was  engaged  until  he  established  himself  as  the  in- 
dependent head  of  a  family.  He  formed  a  matri- 
monial alliance  with  Lydia,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Anna  (Overholser)  Crom,  in  Wysox,  Carroll  Co.,  111. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  were 
brought  up  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  went  to  Sandusky  County,  and  afterward 
to  Wood  County,  in  the  same  State.  Mrs.  Over- 
holser was  born  there,  April  18,  1835.  She  was  19 
years  of  age  when  her  father  made  a  transfer  of  his 
family  and  business  relations  to  Carroll  Co.,  111. 

To  her  and  her  husband  five  children  have  been 
born:  Elizabeth  A.  is  the  wife  of  W.  C.  Vinson,  of 
Coleta;  they  have  one  child,  Myrtle.  Martin  mar- 


• 


ried  Anna   M.   Dull,  and  lives  at  home;    Clara  J. 
•?  married  Howard  Hawkins,  of  Clyde  Township,  and 
.   they  have  one  child,  Orvil,   by    name;   Becca  and 
James  C.  are  the  two  youngest  children. 

Mr.  Overholser  is  the  owner  of  1 17  acres  of  land, 
which  he  purchased  after  his  marriage,  and  he  has 
devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  energies  to 
its  improvement.  He  has  erected  creditable  farm 
buildings.  In  political  faith  and  adherence  he  is  a 
Republican.  He  belongs  to  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  also  a  member. 


ichard  Blue,  farmer,  resident  on  section  22, 
Clyde  Township,  was  born  on  section  17 
of  the  same  municipality,  where  he  has 
lived  all  his  life.  His  birth  occurred  Nov.  7, 
1855,  and  he  is  the  son  of  Alexander  A.  and 
Mary  (Beswick)  Blue.  His  father  was  born 
in  Nova  Scotia  of  Scotch  parentage,  and  his  mother 
was  a  native  of  England.  They  were  united  in 
marriage  in  the  township  of  Clyde,  and  became  the 
parents  of  four  children. 

The  incident  about  to  be  related  in  connection 
with  the  history  of  Mr.  Blue,  eclipses  in  intensity  all 
others  that  have  hitherto  fallen  within  the  province 
of  the  biographer,  whose  duty  it  becomes  .to  place  on 
permanent  record  a  narration  of  terrible  suffering  and 
horrible  necessity,  such  as  clouds  the  personal  annals 
of  but  few.  Sorrows  beset  and  troubles  multiply,  but 
are  rarely  without  some  shade  of  mitigation.  In  this 
there  is  but  the  ghastly  reality. 

In  1859  Alexander,  Daniel  and  Charles  Blue,  the 
first  named  being  the  father  and  the  others  the 
uncles  of  Mr.  Blue  of  this  sketch,  together  with  John 
Campbell  and  Thomas  Stevenson,  set  forth  from 
VVhiteside  Coun'y  for  the  new  El  Dorado  of  Pike's 
Peak,  making  their  way  there  across  the  plains  on 
foot.  At  Manhattan,  Kan.,  they  were  joined  by  a 
party  of  nine  others.  When  within  sight  of  the 
peaks  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  their  further  progress 
was  impeded  by  a  terrific  snow  storm,  and  they 
wandered  helplessly,  consuming  the  remnants  of 
food  in  their  possession  until  starvation  was  im- 
minent. Alexander  and  Charles  were  sick,  the 
former  having  inflammatory  rheumatism.  After  the 
terrible  five-days  storm  was  over,  Charles  was  com- 


pletely disabled.  Then  some  of  the  party  left  them 
and  went  on.  After  proceeding  on  some  days,  after  a 
rest  for  Charles'  welfare,  Alexander  sank  down  ex- 
hausted and  in  extreme  pain.  In  giving  a  desciiption 
of  their  awful  suffering,  Daniel  Blue  continues  the 
narration  as  follows:  "We  wrapped  Alexander  up 
in  blankets,  ba'.hed  him  with  snow  water,  and,  tear- 
ing our  shirts  into  strips,  bandaged  his  feet  and  head, 
and  did  all  we  could  in  our  weak  and  almost  dying 
condition  to  relieve  him,  and  then  we  all  lay  down 
in  our  blankets  on  the  snow  and  rested  till  morning. 
Oh,  for  something  nourishing  to  eat!  How  hunger 
gnawed  in  our  stomachs,  parched  our  lips,  and 
dried  up  the  moisture  of  our  throats  and  mouths 
How  it  weakened  us,  consuming,  as  if  by  fire,  our 
muscles  and  our  juices !  It  reduced  us  to  very  skele- 
tons, and  we  stalked  about,  emaciated,  with  death's 
hollow  sound  in  every  woid  we  tried  to  speak,  with 
death's  dull,  leaden  fixedness  in  our  eyes,  and  with 
death's  pale  look  in  our  sad  and  wretched  faces. 

"  It  was  here,  in  the  midst  of  these  tribulations, 
while  we  were  lying  on  the  ground  together,  and 
feeling  that  death  from  starvation  was  near  at  hand 
to  all  of  us,  that  our  conversation  turned  to  the  sub- 
ject of  eating  each  other!  Horrible  thought!  And 
yet,  the  subject  having  been  mentioned,  we  kept 
thinking  of  it,  and  subsequently  we  again  spoke  of  it, 
and  all  then  agreed  that  whichever  of  us  should  die 
first,  should  be  eaten  by  the  rest. 

"  On  the  next  morning  I  beheld  for  the  first  time, 
dimly  up  among  the  clouds,  a  peak  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  My  heart,  faint  with  weakness,  beat 
quicker  then,  and  a  thrill  of  joy  came  over  me,  and 
hope  revived.  I  ran  back  to  my  companions,  and 
joyfully  announced  to  them  my  discovery.  I  carried 
Alexander  a  portion  of  the  way.  But  we  had  not 
gone  over  40  rods,  when  Alexander  fell  down  ex- 
hausted again.  I  now  deemed  it  improper  for  my 
brothers  to  try  to  go  on  further,  and  it  was  then  pro- 
posed that  all  of  the  party  who  were  able,  should  go 
on,  and  if  they  found  help,  should  return  to  the 
rescue  of  the  others.  All  went  except  Soley,  one  of 
the  party  that  joined  us. 

"  He  and  brother  Alexander  were  now  completely 
prostrate,  helpless  as  babes.  Charles  rallied  a  little 
during  the  day,  and  he  walked  along  slowly,  while  I 
carried  the  two  helpless  men  along,  first  bearing 
Soley  a  certain  distance,  and  setting  him  down, — then 
going  back  after  Alexander,  and  then  again  return- 

•^js/G^tv  „.& 


<& 


WHITES  fDE  COUMTY. 


V 


ing  for  our  satchels.  My  object  was  to  find,  if  pos- 
sible, a  better  shelter  for  them,  hoping  to  find  a 
human  habitation  of  some  kind.  But  evening  came 
again,  and  our  condition  and  prospects  were  more 
desperate  and  wretched  than  ever  before.  We  had 
now  been  eight  entire  days  without  food,  except 
boiled  roots  and  grass  and  the  snow,  and  even  these, 
what  little  we  could  get  of  them,  did  not  in  the  least 
satisfy  our  hunger.  The  roots  were  bitter  and  would 
not  digest,  and  lay  heavily  on  our  stomachs,  making 
us  more  miserable  than  we  had  felt  previously. 

"  On  that  night  Alexander  suffered  terribly,  and  I 
had  to  sit  up  with  him,  trying  to  soothe  and  alleviate 
his  excruciating  rheumatic  pains.  Charles  and  Soley 
slept  soundly  till  morning ;  but  at  about  seven  o'clock 
that  same  morning,  Soley  commenced  to  sink  rapidly, 
and  soon  expired,  bidding  us  a  sad  farewell,  and  re- 
questing us,  with  his  last  words,  to  take  his  body  and 
eat  of  it  as  much  as  we  could,  and  thus  preserve  our 
lives.  The  poor,  noble-hearted  boy  had  actually 
starved  to  death!  And  in  his  fate,  we  three  brothers, 
who  were  now  left  entirely  alone,  saw  our  own ;  for 
death  was  surely  gnawing  at  our  vitals,  and  we  felt 
that  soon  we  would  have  to  follow  our  now  silent, 
pale  and  emancipated  companion  to  the  other  world, 
'  where  the  weary  are  at  rest.'  We  were  not  strong 
enough  to  inter  the  corpse,  neither  had  we  pick  or 
shovel  with  which  to  dig  a  grave,  even  if  we  could 
muster  strength  enough  to  do  so.  The  dead  body 
lay  there  for  three  days,  we  lying  helpless  on  the 
ground  near  it,  our  craving  for  food  increasing  con- 
tinually, until,  driven  to  desperation,  wild  with  hun- 
ger, and  feeling,  in  its  full  force,  the  truth  of  the 
sentiment,  that  '  self-preservation  is  the  first  law  of 
nature,'  we  took  our  knives  and  commenced  cutting 
the  flesh  from  the  legs  and  arms  of  our  dead  com- 
panion, and  ate  it!  this  was  the  hardest  of  our  trials 
— this  being  forced  to  eat  human  flesh.  We  re- 
strained as  long  as  we  could,  but  we  yielded  at  last, 
for  it  was  our  last  resort  for  hope  of  preservation." 

After  struggling  against  fate,  all  died  shortly  after- 
ward, excepting  Daniel,  who  subsequently  became 
demented  through  suffering  and  grief  and  wandered 
aimlessly  about,  but  was  finally  discovered  by  some 
Indians  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Big  Sandy  River  in 
Colorado.  He  was  utterly  without  sense  or  knowl- 
edge and  the  red  men  delivered  him  to  some  whites, 
vho  took  him  to  Denver,  where  he  was  cared  for 


with  skill  and  restored  to  health  and  reason.  He 
has  since  written  an  account  of  his  dreadful  ex- 
perience and  has  become  a  married  man  and  is  a 
farmer  in  Iowa. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  Blue  lived  until  April,  1863, 
when  she  died,  leaving  four  orphan  children,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  but  seven  years  old. 

The  son,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  has 
sustained  himself  since  his  mother's  death.  Dec. 
25,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Emma  A.  Alldritt,  and 
they  have  two  children — Wilfred  T.,  born  Dec.  16, 
1878,  and  Samuel  A.,  born  Jan.  6,  1885.  Mrs.  Blue 
was  born  in  Clyde  Township,  Aug.  13,  1859,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Lavina  (Heacox)  All- 
dritt. Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  England  and 
were  married  in  Clyde  Township,  whither  they  re- 
moved with  their  respective  parents.  The  father  of 
Mrs.  Blue  is  still  living.  The  mother  died  Sept. 
25,  1880. 


Joseph  T.  Miller,  traveling  salesman  for 
'£  the  Troy  Stove  Works  of  Chicago,  resides 
upon  Keystone  Avenue,  opposite  Mulberry 
Street,  Sterling.  He  was  born  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.,  June  13,  1843,  his  parents  being 
Joseph  and  Eliza  A.  (LeFevre)  Miller,  natives 
also  of  tho  Keystone  State.  His  father  carried  on 
farming  in  his  native  State,  and  also  owned  cars  on 
the  Pennsylvania  Central  Railroad.  (The  State 
owned  the  road-bed  and  the  locomotive  power,  and 
individuals  owned  the  cars.)  Mr.  Miller  sold  out  his 
interests  there  and  in  the  spring  of  1847  came  West, 
locating  in  Sterling,  where  .he  engaged  in  the  con- 
struction of  stone-work,  and  followed  the  occupation 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb.  12,  1874 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  lived  at  his  father's 
home  until  about  five  years  ago.  He  received  a 
common-school  education,  and  learned  the  hard- 
ware business  at  Sterling.  In  1872  he  went  East  to 
Pennsylvania  and  traveled  as  a  salesman  for  Mitch- 
ell, Stephenson  &  Co.,  a  firm  manufacturing  stoves. 
In  1878,  in  company  with  Mr.  Johnson,  of  the 
village  of  Lyndon,  he  ran  the  flouring  mills  at  that 
place  for  one  year;  then,  in  1879,  he  commenced 
again  to  travel  for  the  Troy  Stove  Company,  of 
Chicago,  in  which  business  he  is  now  engaged.  He 
owns  a  farm  of  277  acres  adjoining  the  village  of 


— 


x 


. 


I 

. 


• 
: 


• 


' 
5 


WHTTESIDE  COUNTY. 


Rock   Falls,  and   also   other    property    in    Sterlini* 
Township. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married  Jan.  13,  1879,  to  Miss  Eva 
E.  Cool,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  they  have  one  son, 
named  Leonard  J. 


f'ohn  Courtright,  general  farmer,  section 
32,  Genesee  Township,  was  born  Oct.  10, 
1823,  in  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.  His  grand- 
father, Samuel  Courtright,  and  his  father, 
Reuben  Courtright,  were  both  farmers,  and 
were  born  in  Sussex  County.  The  former 
died  in  that  county.  They  were  farmers  and  were 
the  descendants  of  the  settlers  from  the  Nether- 
lands who  located  in  New  Jersey.  The  mother  of 
Mr.  Courtright,  Deborah  Bedell  before  her  marriage, 
was  the  daughter  of  a  New  Jersey  farmer,  and  passed 
her  whole  life  in  her  native  State,  where  she  died 
about  1827.  She  was  the  mother  of  ten  children. 
Reuben  Courtright  took  a  second  wife,  by  whom  he 
had  also  ten  children.  Nearly  all  his  20  children 
grew  to  mature  age.  Reuben  Courtright  died  Aug. 
8,  1875,  aged  86  years  and  some  months. 

Mr.  Courtright  was  four  years  of  age  when  his 
mother  died,  and  he  was  under  the  care  of  his 
stepmother  after  the  second  marriage  of  his  father, 
continuing  a  member  of  the  paternal  household  until 
he  was  22  years  of  age.  He  went  then  to  Port  Jar- 
vis,  N.  Y.,  where  he  apprenticed  himself  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter  with  John  Clark  and  John  Kyte. 
The  terms  of  his  agreement  provided  that  he  was  to 
remain  with  them  two  years  and  receive  six  dollars 
a  month  for  his  first  year's  service.  He  abandoned 
the  plan  under  which  he  began  to  acquire  his  trade 
and  completed  his  preparation  for  a  mechanic's  ca- 
reer with  a  man  named  Westbrook  Williamson.  He 
afterwards  returned  to  his  native  county  in  New  Jer- 
sey, and  was  married  Dec.  29,  1848,  to  Sarah  A. 
Trauger.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Adams)  Trauger,  natives  of  Bucks  Co.,  Pa., 
and  of  German  descent  and  ancestry.  They  were 
farmers  and  were  married  in  their  native  county, 
afterwards  removing  to  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.  Their  two 
eldest  children  were  born  in  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  the 
eight  younger  were  born  in  Sussex  County.  Mrs. 


Courtright  has  a  twin  sister  and  they  were  born  July 
25,  1825.  Her  father  died  in  1836  and  was  about 
46  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  decease.  The 
death  of  her  mother  occurred  about  1853  and  she 
was  65  years  old.  Mrs.  Courtright  remained  with 
her  mother  until  two  years  previous  to  her  marriage, 
and  the  intervening  time  she  was  a  member  of  the 
family  of  an  older  sister. 

After  the  union  in  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Courtright,  they  lived  nearly  three  years  in  Sussex 
County,  whence  they  came  in  1852  to  Illinois  and 
settled  for  a  few  months  in  the  township  of  Sterling, 
in  Whiteside  County.  In  the  year  following,  in 
company  with  his  brother,  he  bought  160  acres  orf 
section  32,  Genesee  Township,  on  which  they  oper- 
ated together  some  time  and  afterwards  made  a 
division  of  the  estate,  Mr.  Courtright  taking  the  south- 
ern half,  adjoining  which  he  had  bought  40  acres, 
the  whole  constituting  a  valuable  and  finely  located 
farm  of  121  acres.  The  entire  acreage  was  all  un- 
broken prairie  at  the  date  of  his  purchase.  It  gives 
substantial  proof  of  the  quality  of  the  energy  and 
thrift  brought  to  bear  on  the  property  by  its  ad- 
vanced cultivation  and  its  excellent  farm  buildings. 
Mr.  Courtright  is  the  owner  of  two  additional  farms, 
containing  respectively  79  and  75  acres,  which  are 
all  under  improvement.  He  owns  besides  10  acres 
of  timber. 

Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Court- 
right.  Amanda  married  Francis  A  Gould,  and  they 
reside  with  her  parents.  Lester  died  when  six 
years  of  age.  Mr.  Courtright  is  a  decided  Republi- 
can. 


i^ohn  Hannis,  a  retired  farmer,  resident  at 
Coleta,  is  engaged  in  the  business  of  an 
insurance  agent  and  stock  dealer.  He  was 
born  July  26,  1827,  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.  John 
Hannis,  senior,  his  father,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  of  German  extraction.  He 
married  Sarah  A.  Horton,  a  native  of  New  Jersey 
and  of  Yankee  parentage.  Their  marriage  took 
place  in  Wilksbarre,  Pa.,  at  the  house  of  Gen.  Ross, 
whose  name  is  well  known  as  being  connected  with 
the  war  of  1812.  They  became  the  parents  of  12 
children.  The  father  died  in  January,  1845.  Mr. 


x. 


490 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Hannis  is  the  youngest  child  of  his  parents,  and  he 
was  18  years  old  when  his  father  died.  After  that 
event  he  had  his  own  battle  to  fight  with  the  world, 
and  set  out  with  the  equipments  of  a  sound  consti- 
tution, an  abundance  of  the  variety  of  pluck  that 
kept  him  supplied  with  hopeful  energy,  and  a 
cash  capital  of  one  shilling.  He  obtained  a  posi- 
tion as  engineer  in  the  service  of  the  Lehigh  Navi- 
gation Company,  and  was  in  the  employ  of  the  same 
corporation  12  years.  He  wisely  married  when  he 
found  himself  with  reasonable  prospects  of  employ- 
ment. The  ceremony  which  constituted  him  the 
husband  of  Elizabeth  Steel  took  place  May  30,  1846, 
in  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.  Her  father,  Adam  Steel,  was 
born  at  Mt.  Bethel,  Pa.,  and  was  of  German  descent. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  married  Mary  Ross,  a  native 
of  the  place  last  named  and  born  of  Irish  parents. 
The  former  died  Jan.  i-j,  1849,  in  Luzenve  Co.,  Pa. 
The  mother  went  afterwards  to  Henry  Co.,  Iowa, 
where  she  died  May  29,  1857.  Mrs.  Hannis  was 
born  April  13,  1825,  and  she  is  the  youngest  of  nine 
children,  six  girls  and  three  boys. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hannis  went  in  1856  to  Henry  Co., 
Iowa,  where  the  former  was  occupied  four  years  as 
an  engineer.  In  1860  they  came  to  Whiteside 
County  and  spent  ten  years  in  farming,  taking  farms 
on  shares  until  1870,  when  Mr.  Hannis  purchased 
80  acres  of  land  in  Carroll  County,  this  State.  He 
owned  the  property  until  1880,  when  he  sold  it  and 
purchased  80  acres  on  section  17,  Genesee  Town- 
ship, which  is  in  valuable  farming  condition.  In 
1882  he  retired  to  the  village  of  Coleta,  where  he 
owns  a  desirable  location  with  a  residence. 

In  political  connection  he  is  Republican.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 


^amuel  H.  Kingery,  fanner,  section  8,  Geri- 
esee  Township,  was  born  Oct.  29,  1836,  in 
Pennsylvania.  His  father,  Daniel  Kingery, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  of  German  ex- 
traction, and  was  a  physician.  The  latter 
married  Susannah  Hoover,  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  descendant  of  the  Dutch  ele- 
ment that  settled  many  sections  of  the  Atlantic  re- 
gion. After  marriage  they  resided  in  that  State  until 
1 845 ,  when  they  came  with  seven  children  to  White- 


side  County,  and  located  at  Albany  on  the  river. 
The  father  was  one  of  the  pioneer  practitioners  of 
the  western  part  of  Whiteside  County,  but,  true  to  a 
peculiar  trait  of  his  character  which  led  him  con- 
stantly to  new  and  untried  fields  of  effort,  he  re- 
mained there  but  a  limited  time,  going  subsequently 
to  Carroll,  Stephenson  and  Ogle  Counties.  He 
made  a  permanent  settlement  at  Polo,  where  he 
died,  Feb.  27,  1874,  aged  69  years.  The  mother 
lives  in  Carroll  County  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  D. 
S.  Good,  and  is  74  years  of  age.  The  family  to 
which  Mr.  Kingery  belongs  is  noted  for  tenacity  of 
life,  several  of  his  ancestors  having  lived  nearly  a 
century. 

He  accompanied  his  father's  family  in  their  changes 
of  residence  until  he  was  of  age.  He  obtained  an 
education  by  study  in  the  district  schools  and  under 
the  instructions  of  Prof.  August  Cadmus  in  Carroll 
Co.,  Ill:  He  taught  school  two  years  in  Cherry 
Grove  in  that  County. 

His  marriage  to  Rebecca  Overholser  occurred 
Aug.  1 6,  1860.  Mrs.  Kingery  is  the  daughter  of 
"  Uncle  "  John  and  Julia  A.  (Weimer)  Overholser. 
Her  parents  were  born  respectively  in  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio.  Her  paternal  ancestors  were  natives  of 
Holland.  Her  grandfather  in  that  line  was  born  in 
Bucks  Co.,  Pa.  The  family  of  her  father's  mother 
belonged  to  the  territory  which  was  in  dispute  in  the 
recent  struggle  between  Germany  and  France  and 
now  belongs  to  the  former, — Alsace.  The  name  of 
the  founder  of  the  family  was  Joseph  Van  Gundy 
and  the  later  generations  have  dropped  the  prefix. 
Both  families  came  to  the  United  States  colonies  be- 
fore the  Revolution,  and  founded  the  Overholser 
and  Gundy  genealogies  in  this  country.  They  were 
all  farmers  and  belonged  to  the  Mennonite  Church. 
The  grandfather  and  father  of  Mrs.  Kingery  located 
in  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio,  when  the  latter  was  but  five 
years  of  age,  and  he  there  passed  his  youth  and  in 
early  manhood  was  married.  The  daughter  was 
born  there  Feb.  25,  1839.  In  1844  her  parents  and 
four  children  went  to  Stark  County  in  the  same 
State,  where  they  lived  on  a  farm  until  1859.  In 
that  year  they  became  residents  of  Genesee  Town- 
ship, locating  near  the  village  of  Coleta.  "  Uncle  " 
John  is  a  member  of  the  family  of  Mr.  Kingery. 
Aug.  28,  1885,  he  will  be  74  years  old.  He  has 
been  blind  since  1875.  In  position  as  an  honorable, 
upright  man  he  is  second  to  none,  and  he  sustains 


, 


LIBRARY 
UMlVERSIPf  (If 
URUANA 


> 


| 


V 


the  repute  which  he  has  worthily  earned  among  a 
large  circle  of  appreciative  friends  in  Whileside  and 
Carroll  Counties.  His  name  is  a  household  word 
in  Genesee  Township,  and  old  and  young  have  a 
personal  interest  in  his  welfare.  His  wife  died  Dec. 
29,  1884.  "Grandma"  Overholser  was  warmly 
loved  by  the  people  among  whom  she  lived  25  years. 
She  and  her  husband  were  regarded  as  home  mis- 
sionaries in  their  intercourse  with  humanity.  The 
latter  has  been  for  many  years  a  prominent  member 
in  the  religious  society  of  which  they  are  members. 
They  belonged  to  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

Mrs.  Kingery  came  to  Illinois  when  she  was  18 
years  of  age,  and  she  lived  with  her  parents  until 
she  was  married.  No  children  have  been  born  of 
that  event,  but  she  has  reared  a  foster  child  to  man's 
estate, — Daniel  O'Brien,  now  a  resident  of  Sterling. 
She  is  now  in  charge  of  a  little  girl, — Fannie  L. 
Berkey, — who  promises  to  reward  the  efforts  in  her 
behalf. 

Mr.  Kingery  was  a  resident  of  Carroll  County 
about  one  year  after  marriage.  He  then  bought  70 
acres  of  land  now  included  in  the  plats  of  Coleta, 
which  he  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  laying  out. 
In  October,  1869,  he  sold  the  properly  and  went  to 
Sterling,  where  he  acquired  an  interest  in  a  flour- 
mill  and  its  business  relations.  He  conducted  an 
extensive  business  on  the  Rock  River  for  five  and  a 
half  years,  but  was  obliged  to  relinquish  his  relations 
in  that  line,  and  traveled  until  he  became  free  from 
the  disease  known  as  the  miller's  sore  throat,  which 
he  had  contracted.  On  recovering  his  health,  he 
embarked  in  the  furniture  trade  at  Sterling,  in  which 
he  operated  with  success  several  years,  and  later 
became  interested  in  the  sale  of  groceries  and  pro- 
visions. He  sold  out  eventually  and  went  to  Cali- 
fornia for  the  benefit  of  his  wife's  health.  The  ob- 
ject was  fully  accomplished  after  a  residence  of  18 
months  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

On  returning  to  Genesee  Township,  he  assumed 
charge  of  the  farm  of  his  father-in-law,  and  he  has 
made  a  successful  trial  of  agriculture. 

Mr.  Kingery 's  connection  with  the  general  affairs 
of  the  township  and  county  reflect  credit  on  his  citi- 
zenship and  manhood.  He  was  prominent  while  at 
Sterling  as  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  and  he 
officiated  some  time  as  Vice-President  of  the  Gas 
Company.  He  has  also  done  effective  service  in 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


the  Agricultural  Society,  was  Superintendent  of  Floral 
Hall  and  took  active  part  in  the  various  exhibitions 
of  the  organization.  He  is  no  less  prominent  and 
zealous  in  religious  interests,  and  was  President  and 
Vice-President  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  being  an  active 
factor  in  the  establishment  of  the  reading  room  un- 
der the  auspices  of  that  body.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
Kingery  is  a  Republican  of  decided  type,  and  has 
been  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

-* 4~* *- 


ames  Frank,  a  citizen  of  Montmorency 
if-  Township,  on  section  28,  has  lived  in 
VVhiteside  County  since  1856.  His  par- 
ents, Jacob  and  Mary  (Dill)  Frank,  were  na- 
tives of  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  were  born  of 
German  ancestors.  They  came  in  1856  to 
VVhiteside  Co'inty,  but  not  finding  themselves  con- 
tented they  returned  to  Pennsylvania  after  a  stay  of 
about  six  weeks.  Their  deaths  occurred  respectively 
in  1870  and  1879.  Their  children  were  named 
Sophia,  James,  Abner  and  Noah. 

Mr.  Frank  was  born  March  12,  1825,  in  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  Pa.  He  was  educated  in  German, 
which  was  the  language  of  his  parents,  and  which 
was  the  prevailing  tongue  of  his  native  township. 
At  the  age  of  22  years  he  went  to  an  English  settle- 
ment and  engaged  as  a  laborer  for  about  three 
years.  During  the  winter  seasons  he  went  to  school 
and  acquired  a  practical  knowledge  of  the  English 
language.  After  that  he  spent  five  years  as  a  farm 
laborer,  hiring  by  the  year.  He  then  left  Pennsyl- 
vania to  seek  a  home  in  the  West.  He  prospected 
at  various  points  and  spent  three  months  in  Ohio,  a 
similar  period  in  Indiana,  and  in  the  fall  of  1854 
came  to  Whiteside  County.  He  returned  to  the 
State  of  his  nativity  two  months  later,  with  the  in- 
tention of  settling  permanently  in  Whiteside  County 
in  the  following  spring,  but  he  postponed  his  return 
until  the  spring  of  1856.  On  arrival  he  engaged  a 
year  as  a  farm  laborer,  when  he  rented  a  farm  in 
Sterling  Township,  which  he  managed  three  years. 
He  then  rented  a  farm  west  of  Sterling,  which  he 
occupied  seven  years.  He  bought  200  acres  of  land 
on  section  28,  in  Montmorency  Township,  on  which 
he  settled  and  where  he  has.  since  lived.  He  is  at 


present  the  possessor  of  480  acres  of  land  in  the 
same  township,  about  half  of  it  being  under  culture. 
The  buildings  on  the  estate  are  of  excellent  charac- 
ter and  rank  among  the  best  and  most  valuable  in 
the  township.  Mr.  Frank  herds  about  70  head  of 
cattle  on  an  average,  owns  nine  horses  and  colts, 
and  fattens  annually  a  considerable  number  of  hogs. 

Politically,  Mr.  Frank  is  a  Democrat.  He  has 
been  Collector  two  years,  School  Trustee  for  three 
years  and  Commissioner  of  Highways  ten  years,  and 
has  held  the  office  of  Assessor  two  years. 

He  was  first  married  in  Sugar  Grove,  Lee  Co.,  111., 
May  12,  1857,  to  Fanny  Lingenfelter,  a  native  of 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  She  became  the  mother  of  three 
children, — Theodore,  Jacob  and  Mary  A.  The 
youngest  child  is  deceased.  The  mother  died  of 
consumption,  June  3,  1864,  in  Sterling  Township. 
Nov.  8,  1866,  Mr.  Frank  was  again  married,  in  Ster- 
ling, to  Anna  W.  Shuler.  She  was  born  March  10, 
1841,  in  Germany.  They  have  four  children, — 
Anna,  James,  Lizz'e  and  Samuel.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frank  are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Frank,  being  a  representative  and  prominent 
citizen  of  Whiteside  County,  and  an  exemplary  and 
honorable  gentleman,  is  represented  among  the  por- 
traits of  this  ALBUM.  It  is  given  on  a  page  just  pre- 
ceding the  above  sketch. 


illiam  H.  Courtright,  general  farmer,  liv- 
ing on  section  31,  Genesee  Township,  was 
born  April  26,  1820,  in  Sandyston,  Sussex 
Co.,  N.  J.  His  parents  were  Reuben  and 
Debora  (Bedell)  Courtright,  of  whom  a  full 
sketch  appears  in  connection  with  that  of  John 
Courtright.  Their  children  were :  Peter,  born  Nov. 
r,  1809;  Phebe,  Jan.  n,  1812;  Isaac,  April  18, 
1813;  Catharine,  Jan.  7,  1815;  Lucinda,  April  30, 
1816;  Jane,  May  27,  1818;  William  H.,  April  26, 
1820;  Margaret,  Feb.  6,  1822;  John,  Oct.  10,  1823; 
Mary,  March  18,  1827;  and  Deborah,  March  18, 
1827  ;  and  by  Mr.  C.'s  second  wife  there  were  the 
following  :  Benjamin,  born  July  22,  1831  ;  Samuel, 
July  13,  1833;  Mary,  Oct.  T4,  1835;  William  H., 
Nov.  21,  1837  ;  Levi,  Jan.  27,  1840;  George,  Sept. 
14,  1843;  Partial,  Aug.  7,  1845;  Lydia  Ann,  Aug. 
22,  1848;  Josephine,  Oct.  20,  1850;  and  Aaron  D., 
/g\V£reyg-T  >^g»a.^  ^  A. 

•_ S  f^^^t^*  »  • 


Dec.  2,  1852.  Mr.  Reuben  Courtright  died  Aug.  8, 
1875;  Mrs.  Deborah  Couriright,  March  18,  1827; 
and  Lucinda,  their  daughter,  died  Aug.  22,  1848. 

Mr.  Courtright,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received 
a  limited  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  con- 
tinued under  the  parental  authority  until  he  was  21 
years  of  age.  After  arriving  at  his  majority  he  spent 
two  years  in  the  capacity  of  a  farm  laborer.  His  first 
important  movement  was  his  marriage,  Dec.  22,  1842, 
to  Mary  A.  Trauger.  She  was  born  July  25,  1825, 
id  the  township  of  Wallpack,  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Elizabeth  (Adams) 
Trauger,  whose  sister  is  the  wife  of  John  Courtright. 
The  items  pertaining  to  the  personal  history  of  the 
parents  of  Mrs.  Courtright  are  to  be  found  in  con- 
nection with  the  sketch  already  referred  to.  She  is 
twin  sister  of  Mrs.  John  Courtright.  Her  sisters  and 
brothers,  in  order,  were:  Jessie,  Samuel,  William, 
Geo.  A.,Christenah,  Elias,  Mary  A.,  Sarah  A.,  Henry 
and  Theodore.  To  her  and  her  husband  n  children 
have  been  born,  seven  of  whom  are  living.  Henry 
T.  married  Katherine  O.  Trauger,  and  they  are  resi- 
dents of  Clay  Co.,  Iowa.  S.  Elizabeth  married  Charles 
S.  Rowley,  a  farmer  of  Plymouth  Co.,  Iowa.  William 
R.  married  Sarah  A.  Gould.  They  live  on  a  farm 
in  Hopkins  Township.  Delila  A.  is  the  -wife  of  John 
Parish,  a  farmer  in  Tania  Co.,  Iowa.  Miles  A.  mar- 
ried Minnie  S.  Marohn,  and  they  are  residents  of 
Lincoln,  Neb.,  where  the  husband  is  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools.  Anna  M.  married  David  Decker  of 
Sterling.  Emma  is  unmarried  and  resides  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Courtright  passed  five  years  in  farm- 
ing in  their  native  county  after  they  were  married, 
and  they  removed  thence  to  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.  They 
were  there  interested  in  agricultural  pursuits  a  similar 
length  of  time.  In  1852  the  brothers  William  and 
John,  accompanied  by  their  families,  removed  to 
Whiteside  County  and  purchased  160  acres  of  land 
on  section  32,  of  which  they  were  the  joint  possessors 
some  years.  At  length  the  tract  was  divided  and 
Mr.  Courtright  of  this  sketch  became  the  sole  pro- 
prietor of  the  northern  moiety,  and  his  acreage  had 
been  increased  by  a  purchase  of  20  acres  previous  to 
the  division.  Subsequently,  he  sold  his  farm  on 
section  32,  and  bought  177  acres  on  sections  31  and 
30.  At  the  time  he  took  possession  of  his  home- 
stead it  was  in  its  primal  condition,  and  is  now  under 
excellent  improvements. 

Mr.  Courtright  is  a  Republican   in  political  senti- 


.*« 


ment  and  has  lield  several  township  offices.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  he  has  been  a  Class-leader  more  than 
20  years. 


• 


) 


•*• 


iristian  G.  Wolf  is  a  general  farmer  and 
stock-grower  on  section  17,  Jordan  Town- 
ship, and  was  born  Sept.  19,  1842,  in  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany.  His  father,  Jacob  Wolf, 
was  a  farmer  in  Germany  and  died  there  in 
1866,  aged  64  years.  The  mother  of  Mr. 
Wolf,  who  was  Rosena  Schielb  before  her  marriage, 
was  also  born  and  died  in  her  native  country.  Her 
death  occurred  in  1852. 

After  the  loss  of  his  mother,  which  took  place 
when  he  was  10  years  of  age,  Mr.  Wolf  remained 
under  the  care  of  his  father  until  1860.  In  that  year 
he  came  to  the  United  States.  He  was  18  years  old 
and  was  accompanied  hither  by  his  brother  Jacob, 
younger  than  he,  and  now  a  farmer  in  Jordan  Town- 
ship. Soon  after  landing,  they  came  to  Illinois, 
making  their  first  stop  in.  the  State  at  Sterling.  Mr. 
Wolf  readily  obtained  employment  on  a  farm  and 
spent  some  lime  working  by  the  month.  He  became 
interested  in  the  Civil  War,  and  decided  to  become  a 
soldier.  He  enlisted  Aug.  10,  1862,  in  Co  K,  82d 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Capt.  Joseph  Granhort.  The  regiment 
was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  under 
Generals  Burnside,  Hooker  and  Meade,  and  was 
attached  to  the  corps  of  Sigel  and  Howard.  Mr. 
\Volfwasaparticipantin  the  disastrous  day's  fight 
at  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville,  where  he  sus- 
tained a  slight  wound  in  the  left  leg  near  the  foot. 
At  Gettysburg,  where  he  was  also  under  fire,  he  re- 
ceived another  gunshot  wound  in  nearly  the  same 
place.  He  was  also  in  the  actions  at  Missionary 
Ridge,  Lookout  Mountain  and  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  be 
sides  numerous  other  contests  of  less  importance, 
and  received  an  honorable  discharge  at  the  close  of 
the  war.  His  papers  were  dated  July  6,  1865.  He 
was  in  the  military  service  nearly  three  years. 

After  returning  to  Jordan  Township,  he  worked 
some  time  for  his  brother,  David  Wolf,  and  was 
afterwards  employed  at  various  points  as  a  general 
laborer.  He  was  mairied  April  14,  1868,  at  Sugar 
Grove,  Lee  Co.,  111.,  to  Mary  Buehler.  She  was  born 

Njt 


in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  Oct.  23,  1843,  and  was  :9 
years  of  age  when  she  joined  her  parents  in  America, 
they  having  come  to  the  United  States  some  time 
previously.  She  has  had  six  children, — Charles, 
Louisa,  Katie,  Abraham,  Andrew  and  Anna. 
'  Prior  to  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wolf  had  bought  80 
acres  of  land  in  the  township  where  he  now  resides 
and  on  which  he  settled.  He  has  applied  himself 
vigorously  to  the  work  of  improvement  and  has 
placed  his  farm  in  excellent  condition.  It  now  in- 
cludes 125  acres,  and  is  supplied  with  creditable  and 
suitable  buildings. 

Mr.  Wolf  is  a.  Republican  in  political  views,  and  is 
in  sympathy  with  the  general  and  local  issues  of  that 
party,  and  has  been  holding  an  office  as  Commis- 
sioner of  Highways  in  Jordan  for  the  last  four  years. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 


zekiel  Olds,  resident  at  Albany,  is  the  fifth 
child  of  Cheney  and  Amma  (Walker)  Olds, 
of  whom  a  full  and  detailed  account  is 
given  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  Warren 
Olds.  He  was  born  Oct.  24,  1826,  in  Stur- 
bridge,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  and  was  a  child 
of  nearly  two  years  when  his  parents  removed  to  the 
State  of  New  .York.  In  his  I2th  year  the  memor- 
able transit  of  the  family  to  Whiteside  County  was 
accomplished,  the  events  of  which  made  a  lasting 
impression  on  the  remembrance  of  the  lad,  who 
found  its  novelty  entertaining,  notwithstanding  its 
tedious  length. 

At  the  age  of  18  Mr.  Olds  began  to  work  with  his 
brother  Warren  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  operating 
in  that  avenue  of  business  continually  until  1880, 
when<  he  became  interested  in  the  growing  of  small 
fruits,  which  enterprise  has  since  occupied  his  atten- 
tion. He  is  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  rasp- 
berries, strawberries,  blackberries  and  grapes. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Olds  to  Sarah  Pease  took 
place  Dec.  29,  1852.  Mrs.  Olds  is  the  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Mary  (Warburton)  Pease,  of  whom  a 
sketch  appears  on  another  page.  She  is  the  mother 
of  six  children  :  Mary  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  George 
Van  Beb  Ber,  of  Savannah,  111. ;  Fanny  P.,  Edwin 
L.,  Edith  H.,  Louisa  W.,  and  Albert  H.  are  unmar- 


Vg) 


f® 

vl- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


ried.     In    1873    Mr.  Olds  bought  his  present   resi- 
••'   dence,  which  is  pleasantly  located  on  a  bluff  over- 
looking the  river. 


-Ofr — 


form  S.  Weaver  is  a  farmer  on  section  23, 
Sterling  Township,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
".  and  Anna  (Suavely)  Weaver,  whose  sketch 
appears  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  He 
was  born  Jan.  15,  1838,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa., 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  Whiteside  County. 
He  obtained  a  fair  common-school  education,  and 
since  arriving  at  the  estate  of  manhood  has  been 
interested  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  80  acres  of,  land,  which  is  under  good  im- 
provements. 

Mr.  Weaver  was  married  in  Sterling,  111.,  Feb.  2r, 
1864,  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Julia 
(Grim)  Delp.  Her  parents  are  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  came  in  1851  to  Whiteside  County,  lo- 
cating at  first  in  Jordan  and  later  removing  to  the 
township  of  Sterling.  Their  10  children  were  named 
Benjamin,  Charles,  Mahlon,  Caroline,  Mary  A., 
Michael,  Julia,  Samuel,  Barbara  and  Martha.  Mrs. 
Weaver  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  31, 
1841.  Their  surviving  children  are  five  in  number, 
and  are  named  Irving  L.,  Agnes  and  Alice  (twins) 
Mammie  and  Julia  A.  Three  are  deceased — Ira, 
Elam  and  Franklin. 

Mr.  Weaver  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views. 


a  Fayette  Crandall,  farmer,  residing  on 
section  18,  Erie  Township  (19  north,  4 
east),  is  a  son  of  Luke  and  Deborah  Wil- 
bor)  Crandall,  and  was  born  in  the  Township 
of  Collins,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  9,  1822.  His 
father,  a  farmer,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and 
a  descendant  of  an  old  American  family.  His  moth- 
er, also  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  was 
of  Irish  ancestry.  Both  are  now  deceased.  They 
had  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  The 
record  of  all  is :  Hannah  married  David  Hunt,  a 
farmer,  who  came  to  Erie  Township  in  the  fall  of 
i83S;  both  are  now  dead;  Maria  became  the  wife 

s*^     o» 


of  Moses  Hubbard,  and  both  these  are  also  de- 
ceased;  they  were  residents  of  Rock  Island  County; 
John  and  Lewis  D.  came  to  Erie  Township,  from 
New  York,  in  the  fall  of  1835,  and  about  1837  built 
the  ferry  in  this  county,  two  miles  south  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Erie,  which  bears  their  name — "Crandall 
Ferry;"  they  had  farms  in  this  township;  John  died 
in  Edgar  County,  this  State;  and  Lewis  D.,  being 
elected  Sheriff  of  this  county,  was  a  resident  of  Ster- 
ling for  some  years ;  also  a  merchant  for  several 
years  previously  in  Portland,  this  county  ;  he  moved 
to  Central  City,  Col.,  where  he  died  Nov.  15,  1860; 
Lucinda  also  came  to  Erie  about  1837,  kept  house 
for  her  brothers  at  the  ferry,  and  married,  in  that 
township,  a  farmer  named  James  Hamilton  ;  both 
these  are  now  deceased  ;  Fidelia,  the  wife  of  Jerome 
Peters,  is  now  a  resident  of  Mercer  Co.,  III. ;  they 
were  early  settlers  of  Fenton  Township,  this  county, 
married  in  Erie  Township,  and  resided  there  a  num- 
ber of  years ;  the  next  in  order  was  La  Fayette,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch ;  Luke  W.  came  to  this  coun- 
try about. 1839,  resided  with  his  brothers  at  the  ferry 
for  a  time,  but  was  a  roamer ;  when  last  heard  from 
he  was  in  Oregon. 

When  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  13  years  of 
age  the  family  emigrated  West,  locating  in  Lee 
County,  this  State,  where  his  father  purchased  a 
farm  of  about  zoo  acres,  and  was  also  a  half  owner 
of  a  ferry  across  Rock  River  at  that  point.  He  died 
in  that  county.  La  Fayette  came  to  Erie  Township, 
this  county,  in  1839,  and  resided  with  his  brothers 
at  times  until  ^47,  when  he  took  possession  of  the 
60  acres  where  he  now  resides,  receiving  it  from  his 
brother  Lewis's  claim,  and  his  brother  John  let  him 
have  ten  acres  of  timber  in  Erie  Grove.  When  the 
the  land  came  into  market  Mr.  Crandall  bought  it, 
and  has  since  added  to  it  by  further  purchases,  so 
that  he  now  has  an  aggregate  of  300  acres,  on  sec- 
tions 18,  13,  25  and  26.  He  has  a  nice  farm.  His 
house  was  probably  the  second  frame  structure  in 
the  township.  Mr.  C.  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace 
six  years. 

He  was  married  in  Portland  Township,  Feb.  to, 
1847,  to  Miss  Lovina,  daughter  of  John  S.  and 
Rachel  Rowe.  She  was  born  May  20,  1827,  in 
Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.  Of  their  four  children,  three  are 
still  living;  Francis  M.,  born  April  27,  1849,  married 
Helen  Stephenson,  Dec.  25,  1872;  he  is  a  farmer, 
and  resides  in  Portland  Township;  Ida  E,  born 


' 


• 
'TX 


/ 


V" V^  H  HXD»  H  H  •  *S  ~\    v-/ 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


March  6,  1853,  became  the  wife  of  John  J.  Bessee,  a 
farmer  of  Erie  Township,  April  15,  1874,  and  died 
Nov.  29,  1884;  Alice  A.,  born  Nov.  12,  1857,  and 
George  W.,  Sept  15,  1865,  are  still  at  home. 


been 
sons 


uthiiis  Spang,  a  prominent  and  enter- 
prising farmer,  on  section  n,  Genesee 
Township,  was  born  April  i,  1837,  in 
Prussia.  John  Spang,  his  father,  was  of 
the  same  nativity,  and  was  a  stone  cutter.  He 
died  in  1843,  at  45  years  of  age.  He  had 
twice  married,  and  was  the  father  of  three 
and  a  daughter  by  his  first  wife:  John  is  a 
stone-cutter  in  the  land  of  his  birth ;  Peter  is  an 
officer  in  the  French  army,  and  resides  at  Paris, 
France ;  William  is  a  farmer  in  Racine  Co.,  Wis. ; 
the  daughter  is  married,  and  lives  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  The  senior  Spang  was  married  about  two 
years  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  to  Lucy  Mer- 
gan,  daughter  of  a  German  farmer.  She  had  be- 
come the  mother  of  three  children  when  she  became 
a  widow.  Anthony,  her  second  child,  is  a  farmer  in 
in  the  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada;  Margaret  lives 
in  Ontario. 

Mr.  Spang  is  the  oldest  of  the  children  born  of  the 
second  marriage.  The  three  little  ones  were  such  in 
veiy  fact,  and  the  mother  managed  to  keep  her  little 
flock  together  until  her  son  was  old  enough  to  maintain 
the  family.  He  had  learned  the  trade  of  molder, 
and  followed  it  as  a  business  until  he  was  20  years 
of  age,  when  he  became  liable  to  the  conscription. 
To  avoid  being  drafted  into  the  German  army,  he 
came  with  his  mother,  brother  and  sister,  to  America. 
They  landed  at  Quebec,  and  proceeded  at  once  to 
Toronto,  where  Mr.  Spang  obtained  employment  as 
molder.  He  had  testimonials  from  his  employers  in 
his  native  land,  of  whom  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of 
his  business  and  with  whom  he  remained  until  he 
left  Germany.  The  evidence  of  his  qualifications 
procured  him  a  situation,  which  he  filled  until  his 
marriage. 

He  entered  into  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Mary 
Morden,  Jan.  8,  1865 .  Mrs.  Spang  is  the  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Lydia  (White)  Morden,  and  was  born  June 
i,  1848.  Her  parents  were  farmers  in  the  Province 


of  Ontario,  and  still  reside  in  the  Dominion.  Their 
family  included  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  Mrs. 
S.  being  the  oldest  of  the  latter.  She  was  reared  to 
womanhood  in  her  native  province,  and  is  the  mother 
of  nine  children,  born  as  follows  :  Lucy,  Oct.  25, 
1867  ;  John,  Nov.  17,  1869;  Anthony,  Aug.  7,  1871 ; 
Mathias,  June  27,  1873;  Lydia,  June  7,  1876;  Mary, 
Nov.  19,  1878;  Anna,  March  19,  1880;  Lucinda, 
Oct.  25,  1 88 1 ;  William,  Sept.  27,  1883.  The  oldest 
child  was  born  in  Ontario  Co.,  Canada. 

The  family  came  in  1868  to  Chicago,  where  they 
remained  through  the  winter.  They  were  three  in- 
dividuals— father,  mother  and  an  infant  child.  In 
the  spring  ensuing  they  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
and  purchased  50  acres  of  land  in  Genesee  Town- 
ship, near  Coleta.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the 
career  of  Mr.  Spang  as  a  farmer  under  the  fostering 
influences  of  a  republican  government.  He  has  in- 
creased his  estate  to  98  acres  in  extent,  and  made 
creditable  and  valuable  improvements. 

Among  the  people  of  his  own  nationality  he  is  in  a 
sense  a  leader,  ever  holding  himself  in  readiness  to 
give  counsel  and  general  information  as  he  may  be 
qualified  to  do,  and  for  which  he  has  frequent  appli- 
cations. He  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views, 
and  actively  interested  in  the  progress  of  the  party 
in  local  avenues.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Cath- 
olic. His  wife  was  brought  up  under  the  tenets  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Spang 
died  at  her  home  in  Ontario,  Canada,  aged  84  years 
and  five  months. 


v> 


icholas  Freek  has  been  a  resident  of  Al- 
bany since  1854,  when  he  bought  an  acre 
of  land,  on  which  he  built  his  present  res- 
idence in  1855,  having  previously  sent  money 
l(,  on  to  purchase  80  acres  in  the  country. 
He  was  born  Feb.  9,  1820,  in  Selby,  Yorkshire, 
Eng.,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Ann  ( Abby) 
Freek.  His  father  died  when  he  was  12  years  old, 
and  on  finding  the  burden  of  maintenance  on  him- 
self, he  engaged  in  a  brick  and  tile  factory,  where 
he  was  occupied  until  1841.  On  reaching  his  ma- 
jority, he  determined  to  emigrate  to  the  United 
States.  He  took  passage  for  the  New  World  on  the 
sailing  vessel,  "  Ohio,''  and  landed  in  New  York  after 
A  ^ >»J 


• 


a  passage  of  six  weeks.  He  was  accompa'nied  on 
his  journey  by  his  mother,  three  brothers,  two  sisters 
and  brother-in-law.  The  whole  party  proceeded  to 
the  city  of  Rochester.  Mr.  Freek  and  one  of  his 
brothers  went  thence  to  Toronto,  Canada.  The 
former  was  the  possessor  of  $5  in  cash,  but  he  ob- 
tained immediate  employment  as  foreman  in  a  brick- 
yard at  $26  a  month.  In  the  year  following,  associated 
wtth  his  brother  James,  he  established  himself  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick  and  tile,  which  business 
they  pursued  till  1854.  In  that  year  Mr.  Freek  sold 
his  claim  in  the  business  in  Canada  and  came  to 
Albany.  He  engaged  in  the  manufacture  oT  brick 
at  that  place,  at  Morrison  and  Savanna,  in  Carroll 
County.  Mr.  Freek  is  the  owner  of  four  acres  in- 
cluded in  the  village  plat,  and  all  in  excellent  tillage. 
He  was  married  June  6,  1846,  to  Mary  Routledge. 
She  was  born  June  16,  1816,  in  Market  Weighton, 
Yorkshire,  England.  Their  five  children  were  named 
John,  Thomas,  Robert  W.,  Ann  E.  and  William 
Robert.  John  was  born  in  Toronto  March  17,  1847, 
and  died  Nov.  3,  1859;  Thomas,  born  Oct.  8,  1848, 
is  a  farmer  in  Newton  Township ;  Robert  W.,  born 
July  6,  1852,  died  July  21,  15  days  after  birth  ;  Ann 
E.,  born  July  20,  1850,  married  Robert  Brewer,  of 
Eau  Claire,  Wis ;  the  youngest  son  was  born  Sept. 
10,  1854,  is  a  practicing  physician  and  druggist  and 
lives  at  Cordova,  111.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freek  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Albany. 


Barnes  R.  Deyo.  harness  merchant,  Sterling, 
was  born  in  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  24, 
1829,  his  parents  being  Garrett  and  Re- 
becca (Atherton)  Deyo,  natives  respectively  of 
France  and  the  State  of  New  York,  who  were 
married  in  1808,  followed  farming  until  1834, 
removed  to  Peoria,  111.,  and  after  two  years' residence 
there,  in  1836,  to  Jordan  Township,  this  county. 
Here  the  senior  Deyo  purchased  a  farm  of  40  acres, 
sold  a  part  of  it  and  resided  upon  the  remainder  un- 
til his  death  in  1857  ;  Mr?.  Deyo  died  in  1865. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  after  having  been 
brought  up  on  a  farm  and  receiving  a  common-school 
education,  left  home  at  the  age  of  21  and  learned 
and  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter  for  ten  years. 


;  "... 


He  then  purchased  a  farm  of  80  acres  in  Jordan 
Township,  this  county,  occupied  it  until  1865,  sold 
it,  bought  a  quarter-section  in  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  remained 
there  till  1869,  and  finally  removed  to  Sterling,  where 
he  owned  and  ran  a  planing-mill  until  1882;  he 
then  sold  out  and  engaged  in  the  saddlery  trade  on 
the  east  side  of  Mulberry  Street,  where  he  has  been 
in  successful  business. 

In  his  political  principles  Mr.  Deyo  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  both  himself  and  wife  belong  to  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  at  Sterling :  he  is  also  a 
Freemason,  and  a  liberal,  Christian  gentleman. 

He  was  married  Sept.  4,  185 1,  to  Elizabeth  Roberts, 
who  was  lx>rn  Jan.  12,  1832,  in  the  State  of  New 
York.  They  have  two  children, — Sarah  Jane  and 
Alexander  M.  The  first  mentioned  married  Rodger 
Thomas,  Sept.  10,  1872,  and  they  have  five  children, 
— Gary  N.,  Henry  A.,  James  R..  Elizabeth  A.  and 
Nettie  M. 


hristian  Hammelman,  one  of  the  most 
extensive  farmers  in  Genesee  Township, 
has  been  a  citizen  of  Whiteside  County 
since  1862.  He  was  born  Feb.  13,  1825,  in 
Brandenburg,  Prussia.  His  parents  belonged 
to  the  laboring  class,  and  he  was  brought  up 
according  to  the  legal  regulations  of  his  native  land, 
which  provides  for  the  disposal  of  every  minor  male 
child  born  within  its  borders  after  reaching  a  certain 
age.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1854,  and  a 
year  later  came  to  Illinois.  He  was  employed  as  a 
general  laborer  about  seven  years,  when  he  made 
his  first  purchase  of  land  on  section  26,  in  Genesee 
Township,  which  was  all  unimproved. 

He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet (Reis)  Opendorf.  She  was  born  April  18, 
1825,  in  Baden,  Germany.  She  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1847  in  company  with  Philip  Opendorf,  to 
whom  she  was  married  in  Philadelphia  as  soon  as 
they  landed.  He  followed  the  business  of  a  shoe-  {£, 
maker  in  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love  12  years,  subse- 
quently coming  to  Whiteside  County.  They  lived 
for  a  time  in  Jordan  Township,  where  the  husband 
died,  Feb.  22,  1863,  leaving  five  children.  The  eld- 
est is  named  John ;  Mary  married  Charles  Smith ; 
William  married  Jennie  Wilkinson  and  lives  at  Ster- 
ling ;  Charles  married  Barbara  Beck  and  is  a  farmer 


i 


in  Genesee  Township ;  Sarah  lives  with  her  mother 
and  step-father.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hammelman  have 
two  children. — Frank  and  Edward  C. 

Mr.  Hammelman  has  brought  the  traits  that  char- 
acterize the  class  to  which  he  belonged  in  his  native 
land, — thrift,  industry  and  economy, — to  bear  on  his 
business  as  a  farmer.  His  fields  stretch  out  from 
the  nucleus  of  the  original  tract  which  he  purchased 
until  they  number  370  acres,  including  three  farms 
all  under  excellent  cultivation,  with  suitable  and 
necessary  buildings.  Mr.  Hammelman  is  the  owner 
of  large  herds  of  stock.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and, 
with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Evangelical  Church. 


,  on.   William    C.    Snyder,    State   Senato^ 
representing  the  igth  Senatorial  District  of 
Illinois,  which  includes  Whiteside  and  Lee 
Counties,  is    one    of   the    early      settlers     of 
Whiteside  County,  and  was  a  practicing  physi- 
cian at  Union  Grove   in  the  early   history  of 
this  part  of  the  State. 

Dr.  Snyder  was  born  in  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J., 
July  29,  1821,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Sabilla 
(Cowperthwait)  Snyder.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,'and  descended  from  one  of  the  old  Hol- 
land families  of  that  State.  His  mother  was  born 
in  Medford,  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J.,  and  descended 
from  the  well-known  English  family  of  Cowper- 
thwait. William  C.  left  New  Jersey  in  April,  1845, 
and  came  to  Lyons,  Iowa,  arriving  there  in  May  of 
that  year.  He  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Bassett,  of 
that  city,  as  a  medical  student,  and  pursued  his 
studies  there  about  two  years.  He  removed  to 
Union  Grove,  this  county,  in  June,  1847,  where  he 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  subse- 
quently took  a  course  of  lectures  at  Rush  Medical 
College,  of  Chicago,  and  continued  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  that  place  till  June,  1854,  when  he 
removed  to  Fulton,  111.,  and  engaged  in  business  as 
a  dealer  in  general  merchandise.  He  continued  in 
that  line  two  years,  when  he  built  the  large  ware- 
house at  the  steamboat  landing,  and  engaged  in  the 
warehouse  and  forwarding  business,  which  he  has 
continued,  with  the  exception  of  limited  intervals,  to 
this  date,  covering  a  period  of  nearly  30  years. 

He   was   elected   the    first  Supervisor   of  Union 


Grove  Township;  in  1852  he  was  re-elected,  and 
served  in  1853.  Also  from  1850  to  1853  inclusive, 
he  was  Postmaster  at  Union  Crove.  In  1855  he 
was  elected  Supervisor  of  Fulton,  and  in  1858  was 
appointed  Drainage  Commissioner  of  Whiteside 
County,  serving  in  that  capacity  till  1872.  While 
occupying  this  respDnsible  position  he  discharged  its 
important  duties  with  fidelity  and  satisfaction  to  all 
concerned.  He  was  elected  Collector  of  the  town- 
ship of  Fulton,  in  1857,  and  re-elected  in  ^58-9. 
In  1861  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Fulton,  by 
President  Lincoln,  for  the  term  of  four  years,  and 
re-appointed  each  succeeding  term  till  December, 
1882,  when  he  resigned  to  qualify  as  State  Senator, 
to  which  office  he  had  been  elected  in  the  fall  by 
nearly  3,000  majority. 

Dr.  Snyder  has  always  taken  a  warm  interest  in 
matters  of  public  importance,  and  has,  as  his  record 
shows,  held  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  In 
1866  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Fulton ;  but,  as  it 
was  found  that  he  could  not  discharge  the  duties  of 
the  office  while  holding  an  office  under  the  United 
States,  he  resigned  the  position. 

In  the  spring  of  1876  he  bought  the  printing  of- 
fice of  the  Fulton  Journal,  published  the  paper 
three  years,  and  sold  out  to  his  son,  J.  C.,  and  son- 
in-law,  T.  J.  Pickett. 

He  was  foremost  in  organizing  the  Fulton  Busi- 
ness Association,  and  the  Cemetery  Association,  and 
has  served  as  Secretary  of  both  for  many-years. 

In  politics  he  is  an  earnest  Republican,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  has  been  Chairman  of  the  Repub- 
lican County  Committee.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Republican  State  Central  Committee  one  term. 

He  was  married  in  the  city  of  Lyons,  Iowa,  in 
1849,  to  Miss  IsypheneC.  Pearce,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than L.  and  Mary  E.  (Gardner)  Pearce.  Mrs.  Snyder 
was  born  in  Rhode  Island.  Her  parents  were  na- 
tives of  the  same  State. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  have  a  family  of  seven 
children,  four  daughters  and  three  sons  :  Kate  C.  is 
the  wife  of  Thomas  J.  Pickett,  Jr.,  son  of  Senator 
T.  J.  Pickett,  of  Illinois,  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Ashland,  Neb.  Martha  C.  is  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Neff, 
Agent  of  the  Northwestern  Railway,  at  Rodhelle, 
111. ;  J.  Clifton  is  the  present  Postmaster  of  Fulton, 
111.,  he  having  succeeded  his  father  to  that  office  in 
December,  1842.  He  married  Miss  Hattie  L.  Noble 


i 


-• 


*eS*fc 


502 


i 


<!> 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


V 


in  March,  1885.  Annie  E.,  J.  Justin,  Henry  G.  and 
Lena  V.  are  residing  with  their  parents.  He  has 
been  actively  and  prominently  identified  with  the 
movements  of  the  temperance  element  for  many 
years,  and  is  an  uncompromising  foe  to  the  traffic  in 
and  use  of  intoxicants. 

Dr.  Snyder  was  made  a  Freemason  in  Fulton  City 
Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  1857,  and  has 
served  as  Master  many  years.  He  is  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  Fulton  Chapter,  No.  108,  R.  A. 
M.,  is  the  present  H.  P.,  and  has  presided  over  the 
work  of  the  Chapter  several  terms. 

As  State  Senator  he  served  on  seven  prominent 
committees,  and  acted  in  the  capacity  of  Chairman 
of  Committee  on  Warehouses.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  managing  committee  on  the  part  of  the  Senate, 
whose  watchfulness  and  sagacity  was  instrumental 
in  the  election  of  Gen.  John  A.  Logan  to  the  United 
States  Senate. 

Dr.  Snyder's  portrait,  which  is  given  on  another 
page,  is  a  copy  of  a  photograph  taken  in  1884. 


eorge  Higley,  a  pioneer  of  Whiteside 
County  in  1837,  was  born  in  1793,  in 
Burlington,  Vt.  His  parents  went  to 
Pennsylvania  while  he  was  yet  young,  and  a 
few  years  later  they  proceeded  to  Geauga  Co., 
Ohio.  Mr.  Higley  bought  a  hotel  in  Union- 
ville  in  that  county,  and  a  mill  which  was  located  on 
Grand  River  three  miles  from  Unionville.  He  sold 
his  interests  in  Ohio  in  1834,  and,  accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  children,  came  to  Illinois,  traveling 
overland  to  Joliet,  in  Will  County,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  pioneers.  He  built  and  conducted  the  first 
hotel  at  Joliet.  In  1837  he  visited  Whiteside  County, 
making  a  claim  on  section  8  of  township  20,  ranged, 
now  Lyndon.  He  built  a  dwelling  of  the  variety 
common  to  the  locality,  and  left  his  brother,  Samuel 
Higley,  in  charge  while  he  went  back  to  Joliet  for 
his  family.  He  returned  to  his  claim  in  the  spring 
of  1838.  He  occupied  his  log  cabin  one  year,  when 
the  structure  was  removed  and  enlarged,  and  served 
as  a  home  for  some  years,  after  which  a  frame  house 
was  built  for  their  accommodation. 

In  1868  Mr.   Higley  sold  his   farm   and  went  to 
Blairstown,  Iowa,  where  he  bought  village  property. 


He  died  there  in  December,  1880.  His  wife's  death 
preceded  his  nearly  ten  years.  Their  children  were 
13  in  number.  Only  five  are  living :  Louisa  A.  is 
the  widow  of  James  Thomas;  Angeline  is  the  wife 
of  Samuel  King:  they  live  in  Blairstown,  Iowa; 
Helen  is  the  widow  of  Amzi  Jennings  and  lives  in 
Sterling.  (See  sketch  of  G.  W.  Jennings.)  George 
W.  lives  in  Oregon,  and  Henry  C.  in  Rhinebeck, 
Iowa. 

George  and  Samuel  Higley  were  men  of  giant 
stature,  the  latter  being  six  feet  six  inches  in  height, 
and  the  former  measuring  six  feet  four  inches. 


odfried  Horlacher,  farmer,  section  13, 
Genesee  Township,  was  born  April  10, 
1825,  in  Wurtenberg,  Germany.  His  par- 
ents were  named  John  and  Godleaving 
(Steinbaugh)  Horlacher.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  and  he  was  reared  at  home.  When 
he  was  20  years  old  he  began  to  operate  as  a  clerk 
and  porter  in  the  hotels  of  his  native  land,  which 
employment  he  followed  until  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  which  he  did  when  he  was  29  years 
of  age.  He  first  engaged  in  farming  in  Bucks  Co., 
Pa.,  and  he  remained  there  occupied  as  a  farm 
laborer  between  two  and  three  years.  He  was  also 
married  there,  to  Elizabeth  Spies,  who  was  born 
Sept.  2,  1834,111  Rhein  Hesse,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  Adam  and  Christina  (Baumgartner)  Spies,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  the  same  province.  The  fam- 
ily came  to  the  United  States  when  she  was  18  years 
of  age.  They  made  their  first  location  in  Bucks  Co., 
Pa.,  coming  thence  to  the  West,  where  they  made  a 
settlement  on  a  farm  in  Genesee  Township.  In 
1882  they  went  to  Sterling,  where  they  are  living  in 
retirement,  and  are  aged  respectively  74  and  76 
years.  Mrs.  Horlacher  has  been  the  mother  of 
seven  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  and  three  are 
married.  They  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Adam,  Katie,  Emma,  Louisa,  John,  Frank  and 
James. 

Mr.  Horlacher  and  his  wife  came  to  Illinois  seven 
months  after  they  were  married,  and  the  husband 
got  employment  as  a  laborer  in  Sterling.  He  was 
employed  about  two  years  in  that  method  of  opera- 
tion at  various  points.  The  next  year  he  worked  a 


i 


•    .. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


farm  on  shares,  and  in  ihe  year  following,  associated 
with  his  father-in-law  and  a  man  named  Beeler,  he 
bought  80  acres  of  wild  land  on  section  13.  Mr. 
Horlacher  devoted  himself  to  the  improvement  of 
his  share  of  the  acreage,  and  he  operated  on  it  two 
years  with  the  aid  of  an  ox  team.  He  has  proved 
his  agricultural  operations  to  a  marked  success,  and 
is  now  the  owner  of  320  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is 
under  the  plow,  and  he  owns  in  addition  15  acres  of 
timber.  He  has  a  fine  residence  and  excellent  barns 
of  the  best  type.  He  is  also  considerably  interested 
in  stock.  Mr.  Horlacher  was  formerly  a  Democrat, 
but  is  at  present  independent  in  politics.  His  wife 
and  himself  are  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church. 


Dexter  N.  Foster  is  a  general  farmer  and 
grower  of  stock  on  section  34,  Jordan 
Township.  He  was  born  Nov.  25,  1832, 
in  Greenfield,  Hillsborough  Co.,  N.  H.  His 
father,  Amos  Foster,  was  born  in  the  same 
county  and  was  the  son  of  Isaac  Foster. 
The  latter  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and  claimed 
lineal  descent  from  the  Pilgrims.  The  earlier  gener- 
ations were  Puritans,  and  the  grandfather  of  Mr. 
Foster  maintained  the  customs  and  peculiar  views  of 
the  sect.  He  accumulated  considerable  wealth  and 
died  in  New  Hampshire.  He  had  eight  children, 
Amos  being  the  fourth  in  succession.  The  latter 
was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  and 
married  Betsy,  the  daughter  of  Joshua  Pratt.  Her 
mother  was  a  member  of  the  Holt  family,  of  distinc- 
tion, and  was  a  descendant  of  the  celebrated  Abbott 
family,  of  Massachusetts.  The  paternal  great-grand- 
sire  of  Mr.  Foster  was  the  father  of  eight  children, 
and  the  grandfather  of  88  members  of  the  succeed- 
ing generation.  Amos  Foster  and  his  wife  became 
the  parents  of  seven  children.  The  mother  died  in 
1853,  aged  53  years.  The  father  remained  in 
Greenfield  until  his  death,  which  transpired  in  No- 
vember, 1882,  at  the  age  of  89  years.  He  had  been 
a  prominent  member  of  society,  and  in  the  Church 
and  in  politics.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a  Pres- 
byterian. But  one  of  his  children  is  deceased,  and 
the  survivors  are  all  married  with  one  exception. 
Those  who  survive  are  named  Amos  H.,  Sylvia  A., 
John  E.,  Dexter  N.,  Esther  H.,  and  Francis  Jane. 


George  H.  died  when  he  was  24  years  of  age,  in 
Lowell,  Mass. 

Mr.  Foster  attended  the  common  schools  until  he 
was  1 8  years  of  age,  when  he  became  a  student  at 
Francistown,  then  the  seat  of  a  popular  academy,  and 
he  remained  there  during  the  school  terms  of  four 
years,  teaching  school  in  the  intervals.  Subse- 
quently, he  obtained  a  position  in  a  bobbin  factory, 
after  which  he  taught  about  two  years.  In  1855  he 
came  to  Rockford;  and  sTiortly  after  went  to  Ga- 
lena, Jo  Daviess  County.  Early  in  1856,  he  came  to 
Whiteside  County,  and  sought  a  friend  who  lived  in 
Jordan  Township,  Dr.  Pennington,  a  nurseryman 
and  fruit-grower,  with  whom  he  remained  three 
years.  Within  the  first  year  he  secured  94  acres  of 
unimproved  land  on  section  31.  In  1863  he  bought 
80  acres  on  section  6,  in  Sterling  Township,  lying 
nearly  adjoining  his  real  estate  in  Jordan  Township. 
Two  years  after  leaving  Dr.  Pennington,  Mr.  Foster 
was  a  teacher,  after  which  he  turned  his  attention 
to  the  improvement  of  his  land  during  the  summer 
seasons,  teaching  in  the  winter  ensuing  in  District 
No.  3,  Jordan  Township,  and  continued  in  that  alter- 
nate method  for  five  years.  After  that  period  he 
abandoned  teaching,  and  gave  his  exclusive  atten- 
tion to  the  improvement  of  his  land.  He  put  it  in 
thorough  and  complete  agricultural  condition,  and 
erected  suitable  and  creditable  buildings.  In  the 
spring  of  1876,  he  sold  the  place  and  purchased  320 
acres  of  land  on  sections  33  and  34,  which  had  been 
partially  improved.  The  proprietor  has  completed 
the  work  of  converting  his  acreage  into  a  valuable 
estate,  with  three  dwellings  and  all  other  necessary 
farm  buildings.  Mr.  Foster  is  extensively  interested 
in  stock-breeding,  and  shows  good  results  in  grades 
and  thoroughbred.  He  also  owns  some  fine  Nor- 
man draught  horses. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  1859  at  Sterling,  to 
Harriet,  daughter  of  Henry  Deardorff.  She  was 
born  March  13,  1839,  in  Defiance  Co.,  Ohio.  She 
was  orphaned  i;i  childhood  by  the  death  of  both  her 
parents.  She  came  to  Whiteside  County,  where  she 
was  married  as  stated,  and  she  became  the  mother  of 
three  children  :  Charles  L.  was  born  Oct.  6,  1860, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  12  years.  Elmer  died  when 
three  months  old.  George  died  when  he  was  about 
six  years  of  age.  Their  mother  died  Feb.' 3,  1867, 
when  she  was  28  years  of  age.  She  was  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Foster  contracted  a 

.^Avs?^! 


W    V"V< H HX> H H ••  -X"V    ^ 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


y 


second  matrimonial  alliance  March  n,  1868,  at 
Boston,  Mass.,  with  Caroline  E.  Dinsmoor.  She  was 
born  Nov.  5,  1838,  in  Lowell,  Mass.  Her  mother 
died  when  she  was  four 'years  old,  and  she  was 
brought  up  by  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  D.  Pillsbury, 
at  Milford,  N.  H.  After  attending  an  excellent 
graded  school,  she  completed  her  education  at. 
Winding  Wave  Seminary  at  Ludlow,  Mass.  In  the 
spring  of  1860  she  came  to  Whiteside  County  and 
engaged  in  teaching.  She  taught  school  at  Joliet 
and  elsewhere.  Five  children  have  been  born  of 
her  marriage  to  Mr.  Foster.  One  died  in  extreme 
infancy.  Fred  died  at  the  age  of  four  months. 
Mabel  D.,  Bessie  P.,  and  Robert  D.  are  the  names 
of  the  surviving  children. 

In  political  faith,  Mr.  Foster  is  a  Republican.  In 
1861  he  was  elected  Supervisor.  He  has  served  two 
terms  as  Collector,  and  as  Assessor  the  same  length 
of  time.  He  has  been  Road  Commissioner  two 
years,  Justice  of  the  Peace  12  years,  and  has  acted 
10  years  as  School  Trustee.  He  is  a  Presbyterian  in 
religious  sentiment. 

Mr.  Foster  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry.  The  order  in  the  State  of  Illinois 
was  first  established  in  Whiteside  County,  and  Mr. 
Foster  was  among  the  members  of  the  first  organiza- 
tion ;  and  he  has  since  been  actively  prominent  in 
the  establishment  of  Granges  in  other  locations.  He 
acted  as  Secretary  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  State  Grange  and  as  General  Deputy  of  the 
State  and  county.  In  1874  he  represented  the  local 
order  at  the  National  Grange  at  Charleston,  S.  C., 
receiving  much  benefit  and  acquiring  a  gratifying 
knowledge  of  Southern  men  and  affairs. 


lexis  Hubbard,  an  old  and  much  esteemed- 
citizen  of  Lyndon  Township,  is  a  pioneer 
of  Whiteside  County  of  1837.     He  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  town  of  Sangerfield,  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  born  Jan.  12,  181  r,  and  is 
the  son  of  Abel   and   Siley  (Andrews)  Hub- 
bard.    His  parents  were  of  New  England  origin.    In 
1827  the  family  went  to  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and   af- 
ter a  residence  of  a  few  years  in  Sweden  Township, 
they  went  thence  to  Clarendon,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y., 

§&&&&• 


and  there  the  parents  lived  until  their  respective 
deaths.  The  father  died  April  12,  1857.  The 
mother's  death  took  place  July  20,  1832.  Their 
children  included  six  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Mr.  Hubbard  is  the  fifth  child  in  order  of  birth. 
He  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  acquired 
his  elementary  education  in  the  district  school,  to 
which  he  added  by  studying  two  terms  at  Clarkson 
Academy  and  one  term  at  Games'  Academy  in  Or- 
leans County.  At  21  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
latter.  In  the  fall  of  1836  he  went  to  Ohio  and 
spent  the  winter  following  in  teaching  in  Wadsworth, 
Medina  County.  The  next  spring  he  came  to  White- 
side  County.  He  rode  as  far  as  White  Pigeon, 
Mich.,  with  friends,  and  finished  the  journey  thence 
to  Lyndon  on  foot,  a  distance  of  about  250  miles. 
He  made  a  claim  on  section  18  of  township  20, 
range  5  east,  as  it  was  designated  by  the  Govern- 
ment survey.  After  a  stay  of  two  months,  he  went 
back  to  his  native  State  and  taught  school  the  fol- 
lowing winter.  In  the  spring  of  r838  he  returned  to 
Whiteside  County  and  began  the  labor  of  improving 
his  farm.  In  the  winter  of  1838-9  he  taught  the 
first  term  of  winter  school  in  the  first  school-house 
ever  built  in  the  county. 

He  was  married  to  Olive  Dusett,  Sept.  n,  1839, 
who  was  born  in  Gorham,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Polly  (Keys)  Dusett. 
They  did  their  first  housekeeping  in  the  log  school- 
house  on  section  19,  and,  a  few  weeks  later,  Mr. 
Hubbard  completed  a  log  house  on  his  own  land,  to 
which  they  removed.  That  was  their  home  14  years, 
and  in  1853  they  removed  to  a  new  frame  house. 

Mr.  Hubbard  managed  his  farm  personally  until 
1875,  when  he  moved  to  Lyndon  village  and  has 
since  occupied  his  present  residence.  His  farm  is 
still  in  his  possession.  He  is  the  owner  of  222  acres 
of  land,  a  part  of  which  lies  in  Fenton  Township. 
The  place  is  all  under  the  best  of  cultivation,  and  is 
supplied  with  commodious  and  convenient  buildings 
suited  to  the  needs  of  the  farm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard  are  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  and  Mr.  Hubbard  is  an  official 
of  the  society  to  which  they  belong. 

Ephraim  A.  Hubbard,  the  brother  of  Mr.  Hub- 
bard, now  deceased,  was  the  first  of  the  family  to 
locate  in  Whiteside  County,  and  he  was  the  first 
blacksmith  in  Lyndon.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1836 


« 

I 


ft 


'   • 


£@ 


3> 


*  '* 
(^ 


and  made  a  claim  on  section  18.  He  built  a  log 
house,  in  which  he  lived  two  years,  and  went  to  Hen- 
nepin,  where  he  died,  March  8,  1842.  He  was  born 
May  21,  1806,  in  Sangerfield,  N.  Y.  He  left  a 
widow  and  two  children.  His  widow  married  again 
and  lives  at  Traer,  Tama  Co.,  Iowa.  His  son, 
Alexis  E.,  lives  in  Lyndon. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard  of  this  sketch  are  child- 
less. They  have  been  instrumental  in  rearing  sev- 
eral children,  to  whom  their  sympathy  and  aid  have 
been  extended.  They  are  on  the  sunset  side  of  life, 
and  are  pasing  their  declining  years  in  the  quiet 
enjoyment  which  is  the  recompense  of  well  spent 
lives. 


|j;  ev.  Cephas  Hurless,  deceased,  formerly 
a  farmer  of  Genesee  Township,  was  born 
in  1828  in  Holmes  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was 
reared  to  man's  estate  in  his  native  county, 
receiving  a  practical  education  in  the  public 
schools.  He  was  married  in  Holmes  County, 
13,  1848,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Martin 
and  Barbria  Overholser.  She  was  born  April  2, 
1830.  Six  years  after  the  event  of  their  marriage, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurless  removed  to  Illinois  and  bought 
an  unbroken  tract  pf  prairie  near  Coleta,  and  while 
there  resident  Mrs.  Hurless  died,  the  date  of  her  de- 
cease being  Feb.  20,  1862.  Two  children,  Adaline 
and  an  infant  unnamed,  died  before  the  mother. 
Four  children,  three  daughters  and  a  son,  survive 
her  still.  They  were  born  in  the  following  order : 
Sarah  A.,  Susanna,  Rebecca  J.,  and  George  P.  They 
are  all  married. 

Mr.  Hurless  was  a  second  time  united  in  marriage, 
to  Tabitha  A.  Winters,  Oct.  2,  1862,  in  Carroll  Co, 
111.  She  was  born  Nov.  28,  1836,  in  Bedford,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Ind.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  James  and 
Susan  (Gyger)  Winters,  of  whom  a  biographical 
sketch  is  presented  in  this  volume.  She  was  n 
years  of  age  when  her  parents  removed  to  Wysox, 
Carroll  Co.,  111.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurless  eight 
children  were  born,  four  of  them  dying  in  infancy: 
James  M.  was  born  Aug.  15,  1865  ;  William  J.,  Feb. 
17,  1868;  Bell,  Nov.  18,  1869;  S.  Leroy,  March  24, 
'875- 
The  estate  upon  which  the  family  settled  near 


April 


Coleta  contained  upwards  of  350  acres  of  land,  and 
it  was  wholly  unimproved.  The  proprietor  took 
measures  to  proceed  as  rapidly  as  possible  with  the 
work  of  reclaiming  its  acres  and  had  accomplished 
considerable,  when  the  duties  of  public  life  neces- 
sitated his  removal  to  Coleta,  where  he  fixed  his  res- 
idence in  1875.  He  died  Nov.  14,  1884,  and  was 
serving  as  Supervisor  at  the  time  of  his  decease. 

Mr.  Hurless  was  a  man  of  superior  ability,  which 
was  recognized  and  made  available  from  the  begin- 
ning of  his  citizenship  in  Genesee  Township.  He 
served  several  terms  in  the  positions  of  Supervisor, 
Assessor  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  joined  the 
United  Brethren  Church  when  he  was  19  years  of 
age,  and  continued  throughout  his  life  an  earnest, 
active  and  consistent  Christian.  He  had  officiated 
as  Pastor  of  a  charge  in  Will  and  Carroll  Counties 
and  afterwards  filled  vacancies  when  occasion  re- 
quired. His  death  was  considered  a  public  loss  and 
in  an  obituary  notice  which  appeared  in  a  local  pa- 
per, his  character  was  most  justly  and  appropriately 
set  forth  :  "As  a  neighbor  he  was  accommodating ;  as 
a  citizen,  upright;  as  a  husband,  loving;  as  a  father, 
kind  almost  to  a  fault;  as  a  Christian,  exemplary; 
as  an  officer,  true  and  honest ;  and  as  a  man  he  was 
worthy  of  the  confidence  of  his  fellow-man."  His 
loss  is  keenly  felt  by  the  citizens  of  Genesee,  who 
had  learned  to  love  him  for  his  Christian  worth  and 
noble  work.  In  political  principle  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, and  had  been  a  candidate  for  minority  Repre- 
sentative. 


ilbert  H.  Dimmick,  deceased,  a  former 
resident  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  was 
born  June  r5,  1819,  in  Rutland  Co.,  Vt. 
He  was  the  son  of  Timothy  and  Almira 
(Rugg)  Dimmick.  He  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm  of  his  father,  and  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  Nov.  17,  1841,  he  was  married  to 
Clarinda,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Clarinda  (Colton) 
Herrick.  Two  years  later,  accompanied  by  his  wife 
and  parents,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and 
bought  a  farm  of  Pardon  M.  Dodge,  which  was 
located  in  1836.  Mr.  Dimmick  had  been  thoroughly 
trained  in  the  best  type  of  husbandry  in  his  native 
State,  and  he  made  practical  application  ot 


V,   I-^,/JB_. 

(&%3&!$* 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


(; 


knowledge  in  the  raising  of  cattle  and  high  grades  of 
sheep.  He  was  much  respected  for  his  abilities  and 
reliable  character  as  a  man,  and  served  in  several 
official  capacities  involving  responsibility.  In  polit- 
ical faith  and  action  he  was  an  uncompromising 
Republican. 

Mr.  Dimmick  was  killed  by  the  cars,  Tuesday, 
July  29,  1873,  as  he  was  crossing  the  railroad  track 
half  a  mile  east  of  Morrison.  He  was  driving  to  a 
harvest  field  after  supper,  accompanied  by  his  hired 
man,  who  was  comparatively  uninjured,  being  only 
rendered  senseless  by  the  concussion  of  a  fall.  The 
team  was  also  unhurt.  Mr.  Dimmick  lived  but  half 
an  hour,  and  did  not  recover  consciousness.  He 
was  one  of  the  worthiest  citizens  of  his  township,  and 
his  terrible  death  was  the  source  of  widespread  and 
earnest  sorrow. 


fhomas  Hoc,  a  prominent  agriculturist  of 
of  Whiteside  County,  came  to  the  township 
of  Lyndon  Oct.  22,  1864,  and  bought  an 
improved  farm,  located  on  sections  13  and  14, 
which  was  originally  owned  by  Brainard  Or- 
ton, a  pioneer  of  the  township  of  1837.  Mr. 
Roe  paid  $12,000  for  the  farm,  which  comprised  440 
acres.  It  is  pleasantly  located  on  Rock  River,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  desirable  estates  in  the  county,  on 
account  of  situation  and  grade  of  cultivation.  Mr. 
Roe  set  out  about  six  miles  of  hedge  on  the  farm 
after  it  became  his  property.  In  1874  he  rented  the 
place,  and  removed  to  Lyndon  village. 

He  was  born  in  Vermilion  Township,  Richland 
Co.,  Ohio,  March  14, 1817,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas 
D.  and  Elizabeth  (Holmes)  Roe.  His  father  was 
born  in  1779,  seven  miles  south  of  Goshen,  the  gov- 
ernment seat  of  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  of  Eng- 
lish and  German  extraction.  His  mother  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  and  her  father  was  a  Judge  in 
her  native  State.  They  were  united  in  marriage  in 
1802,  and  two  years  later  Mr.  Roe,  senior,  set  out 
for  the  West,  the  frontier  then  being  in  Ohio.  The 
party,  consisting  of  father,  mother  and  one  child, 
traveled  across  the  intervening  country  in  a  wagon 
drawn  by  a  pair  of  horses,  and  they  terminated  their 

/-N      V 


journey  in  Jefferson  County,  where  they  were  pio- 
neers. Thomas  D.  Roe  entered  the  military  service 
of  his  country  in  1812,  and  after  the  war  in  1814  he 
removed  his  family  to  Vermilion  Township,  in  Rich- 
land  County,  and  was  the  third  white  settler  who 
took  possession  of  a  claim  with  his  household.  In 
1833  they  removed  to  Springfield,  in  the  same 
county,  where  the  father  died  in  1857.  The  death 
of  the  mother  took  place  in  1874.  They  had  nine 
children. 

Mr.  Roe,  01  this  sketch,  is  the  sixth  in  ordor  of 
birth.  At  15  he  took  into  his  own  hands  the  respons- 
ibility ot  managing  his  own  career.  He  obtained 
employment  at  Sandusky  City,  where  he  worked  for 
$8  per  month,  chopping  cord-wood  and  doing  chores 
on  a  farm  nights  and  mornings,  continuing  in  that 
manner  about  one  year,  when  he  borrowed  money 
and  purchased  a  span  of  horses,  by  which  means  he 
was  enabled  to  engage  in  draying  in  the  city  of  San- 
dusky.  He  conducted  his  business  in  that  line  until 
1838,  when  he  returned  to  Richland  County. 

In  the  month  of  December,  in  that  year,  lie  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Concurrence  (Orton)  Magnor.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Dennis  Orton  and  the  widow  of  Wil- 
liam Magnor.  They  had  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living,  viz. :  Olive,  who  is  the  wife 
of  George  Chamberlain,  of  McPherson  Co.,  Dak.; 
Oliver,  who  lives  in  Washington  Territory ;  Margaret 
J.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Wilser;  and  Joseph, 
who  lives  in  Nebraska.  Mrs.  Roe  died  Feb.  18, 
1876.  Mr.  Roe  was  again  married  Dec.  23,  1876, 
to  Mrs.  Clarinda  L.  (Herrick)  Dimmick.  She  was 
born  July  20,  1822,  in  Hubbardton,  Rutland  Co., 
Vt.  She  was  married  to  Gilbert  H.  Dimmick,  Nov. 
17,  1841,  and  became  a  widow  July  29,  1873.  (See 
sketch  of  G.  H.  Dimmick.)  Six  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dimmick,  and  three  are  yet  living, 
as  follows:  Fayette  T.  lives  in  Exeter,  Neb.;  Ida  E. 
is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Dallam,  of  La  Salle,  111. ;  and 
Scott  lives  in  Battle  Creek,  Iowa. 

In  1840  Mr.  Roe  bought  80  acres  of  land  in  his 
native  township.  He  pursued  his  purposes  and 
plans  there  until  1864,  meeting  with  success  through 
the  exercise  of  the  quality  of  energy  and  common 
sense  that  never  fail  in  the  farmer's  case  to  yield 
their  sure  reward.  He  was  enabled  to  add  to  his 
estate  until  he  was  the  owner  of  210  acres.  He 
sold  his  land  in  1864,  at  $60  per  acre,  and  within 
-A  ^~\ ^n, 


-:    ..  .- 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


x  the  year  found  himself  located,  as  stated,  in  Lyndon 
2  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roe  are  still  in  vigorous  health,  and 
;    are  living  in  the  quiet  enjoyment  to  which  they  have 

a  clear  title  through  their  lives  of  well-directed  en- 

ergy  and  purpose. 


artin  Baer  (spelled  also  Bare),  is  one  of 
f  IpSaSSjt  the  leading  farmers  of  Whiteside  County, 
8  fllllt  owning  a  large  and  valuable  farm  on  sec- 
i  jW®"-  tion  26,  Jordan  Township,  was  born  Nov.  7, 
1824,  in  Manor  Township,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa. 
His  father,  Martin  Baer,  was  born  in  the  same 
county  and  was  of  Swiss  lineage.  The  latter  was  a 
farmer  and  a  man  of  unblemished  rectitude  of  char- 
acter, holding  an  honorable  position  in  the  German 
)  Reformed  Mennonite  Church.  He  died  in  Lancas- 
-,  ter  County,  in  October,  1875,  aged  86  years  and  six 
months.  Elizabeth  Harnish  was  the  name  of  the 
=i  mother  of  Mr.  Baer  of  this  sketch,  before  her  mar- 
£  riage.  She  was  of  German  origin  and  was  born  in 
a  Lancaster  County.  Her  father  was  a  prominent  and 
v  wealthy  farmer  in  Lancaster  County.  She  died  in 
June,  1880,  in  the  city  of  Lancaster,  and  was  upwards 
of  83  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Baer  is  the  oldest  of  seven  children.     David, 
his   brother,   next   younger,   is   deceased.       Esther, 
Lydia,  Susanna,  Francis  and  Franklin  are   named  in 
the  order  of  their  birth.     Mr.  Baer  is   the  only  one 
who  has  left  his  native  State.     He  attended  school 
till  he  was  18  years  old,  and  also  assisted  on  the 
homestead  farm.     After  the  age  named  he  devoted 
>  his  attention  exclusively  to  the  business  of  a  farmer 
,  until  he  was  26  years  of  age. 

He  was  married  Dec.  17,  1850,  in  Lancaster  City,' 
Pa.,  to  Mary  Herr,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Catherine 
Herr.     Her  parents  lived  and   died   in  their  native 
county   of  Lancaster,   where   they  were   prominent 
farmers.      Her   father   died    Dec.    20,    1884,   being 
'  nearly  84  years  of  age.     The  mother  was  59  years 
old  when  she  died,  in  February,  1863.     Mrs.  Baer 
was  born  July  13,  1825,  in  Manor  Township,  Lan- 
.  ^  caster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  oldest  child  of  her  parents. 
&  She  resided  at  home  until  her  marriage,  and  received 
D  a  good  education  in  both  German  and  English.    The 
-  seven  children  of  which  she  is  the  mother  were  born 


• 


as  follows:  Henry  was  born  Oct.  2,  1857,  and  re- 
sides in  Ogle  County,  on  a  farm.  Jonas  was  born 
Jan.  1 6,  1853.  His  personal  record  is  given  on  an- 
other page.  Elizabeth  was  born  Jan.  i,  1854,  and 
married  John  P.  Hoy,  a  farmer  in  Jordan  Township 
(see  sketch).  Ezra,  born  Aug.  19,  1859,  is  engaged 
in  farming  and  bee  culture  in  the  township  of  Pal- 
myra, Lee  Co.,  111.  Abraham,  born  March  19,  1861, 
lives  on  a  farm  in  Hopkins  Township.  Catherine 
was  born  Aug.  13,  1863;  Franklin,  Aug.  15,  1866. 

Subsequent  to  his  marriage  Mr.  Baer  conducted 
the  affairs  of  his  father  s  farm  six  years.  In  April, 
1857,  he  came  to  Illinois,  going  at  first  to  McDonough 
County.  In  August  following,  the  family  came  to 
Whiteside  County,  to  the  city  of  Sterling.  In  the 
same  year  the  father  purchased  1 60  acres  of  land  in 
Jordan  Township,  to  which  he  removed  his  family  in 
March  of  the  following  year  (rSsS).  The  place  has 
been  improved  until  it  ranks  with  the  best  farms  in 
the  county,  and  is  supplied  with  a  good  and  com- 
modious residence,  excellent  farm  buildings  and 
stock.  Mr.  Baer  is  justly  estimated  as  a  skillful  and 
judicious  farmer.  He  is  an  adherent  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  has  served  as  Township  Clerk  and 
in  several  other  official  positions  of  less  importance. 
The  entire  family  has  strong  predilections  for  books, 
and  are  accordingly  well  read  and  intelligent.  Mrs. 
Baer  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Mennonite 
Church. 

Accompanying  the  foregoing  sketch,  nothing  could 
be  more  appropriate  than  a  portrait  of  the  subject, 
which  is  given  on  the  opposite  page. 


Liram  C.  Ulmer,  hardware  merchant  at 
Coleta,  is  also  a  dealer  in  agricultural  im- 
plements and  harness.  He  was  born  Nov- 
24,  1839,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  his 
father,  Abraham  Ulmer,  was  a  farmer.  The 
latter  was  descended  from  German  ancestors 
and  he  married  a  lady  named  McCoy.  She  was 
born  in  Lancaster  County,  of  Irish  parents.  They 
are  both  living  in  Genesee  Township,  and  are  aged 
respectively  82  and  81  years. 

Mr.  Ulmer  is  the  oldest  with  one  exception  of 
four  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  has  a  sister  and 
a  brother  still  living.  Abraham  lives  in  Columbia, 
Ohio.  Elizabeth  resides  in  Whiteside  County.  When 

$nii$^ — ^€3^ 


I 


WHITES  IDE  COUNTY. 


• 


/N 


he  was  18  the  parents  of  Mr.  (Jlmer  removed  to 
Columbia  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  married  Feb.  9,  1862, 
in  Lawrence  Co.,  Pa.,  to  Sarepta  A.,  daughter  of 
James  and  Martha  (Gibson)  Harrah.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  the  former  being  of 
English  descent  and  the  latter  of  Scotch  extraction. 
The  father  died  in  Coleta  in  May,  1878  ;  the  decease 
of  the  mother  took  place  in  Ohio  in  March,  1869. 
Mrs.  Ulmer  was  born  June  25,  1842,  in  Columbia 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  she  was  reared  and  married.  To 
her  and  her  husband,  six  children  have  been  born,  in 
the  following  order:  William  L.,  Oct.  27,  1863; 
Francis  S.,  Oct.  6,  1865;  Charles  A., Sept.  13,  1869; 
N.  May,  Nov.  24,  1875;  James  H.,  May  15,1878; 
Harry  D.,  March  4,  1881. 

Soon  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ulmer 
located  on  a  farm  of  80  acres  on  section  15,  Genesee 
Township.  The  place  was  under  some  improve- 
ments at  the  time  it  became  their  property,  and  it  is 
now  in  excellent  condition,  created  of  the  best  qual- 
ity of  effort  and  judgment  in  its  management.  The 
homestead  farm  now  contains  130  acres  and  is  sup- 
plied with  first-class  farm  buildings.  In  March, 
1885,  he  moved  from  his  farm  to  Coleta,  where  he 
owns  three  acres  of  land  with  a  good  residence,  and 
he  has  another  in  process  of  erection.  He  estab- 
lished his  business  as  a  merchant  in  October,  1884, 
investing  $3,000  in  stock,  which  is  at  present  largely 
increased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ulmer  are  active  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  the  former  is  Steward  and 
Class-leader  in  the  society.  He  is  a  decided  and 
prominent  Republican  and  has  held  the  offices  of 
Collector  and  Assessor  of  Genesee  Township. 


U  illiam  Mathew,  general  farmer,  resident 
|L  on  section  2,  Ustick  Township,  was  born 
July  9,  1826,  in  Scotland,  which  was  also 
the  native  country  of  his  parents,  William 
and  Jannet  (Wiley)  Mathew.  He  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  with  his  wife  and 
surviving  children  in  1870.  He  at  once  fixed  his  res- 
idence in  Whiteside  County,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
In  1882  he  bought  the  farm  on  which  he  has  since 
resided,  and  pursued  his  agricultural  projects.  It 
comprises  200  acres  and  is  under  good  cultivation. 
Mr.  Mathew  is  a  Republican  in  political  principles. 


He  was  married  in  1847  in  Scotland  to  Jane  Skin- 
ner, and  they  have  had  seven  children  :  Thomas, 
Margaret,  Jessie  and  James  are  deceased.  Those 
who  are  yet  alive  are  named  William,  James  S.  and 
David.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mathew  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


suph  Deming,  deceased,  formerly  a  farmer 
on  section  12,  Lyndon  Township,  was  born 
July  24,  1819,  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.  In 
the  fall  of  1838,  he  accompanied  his  father, 
Charles  S.  Deming,  to  Whiteside  County,  and 
the  family  settled  in  the  township  of  Lyndon. 

Mr.  Deming  made  a  claim  of  land  on  section  12, 
on  which  he  built  a  house  and  entered  upon  the  im- 
provement of  his 'property.  He  was  married  Oct.  27, 
1842,  to  Harriet  B.,  daughter  of  Jireh  and  Betsey 
(Wickey)  Barlow.  Mr.  Deming  was  energetically 
interested  in  the  improvement  of  his  estate  and  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  agricultural  affairs  until  the  nation 
was  startled  by  the  advent  of  civil  war,  and  he  took 
an  earnest  interest  in  the  progress  of  events  until 
August,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  75111  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  mustered  into  service  as  a  Cor- 
poral. He  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  June  20, 
1863.  At  home  he  had  left  his  wife  and  five  chil- 
dren. Before  the  expiration  of  the  year  three  chil- 
dren were  dead,  leaving  the  mother  with  one  son 
William  Henry,  who  is  living  with  her  on  the  home- 
stead. They  are  both  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 

Ann  Eliza,  only  surviving  daughter,  who  was  mar- 
ried in  1869  to  Joseph  D.  Johnson,  lives  in  Flushing, 
Michigan. 

Jireh  Barlow,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Deming,  was  a 
pioneer  of  Whiteside  County.  He  was  born  in 
Massachusetts,  but  went  in  young  manhood  to  Pitts- 
ford,  Vt.  He  was  there  married  to  Betsey  Wicker, 
who  was  also  born  in  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Barlow 
was  a  clothier  by  profession,  and  after  his  marriage 
he  built  a  factory  at  Pittsford  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  woolen  cloth.  He  also  erected  a 
linseed-oil  mill,  and  a  flour  and  saw  mill  on  the 
same  mountain  stream.  That  part  of  the  town  is 
called  "Pittsford  Mills  "  to  this  day,  and  has  its  own 
local  postoffice,  taking  its  name  from  the  business 

$ *$&*• 


^V^-:  M  M  t(y  M  M  •  if  "Y^ 

WHITES  IDE  COUNTY. 


enterprises  of  Mr.  Barlow.  About  1827  the  woolen 
mill  was  burned,  entailing  a  loss  of  about  $8,000. 
The  proprietor  rebuilt  the  establishment  and  con- 
tinued its  management  a  few  years.  About  1838  his 
business  became  involved  through  the  general  shrink- 
age of  values  in  the  crisis  of  the  year  before,  and,  as 
his  wife  had  fallen  into  ill  health,  he  went  to  In- 
diana, locating  in  Wabash  County.  In  June  of  that 
year  he  set  out  on  horseback  for  Illinois  to  seek  a 
satisfactory  location  for  a  home.  He  was  pleased 
with  the  outlook  of  Whiteside  County  and  returned 
to  Indiana  for  his  family.  In  the  winter  of  1839-40 
he  came  back,  bringing  with  him  a  load  of  household 
fixtures,  and  rented  a  farm,  which  is  now  included  in 
the  city  of  Morrison.  His  wife  was  ill  at  the  time 
and  remained  with  her  children  who  were  living  in 
Vermont. 

In  1841  Mr.  Barlow  made  a  claim  east  of  the 
present  site  of  Morrison,  to  which  he  removed.  In 
1848  he  went  to  Indiana  on  a  business  errand,  and 
died  there  at  74  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Barlow  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
ability.  While  in  Vermont  he  represented  Pittsford 
in  the  General  Assembly  for  two  sessions.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 


G.  Preston,  liveryman  at  Morrison,  was 
born  at  Middleburg,  Schoharie  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  March  4,  1826.  Reuben  Preston,  his 
father,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  was 
a  blacksmith  by  vocation.  Polly  (Wilder)  Pres- 
ton, the  mother,  was  born  in  the  same  State. 
They  were  the  parents  of  1 1  children,  and  five  are 
now  living.  Katherine  is  the  wife  of  Christopher 
Poland,  a.  farmer  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Preston 
of  this  sketch  is  the  second  child  now  Hving.  Joseph 
is  a  blacksmith  in  Otsego  County.  Lucy  married 
John  Plainer,  of  Cherry  Valley,  in  that  county. 
Susan  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Irish,  of  Otsego  County. 

Mr.  Preston  learned  the  business  of  working  in 
wood  in  a  carriage  factory,  and  while  a  resident  of  his 
native  State  pursued  that  vocation.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  his  native  place,  Oct.  26,  1853,  to  Abbie 
Gridley,  who  was  born  there  in  April,  1830.  Four 
children  were  born  to  them :  Libbie  M.  married 


Robert  Nowlen,  of  Morrison;  De  Wilt  C.,  Raymond 
M.  and  Elliott  M.  are  the  names  of  the  three 
youngest. 

In  April,  1865,  Mr.  Preston  transferred  his  family 
and  interests  to  Morrison,  and  became  engaged  in 
buying  and  selling  stock,  in  which  he  was  occupied 
about  three  years.  In  1868,  associated  with  his  broth- 
ers-in-law, John  E.  and  William  Duffin,  he  embarked 
in  the  livery  business.  About  a  year  later  this  rela- 
tion terminated  by  the  sale  of  the  interest  of  John 
Duffin  to  his  two  partners,  and  the  new  firm  trans- 
acted business  together  about  two  years.  In  1871 
Mr.  Preston  assumed  entire  charge  of  the  business, 
which  he  has  continued  to  manage  successfully.  He 
keeps  about  20  horses,  and  his  livery  is  suitably 
equipped  to  suit  the  demands  of  his  patronage.  He 
also  conducts  a  feed  and  sale  stable. 


Herbert  E.  Brown,  general  farmer,  Tampico 
Township,  was  born  in  that  township,  Oct. 
6,  1859,  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  edu- 
cated at  the  public  schools  and  at  Sterling 
Business  College.  He  spent  one  season,  dur- 
ing the  year  1882,  in  the  employment  of  the 
Weed  Sewing-Machine  Company,  of  Chicago,  as 
their  correspondent  and  book-keeper.  He  has  since 
been  engaged  in  general  farming,  and  is  still  residing 
with  his  father  and  unmarried. 


homas  C.  Gould,  a  pioneer  of  Whiteside 
County  of  1837,  was  born  in  Warwick, 
Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  Oct.  29,  1803.  His 
falher  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  the  son 
obtained  of  him  a  general  knowledge  of  that 
business,  arid  later  served  a  two-years  appren- 
ticeship in  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  afterwards  spent 
a  few  months  in  the  South,  and  returned  thence  to 
Middlesex  County.  He  established  his  business  in 
Lexington,  and  was  there  married  Nov.  8,  1832,  to 
Sarah  Locke.  She  was  born  April  29,  1811,  in 
Lexington. 

In  1837  Mr.  Gould  came  to  Illinois,  and  after  a 
few  months  spent  on  the  Illinois  River  he  came  to 

J\    s~\ 


$, 


512 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Lyndon  and  started  a  blacksmith's  shop  on  the  farm 
of  Deacon  A.  R.  Hamilton.  He  went  back  to  Mas- 
sachusetts for  his  family  in  1841,  and  on  returning  to 
Whiteside  County  he  opened  a  shop  in  the  village  of 
Lyndon.  He  had  entered  a  claim  of  land  on  section 
3,  and  soon  after  establishing  his  business  at  Lyndon 
was  compelled  by  failing  health  to  retire  to  his  farm 
and  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits,  to  which  he  de- 
voted his  attention  until  his  death,  Dec.  26,  1876. 
Four  children  were  born  to  him  and  Mrs.  Gould,  of 
whom  three  are  now  living:  Thomas  C.  was  born 
Oct.  5,  1835,  in  Lexington,  Mass.;  he  married 
Martha  I.  Pierce,  Oct.  14,  1873;  she  was  born  in 
Kentucky.  Sarah  is  the  wife,  of  J.  W.  Hazard  (see 
sketch),  and  Lucy  married  Henry  E.  Helms. 

— K4»W— 

Carlos  L.  Ware,  general  farmer,  section  14, 
Fulton  Township,  is  the  son  of  Leonard 
and  Nancy  A.  (Thomas)  Ware.  They  were 
born  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  where  the 
father  yet  lives.  The  mother  died  there 
April  3,  1882.  Following  are  the  names  of  their  five 
children :  Harriet,  Emily,  Carlos  L.,  William  W., 
Julia  A. 

Mr.  Ware,  of  this  sketch,  was  born  May  5,  1832, 
in  Pomfret,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.  After  obtaining  his 
elementary  education  in  the  common  schools,  he 
attended  Thetford  Academy,  where  he  completed 
his  education.  He  remained  in  Vermont  until  the 
fall  of  1852,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  spent 
a  winter  in  teaching  in  Du  Page  County.  In  the 
spring  of  1854  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  where 
he  has  been  a  resident  most  of  the  time  since.  He 
was  engaged  to  some  extent  in  rafting  on  the  Missis- 
sippi River.  He  came  to  Fulton  for  the  purpose  of 
working  on  the  Mississippi  &  Rock  River  Railroad, 
on  which  he  was  employed  one  year.  He  is  now  one 
of  the  most  extensive  land  owners  of  the  county,  and, 
associated  with  his  son,  is  the  proprietor  of  400 
acres  of  land. 

He  was  married  Jan.  13,  1858,  in  Fulton,  111.,  to 
Mary  Johnson,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four 
children,  of  whom  one,  Julia,  died  in  infancy: 
James,  Jessie  and  Georgie  still  survive.  Mr.  Ware 
is  a  Republican  in  political  pursuasion.  He  has 

^3^ — Ci-a<M: 


been  Street  Commissioner  at  Fulton,  and  has  held 
other  offices.  He  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Masons, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to 
which  his  wife  also  belongs. 


Daniel  Richmond,  farmer,  section  5.  Lyn- 
B|?  don  Township,  is  a  pioneer  of  Whiteside 
County,  of  1844.  He  was  born  Feb.  24, 
1814,  in  Virgil,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is 
the  son  of  Thomas  Richmond.  His  father  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,  and  was  an  early  settler  in 
Cortland  County.  He  married  Sallie  Osborn,  who 
was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  par- 
ents moved  to  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1821.  After 
a  residence  there  of  10  years,  they  settled  in  Tioga 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  the  father  made  a  contract  for  a  tract 
of  timber  in  Rutland  Township.  He  built  a  log 
house,  which  he  covered  with  elm  bark  and  floored 
with  puncheons.  He  lived  on  the  place  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  and  his  wife  also  died  there. 

Until  he  became  a  family  man  himself  Daniel 
Richmond  lived  with  his  parents.  He  was  married 
Jan.  n,  1835,  to  Mahala  Reynolds.  She  was  born 
May  3,  1817,  in  Sullivan,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.  After 
their  marriage  they  became  the  managers  of  the 
homestead.  In  1844  Mr.  Richmond,  accompanied 
by  his  family,  set  out  for  an  overland  journey  to  Illi- 
nois. They  reached  Lyndon  Township,  July  16, 
after  a  month  of  travel,  and  the  father  made  a  claim 
on  section  5.  The  family  were  received  under  the 
hospitable  roof  of  Lyman  J.  Reynolds,  a  brother-in- 
law  of  Mr.  Richmond,  where  they  lived  until  the  fall 
of  1845,  when  they  took  possession  of  a  "  dug-out," 
which  served  for  a  shelter  until  the  following  fall. 
It  was  covered  with  hay,  and  proved  a  comfortable 
home  through  the  winter,  when  the  prairie  wind 
seemed  too  severe  for  safety.  (This  is  the  first 
domicile  of  a  house  of  this  character  recorded  in  this 
volume.)  In  the  fall  of  1846  Mr.  Richmond  started 
to  build  a  frame  house,  but  was  unable  to  finish  it 
before  the  winter  came  on,  and  the  family  passed 
that  season  in  its  cellar.  By  the  fall  of  1847  it  was 
enclosed,  and  in  suitable  condition  for  occupation. 
In  1845  Mr.  Richmond  broke  10  acres  of  prairie, 
which  was  the  first  improvement  made  on  the  farm. 
This  is  still  in  his  possession.  It  is  now  in  pro- 
gressive agricultural  condition. 

:ntif>A^ — ^^ -"r  -x- 


' 


•   ..   - 


-  ..  - 


v 


so 

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) 


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COUNTY. 


The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Richmond  died  Nov.  29, 
1860.  She  had  borne  nine  children,  and  six  of  them 
are  still  living  :  Draper  lives  in  Lyndon  ;  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  Aldrich,  of  Henry  Co.,  111. ;  Samantha 
married  M.  M.  Aldrich,  and  lives  in  the  same 
county;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Hicks,  of 
Troy,  N.  Y. ;  Phebe  is  Mrs.  Henry  Potter,  of  Har- 
lan,  Iowa;  Perry  J.  is  a  farmer  in  Lincoln,  Neb. 
Mr.  Richmond  was  married  after  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  to  Jane  Randall.  Their  marriage  took 
place  June  24,  1861.  She  was  born  in  Canada,  Jan. 
3,  1837,  and  died  Sept.  4, 1872.  She  had  one  child, 
Walter,  who  is  now  deceased.  In  October,  1873, 
Mr.  Richmond  contracted  marriage,  a  third  time, 
with  Fannie  M.  Barber.  She  was  born  May  22, 
1854,  in  Alabama.  Wyllie  and  Nellie  are  the  chil- 
dren of  the  last  marriage. 

Mr.  Richmond  is  a  man  of  excellent  abilities,  and 
is  remarkably  well  preserved.  He  takes  a  lively  in- 
terest in  current  affairs,  and  is  well  informed. 


ichard  Arey,  retired  farmer,  residing  at 
Rock  Falls,  was  born  at  Cape  Cod,  Well- 
^  fleet,  Mass.,  Aug.  13,  1809.  His  parents, 
Reuben  and  Sally  (Brown)  Arey,  were  also 
natives  of  the  Bay  State.  His  father  was  a 
tanner  by  occupation.  He  made  his  home 
with  his  father  until  24  years  of  age,  receiving  a 
common-school  education,  occasionally  going  to  sea. 
He  spent  two  years  in  Boston  with  B.  &  L.  on  Com- 
mercial Street,  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  of  West 
India  goods.  Next,  building  a  wharf  in  South  Well- 
fleet,  he  engaged  in  the  business  of  mackerel-packing 
and  furnishing  fishermen  with  their  outfits,  for  ten 
years.  Selling  this  position,  in  1844,  he  came  to 
Rapid  City,  on  Rock  River  and  purchased  a  farm 
comprising  a  quarter-section,  one-half  of  which  is 
now  in  town  lots  in  the  village  of  Rock  Falls.  He 
commenced  business  here  in  the- line  of  sheep-raising, 
but  the  disease  called  "foot-rot"  prevailed  so  exten- 
sively among  his  stock  that  he  was  compelled  to 
abandon  it.  He  followed  agricultural  pursuits  on  his 
first  purchase  of  land  until  1872,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  enjoying  a  retired  life,  still  occupying  the 
dwelling  he  purchased  in  1844,  and  the  only  resident 
remaining  of  all  that  were  here  when  he  came. 


In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Arey  is  a  Republican, 
and,  with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Congregational 
Church.  He  was  the  first  Supervisor  elected  from 
Coloma  and  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Rapid 
City,  later  called  Coloma.  He  has  also  held  various 
other  offices.  He  has  for  a  long  time  been  a  leading 
and  influential  citizen. 

For  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Arey  married  Martha  Davis, 
daughter  of  Rev.  T.  Davis,  of  Massachusetts,  in 
1832,  and  they  had  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
still  living,— John  D.,  James  C.,  Kathren  D.,  Rich- 
ard, Mary,  Ezra  W.  and  Martha.  Mrs.  Arey  died  in 
1852,  a  great  loss  to  the  family  and  to  the  com- 
munity. In  i86r  Mr.  Arey  married  Lydia  A.  King, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  a  most  excellent  and  highly 
esteemed  lady,  a  loving  wife  and  a  priceless  mother- 
in-law. 


ra.   Emma  Randolph,   corner  of -Third 
and  A  Streets,  Sterling,  is  a  daughter  of 
Abiah  and  Polly  Redfield ;  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1855;  married  Edgar  F.  Randolph 
in  1860,  who  died  Nov.  3,  1877,  after  a  resi- 
dence in  Sterling,  this  county,  of  twenty-two 

•£*- 


years. 


eorge  W.  Fitch,  farmer  and  business 
man  of  Whiteside  County,  has  been  a  res- 
ident of  Lyndon  Township  since  1837, 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  hither. 
Erastus  Fitch,  his  father,  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  grew  up  and  received  a 
good  education.  He  began  the  career  of  a  teacher 
in  his  native  State,  and  afterwards  taught  school  in 
New  Hampshire,  Rhode  Island,  Vermont  and  Penn- 
sylvania. He  was  married  in  the  latter  State  to  Har- 
riet (Beecher)  Wells,  the  widow  of  Cyrus  Wells,  and 
•located  in  Pike,  Bradford  County,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming,  spending  alternate  winter  seasons  in 
teaching.  He  removed  with  his  family  to  Ohio  in 
1830,  and  obtained  employment  as  a  teacher  in 
Shalersville,  Portage  County,  where  he  was  occupied 
in  that  calling  four  years.  In  1834  he  bought  a 
farm  in  the  township  of  Edinburg,  on  which  he  op- 
erated until  1836,  the  year  in  which  he  came  to. 


-   ..  ^ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


* 


Whiteside  County.  He  reached  Chicago  via  the 
lake  route,  and  walked  from  that  city  to  his  destina- 
tion. He  made  a  claim  on  section  30,  Lyndon 
Township,  and  soon  afterward  built  a  log  house,  sit- 
uated on  the  "  bluff."  He  placed  a  few  acres  under 
improvement  during  the  summer,  and  in  the  fall 
went  to  Ohio  for  his  family.  He  left  the  Buckeye 
State  April  28  and  journeyed  by  way  of  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  Rivers.  The  household  occupied 
the  primitive  log  house  about  nine  years,  and  after 
that  they  were  included  in  the  family  of  their  son, 
George  W.,  under  whose  supervision  they  remained 
until  the  close  of  their  lives.  The  father's  demise 
took  place  Feb.  n,  1875  ;  that  of  the  mother  June  6, 
1877.  They  were  aged  respectively  86  and  89  years. 
Four  of  their  five  children  survive  :  R.  Dudley  is  a 
resident  of  Lyndon;  George  W.  is  next  in  order  of 
birth ;  Lois,  widow  of  P.  Daggett,  lives  in  Lyndon ; 
Chauncey  E.  resides  at  Sterling;  and  one  child  died 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  Fitch,  of  this  sketch,  was  born  Feb.  21,  1822, 
in  Pike,  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  15  years  old 
when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  soon  after  became  a 
member  of  the  household  of  his  uncle,  W.  D.  Dud- 
ley, a  pioneer  settler  of  Lyndon  Township  of  1835, 
and  lived  with  him  until  his  minority  was  passed. 
Meanwhile  he  had  secured  a  claim  of  80  acres  on 
section  9  of  the  same  township,  in  which  he  began 
his  labor  as  a  developer  of  the  agricultural  resources 
of  his  county,  and  of  which  he  took  possession 
when  he  was  married.  His  industry,  frugality  and 
energy  met  with  success,  and  at  the  time 'he  sold  his 
estate  in  1881  he  was  the  owner  of  320  acres  of 
land. 

In  1857  Mr.  Fitch  engaged  in  buying  cattle  for 
shipment  to  the  cities  of  Boston,  New  York  and 
Chicago,  in  which  line  of  business  he  operated  ex- 
tensively for  more  than  a  score  of  years.  At  the 
same  time  he  pushed  his  agricultural  interests,  and 
trafficked  somewhat  largely  in  the  purchase  and  sale 
of  land.  At  one  period  he  held  nearly  2,000  acres. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  original  stockhold- 
ers of  the  Lyndon  Hydraulic  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, and  served  as  its  President. 

Feb.  4,  1845,  Mr.  Fitch  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Ellen  D.,  daughter  of  Daniel  F.  and  Aurelia  S. 
(Pease)  Millikan,  and  they  had  eight  children: 
Frank  E.,  Emily  A.  (Mrs.  J.  N.  Pollard,  of  Fair- 


mount,  Neb.),  Flora  A.  (Mrs.  C.  H.  Abernethy,  of 
the  same  place),  and  Nellie  A.  are  the  only  survivors. 
The  youngest  daughter  is  a  teacher  near  Fairmount, 
Neb.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fitch  are  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 


S.  Bushman,  retired  farmer,  resident 
at  Coleta,  was  born  Sept.  22,  1822,  in 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  David  and  Eve(Spang- 
ler)  Bushman,  his  parents,  were  born  respect- 
ively in  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
were  descendants  of  the  class  known  to  history 
as  "  Pennsylvania  Dutch,"  which  has  furnished 
some  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  Republic.  They 
were  married  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1845 
came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Wysox  Township,  Car- 
roll County,  where  the  mother  is  still  living  and  is  84 
years  old.  The  father  died  there  Nov.  5,  1882,  aged 
82  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children, 
four  of  whom  were  born  previous  to  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  Illinois. 

Mr.  Bushman  was  nearly  21  years  of  age  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  he  was  pre- 
ceded in  birth  by  one  sister.  The  home  farm  in 
Carroll  County  at  the  time  of  purchase,  consisted  of 
80  acres  and  by  later  purchase  80  acres  more  were 
added.  The  son  was  educated  chiefly  in  the  town- 
ship of  Victory,  in  the  county  in  which  he  was  born, 
and  he  remained  a  member  of  the  family  of  his  fa- 
ther until  he  was  married.  That  event  occurred 
March  18,  1846,  in  Wysox  Township,  when  Lavinia 
Burghduff  became  his  wife.  Her  parents,  Jacob 
and  Tama  Burghduff,  were  formerly  residents  ot 
Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  the  former  died  in  Michigan. 
The  latter  died  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Mrs. 
Bushman  was  born  Jan. -3,  1838,  in  Wayne  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  where  she  was  educated.  She  died  Feb.  3,  1873, 
at  her  home  on  section  n,  Genesee  Township,  and 
left  six  children.  The  deaths  of  three  children  pre- 
ceded her  own.  Charles  H.  married  Susannah  Mull, 
and  they  reside  on  a  farm  in  Genesee  Township. 
Joseph  S.  married  Rebecca  Hurless.  They  live  on 
the  homestead  of  Mr.  Bushman.  Colonel  married 
Ella  Scoville,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Genesee  Township. 
Harlem  married  Lucinda  Morden  and  they  live  on  a 
farm  at  Davis  Junction,  in  Ogle  Co.,  111.  He  is  a 


1 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ,LUNOK> 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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dealer  in  agricultural  implements.  Nelson  married 
Carrie  Hendricks,  and  is  a  grocer  at  Davis  Junction. 
Sarah  resides  at  home. 

Mr.  Bushman  was  married  a  second  time  Feb.  9, 
1876,  at  Coleta,  to  Mrs.  Rachel  Dull,  daughter  of 
Martin  and  Barbara  (Arford)  Overholser.  She  was 
born  in  Ohio  of  German  parentage.  Her  father  and 
mother  removed  some  years  since  to  Coleta,  and  are 
aged  respectively  76  and  74  years.  She  was.  born 
March  14,  1848,  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio.  When 
she  was  16  years  of  age  she  accompanied  her  parents 
to  Whiteside  Co.,  111.  Her  first  marriage,  to  Peter 
Dull,  occurred  Nov.  12,  1856,  and  they  had  five 
children.  One  of  them,  Anna  M.,  is  living,  and  she 
is  the  wife  of  Martin  Overholser. 

After  his  first  marriage,  Mr.  Bushman  located  on 
a  farm  in  Wysox  Township,  Carroll  County.  It 
contained  160  acres,  and  he  was  its  proprietor  until 
1856,  when  he  bought  182  acres  of  land  in  Genesee 
Township,  and  on  which  he  was  many  years  resident. 
In  April,  1872,  the  family  came  to  the  village  of  Co- 
leta, and  Mr.  Bushman  bought  two  acres  of  land  on 
which  he  has  built  a  residence.  He  is  the  owner  of 
the  farm  property  last  mentioned  and  n  acres  of 
timber.  The  former  is  all  under  improvements,  and 
supplied  with  creditable  farm  buildings.  Mr.  Bush- 
man is  a  reliable  Republican,  and  has  held  the  local 
offices  of  the  township.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 


Scott,  whose  portrait  is  given  on  the 
opposite  page,  is  a  representative  and 
prosperous  farmer  on  section  18,  Mont- 
morency  Township.  He  was  born  in  Morgan 
Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  7,  1828,  and  brought  up  a 
farmer  by  his  parents,  Barney  and  Clarissa 
(Davis)  Scott.  His  father  also  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  his  mother  rf  the  State  of  Maine;  and  they  had 
nine  children, — Alvin  F.,  Hannah,  Edwin  (the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch),  Freeman,  Merrill,  Alfred,  Jesse, 
Bernard  and  Addison.  Their  parents  died,  in  Ohio. 
Mr.  Scott  remained  at  the  parental  home  until  23 
years  of  age,  attending  school  and  following  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  In  1850  he  struck  out  into  the  clash- 
ing world  for  himself,  going  first  to  New  Orleans, 
where,  however,  he  remained  but  a  short  time. 

' /***>   A. 


While  there,  on  the  eighth  day  of  January,  he  saw 
ice,  which  was  frozen  there  by  the  low  temperature 
of  the  atmosphere, — a  rare  occurrence  in  that  latitude. 
He  came  to  this  county  in  1851,  first  settling  in  Hop- 
kins Township,  at  Como,  where  he  was  a  resident 
two  years.  He  then  removed  to  Montmorency  Town- 
ship, where  he  purchased  40  acres  on  section  18,  his 
present  residence.  This  place  has  been  his  home 
ever  since  he  first  located  upon  it,  with  the  exception 
of  three  years,  which  he  spent  in  Rock  Falls.  He 
built  a  hewed-log  house  on  his  40  acres  in  1854,  and 
moved  into  it,  it  being  the  first  house  south  of  the 
old  Dixon  road,  or  the  "  Lone  Tree."  Looking  from 
his  door  south,  east,  or  west,  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
see,  there  was  nothing  in  sight  but  the  vast  prairie 
or  the  tops  of  the  trees  of-  the  Green  River  timber. 
He  dug  a  well,  which  was  the  crystal  fountain  for 
many,  since  the  travel  from  New  Bedford  and  vi- 
cinity passed  his  door.  In  1858,  seven  families 
took  all  the  water  they  used  from  this  well.  The  set- 
tlers as  they  came  found  board  and  lodging  with  him 
while  they  built  houses  for  themselves.  Many  a 
weary  traveler  has  rejoiced  to  find  fhis  cabin,  some- 
times nearly  frozen,  sometimes  lost  in  the  darkness, 
and  was  made  welcome  to  the  comforts  of  the  little 
home.  Mr.  Scott  now  owns  200  acres,  all  sub- 
dued to  cultivation  and  in  good  agricultural  condi- 
tion. Mr.  Scott  has  exhibited  a  high  degree  of 
industry  and  good  judgment,  and  by  honorable  deal- 
ing and  economy  he  has  succeeded  in  establishing  a 
comfortable  home.  Officially,  he  has  been  honored 
by  his  fellow  citizens  with  the  public  positions  of 
School  Director,  Overseer  of  Highways,  etc.  In  re- 
spect to  national  issues  he  indorses  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party. 

March  4,  185  i,  is  the  date  of  Mr.  Scott's  marriage, 
in  Como,  Hopkins  Township,  to  Miss  E.  Mary, 
daughter  of  Jesse  and  Anna  (Sherman)  Scott.  Her 
parents,  natives  respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio,  came  from  the  latter  named  State  to  this  county 
in  1839,  settling  in  Como,  where  they  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days.  They  had  13  children, 
namely  :  Asa,  Jane,  Josiah,  David,  Hiram,  Adrial, 
Joel,  John,  E.  Mary  (Mrs.  Scott),  Maria  E.,  Caroline 
A.,  Annis  and  Emeline.  Mrs.  Scott  was  born  in 
Morgan  Co.,  Ohio,  June  4,  1829,  and  has  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Clifton,  Charles  Ennis,  Herschel, 
Fred  L.,  Eva,  Albert  E.  and  Jessie.  Mr.  Scott's 
second  son,  Charles  Ennis,  married  Miss  Chattie 


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White,  of  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1876,  he  having 
formed  her  acquaintance  while  coming  home  from 
the  Centennial.  In  i88i,his  eldest  son,  Clifton,  mar- 
ried  Miss  Elizabeth  Albertson,  of  Orange  Co.  Ind., 
he  being  at  that  time  Principal  of  the  Orleans  High 
School.  In  1885,  his  third  son,  Herschel,  who  had 
just  returned  from  two  years  of  travel,  married  Miss 
Annie  May,  of  this  county,  and  is  residing  with  his 
parents  at  the  present  time. 


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1 
S 


avid  Hazard,  a  pioneer  of  Whiteside  Coun- 
ty of  1837,  was  born  March  9,  1804,  in 
Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  his  young  man- 
hood he  went  to  Pennsylvania  and  after  a 
short  stay  returned  to  his  native  State  and  was 
married  Feb.  14,  1827,  to  Altheda  C.  Wolcott. 
After  their  marriage  they  settled  in  Tioga  Co.,  Pa., 
where  the  wife  died,  in  January,  1834,  leaving  four 
young  children.  Mr.  Hazard  was  again  married  in 
September  of  the  same  year,  to  Lenora  Reynolds,  a 
native  of  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  where  she  was  born  March 
31,  1812.  Mr.  Hazard  had  acquired  a  knowledge  of 
the  trade  of  a  carpenter  in  the  State  where  he  was 
born,  and  he  was  employed  in  that  avenue  of  labor 
in  Pennsylvania  until  his  removal  to  Whiteside 
County.  He  transferred  his  family  and  household 
belongings  to  Illinois  by  means  of  a  span  of  horses 
and  a  covered  wagon,  and  traveled  30  days  before 
reaching  his  destination.  He  located  on  the  present 
site  of  Lyndon  village.  One  of  his  first  "jobs  "  was 
as  an  assistant  in  building  the  mill  race  at  Lyndon. 
In  the  fall  of  1838  he  took  up  his  residence  on  the 
claim  of  his  brother,  vv here  he  lived  until  1840.  In 
that  year  he  located  a  claim  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  10,  and  secured  his  title  by  purchase  as 
soon  as  the  land  came  into  market.  He  moved  to 
the  village  of  Lyndon  in  1871,  where  he  established 
a  mercantile  enterprise  in  company  with  his  sons. 
Their  joint  relations  were  conducted  until  1880,  when 
he  retired.  He  died  Nov.  24,  1881. 

Mr.  Hazard  was  a  man  of  tact,  energy  and  ability, 
and  was  fitted  by  nature  for  a  pioneer,  which  station 
he  occupied  by  birth  as  well  as  practice,  his  parents 
having  been  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  the  principle  of  developing  the  coun- 
try was  one  of  the  foremost  in  his  plans.  He  was 


made  one  of  the  first  Assessors  and  filled  the  position 
several  years.  He  was  elected  Treasurer  of  White- 
side  County  in  1847  and  served  two  terms.  In  1855 
he  was  again  elected  and  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  office  two  years.  In  the  days  of  his  earliest 
political  adherence  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  when 
the  days  of  adjustment  came  he  adopted  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Free-Soil  party,  and  on  the  formation  of 
the  Republican  party  he  joined  its  ranks.  He  voted 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  and  was  a  firm  Union  man 
from  first  to  last. 

Four  children  were  born  of  his  marriage  to  Altheda 
Wolcott :  William  B.  and  Harmon  are  residents  of 
Lyndon;  Olivia  W.,  widow  of  Dr.  A.  J.  Grover  ;  and 
Altheda  C.  M.,  now  deceased.  Of  the  second  mar- 
riage nine  children  were  born,  namely:  John  W., 
Elisha  H.,  Christian  C.,  Eliza,  Hannah,  Albert  S., 
Edmund  B.,  David  A.  and  Anna  A.  Sketches  of 
John  W.  and  Albert  S.  are  given  elsewhere.  Eliza, 
wife  of  L.  L.  Scott,  resides  at  Mapleton,  Monona 
Co.,  Iowa.  They  are  the  only  survivors. 


'shbel  C.  Crouch,  section  20,  Ustick  Town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  John  and  Betsey  (Pratt) 
Crouch.  His  parents  were  born  in  Ver- 
mont and  lived  all  their  lives  in  that  State. 
They  had  a  family  of  12  children.  John  A., 
Ashbel  C.,  Betsey,  Caroline,  Nelson  and  Mary 
are  the  only  ones  who  lived  to  attain  the  age  of  ma- 
jority. 

Mr.  Crouch  was  born  in  Orwell,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt., 
March  24,  1812,  and  he  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  academy  in  Brandon  and  Shoreham  in 
his  native  township.  He  lived  at  home  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  until  he  was  23  years  of  age,  when  he 
went  to  the  western  part  of  the  State  of  New  York 
and  settled  in  Chautauqua  County.  He  lived  there 
about  four  years,  and  in  1839  removed  to  Madison 
Co.,  111.  He  spent  nearly  four  years  there  engaged 
in  teaching,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  went 
to  Iowa  and  became  interested  in  farming,  remaining 
there  until  1850.  In  that  year  he  made  an  overland 
journey  to  California  with  an  ox-team,  which  con- 
sumed four  months.  He  engaged  in  mining  and 
pursued  that  vocation  more  than  two  years.  In 
1853  he  came  back  as  far  East  as  Illinois  and  bought 


' 

.. 

. 

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WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


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1 60  acres  of  Government  land  in  Ustick  Township, 
this  county,  on  which  he  settled  and  fixed  his  home- 
stead. He  is  now  the  proprietor  of  a  finely  im- 
proved farm  of  160  acres  with  excellent  buildings. 
Mr.  Crouch  is  in  sympathy  with  the  principles  of  the 
National  Greenback  party  in  political  opinions,  but 
is  independent  in  party  relations.  He  has  officiated 
as  Township  Clerk,  Commissioner  of  Highways  and 
Assessor.  During  the  prevalence  of  the  Grange 
movement  he  was  active  in  its  interests. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Crouch  took  place 
March  24,  1842,  in  Madison  Co.,  111.,  to  Marion  A. 
'Pierce,  a  native  of  Vermont.  Oscar,  Julius,  Wallace, 
Delia  and  Edward  were  the  names  of  their  children, 
who  are  all  deceased.  The  mother  died  March  12, 
1849,  in  Iowa.  Mr.  Crouch  formed  a  second  matri- 
monial alliance  with  Mahala  Bolick,  March  6,  1854, 
in  Iowa,  and  they  had  two  children  :  John  and  Mel- 
vin  D.  The  oldest  son  died  when  he  was  two  years 
of  age.  Mrs.  Crouch  is  the  daughter  of  David  and 
Rachel  (Simond)  Bolick,  who  were  natives  of  North 
Carolina,  where  she  was  born  Feb.  u,  1819.  She 
is  the  third  in  order  of  birth,  and  the  names  of  her 
brothers  and  sisters  were  Amos,  Agalina,  Priscilla, 
Catherine,  Caleb,  David,  Rachel  and  Lydia. 


illium  H.  Colcord,  Principal  of  the  School 
at  Coleta,  Supervisor  of  Genesee  Town- 
ship and  Postmaster  of  the  village  where 
he  lives,  is  a  native  born  citizen  of  his  town- 
ship, and  represents  one  of  the  earliest  names 
connected  with  the  settlement  of  the  town- 
ship of  Genesee.  His  father,  Ivory  Colcord,  came 
to  Genesee  Township  in  1836,  and  bought  a  claim, 
consisting  of  200  acres  of  prairie  and  300  acres  of 
timber,  paying  therefor  $150  in  gold.  He  returned 
to  his  home  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1837  set 
out  with  his  family  for  the  West.  They  took  pass- 
age on  a  flat-boat  on  the  Allegheny  River,  pro- 
ceeded to  Pittsburg,  went  thence  to  the  Mississippi 
River  by  way  of  the  Ohio  River,  and  from  the  junc- 
tion of  the  two  streams  went  to  Fulton,  whither  they 
were  conveyed  by  wagon  to  Genesee  Grove,  arriving 
there  on  the  15 th  of  October.  A  small  shelter  was 
provided  for  temporary  use  during  the  winter  that 
followed,  where  the  domestic  machinery  was  oper- 

^— vW\^'^/v^s*       ™^^^™^^^^-^-$K.-viP^~-— ^"^^"^^"^ 


ated,  and  which  also  served  as  a  house  of  public 
entertainment,  as  there  was  no  hotel  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  army  of  land-lookers  and  prospective 
settlers.  One  of  the  controlling  elements  of  a  pio- 
neer community  is  that  of  hospitality,  and  faces  that 
have  lately  looked  on  civilization  seem  connecting 
links.  The  senior  Colcord  was  a  practical  farmer, 
and  a  man  of  cultivated  mind.  He  was  the  first 
school-teacher  in  Genesee  Township,  and  was  also 
its  first  magistrate  after  the  organization  of  the  town- 
ship. He  died  Jan.  25,  1865.  He  was  born  July 
20,  1799,  in  Maine,  and  married  Elzina  Smith,  who 
was  born  June  27,  1805,  near  Keene,  N.  H.,  and 
they  settled  in  the  State  of  New  York.  The  mother 
is  yet  living,  with  a  daughter,  in  the  village  of  Co- 
leta. She  is  80  years  of  age,  and  has  been  the 
mother  of  13  children,  eight  of  whom  survive. 

Mr.  Col:ord  is  the  third  white  child  born  in  Gen- 
esee Township.  His  birth  occurred  July  29,  1839, 
and  he  is  lineally  descended  from  the  Pilgrims  of 
Massachusetts,  his  paternal  grandmother  being  a 
Bradbury.  In  the  maternal  line  he  is  equally  well 
descended,  and  his  veins  contain  a  mixture  of  Scotch 
and  English  blood,  in  which  nationalities  his  earliest 
ancestors  had  their  origin.  His  education  was  be- 
gun under  the  supervision  of  his  father,  and  was 
continued  until  he  became  of  age.  He  was  married 
Feb.  16,  1860,  to  Fianna  V.  Linerode.  The  cere- 
mony was  performed  by  A.  H.  Law,  at  that  date  a 
magistrate  of  Genesee  Township,  and  now  a  resident 
of  Mercer  Co.,  111.  Their  marriage  has  been  blessed 
with  10  children,  three  sons  and  seven  daughters,  as 
follows:  Alice  C.,  married  to  James  L.  Peugh,  a 
farmer  in  Genesee  ;  Eustatia  V.,  married  to  J.  Fred. 
Fehrensen,  druggist,  in  Coleta;  Annetta  A.,  married 
to  George  A.  Over,  merchant,  in  Sterling  ;  and  Edith 
B.,  Ernest  S.,  Clayton  E.,  Nellie  L.,  Bertie  S.,  Glenn 
D.  and  Elzina  G.,  still  at  home  with  their  parents. 
Mrs.  Colcord  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio. 
Her  mother  died  when  she  was  young,  and  her 
father  having  married  again,  she  continued  under 
the  care  of  her  step-mother  until  she  was  married. 
Her  father  removed  to  Genesee  Township  when  ^he 
was  young,  and  he  became  prominent  in  the  official 
history  of  the  county.  He  died  in  1857. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colcord  settled  on  a  farm  in  Gene- 
see  Township.  The  former  passed  the  chief  portion 
of  the  succeeding  years  in  the  improvement  of  his 
property,  and  devoted  the  winter  seasons  to  teach- 


~ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


ing.  With  the  exception  of  two  intervening  years, 
he  passed  his  life  in  this  manner  until  1878.  In 
that  year  he  relinquished  his  agricultural  projects  in 
order  to  apply  his  time  and  energies  wholly  to  the 
labors  of  a  teacher,  in  which  vocation  he  has  since 
been  engaged.  His  farm  contained  20  acres,  and 
was  situated  on  section  21.  In  1884  he  sold  the 
place,  and  bought  150  acres  near  Sheldon,  O'Brien 
Co.,  Iowa.  He  owns  his  residence  at  Coleta.  In 
1884  he  succeeded  Henry  Wickey  in  the  position  of 
Postmaster.  He  has  officiated  one  term  as  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  has  been  Township  Clerk  three  years, 
and  is  serving  his  fourth  term  as  Supervisor,  being 
appointed  during  1884  to  fill  a  vacancy  created  by 
the  death  of  Rev.  Cephas  Hurless.  He  has  also 
served  two  years  as  Assessor. 

Mr.  Colcord  is  interested  in  local  and  general 
political  issues,  and  is  an  influential  and  consistent 
Republican. 


ohn  W.  Hazard,  one  of  the  substantial 
citizens  of  Lyndon  Township,  is  the  son  of 
David  and  Leonora  (Reynolds)  Hazard,  of 
whom  as  full  a  personal  narration  as  it  is  pos- 
sible to  obtain  is  presented  in  another  place. 
Mr.  Hazard  was  born  May  31,  1835,  in  Mans- 
field, Tioga  Co.,  Pa.  In  1837  his  parents  came  to 
Whiteside  County,  coming  with  a  pair  of  horses  and 
a  wagon  and  driving  through  the  entire  route.  The 
son  grew  to  man's  estate  on  the  homestead  on  which 
his  parents  located,  and  obtained  a  fair  education  in 
the  public  schools.  At  20  he  entered  the  employ- 
ment of  Turley  &  King,  at  Round  Grove,  to  buy 
grain.  He  operated  in  their  interest  one  year,  then 
formed  a  partnership  with  D.  K.  Lincoln  and  J.  B. 
Bush.  The  company  erected  a  warehouse  at  Round 
Grove,  and  Mr.  Hazard  conducted  the  business  of 
buying  and  shipping  grain  one  year.  The  firm  dis- 
solved, and  he  resumed  farming,  in  which  avenue  of 
employment  he  has  since  operated,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  eight  years,  when  he  rented  his  farm  and  was 
himself  engaged  in  grain  and  lumber,  also  coal, 
lime,  etc.;  was  also  engaged  in  the  construction  of 
the  water  works  at  Lyndon,  in  which  company  he 
was  a  stockholder.  He  is  a  useful  and  honored 
citizen,  and  enjoys  to  an  unusual  degree  the  con- 


fidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellows.  He  is  Supervisor 
of  Lyndon,  and  when  the  village  of  Lyndon  was  first 
organized  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees.  He  has  also  served  in  the  capacity  of 
Town  Clerk.  He  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Lyndon 
Hydraulic  Manufacturing  Company,  and  one  of  the 
trustees.  He  has  been  an  uncompromising  Repub- 
lican from  the  formation  of  the  party, and  has  pursued 
an  undeviating  course,  casting  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  and  for  every  nominee  of 
the  Republican  party  since. 

Mr.  Hazard  was  married  in  December,  1856,  to 
Sarah  L.,  daughter  of  Thomas  C.  and  Sarah  (Locke) 
Gould.  She  was  born  March  19,  1836,  in  Lexing- 
ton, Middlesex  Co.,  Mass.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hazard 
have  two  children, — Jessie  S.  and  John  G. 

.5= ^    -<->•     ^ *. 


(fames  Talbott,  farmer,  section  2,  Jordan 
Township,  was  born  Dec.  25,  1846,  on  the 
same  section  where  he  is  now  a  resident. 
He  is  the  seventh  child  of  his  parents,  James 
and  Sarah  (Woods)  Talbott,  who  were  among 
the  pioneers  of  Jordan  Township,  of  1835,  and 
were  the  second  permanent  settlers  in  the  township. 
Theirs  was  the  first  family  to  locate  within  "  town- 
ship 22,"  S.  M.  Coe,  whose  arrival  preceded  theirs 
by  a  few  weeks,  being  a  single  man.  The  father  was 
active  in  the  development  and  organization  of  the 
township  and  county.  He  was  also  one  of  the  fore- 
most members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
which  was  the  first  religious  society  organized  in 
Jordan  Township,  and  he  was  one  of  the  first  mem- 
bers. Fuller  details  of  the  personal  record  of  the 
parents  may  be  found  in  connection  with  the  sketch 
of  Oliver  Talbott. 

Mr.  Talbott  lived  with  his  parents  on  the  home- 
stead until  their  decease.  In  1870,  he  bought  160 
acres  of  land  in  Kansas,  which  he  afterward  ex- 
changed with  his  father  for  the  stock  on  the  home- 
stead and  80  acres  of  the  place  of  which  he  is  still 
the  owner.  The  whole  is  under  good  tillage. 

His  marriage  to  Addie  Green  took  place  Sept.  23, 
1884,  at  Clarksville,  Butler  Co.,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Talbott 
is  the  daughter  of  Edward  and  Jane  (Nelson)  Green. 
Her  parents  were  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
later  removed  to  Trumbull,  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio. 


\ 


' 


: 


•      • 


- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


S21 


They  were  there  interested  in  farming  four  years,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time  they  transferred  their 
residence  to  Winnebago  Co.,  111.,  settling  on  a  farm 
in  Roscoe  Township.  After  five  years  they  went  to 
Rock  Co.,  Wis.,  where  they  were  resident  about  a 
score  of  years.  They  made  another  removal  to  Iowa, 
and  the  father  died  in  Butler  County,  Jan.  30,  1885, 
aged  68.  The  mother  is  passing  her  old  age  with  her 
daughter  in  Jordan  Township,  aged  66  years.  She 
has  had.three  children, — Frank,  Frederick  and  Mrs. 
Talbott,  who  is  the  youngest  child.  The  latter  was 
born  Nov.  4,  1857,  in  Avon,  Rock  Co.,  Wis.  She 
was  1 1  years  of  age  when  her  parents  went  to  Clarks- 
ville,  Iowa.  She  obtained  an  available  education, 
which  she  utilized  in  teaching,  entering  upon  that 
vocation  when  she  was  18  years  of  age  in  Butler 
County,  and  pursuing  it  as  an  occupation  until  she 
was  married. 

Mr.  Talbott  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held  the  school 
offices  in  his  district. 


arvey  R.  Hand,  farmer,  section  31,  Coloma 
Township,  was  born  March  31,  1842,  in 
Troy,  Orleans  Co.,  Vt.  His  parents,  John 
B.  and  Elizabeth  J.  (Peak)  Hand,  were  natives  of 
New  England.  In  1867  they  came  to  Whiteside 
County,  and  were  residents  of  Coloma  Town- 
ship until  1881,  when  they  returned  to  Vermont. 
They  had  ten  children,  six  of  whom  lived  to  attain 
the  age  of  maturity:  Frances  M.,  Harvey  R.,  Be- 
ment  J.,  Carrie  A.,  Orilla  H.  and  Juliette;  four  died 
in  childhood;  Bement  J.  entered  the  army  of  the 
United  States  when  he  was  18  years  old,  and  died 
before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service. 

Mr.  Hand  obtained  a  fair  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  was  an  attendant  at  the  academy  at 
Peacham,  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt.,  five  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1865  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and 
passed  the  first  years  of  his  residence  in  Illinois  in 
the  management  of  a  rented  farm  in  Coloma  Town- 
ship. He  then  bought  200  acres  of  land  in  Hume 
Township.  His  aggregated  acreage  is  now  400 
acres,  which  is  all  under  tillage.  He  has  an  annual 
average  of  100  cattle,  20  horses  and  colts,  and  fat- 
tens a  drove  of  75  hogs  far  market  every  year.  Mr. 
Hand  is  identified  in  politics  with  the  Republican 


'  @ 

Regt.  Vt.  Vols.,   > 


party.     He  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  i 
in  1862. 

He  was  married  March  12,  1885,  in  the  township 
of  Montmorency,  to  Celia  D.,  daughter  of  Monroe 
and  Mary  (Taylor)  Carroll,  natives  of  Ohio.  Mrs. 
Hand  has  one  brother  older  than  herself — Edson  B. 
She  was  born  Jan.  2,  1867,  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio. 
Her  father's  death  took  place  in  that  county,  in  1868. 
The  mother  and  daughter  came  to  Montmorency 
Township  in  1870. 


. 


#vt 

IP 


Ibert  S.  Hazard,  a  farmer  of  Lyndon  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  the  same  township,  April 
21,  1846.  He  was  brought  up  by  his  par- 
ents, and  in  1865  engaged  with  Martin  Con- 
yne  to  learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  working 
under  his  directions  a  year  and  a  half.  He 
returned  to  his  father's  farm  in  1867  and  built  a  shop 
for  his  independent  business.  He  passed  two  years 
working  on  the  farm  and  at  his  trade,  and  in  1869 
formed  a  partnership  with  James  Roach,  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Lyndon,  and  they  operated  jointly  as  black- 
smiths a  few  months,  when  he  sold  to  his  partner 
and  returned  to  the  homestead.  In  1876  he  built  a 
shop  in  Lyndon  and  resumed  work  at  his  trade.  In 
1878  he  went  to  Harlan,  Shelby  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he 
pursued  his  business  as  a  blacksmith  until  1880, 
when  he  came  back  to  Lyndon.  He  worked  as  a 
blacksmith  in  the  employment  of  the  paper  mill  com- 
pany at  that  place,  a  few  months  after  which  he 
opened  a  shop  for  general  blacksmithing. 

Mr.  Hazard  was  married  Aug.  20,  1865,  to  Dora 
Bartholomew.  She  was  born  in  Medina  Co.,  Ohio. 
Elsie,  Jennie,  Edward  L.,  Olivia  and  Celia  May  are 
the  names  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hazard. 


jfienry  M.  Barnum,  farmer,  section  16,  Mont- 
morency Township,  was  born  Jan.  18,  1843, 
in  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents,  Abra- 
ham and  Sarah  (Ingraham)  Barnum,  were  na- 
tives respectively  of  Connecticut  and  New  York, 
and  in  the  latter  State  they  were  married  and 
made  it  their  life-long  residence.  Their  children 
numbered  1 1,  and  were  named  as  follows  :  George, 


<W 


-+. 


522 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


Amanda,  Watson,  Mary,  Angeline,  Henry  M.,  Sarah, 
William,  Adelia  A.,  Dexter  and  Georgiana. 

The  death  of  the  father  while  the  children  were 
yet  small,  left  the  support  of  the  family  on  Mr.  Bar- 
num  and  his  brother,  a  duty  which  they  fulfilled 
until  its  various  members  were  able  to  care  for  them- 
selves. Consequently,  Mr.  Barnum  was  deprived  of 
the  opportunity  of  obtaining  much  education  beyond 
the  ordinary  English  rudiments.  He  was  r8  years 
old  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  within  the  first  year 
of  the  conflict  he  enlisted  in  the  2oth  N.  Y.  Inf.  for 
three  months.  He  re-enlisted  at  the  expiration  of 
the  time  in  the  same  regiment  for  three  years,  but 
was  discharged  in  February,  1863,  for  disability. 
Soon  after,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  for 
two  years  after  his  arrival  he -operated  as  a  farm 
laborer.  He  then  rented  land  and  continued  that 
method  of  operation  until  1878,  when  he  bought  80 
acres  of  land  and  established  his  homestead.  His 
place  is  all  under  tillage.  Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  he  has  discharged  the  duties  of  the  posi- 
tions of  Collector,  Assessor  and  Township  Clerk 
three  years  respectively. 

Mr.  Barnum  was  united  in  marriage,  Feb.  19, 
1865,  in  Greene  County  in  his  native  State,  to  Em- 
meline,  daughter  of  Simeon  and  Julia  (Middaugh) 
Reynolds.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Barnum  live  in 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had  eight  children,— Mary 
J.,  Gideon  B.,  Emmeline,  Elizabeth,  Willard  H., 
George  H.,  Oscar  and  Henry  E.  Mrs.  Barnum  was 
born  Aug.  n,  1845,  in  Greene  County.  To  her  and 
her  husband  seven  children  have  been  born, — Er- 
mina,  Rena,  Julia,  Dora,  Mary  A.,  Wilber  H.  and 
and  Daisy  E.  The  oldest  child  died  when  16 
months  old.  The  mother  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Sterling,  having  united  with  it  in  Decem- 
ber, 1878. 


javid  R.  Butler,  a  farmer  on  section  18  of 
Montmorency  Township,  is  a  son  of  Eze- 
kiel  W.  and  Eunice  (Shaw)  Butler,  natives 
of  New  England,  who  came  to  Whiteside 
County  in  1857,  settling  in  the  township  of 
Prophetstown,  where  Mr.  B.  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  days:  Mrs.  B.  is  still  living.  Their  family 
comprised  n  children,— Nancy,  John,  Caroline,  Har- 

^vgrgv/^-rc  - 

_  .'/VVSTV 


riet,  Sarah,  Wilson,  David  R.,  Eunice,  Lydia,  Seward 
and  Eugene. 

Mr.  Butler,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Rome  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  22,  1832,  re- 
ceived his  education  mostly  in  the  common  school, 
and  was  an  inmate  of  his  parental  home  until  he  be- 
came of  age.  He  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  1854 
and  soon  afterward  purchased  a  quarter-section  of 
swamp  land  in  the  township  of  Prophetstown,  where 
he  settled  and  lived  until  about  1861,  when  he  went 
to  Montmorency  Township  and,  in  company  with  his 
brothers,  bought  about  320  acres.  He  now  owns  160 
acres,  on  sections  18  and  19,  almost  all  of  which  is 
tillable  and  in  good  agricultural  condition. 

Mr.  B.  has  held  the  office  of  School  Trustee,  has 
been  School  Director  several  years,  and  in  his  polit- 
ical principles  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  married  in  Sterling,  Sept.  15,  1870, 
to  Miss  Rosetta  C.,  daughter  of  Josiah  C.  Sturtevant 
(see  sketch  of  the  latter).  She  was  born  in  Peacham, 
Vt.,  June  28,  1838,  and  is  the  mother  of  Harry  and 
Mary  E. 


athan  Brewer,  a  farmer  residing  on  section 
24,  Portland  Township,  and  the  owner  of 
217  acres  on  sections  24  and  25,  is  the  son 
of  Jonas  and  Malinda  (Orton)  Brewer,  and 
was  born  in  what  is  now  Monterey,  Berkshire 
Co.,  Mass.,  March  25,  1804.  His  father  was 
born  in  the  same  county  and  State  and  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  his  mother  was  likewise  born  in 
Berkshire  County.  The  issue  of  their  union  was 
seven  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Nathan  is  the  oldest.  Lucy  was  the  wife  of  Grove 
Terrell,  deceased,  and  resides  in  Tampico,  this 
county.  Emily  is  the  wife  of  Miles  Sperry,  a 
farmer  residing  in  Connecticut. 

Mr.  Brewer  resided  on  his  father's  farm  until  the 
date  of  his  marriage,  which  occurred  in  Monterey, 
Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.  The  lady  whom  he  selected 
to  share  his  sorrows,  his  joys,  his  successes  and  his 
failures,  was  Miss  Louisa  Chapin.  Their  union  has 
been  blest  with  seven  children,  six  of  whom  survived  : 
Lucia,  born  Dec.  23,  1835  ;  Balinda,  born  Oct.  i, 
1837;  Edgar  J.,  born  Nov.  n,  1839;  Warren  S., 
born  Oct.  16,  1841;  Wallace  N.,  born  Sept.  2,  1843; 


,"   4 


. 


'    VV 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


I 


Watson  M.,  born  Aug.  28,  1845;  John  M.,  born 
March  30,  1848,  and  died  June  27,  1881. 

July  24,  1859,  Mrs.  Brewer  departed  to  the  land 
of  the  hereafter,  and  Mr.  Brewer  was  again  united 
in  marriage,  to  Sarah  Dudley,  which  event  occurred 
Jan.  24,  1870.  Mrs.  Dudley  was  the  widow  of  Will- 
iam Dudley,  and  had  five  children  by  her  former 
marriage,  namely:  Adeline,  John,  Ominda,  George 
and  Frank  W.  Frank  VV.  is  at  present  engaged  in 
running  the  farm  of  217  acres. 

In  1851  Mr.  Brewer  came  West  and  located  where 
he  now  resides.  He  purchased  at  first  5 1  acres, 
and  has  subsequently  added  by  purchase  until  he 
has  increased  his  landed  interests  to  217  acres. 


^avid  C.  Overholser,  stock  farmer  and  gen- 

fiptfL  eral  agriculturist  on  section  9,  Genesee 
..  'jfy-  Township,  was  born  June  20,  1846,  in 
*  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  His  parents,  John  and  Julia 
A.  (Weimer)  Overholser,  removed  from  there  to 
Illinois  in  1858,  settling  at  Coleta.  A  personal 
account  of  them  appears  in  another  part  of  this  work. 
They  had  n  children.  Mr.  Overhol?er  of  this 
sketch  is  the  third  son  and  fifth  child.  When  he  was 
12  years  of  age  the  family,  consisting  of  the  parents 
and  eight  children,  removed  to  Coleta,  and  he  was 
educated  primarily  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
township  of  Genesee.  At  the  age  of  20  years  he 
entered  the  seminary  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  Co.,  III., 
where  he  studied  two  years,  and,  in  the  winter  of 
1866-7,  ne  taught  a  term  of  school  near  Polo,  111. 
He  went  to  Western  Iowa  in  the  spring  following, 
and,  associated  with  his  brother,  Joseph,  he  em- 
barked in  a  mercantile  enterprise.  Their  relation 
existed  about  18  months  and  was  dissolved  by  ma- 
tual  consent. 

Mr.  Overholser  was  married  Oct.  3,  1869,  in 
Johnson  Co.,  Iowa,  to  Elizabeth  A.  Bowersox  and 
they  have  become  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
whose  record  is  as  follows  :  Waldo  A.  was  born  July 
9,  1870;  James  Elery,  Nov.  5,  1871;  Maggie  B., 
Dec.  20,  1873;  John  D.,  Nov.  4,  1875;  Julia  S., 
June  9,  1877  ;  Ralph  E.,  May  3,  1881 ;  Frederick  R., 
Oct.  25,  1882.  Mrs.  Overholser  was  born  Nov.  n, 
1848,  in  Augusta,  Va.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  James 
E.  and  Mary  M.  (Shuey)  Bowersox.  They  were  of 


German  ancestry  and  descent,  and  were  born  re- 
spectively in  Maryland  and  Virginia.  The  former 
was  a  minister  in  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
They  were  married  in  Virginia,  and  in  1854  went 
with  their  family  of  four  children  to  Iowa,  settling  in 
Johnson  County.  Mrs.  Overholser  was  educated  in 
Linn  and  Johnson  Counties,  completing  her  studies 
at  Western  College  in  the  former.  She  afterwards 
taught  school.  Her  father  died  in  the  fall  of  1880; 
her  mother  is  still  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Overholser  came  to  Illinois  after 
their  marriage,  and  located  on  132  acres  of  land  sit- 
uated on  section  9,  of  which  they  became  the  owners 
by  purchase  a  year  later.  The  place  was  at  that 
time  partially  improved,  and  it  now  contains  215 
acres,  all  of  which  is  under  tillage.  The  place  is 
well  stocked. 

Politically,  Mr.  Overholser  is  a  decided  Repub- 
lican, and  he  has  been  Township  Trustee  three  terms 
and  has  also  officiated  as  Collector. 


amuel  Grubb  is  a  farmer  on  section  33, 
Genesee  Township.  His  parents,  George 
and  Catherine  (Smith)  Grubb,  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania  and  belonged  by  parentage 
and  descent,  on  the  mother's  side,  to  the 
Dutch  of  the  Keystone  State.  The  ancestors  of 
the  father  came  from  Germany.  He  was  a  mechanic 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  resided  all  their  lives  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  They  have  been  some  years 
deceased. 

Mr.  Grubb  is  the  second  of'n  children  born  to 
his  parents,  his  birth-place  being  Lancaster  County. 
He  was  married  there  to  Mary  Rowe.  She  was 
born  in  the  same  county  and  is  descended  from  Ger- 
man parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grubb  have  two  sons, 
Nehemiah  and  Elam  R.,  who  are  represented  by 
sketches  on  other  pages  of  this  work.  They  con- 
tinued their  residence  in  their  native  State  14  years 
after  their  marriage,  and  in  1854  Mr.  Grubb  came 
West.  He  traveled  by  railroad  to  Chicago,  and  from 
there  to  Sterling  by  stage.  A  year  later  the  family 
located  on  a  farm  in  Genesee  Township,  on  which 
they  were  the  first  settlers.  It  contains  80  acres, 
and  from  its  original  condition  has  all  been  con- 
verted into  a  tillable  and  valuable  farm.  The  place 


gives  unmistakable  evidence  of  first-class  manage- 
ment. 

Mr.  Grubb  is  a  Republican  of  decided  principles, 
and  is  well  known  for  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  the 
general  welfare. 


iehard    Thompson,    the    pioneer   of    this 
county,  and  a  prosperous  farmer  residing 
s   on  section  n,  Portland  Township,  owning 
™     240   acres,   is   a   son   of  Robert    and    Lydia 
<V      (Graham)  Thompson,  and  was  born  in  County 
Monaghan,  Ireland,  March   19,  1828.     When 
six  years  of  age  the  family  came  to  the  United  States, 
locating  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.     Two  years  later  they 
came  to  this  county.     His  father  started    for   this 
State  and  came  to  Chicago  via  the  lakes,  and  on  the 
way   he  met  Guy  Ray,  Hiram  Harmon  and  others, 
and  they  hired  a  team  and  drove  to   Prophetstown, 
this  county.     This  was  in  the  fall  of  1836,  and  his 
father  bought  a  claim  of  200   acres  of  land  of  Asa 

(^i  Crook,  and  when  the  land  came  into  market  he 
bought  it  of  the  Government,  and  added  to  his 

^  original  purchase  until  he  had  a  fine  farm  of  over 
300  acres,  where  his  two  sons,  John  R.  and  Hiram 
C.,  now  reside.  The  father  went  back  to  Ohio  after 
getting  his  claim  and  moved  his  family  to  Chicago, 
where  he  remained  until  the  next  summer  and  then 
came  to  the.  claim  he  had  purchased,  bringing  with 
him  his  furniture  and  family  with  a  team.  The 
father  was  a  Carpenter  and  worked  at  his  trade  in 
Chicago  during  the  winter  he  remained  there.  The 
village  was  then  in  its  infancy,  and  no  one  realized 
the  future  in  store  for  it.  The  father  died  on  the 
old  homestead,  as  likewise  did  the  mother. 

Mr.  Thompson,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  remained  on  the  parental  homestead  until  he 
had  attained  the  age  of  23  years,  when  he  received 
100  acres  as  an  inheritance  from  his  father,  and  by 
energetic  effort  and  good  judgment  he  has  not  only 
succeeded  in  placing  the  land  under  a  good  state  of 
cultivation,  but  has  added  80  acres  to  the  original 
tract.  He  has  some  nice  graded  Short-Horns,  25  to 
30  head,  also  14  to  20  horses  and  some  30  head  of 
hogs. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  united  in  marriage  in  Proph- 
etstown, this  county,  June  19,  1852,  to  Miss  Lo- 


vina  Williams.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Calvin  and 
Sally  (Hill)  Williams,  and  was  born  Jan.  12,  1835, 
in  Detroit,  Mich.  Of  seven  children  born  of  their 
union,  in  this  township,  the  following  is  the  record: 
Robert  E.  was  born  March  24,  1853,  and  is  a  farmer 
residing  in  Portland  Township;  Nathan  C.  was  born 
Jan.  1 8,  1855,  and  is  a  farme:  residing  near  Des 
Moines,  Iowa;  Fred.  G.,  May  19,  1857;  Frank  D. 
was  born  Oct.  28,  1860;  Grace  M.,  May  7,  1867; 
Edwin  R.,  Nov.  17,  1870;  Rosa  L.,  Oct.  i,  1874. 

Robert  E.  married  Lora  E.  Wilson,  March  12, 
1876,  and  they  have  three  children, — Jennie,  Zaidee 
and  Calvin. 


eorge  W.  Howe,  resident  at  Coleta,  was 
.i-a^aig  born  July  25,  1849,  in  Lawrence  Co.,  Pa. 
-g)^~  K  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Hannah  (Durstine) 
'laP  >  Howe,  were  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  were 
of  German  extraction  with  a  slight  admixture 
of  English  blood.  The  family  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1855,  and  at  that  time  included  three  sons 
and  two  daughters. 

Mr.  Howe  is  the  oldest  son  and  second  child,  and 
was  nearly  six  years  of  age  when  his  father  located 
at  Round  Grove,  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township.  Eight 
children  were  born  after  the  parents  fixed  their  resi- 
dence in  Whiteside  County.  Two  are  deceased,  and 
of  the  survivors  five  live  in  Illinois.  They  were 
born  in  the  following  order:  Mary  A.,  George  W., 
Nancy  J.,  James  M.,  William  J.,  Jessie  D.,  Han- 
nah E.,  Madison  M.,  Eliza  O.  and  Susannah.  The 
deceased  were  David  H.  and  Francis.  Two  sons 
by  adoption,  Martin  and  Jacob,  have  been  reared 
by  them. 

Mr.  Howe  remained  at  home  and  attended  school 
through  nearly  all  the  years  of  his  minority.  His 
mother  died  of  heart  disease.  In  1861  his  father 
entered  the  Union  army,  and  in  April,  1864,  the  son 
enlisted  in  the  i4oth  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  consist- 
ing of  men  for  the  special  service  of  too  days, 
although  he  was  not  yet  15  years  of  age.  Not  long 
after  his  enrollment  he  was  attacked  by  a  kidney 
disease  which  resulted  in  injury  to  his  eyes  and 
which  confined  him  to  the  hospital  throughout  nearly 
the  entire  period  of  his  enlistment;  and,  although  his 
command  was  attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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he  saw  little  actual  service  save  skirmishing.  He 
was  sent  on  sick  leave  to  the  Union  hospital  at 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  afterward  lo  Chicago,  where  he  re- 
ceived honorable  discharge  Oct.  29,  1864.  Return- 
ing home,  he  engaged  in  general  farm  labor  after  he 
regained  his  health. 

Feb.  17,  1870,  he  was  married,  at  Coleta,  to  Susan- 
nah, daughter  of  Martin  and  Barbara  (Arford)  Over- 
holser.  (See  sketch  of  H.  S.  Bushman.)  Mrs. 
Howe  was  born  Nov.  6,  1851,  in  Tuscarawas  Co., 
Ohio.  Her  parents  removed  to  Genesee  Township 
when  she  was  about  three  years  of  age.  The  house- 
hold of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howe  includes  seven  chil- 
dren,— Abner  R.,  William  M.,  Hattie  T.,  Clarence 
J.,  Martin  O.,  Anna  M.  and  Samuel  S.  Daisy  died 
Jan.  17,  1885. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Howe  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  at  Coleta,  in  which  he  has  since  oper- 
ated. In  November,  1884,  he  was  appointed  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  and  has  since  engaged  in  the  duties  of 
the  position,  proving  himself  an  efficient  and  compe- 
tent magistrate  on  the  frequent  occasions  when  his 
services  have  been  required.  He  is  the  proprietor 
of  163  acres  of  land,  situated  on  section  12,  Clyde 
Township.  The  place  is  in  good  condition,  with 
farm  buildings. 

Mr.  Howe  is  independent  in  political  opinion  and 
has  taken  no  interest  in  general  elections,  having 
never  voted  for  a  President.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  R.,  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  of  which  latter  societ  Mrs.  Howe 
is  also  a  member. 


-J- 


illiam  A.  Booth,  a.  farmer,  residing  on 
section  30,  Prophetstown  Township,  and 
r.  the  owner  of  220  acres  of  land  thereon, 
§>  is  a  son  of  Ashley  and  Mary  (Foy)  Booth, 
and  was  born  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y., 
June  18,  1832.  His  father  is  a  native  of 
Tompkins  County,  that  State,  is  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, and  at  present  resides  in  Portland  Township, 
this  county.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Cattarau- 
gus County,  and  died  in  this  county,  Sept.  4,  1871. 
Mr.  Booth  was  then  married,  in  April,  1872,  to  Mrs. 
Fanny  Winters. 

Mr.  Booth  is  the  only  child  of  his  father's  family, 


and  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  the  advantages 
afforded  by  the  common  schools.  In  1838  his 
father's  family  came  to  this  county,  and  located  in 
Prophetstown,  and  six  years  later  his  father  located 
1 66  acres  of  land  on  section  20,  Prophetstown  Town- 
ship, where  he  resided  until  1877,  when  he  moved 
to  Portland  village. 

Mr.  Booth, was  united  in  marriage  at  the  age  of  18 
years,  in  Hennepin,  111.  The  event  occurred  June 
17,  1850,  and  the  lady  of  his  choice  was  Miss  Ada- 
liza  Hurd.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Horace  and 
Lydia  Hurd,  and  was  born  in  Vermont,  Nov.  6, 
1831.  They  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living:  Horace  A.  was  a  farmer  in  Hume  Township, 
this  county;  Clarence  is  a  farmer,  residing  in  Gene- 
seo,  Henry  Co.,  111. :  Fanny  A.  is  the  wife  of  Clem- 
ent D.  Johnson,  a  farmer  in  Prophetstown  Town- 
ship; Mary  L.  is  deceased;  Henry  E.  resides  with 
his  parents,  as  likewise  does  Bertha  G. 

Mrs.  Booth  resided  on  the  old  family  homestead 
until  about  24  years  of  age.  In  1852  he  entered  40 
acres  of  land  on  section  29,  Prophetstown  Town- 
ship, and  resided  on  it  about  five  years.  He  then 
bought,  where  he  now  lives,  40  acres,  and  has  since 
added  to  his  estate  until  at  present  he  is  the 
proprietor  of  220  acres.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
dairying,  and  keeps  usually  about  20  cows.  He 
raises  also  from  50  to  75  hogs  annually. 

Mr.  Booth  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Order, 
Sinnisippi  Lodge,  No.  308. 


^ilvius  H.  Kingsbury,  general  farmer,  lo- 
cated on  section  31,  Genesee  Township, 
is  also  interested  in  raising  stock,  and 
conducts  a  dairy  of  respectable  proportions. 
He  has  been  a  citizen  of  Whiteside  County 
since  1854.  He  is  the  son  of  John  Kings- 
and  his  father  was  born  in  New  Hamp- 
The  latter  was  a  pioneer  of  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  he  settled  in  its  early  period  of  settle- 
ment. He  was  there  married  to  Nancy  Bailey,  and 
was  a  resident  of  that  county  until  1843,  when  he 
died  at  the  age  of  41  years,  the  date  thereof  being 
April  23d.  The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mrs. 
Kingsbury  were  Samuel  and  Olive  Bailey.  They, 
together  with  three  children,  died  within  a  period  of 


bury, 
shire. 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


about  two  months,  of  an  epidemic  known  as  the 
black  fever.  Samuel  Bailey  died  Jan.  i,  1813,  aged 
48  years;  Olive  Bailey,  his  wife,  died  Feb.  4,  1814, 
aged  47  years;  Lewis  died  Feb.  9,  1813,  at  the  age 
of  nine  years;  Alison  died  Feb.  12,  1813,  when  he 
was  12  years  old;  Joshua  died  March  5,  1813,  and 
was  1 8  years  old.  Mrs.  Kingsbury  never  married 
again,  but,  later  on,  she  came  to  Morrison,  and  lived 
with  her  daughter  through  her  remaining  years, 
dying  Nov.  26,  1873,  aged  72  years.  Her  children 
included  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  Kings- 
bury  is  the  eldest ;  Nancy  Parish  was  born  Sept.  14, 
1831,  and  died  April  3,  1859;  Eliza  A.  Erwin  was 
born  July  13,  1835,  and  died  March  3, 1872  ;  Joseph 
C.  was  born  Oct.  2,  1837,  and  is  a  business  man  at 
Marysville,  Cal. 

Mr.  Kingsbury  was  15  years  old  when  his  father 
died,  and  he  remained  with  his  mother  one  year 
after  that  event,  and  the  family  was  never  reunited. 
Mr.  Kingsbury  obtained  employment  with  a  cattle 
drover,  named  Robert  Knott,  who  made  purchases 
of  stock  in  St.  Lawrence  County  for  the  market  at 
Albany,  and  he  worked  for  him  some  years,  acquiring 
knowledge  and  experience  which  have  been  valu- 
able to  him  in  later  years. 

In  1854  he  fulfilled  a  resolve  of  some  years'  stand- 
ing, to  locate  permanently  in  the  West,  and  he  set- 
tled in  the  township  of  Genesee.  He  purchased  a 
valuable  tract  of  prairie  land,  which  contained  200 
acres,  and  was  practically  in  its  primal  condition. 
Household  affairs  were  managed  for  some  years  by 
his  mother  and  his  youngest  sister.  His  marriage 
to  Olive  E.  Pond  took  place  Feb.  n,  1860,  in  White 
Rock,  Ogle  Co.,  111.  Her  father,  Abel  Pond,  was  a 
native  of  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  he  married  Caroline 
Crawford,  who  was  born  in  Benson,  Vt.  (An  outline 
of  the  genealogy  of  the  Pond  family  may  be  found 
with  the  sketch  of  Stephen  Pond.)  Mrs.  Kingsbury 
was  born  April  12,  1838,  in  Middlebury,  Knox  Co., 
Ohio,  where  she  was  brought  up  and  educated.  She 
died  in  Genesee  Township,  Oct.  3,  1878,  when  she 
was  41  years  of  age.  Following  is  the  record  of  her 
four  children  :  N.  May,  born  Dec.  28,  1860,  was  mar- 
ried March  2,  1882,  to  George  Edson,  and  they  live 
on  the  Kingsbury  estate;  their  child,  Jennie  O.,  was 
born  Feb.  5,  1883 ;  Carrie  E.  was  born  Dec.  2,  1862, 
and  was  married  Aug.  21,  1883,  to  Jacob  Mensch,  a 
farmer  of  Genesee  Township ;  Emma  A.,  born  Oct. 
27, 1864,  was  married  Nov.  30,  1882,  to  Charles  Ken- 


nedy,  and  lives  in  Clyde  Township;  they  have  one 
child,  Pearl;  Joseph  Cady  was  born  March  26,  1871, 
and  is  engaged  in  obtaining  his  education. 

Since  his  removal  to  Genesee  Township  Mr. 
Kingsbury  has  maintained  his  homestead  on  the 
property  he  then  bought,  which  is  all  well-improved 
and  supplied  with  first-class  farm  buildings,  among 
which  is  a  superior  residence.  The  proprietor  is  a 
model  farmer,  is  a  Republican  in  political  views,  and 
is  earnestly  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  township 
and  county. 


on.  Tyler  McWhorter,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen and  extensive  agriculturist,  resident  on 
section  25,  Montmorency  Township,  has 
been  identified  with  the  substantial  prosperity 
of  Whiteside  County  since  the  spring  of  1856. 
He  was  born  in  1825  in  Metamora,  Franklin 
Co.,  Ind.,  and  is  the  oldest  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Lynn)  McWhorter.  His  father  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  West  Vir- 
ginia. After  their  marriage,  they  located  in  Frank- 
lin Co.,  Ind.  They  had  ten  children,  whom  they 
reared  to  mature  years  in  Indiana,  and  they  remained 
in  that  State  as  long  as  they  lived.  Until  his  re- 
moval to  Whiteside  County,  Mr.  McWhorter  re- 
mained with  his  parents.  On  coming  to  Illinois  he 
bought  half  of  section  25  in  Montmorency  Town- 
ship. His  estate  is  considered  one  of  the  best  in  the 
county,  and  now  includes  520  acres,  situated  in 
Whiteside  and  Lee  Counties.  All  the  original  acre- 
age is  under  improvement  and  a  portion  of  the  re- 
mainder. From  the  outset,  Mr.  McWhorter  has 
given  intelligent  attention  to  the  improvement  of 
stock,  and  the  high  rank  of  his  township  in  that  par- 
ticular is  proportionately  due  to  his  exertions.  He 
owns  on  an  average  80  head  of  cattle  and  12  horses. 
He  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the  local 
government  of  his  township,  in  which  he  has  held 
many  offices  of  trust.  He  has  served  as  Supervisor 
nine  years.  His  abilities  and  public  spirit  were  duly 
recognized  in  the  fall  of  1874  by  his  nomination  for 
Representative  in  the  2Qth  Legislative  Assembly  of 
Illinois,  in  which  he  served  one  term,  being  elected 
by  a  large  majority.  The  record  of  his  services  is 
characterized  by  the  same  disinterestedness  and  ef- 

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LIBRARY 
DIVERSITY  ,*  (LLWOIS 

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LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
UR8ANA 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


fort  which  have  marked  his  life  in  a  less  public  ca- 
pacity.    He  is  an  uncompromising  Republican. 

Mr.  McWhorter  was  united  in  marriage  to  Rhoda 
A.  Ward,  Nov.  28,  1849,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Ind.,  and 
they  are  now  the  parents  of  seven  children,  who 
were  born  in  the  following  order :  Mary  M  ,  Ellis, 
Anna,  John  E.,  William  L.,  Louise  and  Leroy.  The 
mother  was  born  in  Ohio.  Mr.  McWhorter  is  a  Re- 
publican in  political  persuasion  and  he  has  been  ac- 
tively interested  in  school  affairs.  He  has  served  as 
School  Director  15  years. 


E.  Schutt,  general  farmer,  on  section 
1 6,   Hume    Township,  was  born  Oct.   30, 
!§****"   1831,  in  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.     Stephen  Schutt, 
his  father,  was   a   native  of  the   same   State, 
where  he  was  a  farmer,  and  was  extensively 
engaged  in   lumbering:    he   married  Margaret 
Bois.     Mr.  Schutt   lived  with  his    parents  until  he 
was  26  years  of  age,  when  he  became  a  bargeman  on 
the  Hudson  River,  and  ran  the  "Morning  Star"  for 
three  years.     He  then  engaged  in  the  management 
of  a  grist-mill    at  Eddiesville,  on    the    Hudson,  in 
which  he  was  occupied  one  year.     He  spent  the  year 
following  on  the    river,  in  his    former  capacity,  with 
another  company.     He  went   next    to  Steuben  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in  running  a  grist,  saw  and 
shingle  mill  in  company  with  a  brother.     They  con- 
ducted their  joint  business  six  years. 

Mr.  Schutt  was  married  Oct.  5,  1863,  in  Caton, 
Steuben  County,  to  Catherine  VanDemark.  (See 
sketch  of  J.  H.  VanDemark).  She  was  born  in  1838, 
and  reared  in  Ulster  County,  and  died  at  her  home 
in  Hume  Township,  April  9,  1873.  She  was  the 
mother  of  two  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Julian  resides  at  home. 

Mr.  Schutt  was  married    a   second  time  Oct.  30, 
1873,  in  Jordan  Township,  to  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  (Mer- 
ricks)  Ripley.     She  was  born  in  Penn  Co.,  Va.,  and 
I!   is  the  daughter  or  Edward  Merricks,  also  a  native 


of  Virginia.  Mrs.  Schutt's  birth  took  place  May 
17,  1827,  and  came  when  13  years  old  to  Morrow 
Co.,  Ohio.  Her  marriage  to  Charles  B.  Ripley  took 
place  June  22,  1848.  He  was  a  native  of  Owego, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  He  went 


thence  successively  to  Pennsylvania,  Kentucky  and 
Ohio,  and  some  years  later,  after  marriage,  came  to 
Whiteside  County,  settling  in  Jordan  Township, 
where  he  died  in  January,  1864,  leaving  his  wife  with 
five  children :  Eliza  E.,  John,  Henry,  Pomeroy  and 
Francis:  the  latter  is  deceased. 

In  April,  1869  Mr.  Schutt  came  to  Hume  Town- 
ship, and  settled  on  a  farm  of  80  acres,  which  he 
managed  until  1881.  In  that  year  he  sold  out  and 
went  to  Sauk  Co.,  Iowa.  He  remained  there  two 
years,  again  sold  out  and  returned '  to  Hume  Town- 
ship. He  purchased  223  acres  of  land  on  sections 
14,  15  and  1 6,  perfectly  improved  and  supplied  with 
good  buildings. 

Mr.  Schutt  is  a  Republican  in  political  faith,  and 
is  serving  a  term  as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  has 
held  several  other  official  positions. 


•enjamin  West,  one  of  the  prominent 
and  enterprising  farmers  in  Clyde  Town- 
ship, is  located  on  section  17.  He  was 
born  in  the  vicinity  of  the  village  of  Peni- 
stone,  Yorkshire,  England,  April  23,  1820. 
John  West,  his  father,  was  a  mechanic  of 
more  than  ordinary  claims,  possessing  a  complete 
and  practical  knowledge  of  the  craft  of  a  carpenter, 
millwright  and  wagon-maker.  He  was  an  inventive 
genius,  and  was  the  inventor  of  a  variety  of  wagon 
axle,  which  was  so  contrived  as  to  be  oiled  without 
the  removal  of  the  wheel.  He  was  a  fine  scholar 
and  was  college  bred.  He  did  not  accumulate  much 
property,  but  held  a  good  social  position.  He  was 
born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  July  12,  1796,  and  died 
about  1876,  in  the  place  of  his  nativity.  His  wife, 
Ann  Fieldsend  before  her  marriage,  was  born  May 
10,  1799,  in  Yorkshire.  She  was  carefully  brought 
up  and  educated.  She  died  near  Penistone,  York- 
shire, in  1837.  Both  she  and  her  husband  were 
communicants  in  the  Church  of  England.  Of  their 
children — 10  in  number — but  two  are  living,  Thomas 
and  Benjamin.  The  first  is  still  a  resident  of  his 
native  country,  where  he  is  prominent  in  Church  and 
social  circles.  Through  his  connection  with  Lord 
Caverly  he  has  been  enabled  to  give  his  sons  a  colle- 
giate education. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


I 

*.  !• 
(If 


Mr.  West  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  York- 
shire, and  when  he  was  15  years  old  he  went  to 
Holmfirth  to  learn  the  trade  of  cloth-making  in  the 
large  establishment  of.  John  and  George  Hirst.  He 
served  an  apprenticeship,  which  lasted  until  he  was 
21  years  old,  and  acquired  a  complete  and  practical 
knowledge  of  the  processes  from  first  to  last.  He 
went  from  the  place  where  he  learned  his  business 
to  Brown  Hill,  where  he  took  charge  of  a  woolen 
factory  owned  by  James  Booth,  in  whose  interests  he 
operated  three  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  sailed  for  the  United  States,  making  his  first  stop 
at  the  city  of  New  York.  He  went  thence  to  Pough- 
keepsie, N.  Y.,  and  remained  one  year,  and  pro- 
ceeded thence  to  Washington  Hollow,  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  management  of  a 
mill  for  Messrs.  Burch  &  Sullivan.  He  remained 
there  one  year,  and  then  returned  to  Poughkeepsie, 
and  spent  some  time  in  a  carpet-mill.  He  passed 
two  years  subsequent  in  Haverstraw,  in  the  same 
State,  after  which  he  returned  to  England,  and  was 
married  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Mary 
(Hirst)  Whiteley.  She  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  and 
was  English  in  nativity  and  descent.  Her  father 
and  all  the  members  of  the  families  to  which  she 
belonged  were  manufacturers  of  cloth.  Her  parents 
died,  respectively,  in  1836  and  1846,  in  their  native 
country.  They  had  12  children:  John,  Betty,  Jo- 
seph, Joshua,  Maria,  James,  Mary,  Hannah,  Will- 
iam. Mathew,  Sarah  and  Jane.  All  lived  in  Eng- 
land, with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  West,  and  her 
brother  Joshua,  who  came  to  America  in  1851.  The 
brother  was  killed  Jan.  24,  1853,  while  chopping  in 
the  woods.  Failing  to  return  to  his  home  at  night- 
fall, he  was  found  crushed  to  death  between  the 
stump  and  fallen  trunk  of  a  tree  he  had  been 
cutting. 

Mrs.  West  was  born  Dec.  5,  1819,  in  Yorkshire, 
where  she  was  reared.  She  is  the  mother  of  eight 
children :  Henry  is  a  miner  in  Arizona ;  William  mar- 
ried Lucy  A.  Fieldsend,  and  they  reside  on  a  farm 
in  Clyde  Township ;  Anna  is  a  music  teacher;  Jen- 
nie is  next  in  order  of  birth  ;  Joshua  is  a  member  of 
the  mercantile  firm  of  Hollinshead  &  West,  doing 
business  at  Morrison ;  Thomas  is  a  miner  in  Colo- 
rado; Benjamin  and  Charles  are  conducting  the 
homestead  estate. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West  came  to 

®X5»8" : 


America,  and  passed  one  year  in  Haverstraw.  They 
came  thence  to  Clyde  Township,  where  they  arrived 
Sept.  19,  1849,  and  they  were  among  the  earliest  of 
the  permanent  settlers.  They  entered  claims  on 
sections  17  and  21,  where  they  purchased  a  land 
warrant  of  200  acres.  That  portion  of  the  township 
was  so  unsettled  that  there  was  not  a  fence  between 
their  location  and  Fulton,  a  distance  of  12  miles. 
The  land  had  never  been  touched  by  the  plow,  and 
Mr.  West  set  himself  about  improving  his  property, 
and  also  exerted  his  influence  in  the  development 
of  the  town.  He  induced  numbers  of  his  friends 
to  locate  in  the  township.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
Englishmen  to  fix  his  residence  in  Clyde  Township. 
There  are  15  other  English  settlers  who  came  hither 
through  his  representations,  and  that  nationality  pre- 
dominates. Mr.  West  is  the  proprietor  of  298  acres 
of  land,  all  improved  and  stocked  with  fine  graded 
cattle. 

Mr.  West  is  independent  in  political  views,  and 
has  represented  both  parties  in  their  conventions. 
He  takes  great  interest  in  local  politics,  and  he  has 
been  the  recipient  of  all  the  official  honors  pertaining 
to  his  township. 

He  has  crossed  the  Atlantic  five  times,  having 
twice  revisited  the  home  of  his  birth.  Jennie,  the 
second  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West,  visited  the 
birthplace  of  her  parents  in  1881.  She  left  Morrison 
Nov.  21,  i88r,  and  sailed  from  the  city  of  New  York 
six  days  later  on  the  steamship  Furnersia,  and  reached 
Glasgow,  Scotland,  December  7.  She  went  by  rail 
to  Penistone  in  Yorkshire,  England,  where  she  spent 
four  months  on  the  soil  where  her  family  had  its 
origin.  She  sailed  for  America  April  r3,  1882,  and 
derived  much  benefit  to  mind  and  body  from  the 
trip. 

The  portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West,  on  other 
pages,  are  given  with  peculiar  satisfaction,  as  worthy 
representatives  of  a  class  whose  efforts  have  aided 
materially  in  the  development  of  Whiteside  County. 
Mr.  West  is  a  genuine  Englishman  of  the  middle 
class,  the  type  which  constitutes  the  bone  and  sinew 
of  the  government  under  which  he  was  born  ;  and  he 
is  as  genuine  an  American  citizen,  appreciating  the 
abundant  privileges  accruing  to  him  as  such,  and 
giving  the  heartiest  support  to  the  institutions  of  the 
Republic.  His  genial,  mirth-loving  temperament 
secures  its  reward  in  the  general  esteem  he  wins  and 
the  broad  influence  he  wields. 


) 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


<£f 


=i 

I 


(\ 


Ifred  Barnes,  of  Genesee  Township,  has 
been  a  farmer  on  section  13  since  1869. 
He  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  1854, 
when  he  purchased  a  farm  on  section  24,  on 
which  he  was  a  resident  15  years.  He  has 
been  connected  with  the  agricultural  develop- 
ment of  this  section  of  the  State  of  Illinois  over  30 
years. 

Mr.  Barnes  was  born  Nov.  28,  1824,  in  Fabius 
Township,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father,  Tru- 
man Barnes,  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  of 
parents  who  were  natives  of  New  England.  He 
was  a  private  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was 
married  in  his  native  county  to  Azuba  Kinney.  She 
was  born  in  the  same  county  and  township,  and  her 
parentage  was  the  same  in  nationality  ds  that  of  her 
husband.  They  passed  their  entire  lives  in  their  na- 
tive State,  and  died  in  the  township  of  Pike,  Wyom- 
ing County.  The  father  died.in  1835,  when  about  47 
years  of  age.  The  mother,  died  in  1860.  Three  of 
their  nine  children  are  living. 

Mr.  A.  Barnes  is  the  seventh  child  of  his  parents, 
and  he  lived  in  his  native  place  until  he  was  eight 
years  old.  His  father  then  removed  his  family  to 
Wyoming  County,  where  he  received  his  education. 
He  was  1 1  years  of  age  when  his  father  died ;  and 
four  years  later,  he  went  to  Pike  in  the  same  county, 
to  enter  upon  an  apprenticeship  under  Messrs.  Hull 
&  Smith,  woolen  manufacturers.  After  completing 
the  period  of  his  instructions,  he  engaged  in  their 
service  and  remained  with  them  15  years,  becoming 
general  manager  of  their  factory.  In  1854  he  de- 
cided to  devote  the  remainder  of  his  active  life  to 
farming,  and  in  accordance  with  that  purpose  he 
came  to  Whiteside  County,  where  he  has  since  been 
occupied  as  stated.  The  farm  he  first  bought  con- 
tained 40  acres  and  was  wholly  unimproved.  He 
had  placed  it  in  good  agricultural  condition  when  he 
severed  his  connection  with  it  by  sale.  The  farm 
which  he  has  owned  since  1869,  was  under  partial 
improvement  when  he  became  its  owner.  It  is  at 
present  in  excellent  condition,  and  supplied  with 
creditable  farm  structures.  It  is  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved farms  in  the  township.  Mr.  Barnes  is  a  Re- 
publican of  well  known  stability  and  consistent 
record.  He  has  occupied  several  local  official  posi- 


tions, interested  in  school  matters  since  he  came  to 
the  township,  and  has  been  School  Director  15  years 
in  succession. 

March  21,  1848,  he  entered  into  matrimonial 
bonds  with  Adaline  Olin,  in  Pike,  Wyoming  Co.,  N. 
Y.  Mrs.  Barnes  is  the  daughter  of  Justin  and  Mary 
(Tiffany)  Olin.  Her  father  was  born  in  Vermont, 
and  is  a  cousin  of  Stephen  D.  Olin,  a  famous  clergy- 
man in  the  Methodist  Church,  and  is  a  relative  of 
Senator  George  F.  Edmunds,  of  Vermont.  Her 
mother  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Mrs. 
Barnes  was  born  June  5,  1826,  in  the  township  of 
Eagle,  in  Wyoming  County.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
a  farmer  and  was  educated  in  her  native  county. 
Her  parents  came  to  Illinois,  and  her  father  died  in 
1863,  in  Whiteside  County.  Her  mother  died  in  1883 
in  Carroll  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnes  have  been 
the  parents  of  six  children.  Mary  L.,  Evaline  P., 
and  S.  Henrietta  are  married.  Eugenia  L.  and 
Emma  E.  are  at  home.  Sarah  A.  died  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Barnes  is  connected  by  membership  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


H.  Woodworth.,  farmer,  section  27,  Colo- 
ma  Township,  was  born  in  Norwich,  Vt., 
Oct.  20, 1806.  His  parents  were  Abel  and 
Olive  (Patridge)  Woodworth,  natives  also  of 
the  Green  Mountain  State.  His  father  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade.  He  remained  with  his 
parents  until  of  age,  receiving  a  common-school 
education.  He  also  attended  the  Military  Academy 
at  Middletown,  Conn.,  for  seven  months,  and  the 
Military  Academy  of  New  Jersey  18  months,  in 
r 82 8-9.  After  completing  his  studies,  at  the  age  of 
17,  he  taught  district  school  four  winters.  He  then 
taught  for  a  time  in  the  Military  School  at  Perth 
Amboy,  N,J.,  and  afterward  as  Assistant  Professor  of 
Mathematics,  in  Jefferson  (Miss.)  College.  About 
this  time  he  commenced  the  study  of  law ;  but  his 
sight  failing  somewhat,  he  had  to  abandon  the  pur- 
suit of  his  chosen  calling,  and  for  two  years  he  was 
in  the  employment  of  the  State  of  New  York  as 
Resident  Engineer  upon  the  Black  River  Canal. 

In  1839  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  on  the 
Upper  Rapids  on  the  south  side  of  Rock  River, 
where  he  purchased  of  the  Government  a  fractional 


I 


*-'• 


quarter  (9 1  acres)  of  section  9,  Sterling  Township. 
He  afterward  sold  this,  and  in  1842  pre-empted  124 
acres  on  section  27,  where  he  still  lives. 

Mr.  W.  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Town 
Supervisor,  County  Surveyor  of  Whiteside,  etc.  In 
religion  he  is  a  Universalist,  and  in  politics  a  Repub- 
lican, taking  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
community  and  of  the  nation. 

May  14,  1834,  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Wood- 
worth  was  married  to  Permelia  Parks,  who  died  Dec. 
i,  1844,  leaving  two  children,  Leonard  and  George 
L.  Mr.  W.  was  married  again,  Oct.  24,  1845,  to  Mrs. 
Alice  H.  Goodell;  and  by  this  marriage  there  have 
also  been  two  children,  Clarence  C.  and  Alice  S. 


^ohn  H.  Thompson,  one  of  the  progress- 
liif  ive  and  energetic  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  of  Whiteside  County,  residing  on 
section  10,  Portland  Township,  and  owning 
650  acres  in  the  township,  is  a  son  of  Robert 
and  Lydia  (Graham)  Thompson.  He  was 
born  on  the  farm  where  he  at  present  resides,  Sept. 
15,  1838.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and 
came  to  this  county  from  Ohio,  in  1836.  He  drove 
through  with  an  ox  team,  bringing  his  furniture,  wife 
and  children,  Mary,  Richard,  William,  Elizabeth  and 
Robert.  He  bought  a  claim  where  John  R.  now  re- 
sides, consisting  of  320  acres,  from  Asa  Crook,  and 
when  the  land  came  into  market,  purchased  the 
same  from  the  Government.  He  died  on  the  old 
homestead,  April  6,  1883.  John  R.'s  mother  died  at 
the  same  place,  Aug.  16,  1873. 

After  his  father's  death,  John  R.  Thompson 
bought  out  his  brother  Hiram  C.'s  interest,  and  has 
since  added  by  subsequent  purchase  to  his  landed 
estate  until  he  is  at  present  the  possessor  of  650 
acres.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  Short-horn  cattle, 
and  has  30  full-blooded  and  also  a  number  of  graded. 
He  raises  a  large  quantity  of  poultry,  among  which 
are  the  Plymouth  Rock  chickens  and  Mammoth 
Black  turkeys.  He  also  raises  a  number  of  Norman 
and  Clydesdale  horses. 

Mr.  Thompson  worked  on  the  farm  for  a  number 
of  years  after  reaching  the  age  of  maturity,  and  then 
himself  and  brother  Hiram,  being  the  youngest  of 


the  children,  ran  the  farm  and  took  care  of  the  old 
folks. 

Mr.  Thompson  enlisted  in  Portland  Township, 
this  county,  in  Dec ,  1861,  in  Co.  B,  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  was  soon  afterward  transferred  to  Co.  K,  34th 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  in  which  he  served  as  private  for  one 
year.  He  was  then  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shi- 
loh,  April  6,  1862,  in  the  left  hand,  and  came  home 
on  a  furlough  of  three  months.  He  returned  to  his 
company  and  was  discharged  in  December,  1862,  on 
account  of  disability.  He  then  returned  to  the  farm, 
and  the  following  April  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  i34th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  for  about  six  months,  when  he 
again  returned  home,  having  received  his  final  dis- 
charge. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  in  Portland  Town- 
ship, this  county,  May  10,  1868,  to  Miss  Celesta  F. 
Herman.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Moses  and  Betsy 
(Underwood)  Herman,  and  was  born  in  Marion,  Linn 
Co.,  Iowa,  Aug.  i,  1850.  They  are  the  parents  of 
four  children,  all  born  on  the  homestead,  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county.  Their  record  is  as  follows : 
Sylvia  L.,  born  March  10,  1869;  Graham  G.,  born 
Oct.  20,  1870;  Freddie  J.,  born  Sept.  27,  1876; 
Pearle  C.,  born  Sept.  29,  1881. 

Mr.  Thompson  has  been  School  Director  for  the 
past  ten  years.  His  brother  Hiram  C.  makes  his 
home  with  him,  and  was  born  in  Portland  Township, 
this  county,  Feb.  28,  1840. 


eorge  Toy  is  a  farmer,  residing  on  section 
34,  in  Prophetstown  Township,  and  the 
owner  of  200  acres  of  land  located  thereon. 
He  was  born  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  29, 
1818.  His  father,  William  Foy,  was  a  native 
of  Vermont  and  was  born  about  1788.  His 
mother,  Ruth  (Morrill)  Foy,  was  also  a  native  of 
Vermont,  and  was  born  about  1790.  They  had  ten 
children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living.  Phoebe, 
Mahala,  Harriet,  George,  Daniel  and  William.  In 
1839  the  family  came  West  to  McDonough  Co.,  111., 
where  the  father  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres,  and 
George  also  became  the  proprietor  of  120  acres. 

In  1848  Mr.  Foy,  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  came  to  this  county  and  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm  of  200  acres,  located  as  above  stated.  He 


& 


•    < 

I 


has  two  groves  on  his  farm,  containing  five  acres  of 
ground,  located  near  his  residence  and  which  is  used 
by  picnic  parties.  He  has  improved  his  place  by  the 
erection  of  a  nice  residence,  barns,  etc.,  and  now  has 
a  well  cultivated  and  finely  appearing  farm. 

Mr.  Foy  was  united  in  marriage  in  McDonough 
Co.,  111.,  Tennessee  Township,  April  30,  1844,  to 
Miss  Nancy  Dickenson.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
John  Dickenson,  and  was  born  in  Kentucky, in  r822. 
They  have  had  ri  children,  two  born  in  Hancock 
County.  Of  their  children  five  survived,  namely: 
Charles  E.,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  in  Nebraska 
and  owning  a  fine  place  in  that  State,  containing  590 
acres.  Mary  F.  is  the  wife  of  George  Klock,  a  resi- 
dent in  Sheffield,  Bureau  Co.,  111.  Augusta  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Hulbert  C.  Bunker,  a  farmer  residing  in  Ne- 
braska. Wilbur  is  a  farmer  located  near  Davenport, 
Iowa;  and  Freeman  E.  lives  at  home. 

The  deceased  were  Augustus,  Latitia,  Albert  E., 
who  was  a  practicing  physician  in  Elmira,  Emma, 
and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  The  parents  of  Mr. 
Foy  came  to  this  county  a  few  years  after  their  son, 
and  the  father  died  in  Prairie  City,  Jan.  1 6,  1 869 ; 
arid  the  mother  died  in  Prophetstown  Township, 
Sept.  21,  1864;  Charles  E.  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
for  the  Union,  having  enlisted  in  the  34th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  served  two  years,  participating  in  all  the 
engagements  in  which  his  regiment  took  part. 


orm  P.  Fuller,  one  of  the  old  pioneers  of 
Whiteside  County,  a  farmer  residing  on 
section  21,  Portland  Township,  and  the 
owner  of  120  acres  of  land  in  the  township,  is 
a  son  of  Levi  and  Betsey  (Martin)  Fuller,  and 
was  born  in  Cattaraugus  County,  Randolph 
Township,  N.  Y.,  July  4,  1822.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  in  Jan- 
uary, 1793,  and  his  mother  in  the  same  county  in 
January,  1792.  The  issue  of  their  union  was  IT  chil- 
dren, of  whom  five  yet  survive.  Levi  resides  in 
Arkansas,  John  P.  is  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
George  is  a  farmer  in  York  Co.,  Neb.,  Rachel  is  the 
wife  of  John  Zimmerman,  a  farmer  in  Portland  Town- 
ship, this  county,  and  Lucinda  is  the  wife  of  C.  W. 
anphere,  a  farmer  and  veterinary  surgeon  in  Port- 
Township.  The  father  died  in  Portland  Town- 


ship,  April  19,  1856,  on  the  old  homestead,  and  the 
mother  is  still  living,  aged  93  years.  In  1835  the 
family  drove  from  Erie,  Pa.,  to  Chicago,  this  State. 
The  village  of  Chicago  at  that  time  was  in  its  in- 
fancy, and  neither  Mr.  Fuller  nor  any  of  his  children 
realized  for  a  moment  the  future  of  the  great  me- 
tropolis. The  family  remained  in  the  village  of  Chi- 
cago until  Feb.  2,  1836,  when  they  drove  to  Portland 
Township,  this  county,  where  the  father  took  up  a 
claim  of  160  acres  of  land  located  on  section  10.  He 
resided  there  a  number  of  years  and  experienced  all 
the  trials  incident  to  a  pioneer  life.  He  nevertheless 
was  determined  to  establish  a  home  for  himself  and 
family  and  laboriously  entered  upon  the  task  of  im- 
proving and  cultivating  his  land.  He  first  built  a 
log  house,  and  the  product  of  his  land  he  disposed  of 
in  Chicago,  which  consisted  of  wheat  and  pork.  He 
was  a  Christian  man  and  belonged  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Fuller,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  re- 
mained at  home  until  he  was  21  years  of  age,  when 
he  set  forth  upon  the  road  of  adversity  to  fight  the 
battles  of  life  alone.  He  engaged  to  work  by  the  day 
for  Mr.  Horace  Burk,  and  while  working  for  him  in 
1841  or  1842,  a  tornado  came  through  the  township 
at  this  time.  He  was  in  the  house  with  13  others, 
and  the  tornado  entirely  demolished  the  house ;  and 
when  it  was  over  he  found  himself  some  six  rods  from 
the  house.  He  was  terribly  bruised  and  nearly  dead, 
and  it  took  six  hours  and  a  half  to  revive  the  circu- 
lation of  the  blood  in  his  veins.  The  disaster  laid 
him  up  so  he  did  nothing  for  about  two  years.  Two 
others  of  the  13  were  badly  hurt,  Mr.  Burk  and  wife, 
and  they  never  fully  recovered  from  the  injury  they 
received.  Mr.  Fuller  feels  the  effect  of  the  injury  re- 
ceived every  day  he  lives,  his  spinal  column  being 
fractured  at  the  time. 

Mr.  Fuller  purchased  40  acres  of  his  present  farm 
about  1851,  and  now  has  120  acres,  also  12  acres  of 
timber  land  in  Fuller's  Grove,  Portland  Township. 
His  son-in-law,  Henry  Sibley,  now  works  the  farm. 
Mr.  Fuller  has  been  Highway  Commissioner  19 
years.  He  was  married  in  Warren  Co.,  111.,  June 
25,  1844,  to  Miss  Almira  M.  Lanphere,  daughter  of 
Caleb  and  Lucinda  (Martin)  Lanphere.  She  was 
born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  23,  1821.  They  had 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  yet  survive.  The  rec- 
ord is  as  follows:  Clark  C.,  born  Nov.  4,  1847,  is  a 
merchant  at  Spring  Hill.  Willis  H.,  born  Feb.  2; 


WHITES  IDE  COUNTY. 


(J 


•     » 
/ 


i849>  's  a  merchant  at  Spring  Hill.  Guy,  born 
March  14,  1850, -died  Nov.  8,  1864.  Emma,  born 
Aug.  2,  1851,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Sibley,  farmer  in 
Portland  Township.  Lydia,  born  Nov.  18,  1852,  is 
the  wife  of  Henry  Sibley,  whp  is  engaged  in  con- 
ducting the  farm  of  Mr.  Fuller.  Katie,  born  Aug. 
3>  J^SS,  is  the  wife  of  George  Tolcott,  of  Spring  Hill. 
Alma,  born  June  13,  1861,  died  Jan.  4,  1875. 

___^,^ 
--**&  ^ 

tephen  Pond,  resident  on  section  31,  Gen- 
esee Township,  was  born  in  Rutland  Co., 
Vt.,  July  ii,  1808.  His  father,  Stephen 
Pond,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass. 
The  earliest  ancestor  from  his  descent  is 
clearly  traced  to  Samuel  Pond,  who  was  mar- 
ried Nov.  14,  1643,  at  Windsor,  Conn.,  to  a  lady  of 
whom  there  is  no  trace  save  her  given  name  of 
Sarah.  This  era  in  his  existence  gives  tangibility  to 
several  suppositions  regarding  the  founding  of  the 
Pond  family  in  America,  as  there  are  traditions  of 
two  or  three  brothers  who  came  hither  in  the  time  of 
Governor  Winthrop,  of  Massachusetts,  and  who  were 
of  tender  years  and  under  the  supervision  of  Win- 
throp, who  kept  their  father  in  England  informed 
concerning  their  welfare.  Samuel,  the  second  son  of 
him  last  named,  was  bom  March  4,  1648,  at  Wind- 
sor, Conn.,  and  is  recorded  as  Samuel  Pond,  Jr.  His 
second  son,  Philip,  was  the  father  of  Dan  Pond,  the 
father  of  Abel  Pond.  The  latter  was  the  grandfather 
of  Mr.  Pond  of  this  sketch,  who  is  a  member  of  the 
eighth  generation.  Stephen  Pond,  senior,  married 
Elizabeth  Streator.  She  was  born  March  27,  1785, 
in  Becket,  Mass.,  and  died  in  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  Dec. 
22,  1810.  Her  family  settled  in  New  England  prior 
to  the  Revolution,  and  seven  of  her  brothers  were  in 
the  Colonial  service.  Abel  Pond  and  six  of  his 
brothers  were  soldiers  of  the  Revolution. 

Mr.  Pond  is  the  second  of  ten  children  born  to  his 
father,  and  is  the  youngest  child  of  his  mother,  who 
died  when  he  was  between  two  and  three  years  of 
age.  His  father  married  again  and  eight  children 
were  born  of  the  second  marriage.  Mr.  Pond  re- 
mained under  the  care  of  his  father  and  stepmother 
until  he  was  14  years  of  age.  On  leaving  home  he 
went  to  Lansingburg,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  of 
'OVA  £*•  Y->  .and  lie  engaged  soon  after  as  a  farm 

/-\    A. 


assistant  in  the  neighborhood  of  that  place.  Later, 
he  went  to  Windham,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  and  worked 
on  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  Jason  Streator,  remaining 
in  his  employ  three  years.  He  was  then  about  17 
years  of  age,  and  he  went  thence  to  Erie  Co.,  Pa, 
and  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  tailor.  His  next 
removal  was  to  Nelson,  in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  completed  his  knowledge  of  his  trade  under  the 
instructions  of  a  craftsman  named  Oren  Smith.  He 
went  back  East  and  passed  two  years  in  Western 
Vermont  and  Eastern  New  York,  operating  as  a 
journeyman  tailor,  after  which  he  returned  to  Wind- 
ham,  Ohio,  and  he  there  established  his  business  in- 
dependently, and  controlled  a  shop  about  five  years. 
He  concluded  to  turn  his  attention  to  agriculture, 
and  he  bought  a  farm  in  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  on  which 
he  resided  about  ten  years.  In  1853  he  turned  his 
face  Westward  and  decided  to  locate  in  Whiteside 
County.  He  bought  160  acres  of  land  on  section  31, 
Genesee  Township,  which  was  all  unbroken  prairie 
at  the  time  at  which  he  made  it  his  homestead.  He 
entered  with  all  possible  vigor  into  the  work  of  im- 
provement, which  he  prosecuted  until  the  spring  of 
1864,  when,  after  three  years  of  war,  there  was  need 
of  men  for  immediate  service.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  A, 
i4<Dth  111.  Regt,  to  serve  100  days  in  lieu  of  veteran 
troops  who  were  needed  where  experience  was  indis- 
pensable. Company  A  was  detailed  for  garrison 
duty  in  Tennessee  and  Missouri.  Mr.  Pond  was 
discharged  Oct.  29,  1864,  after  a  service  of  160  days. 
He  returned  to  his  farm,  on  which  he  has  since  pur- 
sued his  vocation  of  farmer  and  which  now  contains 
80  acres. 

Mr.  Pond  was  united  in  marriage  to  Abiah  Bristol, 
May  2,  1833,  in  Windham,  Ohio.  She  died  May  2, 
1848,  in  New  London,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  a  Connecticut  farmer,  and  was  her- 
self born  in  that  State,  of  New  England  ancestry. 
Her  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  in  the  year  preceding 
her  marriage.  She  became  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren ,  one  of  whom  has  followed  her  to  the  land  of 
peace  and  silence.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Birdsall,  of  Lyndon  Township.  Henry  D.  married 
Margaret  Fleming  and  resides  in  Genesee  Township 
(see  sketch).  Helen  M.  was  born  March  12,  1838, 
and  died  Sept.  n,  1856,  aged  nearly  19  years.  Mr. 
Pond  was  again  married  Jan.  25,  1851,  in  Wayne, 
Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  to  Phebe  A.  Lindsley.  She  was 
born  May  n,  1819,  in  the  place  where  she  was  mar- 


t; 
I 


V^"Vi  H  HXD»  H  H  •  y  "V^^ 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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) 


* 


ried,  and  died  March  3,  1873,  in  Genesee  Township. 
Three  of  her  children  are  with  her  in  the  mystic  coun- 
try of  the  hereafter.  Grace  C.,  the  remaining  child, 
married  E.  C.  Hannawalt.  Hattie  and  Stephen 
died  in  early  childhood.  The  third  wife  of  Mr. 
Pond  is  the  sister  of  her  predecessor,  and  her  name 
Elizabeth.  She  is  the  daughter  of  David  and 
Elizabeth  (Beers)  Lindsley,  and  her  parents  were 
born  in  New  Jersey,  of  ancestors  of  mixed  English 
and  German  descent  and  New  England  origin.  She 
was  born  Jan.  27,  1833,  in  the  township  of  Wayne, 
Knox  Co.,  Ohio.  She  was  there  married  to  J.  W. 
Wilson,  by  whom  she  became  the  mother  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  four  are  not  living.  Amanda  is 
deceased.  Antha  married  Cnarles  Chamberlain,  a 
dentist  in  Lanark,  111.  Mary  E.  is  deceased.  Fran- 
cis married  Emma  Baker  and  resides  in  Grundy  Co., 
Iowa.  Patience  is  the  wife  of  Levi  Thorp,  a  farmer 
in  Genesee  Township.  Mortimer  and  Albert  are 
deceased.  Emma  lives  with  her  mother.  Mr.  Wil- 
son died  at  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Mr.  Pond  is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment. 


alter  H.  Scott,  of  Hume  Township,  repre- 
||,  sents  a  pioneer  name  which  is  connected 
with  the  days  of  first  things  in  Whiteside 
County.  Josiah  Scott,  his  father,  was  born 
N  May  18,  1819,  in  Ohio,  and  he  came  to 
Whiteside  County,  in  1839.  He  was  married 
March  13,  1846,  to  Harriet  J.  Coryell,  and  they  had 
12  children,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Scott, 
Sr.,  became  the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm  on  section 
12,  and  attained  prominence  in  the  agricultural  de- 
ovelpment  of  the  township.  He  is  now  living  in  re- 
tirement at  Rock  Falls. 

Mr.  Scott  was  born  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  in 
1847.  He  was  two  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
removed  to  Hume  Township.  He  obtained  all  the 
education  possible  from  the  facilities  afforded  by  the 
public  schools  of  the  period.  When  he  was  18  years 
old  he  entered  college  at  Adrian,  Mich.,  where  he 
was  a  student  nearly  four  years  in  the  classical 
course.  On  his  return  to  Whiteside  County  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching.  He  went,  in  the  spring  of  1873, 
to  Macon  Co.,  Mo.,  where  he  engaged  as  a  teacher 
in  the  winter  season,  and  during  the  remainder  of 


the  year  managed  a  steam  grist  and  saw  mill.  After 
a  residence  there  of  nearly  1 1  years,  he  returned  to 
Hume  Township,  where  he  assumed  control  of  the 
homestead  estate,  on  section  12,  in  which  he  has 
since  been  engaged.  In  his  professional  relations 
he  attained  gratifying  prominence.  '  In  his  political 
belief  and  connections  he  is  a  Republican.  He  has 
officiated  to  a  considerable  extent  in  local  affairs, 
and  is  Township  Clerk,  and  also  Clerk  of  the  Board 
of  School  Directors  in  his  district. 

He  was  married  in  Allegan,  Mich.,  to  Mary  G. 
Wilcox,  and  they  have  had  four  children :  George  D., 
Edith,  Harriet  and  Hiram  G.  Mrs.  Scott  was  born 
May.  21,  1849,  in  Blissfield,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich., 
where  her  parents  were  prominent  farmers.  She 
was  educated  at  Adrian. 


rohn  Riley,  retired  physician,  residing  at 
ji'f  Spring  Hill,  Portland  Township,  this 
county,  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
Sept.  30,  1818.  His  father  was  born  in  the 
same  city,  and  was  quite  an  extensive  manu- 
facturer and  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie,  the  same  State. 
Their  family  comprised  eight  children,  of  whom  two 
survive.  Richard  J.  was  a  farmer  in  Wright  Co., 
Iowa,  and  John  is  the  subject  of  this  notice.  The 
parents  died  in  New  York  city  when  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  quite  young,  and  he  was  taken  by 
relatives  to  Montgomery  County,  same  State,  and 
raised  on  a  farm.  He  remained  on  the  farm,  alter- 
nating his  labors  thereon  by  attending  the  common 
schools,  until  he  attained  the  age  of  17  years.  He 
then  attended  the  seminary  in  Amsterdam  and  also 
Kingsbury,  and  taught  school  for  several  years.  He 
taught  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  means  to  assist 
him  in  attaining  a  knowledge  of  medicine.  He 
studied  medicine  in  Fulton  County,  and  then  at- 
tended the  Castleton  Medical  College  in  Vermont, 
and  graduated  in  1843. 

Soon  after  the  completion  of  his  education,  he 
went  to  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  followed  his 
profession  for  about  three  years,  and  then  came  to 
Knox  Co.,  111.,  and  located  near  Galesburg.  In  1853 
he  came  to  Portland  village,  and  practiced  there  a 
short  tune,  and  then  went  to  Spring  Hill,  at  which 


"     ..     - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


place  he  followed  his  profession  until  about  1873, 
when  he  retired  from  active  practice.. 

Mr.  Riley  has  a  farm  of  80  acres  adjoining  Spring 
Hill,  also  40  acres  one  mile  southwest  of  the -village 
and  seven  acres  of  a  grove.  He  also  has  160  acres 
of  land  in  Nebraska  and  the  same  in  Dakota.  In 
1877  he  opened  a  store  and  dealt  in  groceries,  boots 
and  shoes,  crockery,  glassware,  hardware,  wagons, 
etc.,  which  he  successfully  conducted  until  lately, 
when  he  sold  out.  He  still  owns  his  store  building. 

Mr.  Riley  was  Coroner  of  the  county  one  term, 
1872-3,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years,  having 
been  elected  in  1873.  He  was  married  Dec.  24, 
1845,  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Abigail  Burnett. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Azubah  (Slocum) 
Burnett,  and  was  born  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec. 
17,  1825.  They  have  seven  children,  all  sons,  one 
born  in  Knox  Co.,  111.,  one  in  Henry  Co.,  111.,  and 
the  others  in  Portland  Township,  this  county. 
Charles  graduated  at  the  Soldiers'  College  at  Fulton, 
111.,  and  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  Union  in  the 
1 1 2th  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  when  he  was  16  years  of  age. 
He  is  now  Superintendent  of  the  Genesee  Schools. 
John  is  a  physician  in  Exira,  Audubon  Co.,  Iowa. 
William  is  an  attorney  in  Grundy  Co.,  Iowa.  George 
W.  is  an  attorney  in  Albion,  BooneCo.,  Iowa.  Bruce 
is  now  studying  medicine  at  the  Iowa  State  Univer- 
sity. H.  Clay  is  a  land  and  insurance  agent  at 
Clearwater,  Antelope  Co.,  Neb.  Lincoln  is  now  at- 
tending the  Fulton  College.  He  is  aged  17  years, 
and  is  studying  for  the  medical  profession. 

H— 

iarvey  C.  Hull,  of  the  firm  of  Hull  &  Smith, 
dealers  in  drugs,  medicines  and  fancy  toilet 
articles,  paints,  oils,  glass,  etc.,  at  Prophets- 
town,  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Conn.,  Jan.  10, 
1830.  His  father,  Bradford  J.  and  Catherine 
C.  (Teeple)  Hull,  his  mother,  both  died  in  the 
fall  of  1884,  in  Connecticut.  The  father  was  a  car- 
penter and  farmer,  and  to  him  and  his  wife  nine 
children  were  born,  five  of  whom  are  yet  living. 

Mr.  Hull,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
learned  the  trade  of  his  father,  that  of  a  carpenter, 
on  attaining  adult  age,  and  when  nineteen  years  old 
he  went  to  Waterbury,  Conn.,  and  was  there  em- 
ployed  at  his  trade  until  about  1853.  He  then  came 


West,  and  located  in  Geneseo,  this  State,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  for  a  short  time.  In  1854  he 
came  to  this  county,  locating  at  Prophetstown,  where 
he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  until  1864.  In 
October  of  that  year  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  75th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  for  seven  months  as  private, 
during  which  time  he  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Nashville.  He  then  returned  to  Prophetstown,  and 
followed  his  trade  until  1869,  when  he  went  to  Lyn- 
don, this  county,  and  engaged  in  buying  and  ship- 
ping grain,  and  also  had  a  retail  lumber  and  coal 
yard.  In  1870  he  sold  his  business  at  Lyndon,  and 
returned  to  Prophetstown.  He  shipped  the  first 
freight  carried  over  the  Rock  Island  and  St.  Louis 
railroad,  and  also  over  the  Clinton  and  Mendota 
branch. 

On  returning  to  Prophetstown,  1870,  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  John  J.  Green,  in  the  lumber,  coal, 
and  grain  business,  and  also  built  the  Prophetstown 
elevator.  He  afterward  sold  out  his  business,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1875  engaged  in  the  furniture  trade 
in  partnership  with  E.  C.  Hutchinson.  Jan.  29, 
1884,  they  were  burned  out,  sustaining  a  loss  of 
about  $3,000.  They  sold  the  remnant  of  their  stock 
in  March,  1884.  May  i,  1884,  in  company  with 
P.  H.  Smith,  he  erected  the  building  they  now 
occupy,  and  put  in  a  stock  of  drugs.  He  also,  in 
cdmpany  with  his  former  partner,  Mr.  Hutchinson, 
rebuilt  the  building  destroyed  by  fire,  and  which  is 
now  fire-proof,  as  likewise  is  the  drug-store.  Mr. 
Hull,  in  company  with  his  partner,  Mr.  Smith,  car- 
ries a  stock  of  from  $3,000  to  $4,000,  and  are  doing  a 
good  and  constantly  increasing  business.  Mr.  Hull 
has  a  farm  of  130  acres,  which  he  leases,  and  also  a 
fine  residence,  and  one  acre!  of  land  on  Washington 
Street,  Prophetstown. 

Mr.  Hull  was  united  in  marriage  in  Waterbury, 
Conn.,  Oct.  7,  1850,  to  Miss  Janette  L.  Scarritt,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Harriett  J.  Scarritt.  She  was 
born  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  Feb.  18,  1832.  They 
have  one  son,  Charles  W.,  born  in  Waterbury,  Conn., 
May  1 8,  1852,  and  is  at  present  a  banker  at  Kirwin, 
Phillips  Co.,  Kan.,  the  firm  being  Cameron,  Hull  & 
Co.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Myra  Hill,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  W.  Hill,  of  Prophetstown,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Mary  and  Harvey. 

Mr.  Hull  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Masons,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and  Royal  Arch  Chap- 


i 


fa) 


•> 


ter.  He  was  President  of  the  Town  Board  four 
years,  and  while  acting  in  that  capacity  constructed 
a  large  portion  of  the  sewer  system  of  the  village  of 
Prophetstown,  and  has  held  numerous  other  minor 
offices. 


illiam  Patton  Culbertson,  capitalist  at 
Fulton,  was  born  Dec.  3,  1819,  near  Erie, 
Pa.  In  the  paternal  line  of  descent  he  is 
of  Scotch  lineage,  his  earliest  recorded  an- 
cestor having  been  one  of  those  who  went 
to  Londonderry,  Ireland,  to  escape  the  persecu- 
tion of  the  Scottish  "kirk,"  and  who  was  in  the  siege 
of  that  place  during  the  attack  by  King  James. 
John  Culbertson,  son  of  the  latter,  landed  at  New 
Castle,  Del.,  during  the  reign  of  the  first  George. 
His  son,  John  Culbertson  (2d),  was  born  in  1708. 
The  record  of  his  children  is  as  follows :  Andrew, 
born  in  1731;  James,  1733;  Jane,  1735;  John, 
1737;  Samuel,  1744;  Elizabeth,  1746;  Margaret, 
1749;  Benjamin,  1751;  Ebenezer,  1757:  Esther, 
1763.  The  children  of  Andrew  Culbertson  were 
William,  born  in  1765  ;  John  Boyd,  1767  ;  Elizabeth, 
1769;  John  B.  (2d),  1770;  Andrew,  1772;  James, 
1774;  Samuel,  1776;  Mary,  1780;  Jeannette,  1783. 
Andrew  Culbertson  (2d),  father  of  Mr.  Culbertson 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  1772,  in  Northumberland 
Co.,  Pa.,  the  increasing  generations  having  settled  in 
that  State.  He  married  Ann  Culbertson,  a  cousin 
of  several  removes,  and  they  had  the  following  chil- 
dren :  John  B.,  born  in  1798;  Jane,  1800;  Duncan, 
1802;  Agr.es,  1803;  James,  1805;  Eliza,  1807. 
The  mother  died  and  was  succeeded  by  Ann  Moor- 
head,  who  was  born  April  29,  1781,  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.,  of  Scotch-Irish  parents.  The  children 
were  Thomas  M.,  born  June  21,  1810;  Andrew  J., 
April  21,  1812;  and  William  P.,  as  above  stated. 
Their  father  was  a  farmer,  and  a  pioneer  of  Erie 
County.  He  located  a  farm,  which  he  cleared  of  the 
heavy  forest  and  placed  in  creditable  agricultural 
condition.  Desirous  of  changing  his  locality,  he  de- 
termined to  make  his  way  Westward,  and  made 
every  preparation  to  that  eff;ct  about  1811;  but 
family  considerations  prevailed,  and  he  settled  about 
ten  miles  east  of  Erie,  where  he  secured  a  claim  in 
the  dense  primeval  forest  and  cleared  another  farm. 


He  died  in  1848.  The  demise  of  his  wife  took  place 
Nov.  17,  1867.  Thomas  M.,  their  oldest  son,  died 
Oct.  16,  1881.  Andrew  was  for  many  years  a  farmer 
in  Garden  Prairie  Township,  Boone  Co.,  111.  He  is 
living  there  in  retirement. 

Mr.  Culbertson  obtained  a  fair  degree  of  common- 
school  education  under  the  difficulties  naturally  at- 
tendant upon  pioneer  conditions;  and  after  he  was 
21  years  of  age,  acquired  an  expert  acquaintance 
with  the  business  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  going  to 
Washington  County,  in  his  native  State,  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  was  occupied  there  in  the  vocation  of  a 
mechanic  between  two  and  three  years.  In  1843, 
circumstances  induced  him  to  make  a  chance  trip  to 
Western  Illinois,  and  he  remained  throughout  that 
year  and  until  the  fall  of  1844  in  Rock  Island  and 
Warren  Counties;  and,  during  the  period  of  his  stay 
in  the  latter,  he  was  occupied  in  the  pursuit  of  his 
trade.  He  returned  to  the  State  of  his  nativity  at 
the  time  referred  to,  having  contracted  the  "  chills," 
a  malarial  disease  which  was  more  troublesome  than 
dangerous,  and  in  the  early  days  of  Illinois  seemed 
likely  to  postpone  indefinitely  the  period  of  her  per- 
manent settlement. 

Mr.  Culbertson  was  first  married  in  Erie  County, 
Aug.  22,  1846,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  Robert  McCord. 
She  was  born  in  Newville,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.  In 
October,  same  year,  they  moved  to  Belvidere,  Boone 
Co.,  111.,  and  in  the  fall  of  1850  Mrs.  C.  returned 
to  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  to  spend  the  winter  and  there  died, 
Feb.  16,  1851.  Mr.  Culbertson  continued  to  operate 
as  a  contractor  and  builder.  In  1852  he  entered  the 
employment  of  Beloit  &  Madison  Railroad  corpora- 
tion as  superintendent  of  construction  of  buildings 
and  bridges,  continuing  in  that  capacity  until  1855, 
when  he  was  appointed  to  the  position  of  Assist- 
ant Superintendent  of  the  more  extended  railway, 
the  Dixon  Air  Line,  now  the  Chicago  &  Northwest- 
ern, his  chief  being  George  Bassett.  His  business 
relations  brought  him  in  June,  1855,  to  Fulton,  where 
he  was  for  some  time  occupied  in  constructing  several 
buildings  in  the  railroad  interest.  In  the  spring 
of  1859  he  caught  the  inspiration  of  the  gilded 
rumors  from  Pike's  Peak,  and  set  out  thence  to  push 
his  way  to  fortune  by  a  more  rapid  route,  and  he 
passed  the  summers  of  1859-60  in  mining  for  gold 
with  reasonable  success.  On  his  return  in  1861  to 
Fulton,  he  formed  an  association  with  Dr.  Leander 
Smith,  now  a  banker  at  Morrison,  for  the  purpose  of 


\ 

'} 


-•V8 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


prosecuting  the  lumber  business.  In  1862  they  pur- 
chased the  Dement  saw-mill  near  Fulton,  which  they 
continued  to  manage  several  years.  Dr.  Smith  fell 
into  ill  health,  and  in  1868  sold  his  lumber  interest 
to  E.  P.  Wells,  now  a  banker  at  Clinton,  Iowa.  Af- 
ter the  return  of  Dr.  Smith  with  restored  health,  he 
and  J.  M.  Fay  bought  the  half  interest  of  Mr.  Wells, 
the  firm  style  becoming  Culbertson,  Smith  &  Co. 
They  continued  their  joint  transactions  until  1878, 
when  they  suspended  active  business,  and  at  the 
date  of  this  writing  (1885),  the  partnership  has  not 
been  formally  dissolved. 

In  1879  Messrs.  Culbertson  &  Fay  established  a 
grocery  enterprise  at  Fulton,  which  they  conducted 
two  years  with  satisfactory  results,  and  closed  in  the 
spring  of  1882.  Since  that  date  Mr.  Culbertson  has 
given  his  attention  to  financial  transactions. 

Politically,  he  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  been 
aggressive  in  his  political  action,  and  has  never 
sought  the  emoluments  of  office.  In  1882  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Hoard  of  Trustees  of  the 
Northern  Illinois  College,  and  is  still  the  incumbent 
of  the  position. 

Oct.  28,  1852,  he  married  Helen  M.,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Reed,  of  Belvidere,  111.,  and  they  had  two 
children:  Carrie  J.,  born  April  23,  1854,  is  the  wife 
of  Prof.  Carl  V.  Lauchman,  founder  of  the  Conser- 
vatory of  Music  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  and  they 
have  a  daughter,  Helen  Reed,  who  was  born  Aug. 
30,  1878.  Professor  Lauchman  was  born' March  27, 
1853,  in  Missouri  and  descended  from  German  par- 
ents. He  has  spent  many  years  in  the  acquisition  of 
musical  knowledge  abroad.  In  1881  he  and  his 
wife,  who  is  an  accomplished  musician,  went  to 
Cologne  for  the  purpose  of  study,  where  they  spent 
18  months.  Later,  they  went  to  Berlin  and  thence 
to  Weimar,  where  they  passed  a  year  and  a  half  un- 
der the  instructions  of  Lizst.  Mrs.  Lauchman  was 
a  frequent  contributor  to  the  musical  journals  of 
America  during  her  residence  in  Germany,  and  has 
since  been  connected  with  musical  literature  in  her 
native  country.  Charles  R.,  the  only  son  of  Mr. 
Culbertson,  was  born  March  18,  1857,  and  is  a  resi- 
dent at  Fulton. 

The  mother  died  at  Fulton,  Nov.  6,  1857.  Nov. 
18,  1858,  Mr.  Culbertson  entered  into  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Mary  M.,  daughter  of  John  Fay,  at 
Westfield,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y  She  was  born 


» 


- 


there  Aug.  2r,  r82i,  and  died  at  Fulton,  July  19, 
1.866.  Mr.  Culbertson  was  again  married  Feb.  8, 
1871,  at  Westfield,  to  Charlotte,  daughter  of  Asa 
Hall.  She  was  born  Sept.  23,  1828,  at  Westfield  and 
died  at  Fulton,  Sept.  17,  1882. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Culbertson,  which  appears  on 
a  previous  page,  is  copied  from  a  likeness  taken  in 
1880.  It  is  justly  regarded  as  a  fitting  addition  to 
the  catalogue  of  portraits  presented  in  this  volume, 
from  the  character  and  position  of  the  subject.  Upon 
him  has  fallen  the  mantle  of  the  upright,  thrifty  and 
honorable  race  of  which  he  is  a  descendant.  Fulton 
has  been  the  field  of  his  operations  in  business  mat- 
ters for  a  period  of  30  years;  and  during  that  time 
he  has  maintained  his  record  as  a  man  of  probity  and 
unswerving  rectitude.  He  became  a  convert  to  the 
faith  of  his  ancestors  in  early  life,  and  for  20  years 
has  been  an  Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Physically,  he  has  preserved  the  erect  stature  and 
firm,  so'.md  constitution  of  the  days  of  his  prime. 
Although  he  is  approaching  the  limit  of  years  allotted 
to  man,  his  mental  powers  are  in  full  vigor,  and  he 
manifests  in  not  even  the  smallest  degree  the  en- 
croachments of  time.  His  eyes  exhibit  the  fire  and 
keenness  of  early  life,  and  his  face  glows  with  the 
ruddy  hue  of  health. 


Daniel  L.  Austin,  of  Lyndon  Township, 
was  born  Oct.  22.  1823,  in  Cotton  Town- 
ship, Switzerland  Co.,  Ind.,  and  he  is  the 
second  son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Liv- 
ings) Austin.  While  he  was  in  his  minority  he 
attended  school  winters,  and  as  soon  as  he 
reached  a  suitable  age  and  degree  of  strength  he 
aided  his  father  in  improving  the  farm. 

He  was  married  Nov.  15,  1846,  to  Myra  A.  Gary. 
She  Was  born  in  Rushford,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Charles  and  Eunice  (Spaulding) 
Gary.  Soon  after  the  event  of  his  marriage  Mr. 
Austin  bought  a  portion  of  the  land  owned  by  his 
father  in  the  town  where  he  was  born,  on  which  he 
built  a  log  house,  and  set  about  the  work  of  reclaim- 
ing his  land,  which  was  in  timber.  Later  he  built  a 
frame  addition.  In  1854  he  sold  his  property  in 
Indiana,  and  emigrated  to  Whiteside  County.  He 
bought  a  tract  of  unimproved  land  in  Vstick  Town- 


>  • 


• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


8 


ship,  residing  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township  while  en- 
gaged in  its  improvement.  In  1862  he  purchased 
,  wild  land  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  on  section  31. 
Two  years  later  he  made  a  purchase  of  land  ad  join - 
i  ing,  lying  on  the  same  section,  which  was  supplied 
with  a  comfortable  frame  dwelling,  of  which  he  took 
possession  with  his  family,  and  which  they  occupied 
until  1879.  In  that  year  Mr.  Austin  rented  his  farm 
in  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  went  to  Lyndon,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years.  In  1882  he  went  back  to  his 
farm.  In  1884  he  again  rented  his  place,  and  again 
went  to  Lyndon.  He  owns  131  acres  of  land,  under 
good  improvements  and  all  enclosed. 

Mrs.  Austin  died  April  18,  1874.  Following  is 
the  record  of  her  surviving  sons  and  daughters : 
Myra  J.  is  the  wife  of  J.  G.  McGregor;  Celia  mar- 
ried N.  C.  Vest,  and  lives  in  Lake  City,  Iowa ;  George 
W.  resides  near  Storm  Lake,  Iowa :  Charles  W.  re- 
sides in  Cloud  Co.,  Kan. ;  Augustus  E.  is  a  resident 
of  Morrison;  John  is  living  in  Cloud  Co.,  Kan.  Mr. 
Austin  contracted  a  second  matrimonial  alliance 
Oct.  22,  1877,  with  Mrs.  Priscilla  (Magner)  Hurd,  a 
native  of  Richland  Co.,  Ohio.  Lou  Belle  is  their 
only  child.  Thomas  H.  Hurd,  the  first  husband  of 
Mrs.  Austin,  died  June  4,  1866.  Their  marriage 
occurred  June  n,  1861.  Their  children  were 
named  William  H.,  Arthur  O.  and  Mary  G. 


W.  Carman,  M.  D.,  homeopathic  physi- 
cian and  surgeon,  office  at  his  residence 
in  Prophetstown,  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and 
Jane  (Treat)  Carman.  He  was  born  in  Ster- 
ling, Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  About  the  year  1862 
his  parents'  family  came  to  Henry  Co.,  this 
State.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  is  at  present 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Geneseo,  Henry 
Co.,  where  his  mother  is  also  residing.  Dr.  Carman 
was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  finished  his  education 
in  the  High  School  of  Geneseo.  In  1876  he  com- 
menced  to  study  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  H.  I. 
Hoppins,  where  he  remained  until  1880,  in  the 
meantime  attending  the  Cook  County  Hospital  one 
year,  and  graduated  from  the  Chicago  Homeopathic 
College.  He  practiced  a  short  time  in  Geneseo, 
and  afterward  followed  his  profession  in  Lyndon, 
this  county,  18  months.  In  the  spring  of  1883  he 


moved  to  Prophetstown,  and  opened  an  office  and 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  that 
place,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  follow  the 
same.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  chronic  diseases 
and  of  diseases  of  children,  and  has  met  with  very 
flattering  success  in  his  practice  of  medicine  and 
surgery. 

Dr.  Carman  .formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Geneseo,  Henry  County,  this  State,  Oct.  25,  1882, 
with  Miss  Mary  S.  Pomeroy,  a  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Sylvia  A.  (West)  Pomeroy.  She  was  born  in 
Henry  Co.,  111.,  March  n,  1860.  One  son,  Lee  J., 
was  born  of  their  union,  in  Prophetstown,  Sept.  16, 
1883.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Carman  is  deceased,  and 
her  mother  resides  in  Moline,  Mich. 

Dr.  Carman  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  and  also  of  the  Rock  River 
Institule  of  Homeopathy. 


^halkley  John  is  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent, active  and  enterprising  citizens  of 
**  Whiteside  County,  and  resides  in  Jordan 
Township,  of  which  he  is  Supervisor.  He 
is  also  the  editor  and  manager  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Gazette,  published  at  Sterling,  and  is 
President  of  the  Sterling  Gazette  Company.  He 
owns  a  farm  on  section  24,  of  Jordan  Township,  to 
which  place  he  came  in  1859. 

He  was  born  Oct.  10,  r839,  in  Shamokin  Town- 
ship, Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.  Elida  John,  his 
father,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county  and  was  of 
Welsh  origin,  being  the  son  of  Abia  John,  who  was 
born  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  of 
Welsh  parents,  and  who  was  a  farmer.  Elida  John 
came  West  and  located  in  the  township  of  Jordan, 
where  he  became  an  extensive  land-holder  and  a 
citizen  of  prominence,  dying  in  May,  1883,  aged  78 
years.  In  Pennsylvaiiia,  the  family  acquired  an 
honorable  reputation,  and  the  elder  John  was  highly 
esteemed  for  his  excellency  of  character,  the  relia- 
bility of  his  judgment,  his  sound  common  sense  and 
his  unswerving  integrity,  which  made  him  a  man  to 
whom  his  fellow  townsmen  often  looked  as  an  arbi- 
trator to  settle  disputes.  He  reached  prominence  in 
local  official  positions  in  Jordan  Township,  and  en- 
joyed to  an  unusual  degree  the  confidence  and  es- 


XX 


jf 

I 


544 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


teem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  In  his  death  the  loss  to 
the  community  was  regarded  as  a  public  calamity. 
Sarah  Hughes,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage, 
and  the  mother  of  our  subject,  is  an  estimable  lady. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  a  Pennsylvania  farmer  of 
English  and  Welsh  extraction.  But  one  of  her  ten 
children  is  deceased, — Ruth  Anna, — who  was  sixth 
in  order.  The  survivors  are  all  married  except  one, 
and  are  named  Palemon,  Edwin,  Martha  A.,  Abia 
C.,  Hugh  L.,  Chalkley,  Sarah  E.,  George  D.  and 
Lydia  E.  The  mother  is  still  living,  and  is  83  years 
of  age,  and  makes  her  home  with  her  son,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography.  The  ancestry  is  well  known, 
and  held  their  age  to  a  remarkable  degree,  as  the 
family  records  show. 

Mr.  John  passed  the  years  of  his  minority  under 
the  authority  of  his  father,  and  he  received  only  a 
common-school  education.  He  possessed  an  active, 
ambitious  mind  and  a  body  strong  in  health  and 
characterized  by  the  vigor  which  is  a  trait  of  his  lin- 
eage. With  determination  to  make  his  mark  in  the 
world,  he  set  out  for  the  West,  coming  to  Illinois. 
On  landing  in  Whiteside  County,  which  was  at  the 
time  mostly  unbroken  prairie,  he  sought  employment 
on  a  farm  of  160  acres  his  father  had  previously 
secured  in  Jordan  Township. 

He  took  possession  of  his  father's  claim  and  be- 
gan the  work  of  improvement,  boarding  with  his 
sister,  who  had  preceded  him  to  the  township  and 
was  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  public  schools.  He 
had  made  considerable  improvement  on  his  father's 
farm,  where  he  had  settled  in  the  spring  of  1859, 
but  afterwards  purchased  166  acres  of  wild  prairie 
land  on  section  24,  in  partnership  with  his  brother, 
Hugh  L.  The  latter  erected  necessary  buildings, 
and  the  brothers  proceeded  with  the  work  of  im- 
provement. Later,  Chalkley  John  bought  the  inter- 
est of  his  brother. 

His  marriage  to  Anna  Nixon  occurred  on  the  24th 
day  of  August,  1875.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  had  one 
child, — Marius, — born  Feb.  15,  1877.  The  mother 
died  at  her  home  in  Jordan  Township,  in  November, 
1878.  She  had  occupied  a  high  position  in  the 
Church  of  the  Friends,  and  was  held  in  universal 
esteem  for  her  womanly  character  and  excellent 
traits. 

With  the  exception  of  an  interim  of  a  few  years, 
Mr.  John  has  resided  on  the  old  homestead  of  his 


father,  with  his  aged  mother.  His  farm  gives  evi- 
dence of  the  value  of  the  persistent  application  of 
energy  and  industry  in  agricultural  avenues. 

Previous  to  his  election  as  Supervisor,  Mr.  John 
held  the  office  of  Road  Commissioner  four  years,  to 
which  he  was  elected  in  the  spring  of  1877,  and  he 
has  been  elected  to  the  office  of  Supervisor  every 
year  since,  with  the  exception  of  one,  and  he  still 
holds  said  office.  He  has  performed  the  duties  of 
his  official  life  in  a  manner  every  way  creditable. 
He  is  a  Republican  of  positive  stamp,  and  has  taken 
a  deep  interest  in  tocal  affairs. 

The  paper  with  which  he  is  editorially  connected 
is  published  at  the  Gazette  buildings  at  Sterling,  and 
his  nephew,  W.  R.  Cobb,  is  the  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  proprietary  interest. 

Mr.  John  is  a  director  in  the  Northwestern  Agri- 
cultural Society,  which  holds  its  exhibitions  at  Ster- 
ling. He  is  a  member  of  the  Friends  Society,  in 
which  his  father  was  a  leading  actor,  and  was  for 
many  years  and  up  to  his  death  an  Elder  in  his  rela- 
tions to  the  organization. 


'ohn  S.  Logan,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  White- 
^  side  County,  residing  in  Prophetstown,  is  a 
son  of  Robert  and  Polly  (Row)  Logan,  and 
was  born  in  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  3,  1815. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  his  native  county, 
receiving  only  such  education  as  was  common 
to  farmers'  sons  of  the  time  and  locality  in  which  he 
lived.  In  1836  Mr.  Logan  came  West  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Nathaniel  Squires,  and  an  uncle, 
Christopher  Row,  both  now  deceased.  They 
started  originally  for  Davenport,  Iowa,  but  stopped 
at  Rock  Island  about  two  months,  where  Mr.  Logan 
was,  with  his  brother-in-law,  engaged  in  the  carpen- 
ter and  joiner's  trade.  He  then  went  to  Davenport, 
and  was  there  engaged  in  the  same  business,  and  in 
the  fall  of  that  year  he  came  to  this  county  and 
made  a  short  visit  to  parties  of  his  acquaintance, 
when  he  returned  to  Davenport  and  taught  school 
on  Vandruffs  Island,  in  Rock  River,  that  winter, 
the  teacher  having  been  drowned.  In  July,  1837, 
he  returned  to  Portland  Township,  this  county,  and 
made  a  claim  of  250  acres  of  land,  and  when  the 
same  came  into  market,  he  bought  quite  a  large 


Of 


••  •*. 


RARY 

UNIVtKSMY  •+  ILLINOIS 


-  ..  - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


545 


tract.  He  kept  the  same  for  40  years,  put  it  un- 
der good  tillable  condition,  and  placed  numerous 
improvements  upon  it.  While  living  in  that  town- 
ship he  was  Assessor  ten  years.  Justice  of  the  Peace 
twelve  years,  and  Township  Clerk  several  years. 

Mr.  Logan  was  united  in  marriage  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county,  Dec.  19,  1844,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Warren,  a  daughter  of  Russell  Warren.  She 
was  born  in  New  York,  May  24,  1819,  and  has  borne 
her  husband  nine  children,  four  of  whom  yet  sur- 
vive :  Herman  N.  is  a  farmer,  in  York  Co.,  Neb. ; 
George  E.,  a  farmer  of  the  same  county ;  Addis  G. 
is  likewise  a  farmer  of  the  latter  county ;  Robert 
Emery  is  a  printer  in  Washington,  D.  C.  Mis.  Lo- 
gan died  in  Portland  Township,  on  the  old  home- 
stead, Oct.  26,  1863,  and  Mr.  Logan  was  again  mar- 
ried, in  the  same  township,  April  2,  1865,  to  Mary 
A.  Ashton.  She  was  a  native  of  Devonshire,  Eng- 
land, and  was  born  in  that  country  Dec.  n,  1824. 
She  had  by  her  former  marriage,  with  John  Ashton, 
six  children:  Samuel  J.,  William  H.,  Matilda,  Eliza- 
beth, Frank  D. ;  George  is  deceased.  Mr.  Logan 
owns  his  residence  and  three  lots  in  Prophetstown, 
also  a  number  of  other  vacant  lots,  and  also  has  a 
house  and  lot  in  Waco,  York  Co.,  Neb.  He  left  the 
farm  in  the  spring  of  1879  and  moved  to  Prophets- 
town,  where  he  is  at  present  residing,  retired  from  the 
active  manual  labor  of  life. 


^ 


~^\ 


olonel  Bushman  is  a  farmer  on  section  n, 
Genesee  Township,  and  he  was  born  in 
Wysox  Township,  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  io, 
1853.  The  personal  account  of  his  parents 
appears  in  connection  with  that  of  H.  S. 
Bushman.  He  was  about  six  years  of  age  when  he 
accompanied  his  father's  family  to  Genesee  Town- 
ship, and  they  settled  on  section  IT,  on  the  estate 
which  has  been  for  years  designated  the  "  old  Bush- 
man homestead."  Mr.  Bushman  passed  17  years  on 
the  place,  engaged  in  obtaining  his  education  and  in 
farm  labor. 

He  was  married  Oct.  27,  1874,10  Ella,  daughter 
of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Hills)  Scoville.  (See  sketch 
of  James  Scoville.)  She  is  a  native  of  Genesee 
Township  and  was  born  Dec.  12,  1851;,  on  section 

~  --Xiiff- 


io.  She  has  been  reared  and  educated  in  the  town- 
ship where  she  is  now  living.  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bushman  have  the  following  record:  Earl 
L.,  born  Sept.  18,  1877;  Homer  G.,  July  7,  1883; 
and  Tessa  E.,  born  Jan.  16,  1882,  died  April  9, 1882. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Bushman  took  charge  of 
his  father's  homestead  property,  where  he  operated 
between  two  and  three  years.  He  then  managed 
the  farm  of  his  father-in-law,  James  Scoville,  for  a 
time,  when  he  purchased  TOO  acres  on  section  n, 
and  forming  part  of  his  father's  farm.  This  is  all 
under  cultivation  and  is  in  fine  farming  condition. 
Mr.  Bushman  is  a  Republican  in  political  opinion 
and  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  Mrs.  Bushman  is  also  a  member. 

-?3- 

illiam  McNeill,  Jr.,  a  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  residing  on  Washington  Street, 
*_  Prophetstown,  is  a  son  of  William,  ST., 
i>  and  Jane  (Gillis)  McNeill,  and  was  born  in 
Portland  Township,  this  county,  Feb.  6, 
1851.  His  father  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  as 
likewise  is  his  mother,  and  both  at  present  reside  in 
Lamoille,  Bureau  Co.,  this  State.  Their  family  com- 
prised six  children,  whose  record  is  as  follows: 
James  is  deceased ;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Robert 
Dale,  a  farmer  residing  in  Portland  Township,  this 
county;  Florence  is  single  and  resides  at  Lamoille; 
William,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  is  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Margaret  is  deceased;  John  J.  is  engaged  in 
running  a  creamery  at  Lamoille.  The  parents  came 
to  this  county  in  1849,  an(^  located  in  Portland 
Township,  where  the  father  procured  a  farm  con- 
sisting of  400  acres,  and  resided  there  until  1883, 
when  he  sold  the  property  and  removed  to  Lamoille, 
Bureau  Co.,  111. 

Mr.  McNeill  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophets- 
town,  Nov.  18,  1880,  to  Miss  Pearlie  Geer,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Lyman  D.  and  Caroline  D.  Geer.  She  was 
born  in  Geneseo,  Henry  County,  this  State,  Oct.  i, 
1858.  She  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  comprising  600 
acres  in  Yorktown  Township,  Henry  County,  this 
State,  and  Mr.  McNeill  is  engaged  in  stocking  it 
with  fine  Short-Horn  cattle.  He  expects  to  make  a 
specialty  of  fine  stock,  and  will  buy  and  sell  consid- 
erable. In  1 88 1  he  started  a  creamery  in  Prophets- 


m 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


town,  and  in  the  foil  of  €882  he  sold  out  and  bought 
an  interest  in  a  creamery  in  Walnut,  Bureau  County, 
this  State,  with  his  brother,  John  J.  They  after- 
wards purchased  a  creamery  in  Lamoille,  and  one  at 
Sublette,  Lee  County,  this  State;  and  Mr.  McNeill 
at  present  owns  a  one-fourth  interest  in  the  three 
creameries.  They  manufacture  annually  about  500,- 
ooo  pounds  of  butter,  and  ship  mostly  to  New  York 
City.  Mrs.  McNeill's  father  resides  in  Prophets- 
town. 


3 


Ibert  A.  Colbert,  a  farmer  residing  on 
section  29,  owning  160  acres  thereon,  13554 
acres  on  section  20  and  also  40  acres  on 
section  4,  Portland  Township,  is  a  son  of 
Washington  and  Caroline  (May)  Colbert,  and 
was  born  in  Phoenix  Township,  Henry  Co., 
111.,  March  19,  1842.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  was  born  near  Lexington,  that  State. 
He  was  killed  by  the  caving  in  of  a  well  on  his  farm 
in  r844.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Southern  Illi- 
nois, and  is  at  present  residing  in  Geneseo,  this  State. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  of  whom 
Albert  A.,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  is 
the  only  survivor. 

Mr.  Colbert  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in 
this  State,  and  received  the  advantages  afforded  by 
the  common,  schools,  assisting  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm.  In  1842,  his  parents  drove  through  from 
Southern  Illinois  via  the  Rock  Island  and  Dixon 
Stage  Road,  and  when  they  arrived  in  Phoenix 
Township,  the  subject  of  this  notice  was  born.  His 
father  took  up  in  that  township  120  acres  of  land, 
and  resided  there  until  his  death.  His  mother  now 
owns  a  small  place,  consisting  of  ten  acres  near 
Geneseo,  where  she  has  resided  since  1862. 

Albert  A.  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  Union  in 
July,  1861,  in  the  Texas  Rangers.  Three  months 
after  enlistment  he  was  taken  prisoner  at  Lexington, 
Ky.,  with  2,000  others.  They  took  the  oath  and 
were  allowed  to  return,  and  went  to  St.  Louis,  where 
they  were  discharged  and  returned  home.  In  Au- 
gust, 1862,  he  re-enlisted  in  Co.  K,  ii2th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  as  teamster,  and  served  in  that  capacity  two 
years  and  eight  months.  During  that  time  he  drove 
one  six-mule  team,  two  years  and  four  months,  and 


at  the  general  review  in  North  Carolina  he  was  ac- 
credited with  having  the  finest  appearing  team 
among  6,000  in  the  Western  Army.  After  receiving 
his  discharge  he  returned  to  Geneseo  and  dealt  in 
horses  one  year.  He  was  then  united  in  marriage. 
This  event  occurred  in  Phoenix  Township,  Aug.  20, 
1866,  and  the  lady  chosen  to  share  his  joys  and  sor- 
rows, his  successes  and  failures,  was  Miss  Lois  A. 
Allen.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Char- 
lotte Allen,  and  was  born  near  Keokuk,  Iowa. 

They  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  namely  : 
Nellie  M.,  born  in  Geneseo,  April  6,  r8;3  ;  Amy  B., 
born  in  Portland  Township,  this  county,  July  5,  1877. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Colbert  bought  80  acres  of 
land  in  Phoenix  Township,  on  which  he  resided  and 
cultivated  four  years,  when  he  rented  it,  and  re- 
moved to  Geneseo,  and  remained  one  year.  He 
then  exchanged  his  80  acres  for  200  located  on  sec- 
tions 14  and  15,  Portland  Township,  and  resided 
there  three  years;  then  rented  it,  and  in  1878  bought 
160  acres,  where  he  at  present  resides.  He  has 
since  resided  in  Geneseo  one  year,  where  he  had  a 
fine  residence  and  two  acres  of  land,  which  he  sold, 
and  returned  to  his  farm.  In  the  fall  of  1844  he 
bought  130  acres  adjoining  on  the  north,  and  now 
has  a  fine  farm,  well  improved.  He  makes  a  speci- 
alty of  stock,  has  75  head  of  cattle,  and  is  working 
into  the  Short-horn  breed,  and  intends  making  his 
place  a  stock  farm.  He  still  deals  in  horses,  and  is 
one  of  the  energetic,  progressive  farmers  of  White- 
side  County. 


ohn  B.  Loomis,  liveryman  at  Prophets- 
^  town,  is  a  son  of  Joel  and  Permelia  (Bow- 
man). Loomis,  and  was  born  in  Steuben 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  18,  1841.  When  he  was 
four  years  of  age  he  came  to  this  county  with 
his  mother  and  two  brothers,  his  father  having 
died  nearly  two  years  previously.  They  came  to 
Morrison,  this  county,  and  afterward  removed  to 
Henry  County,  this  State. 

Mr.  Loomis  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  time  and 
locality  in  which  he  resided.  In  the  spring  of  i86r 
he  came  to  Prophetstown,  and  has  made  his  resi- 
dence there  until  the  present  time.  He  was  united 


f 

•  .•» 


<§, 


in  marriage  in  Prophetstown,  Dec.  16,  1868,  to  Mary 
Mary  Alvira  Barber,  a  daughter  of  David  and  Eliza 
Barber.  She  was  born  in  Prophetstown  Township, 
March  4,  1850.  Her  parents  were  among  the  pio- 
neers who  settled  that  portion  of  the  county  and 
endured  all  the  trials  incident  to  the  early  settle- 
ment. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loomis  are  the  parents  of 
three  children,  all  born  in  Prophetstown:  Carrie  E., 
Aug.  17,  1873;  Mina  P.,  Aug.  30,  1877,  and  Jay  B., 
Feb.  5,  1885. 

Mr.  Loomis  has  been  in  the  livery  business  in 
Prophetstown  since  January,  1881.  He  keeps  usu- 
ally about  eight  horses,  and  vehicles  sufficient  to 
supply  the  wants  of  his  customers.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry,  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 


Charles  Hanson,  farmer,  section  1 1 ,  New- 
ton  Township,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Christian-i,  Norway,  March  19,  1828,  the 
youngest  of  five  children.  His  father  was  a 
mason  by  trade.  He  was  not  the  son  of 
wealthy  parents,  but  of  poor,  hard  working, 
people.  His  early  education  consisted  of  a  few 
weeks'  schooling  in  the  winter.  He  had  no  time  to 
go  to  school  then,  as  boys  have  nowadays.  He  had 
to  be  diligent  when  a  small  boy,  doing  what  he 
could  in  order  to  help  support  the  family ;  and 
when  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  manhood  he  saved 
his  earnings  in  order  that  he  might  come  to  North 
America,  to  make  his  home  out  in  the  world,  and 
among  strangers.  He  sailed  for  the  United  States 
in  the  year  1853,  and  landed  at  the  port  of  New 
York,  after  a  voyage  of  52  days. 

He  came  at  once  to  Illinois,  and  obtained  his  first 
employment  on  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Rail- 
road, by  which  he  earned  enough  money  in  a  short 
time  to  send  back  to  his  aged  father,  and  his  sister 
and  brother,  to  bring  them  also  to  the  land  of  op- 
portunity. His  mother  was  called  away  by  the 
angels  one  year  before  he  started  for  the  United 
States.  He  worked  for  the  same  corporation  seven 
years,  and  saved  his  earnings  to  buy  his  first  40 
acres,  after  which  40  more,  and  so  on  until  he  now 
owns  a  fine  estate,  comprising  400  acres  of  land, 
with  good  improvements  on  all  four  farms. 

H'S  marriage  to  Mary  Johnson,  of  Sweden,  twk 


place  in  Fulton,  Jan.  13,  1857.  They  have  seven 
children,  two  of  whom  are  dead.  The  two  oldest 
are  married.  The  eldest  married  Miss  Rebecca 
Jordan,  daughter  of  Hezekiah  Jordan.  Mrs.  Han- 
son is  a  hard-working  and  industrious  woman. 


illiam  McCune,  pump  manufacturer,  Ster- 
ling, was  born  March  23,  1813.  His  par- 
ents were  Stephen  and  Polly  (Davenport) 
McCune,  natives  of  Vermont  and  of  Scotch 
descent,  who  moved  to  Ohio  in  1833,  where 
they  died,  the  former  in  1840  and  the  latter 
in  1854. 

Mr.  Wm.  McCune,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
outline,  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer's  son,  receiving 
a  common-school  education.  At  the  age  of  19  years 
he  left  home  and  spent  a  year  as  a  sailor  on  Lakes 
Erie  and  Ontario ;  was  then  on  the  North  River  and 
the  Erie  Canal  three  years  :  next,  he  conducted  a  hotel 
at  McConnellsville,  N.  Y.,  five  years ;  then  he  pur- 
chased a  hotel  at  Camden,  N.  Y.,  and  managed  that 
for  seven  years,  when  he  sold  it ;  and  finally,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  came  to  Sterling  and  opened  the 
Wallace  Hotel,  of  which  he  was  landlord  ten  years. 
Then  he  engaged  in  real-estate  business,  and  was 
also  agent  for  the  hydraulic  company,  and  built  the 
second  dam  across  Rock  River.  In  1870,  in  com- 
pany with  Hull  &  Bowers,  he  entered  his  present 
business  as  pump-manufacturer.  He  afterward  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  his  partners,  and  he  has  since 
admitted  into  the  business  his  sons,  so  that  the  firm 
name  is  now  Wm.  McCune  &  Co.  They  are  enjoy- 
ing a  prosperous  run  of  trade. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  McC.  is  a  Democrat ; 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 

Mr.  McCune  was  first  married  in  1834,  to  Luvina 
I'crrin,  and  by  that  marriage  there  were  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  living,  viz. :  Sarah  and  Her- 
vey  H.  Sarah  was  married  to  Mr.  M.  A.  Bunn, 
and  she  now  has  one  child  living,  named  Frank. 
Mrs.  McCune  died  in  1845,  and  Mr.  McCune  was 
married  again,  in  1848,  to  Almira  Hazen,  and  by 
the  latter  union  there  are  three  children, — Elizabeth, 
William  A.  and  James  A.  William  was  married 
June  7,  1877,  to  Anna  Crawford,  and  they  have 
three  children, — Fred  L.,  born  May  24, 1878;  Helen, 


Nov.  20,  1881;  and  Gretchen,  May  9,  1883.  James 
A.  married  Ella  Pickett,  Sept.  12,  1877,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  one  daughter,  Etta  L.,  born  July 
16,  1878. 


Dudley  R.  Fitch,  farmer,  section  8,  Lyn- 
don Township,  is  the  oldest  son  of  Eras- 
tus  and  Harriet  (Beecher)  Fitch,  of  whom 
an  account  is  given  in  connection  with  that 
of  George  W.  Fitch.  He  was  born  in  Pike, 
Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  20,  1820,  and  was  a 
lad  ot  12  years  when  his  parents  became  pioneers  of 
Ohio.  Four  years  later  the  family  came  to  Lyndon 
Township,  and  Mr.  Fitch  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  minority  in  aiding  his  father  on  the  homestead. 
He  spent  two  subsequent  seasons  breaking  prairie, 
and  later  he  worked  land  on  shares.  In  1845  he 
bought  a  claim  on  section  8,  which  he  secured  when 
the  Government  sales  were  made,  and  also  bought 
40  acres  adjoining  on  section  17.  He  built  a  dwell- 
ing on  the  latter  in  1850.  He  has  improved  and  en- 
closed his  entire  acreage.  In  1874  he  rented  his 
farm  and  went  to  Lyndon,  where  he  bought  four  lots 
and  erected  the  dwelling  he  now  occupies. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Fitch  to  Zelinda  Merrill  took 
place  Feb.  12,  1852.  She  was  born  in  Lowell,  Mass. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fitch  have  had  six  children  :  Hattie 
married  L.  L  Barter  and  lives  in  Clinton,  Iowa ; 
Abbie  A.  is  the  wife  of  N.  W.  Martin,  of  Henry  Co., 
111.  Ida  M.  was  born  Feb.  5,  1859,  and  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1884.  She  was  the  wife  of  R.  S.  Vaughn; 
Mary  A.  and  Ernestine  A.  are  the  youngest;  Grace 
died  in  infancy. 


;fohn  Farnuin,  farmer,  section  18,  Prophets- 
[£<•  town  Township,  and  the  proprietor  of  100 
acres  located  thereon,  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Sally  (Philbrick)  Farnum,  and  was  born  in 
Orange  Co.,  Vt.,  May  10,  1814.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  as  likewise 
was  his  mother.  The  father  died  just  before  the 
subject  of  this  notice  was  bom,  and  when  he  was 
three  years  of  age  he  was  placed  by  his  mother  in 


the  family  of  Stephen  Eaton,  a  farmer  of  Corinth 
Township. 

Mr.  Farnum  remained  in  his  native  township  un- 
til he  had  attained  the  age  of  22  years,  when  he  left 
the  family  of  Mr.  Eaton  and  was  employed  two 
years  on  a  farm  in  the  same  neighborhood.  In 
1838  he  came  to  Prophetstown  Township,  this  county, 
and  bought  a  claim  where  he  at  present  resides. 
When  the  land  came  into  market,  he  purchased  the 
same,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  100  acres  of  the 
original  tract,  which  is  in  a  good  tillable  condition 
and  on  which  he  has  erected  a  nice  residence  and 
otherwise  improved  it. 

Mr.  Farnum  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fratern- 
ity, belonging  to  Prophetstown  lodge. 

Mr.  Farnum  was  united  in  marriage  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county,  Dec.  8,  1845,  to  Irene  Under- 
hill,  nee  Wellington.  She  was  born  in  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  3,  1816.  They  have  adopted  and  raised 
four  children:  Henry  B.  Leonard,  now  a  merchant 
in  Prophetstown;  Maria  is  the  wife  of  Kingsley  Car- 
penter, a  farmer  residing  near  Jamestown,  N.  Y. ; 
Cullen  Southard  is  a  farmer  in  Iowa;  and  Julius,  a 
traveling  insurance  agent  in  Nebraska. 


,aniel  W.  Reynolds  has  been  a  farmer  in 
Whiteside  County  since  1853.  In  April  of 
that  year,  he  bought  150  acres  in  Lyndon 
Township,  settling  thereon  and  continuing  a 
resident  of  that  township  16  years.  In  1869  he 
sold  that  farm  and  bought  160  acres  on  section 
32,  in  Hopkins  Township.  On  this  he  fixed  his 
homestead  and  has  made  further  purchases  of  real 
estate  until  he  is  the  owner  of  37  i  acres,  which  is  all 
practically  under  cultivation.  In  political  sentiment 
and  action  he  is  a  Republican.  While  a  resident  of 
Lyndon  Township  he  was  Treasurer  and  held  other 
local  offices. 

He  was  born  May  i,  1824,  in  Aurora,  Erie  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  he  is  the  son  of  Nicholas  and  Mary 
(Wright)  Reynolds.  They  were  natives  of  Vermont 
and  removed  thence  to  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  the 
father  died.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  the 
mother  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  died  in  Hop- 
kins Township.  She  had  had  eight  children,  born  as 
follows  :  Charlotte,  Almos  H.,  Harriet,  Almond  V.( 
Weston  W.,  Marinda,  James  A.  and  Daniel  W, 


«'.  !  •• 


*  '•  ' 


r-;;^ 


WHJTESIDE  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Reynolds  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  obtained  a  more  extended  knowledge  of  English 
branches  at  the  academy  at  Aurora,  his  native  place. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  27  years  of  age. 
Several  years  afterward  he  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
as  stated. 

His  marriage  to  Cordelia  L.  Besse  took  place  April 
15,  1851,  in  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  have  had  five 
children,  who  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Mary  L.,  Frank  W.,  Edward,  Charles  E.  and  Helen 
E.  Edward  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Reynolds'  par- 
ents, John  and  Cassandra  (Patten)  Besse,  were  born 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  which  was  also  her  birth- 
place. 


i  oses  A.   Green  is  one  of  the  leading  and 
progressive  farmers,  of  Ustick  Township, 
where  he  has  been  a  resident  since  1864. 
His  farm  of  200  acres  is  situated  on  section 
i,  and  is,  practically,  all  under  cultivation.    He 
was  born   Nov.   26,  1817,  in  the    township  of 
Monroe,     Licking    Co.,    Ohio.       Hazel    Creen,    his 
father,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  married    Susanna 
Mullen,  who  was  a  native  of  Germany.     After  their 
marriage  they  settled  in  Ohio,  in  the  county  where 
their  son  was  born.     The  senior  Green  died  there  in 
August,  1841.     Their  children  were    12  in  number, 
and  were  named  Moses  A.,  Merinda,  Diana,.  Noah, 
James,  Lovica,  Abner,  Lucretia,  Charity,  Archibald, 
Emily  and  Malvina.     The  mother  is  yet  alive. 

Mr.  Green  was  brought  up  in  his  native  State,  and 
was  there  trained  to  ths  pursuit  which  he  has  fol- 
lowed all  his  life.  In  February,  1841,  he  came  first 
to  Whiteside  County,  and  lived  three  years  in  Union 
Grove  Township.  In  1844  he  went  to  Carroll  Coun- 
ty, where  he  resided  nearly  20  years,  coming,  in 
December,  1864,  again  to  Whiteside  County,  having 
exchanged  his  property  for  the  farm  in  Ustick  Town- 
ship, on  which  he  has  since  operated.  He  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  political  views  and  connection,  and  he  has 
held  various  township  offices.  He  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  Order. 

The   marriage   of   Mr.   Green    to  Sarah  M.  Kent 
v  took  place  Sept.  27,  1838,  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio.    She 
\"    was  born  in  New  Jersey.     Their  children  were  13  in 

r, -.^number,    and    the  survivors  are  named  as  follows: 

.  f.        

•     .    .., 


i 


\ 


Charlotte  A.,  Nancy  E.,  Abby  M.,  Lewis  D.,  Malvina 
and  Naoma.  Seven  are  deceased.  The  mother 
died  suddenly  Sept.  7,  1882,  of  heart  disease,  while 
attending  a  fair  at  Morrison. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Green  appears  on  the  opposite 
page.  Its  appropriateness  to  the  collated  records  of 
Whiteside  County  is  apparent  from  the  accompany- 
ing sketch. 


S.  Ellithorp,  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 6,  Prophetstown  Township,  and  the 
proprietor  of  450  acres  of  land,  located 
on  sections  6,  31  and  32,  is  the  son  of  Samp- 
son and  Eliza  (Wight)  Ellithorp,  and  was  born 
in  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  town  of  Edinburg,  Nov.  21, 
1833.  His  father  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and 
born  in  1806.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont. The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
died  Sept.  5,  1840,  in  Prophetstown  Township,  this 
county.  The  mother  died  in  Lyndon  Township,  this 
county.  Their  family  comprised  four  children,  two 
of  whom  survive :  Bethiab,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  H. 
C.  Donaldson,  of  Morrison,  and  E.  S.,  the  subject  of 
this  biographical  notice.  The  two  deceased  were 
Alpheus  and  Lucelia. 

Mr.  Ellithorp  was  reared  on  a  farm,  attended  the 
common  schools,  assisted  in  the  maintenance  of  the 
family,  and  developed  into  manhood.  In  the  fall  of 
1839  his  father  came  to  this  county,  and  made  a 
claim  in  Hume  Township.  He  built  a  small  house, 
and  entered  vigorously  upon  the  improvement  of  his 
land  preparatory  to  bringing  his  family  to  the  county. 
In  the  following  spring  he  returned  to  New  York  for 
his  family  and  came  to  Prophetstown  Township 
with  them  in  July,  1840.  He  died  Sept.  5  following, 
on  the  farm  known  as  Crocker's  farm,  about  one 
and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  Prophetstown.  The 
mother  afterwards  married  Marvin  Frary,  and  they 
moved  to  Portland  Township.  In  1845  they  moved 
to  Prophetstown  Township,  to  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Quaker  Averill  farm. 

Mr.  Ellithorp  resided  with  his  mother  and  step- 
father until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  majority.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  March  27,  1856,  in  the 
township  of  Sharon,  Henry  County,  this  State,  to 
Miss  Mary  J.  Averill. She  was  a  daughter  of  Mark 


(3; 


•j  • 
•$> 


552 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


R.  and  Ada  (Dunn)  Averill.  She  was  born  in  High- 
gate,  Franklin  Co.,  Vt.,  Feb.  21,  1835.  They  have 
one  daughter,  born  in  this  township,  Louanna, 
born  Oct.  27,  1862.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Elli- 
thorp  rented  the  farm  he  now  owns  for  two  years, 
and  after  that  rented  one-half  of  it.  In  the  mean- 
time he  purchased  a  farm  of  320  acres,  in  Hume 
Township,  upon  which  he  moved  in  February,  1863, 
and  improved  160  acres  of  it.  He  sold  the  farm, 
and  in  December,  1864,  he  returned  to  the  farm  on 
which  he  at  present  resides.  In  the  fall  of  1867  he 
went  to  Iowa,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  grain 
business  in  company  with  his  brotherrin-law,  C.  H. 
Sanford.  He  had  previously  started  the  business, 
and  the  same  had  been  run  by  his  brother- 
in-law  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1868  he  re- 
turned to  Prophetstown  Township,  and  bought  his 
present  farm  of  450  acres,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  makes  a  specialty  of  Merino  sheep  and 
keeps  as  high  as  from  600  to  1,000.  He  also  bred  a 
nice  herd  of  Short -horn  cattle,  and  now  owns  about 
35  head.  He  also  raises  about  75  head  of  swine 
annually. 

March  i,  1885,  Mr.  Ellithorp  rented  his  farm  for 
three  years,  and  expects  to  travel  during  that  time 
through  California  and  other  States  of  the  Union. 


orman  Clark,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Clark,  Giddings  &  Co.,  jewelers,  Third 
Street,  Sterling,  was  born  in  Cavendish, 
Vt.,  Feb.  it,  1831.  His  father,  Reuben 
Clark,  was  a  native  of  Barre,  Mass.,  and  a 
watchmaker  and  jeweler  by  occupation.  His 
mother,  nee  Prudence  Gibson,  was  born  in  Rindge, 
N.  H.  At  the  age  of  14  years,  Mr.  Clark  com- 
menced to  obtain  a  systematic  knowledge  of  his 
trade,  which  he  completed  in  five  years.  He  was 
also  educated  at  the  public  school.  At  the  age  of  19 
he  left  home  and  commenced  business  for  himself, 
in  Ludlow,  Vt.,  remaining  there  four  years.  Then 
selli»g  out,  he  went  to  Rutland,  same  State,  where 
he  followed  his  calling,  in  partnership  with  a  brother, 
for  18  years.  In  May,  1872,  he  sold  his  interests 
there  and  came  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  with 
Giles  Bros.  &  Co.  about  two  years.  He  then  came 
to  Sterling,  with  his  brother,  and  opened  a  jewelry 


house.  In  1880  his  brother  withdrew,  S.  P.  Gid- 
dings  (see  sketch)  taking  his  place,  in  partnership, 
the  firm  style  at  present  being  Clark,  Giddings  & 
Co.  They  are  the  leading  jewelers  of  Sterling.  Mr. 
Clark  is  a  successful  business  man,  as  well  as  a  suc- 
cessful inventor.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  both  himself  and  Mrs.  C.  are  exemplary 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

Jan.  i,  1857,  is  the  date  of  Mr.  Clark's  marriage 
to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Giddings,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  a  daughter  of  Daniel  N.  and  Beulah  (Brown) 
Giddings.  By  this  union  there  are  three  children 
— Charles  N.,  Anna  E.  and  Reuben  N.  The  first- 
mentioned  married  Grace  E.  Bushnell,  of  Sterling, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  named  Virginia  Nor- 


T. Van  Antwerp,  a  farmer,  residing  on 
section  9,  Prophetstown  Township,  and 
owning  120  acres  of  land  on  the  section, 
is  the  son  of  John  A.  and  Martha  Anna 
(Sturtevant)  Van  Antwerp,  and  was  born  in 
£  Schenectady  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  20,  1823.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  his  grand- 
father, Aaron  Van  Antwerp,  was  a  native  of  Ant- 
werp City,  Holland,  and  at  one  time  was  the  pos- 
sessor of  a  fortune  of  several  thousand  pounds,  but 
lost  it,  and  came  to  this  country.  He  received 
a  section  of  land  in  Glenville  Township,  Schenec- 
tady Co.,  N.  Y.,  from  this  Government  for  his  ser- 
vices in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Six  of  his  sons 
were  engaged  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  one  of  them, 
Abraham,  afterward  represented  his  district  in  the 
State  Legislature. 

D.  T.  Van  Antwerp,  the  subject  of  this  biograph- 
ical notice,  was  reared  on  a  farm  two  and  a  half 
miles  from  Schenectady.  His  father  died  when  he 
was  six  years  old,  and  at  the  age  of  nine  years  he 
went  forth  upon  the  road  of  adversity  to  fight  the 
battles  of  life  alone.  Armed  with  a  firm  determin- 
ation to  succeed  in  life,  he  engaged  as  laborer  on  a 
farm,  and  followed  that  vocation  for  some  years.  In 
1854  he  came  to  this  county,  and  brought  with  him 
some  of  the  finest  carriage  horses  ever  owned  in  the 
State.  He  is  a  breeder  of  fine  horses,  and  is  noted 
in  this  line  of  business.  He  bought  120  acres 


* 

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WHITESIDE  COUN'JY. 


' 


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where  he  at  present  resides.  He  also  had  land  in 
Iowa,  and  other  parts  of  this  county.  He  now  has  a 
fine  farm,  comprising  120  acres,  with  good  improve- 
ments, and  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  Start- 
ing in  the  world  with  no  assistance  except  his  own 
indomitable  energy,  combined  with  a  firm  determina- 
tion to  get  on  in  the  world,  he  has  none  to  thank  for 
his  success  in  life  except  his  own  good  judgment, 
energetic  effort  and  the  hearty  co-operation  of  his 
good  helpmeet.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Mr.  Van  Antwerp  was  united  in  marriage  at 
Prophetstown,  Dec.  25,  1861,  to  Almeda  L.  May- 
nard,  nee  Spencer.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Jefferson 
and  Anna  Maynard,  and  was  born  Oct.  3,  1840,  in 
Arcade,  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Mattie,  born  Sept.  26,  1862,  and  Charlie  D., 
born  Dec.  15,  1866. 


been 


i.amuel  Echelbarger  is  a  farmer  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  i,  Newton 
Township,  20  north,  range  3  east,  and  was 
born  Jan.  24,  1824,  in  Vermillion  Township, 
then  Richland  Co.,  Ohio.  (The  township  is 
now  in  Ashland  County,  the  territory  having 
divided.)  His  parents,  George  and  Jane 
(Hagerman)  Echelbarger,  were  born  in  Westmore- 
land Co.,  Pa.  They  were  married  in  their  native 
State,  and  iti  1822  located  in  Richland  Co.,  Ohio. 
They  moved  there,  with  their  teams,  there  being  no 
provision  for  public  transportation,  and  settled  in  the 
dense  timber.  The  senior  Echelbarger  cleared  a 
farm,  where  his  children  were  born  and  reared.  In 
1857  they  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  settled 
near  Erie,  where  the  father  died  in  1858.  The 
mother  died  in  1862,  in  Newton  Township. 

At  18  Mr.  Echelbarger  was  apprenticed  to  learn 
the  business  of  a  millwright  in  Richland  County,  at 
which  business  he  worked  two  years.  He  then  be- 
gan to  operate  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner  and 
worked  at  that  business  in  Union  Co.,  Ohio,  until 
1856.  He  had  also  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  and  in  the  year  named  he  came 
to  Whiteside  County.  He  rented  a  farm  on  "  Slo- 
cumb  Street,"  in  Newton  Township,  and  established 
a  blacksmith  shop.  In  1862  he  bought  the  place, 


which  he  has  improved,  and  on  which  he  has  erected 
good  and  suitable  farm  buildings. 

His  marriage  to  Matilda  Flinn  occurred  Sept.  12, 
1849.  Following  is  the  record  of  their  children  : 
Susan  married  Henry  Rumsey,  and  lives  in  Webster 
Co.,  Iowa ;  Silas  G.  lives  in  Newton  Township,  as 
does  Jared  ;  Mary  S.  is  the  wife  of  Jephtha  Hatfield, 
of  Webster  County;  David  lives  in  Garden  Plain 
Township,  this  county  ;  Benjamin  F.  is  a  resident  of 
Fulton  Co.,  111. ;  Samuel  lives  at  home.  Mrs.  Ech- 
elbarger is  a  native  of  Virginia. 


erdinand  B.  Hubbard,  land  agent,  Ster- 
ling, office  on  Mulberry  Street,  on  block 
39,  west  of  Broadway,  was  born  May  4, 
rfi~~*  1 8 1 8,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  a  farmer  by 
J)\^  occupation.  His  father's  given  name  was 
Abel;  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Siley 
Andrews.  He  remained  at  home  until  of  age,  as- 
sisting on  the  farm  and  receiving  a  common-school 
education.  In  1839  he  came  West,  locating  in  Lyn- 
don, this  county,  and  during  the  first  few  seasons  or 
years  taught  school  near  Princeton,  111.,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  vocation  of  teaching  for  a  number  of 
years.  Returning  to  New  York,  he  taught  there  two 
winters  ;  was  then  employed  in  buying  grain  and 
assisting  in  a  store  in  Venice,  Ohio,  for  a  cousin,  R. 
H.  Haywood,  of  Buffalo.  In  1849  he  went  to  Fre- 
mont, Ohio,  and  in  company  with  Messrs.  Pease  and 
Roberts,  under  the  firm  name  of  Roberts,  Hubbard 
&  Co.,  engaged  in  the  stove  and  tinware  business, 
which  relation  continued  for  two  or  three  years. 
Selling  out  to  his  partners,  he  went  to  Huntsville, 
that  State,  and  continued  in  the  same  business,  in 
partnership  with  Sidney  B.  Foster,  under  the  title  of 
Hubbard  &  Foster.  A  year  or  two  afterward  he 
sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Foster,  and  engaged  in  the 
warehouse  business,  buying  grain,  etc.,  in  the  same 
place,  and  also  acted  as  agent  for  the  Mad  River 
Railroad  Company,.  In  two  or  three  years  he  sold 
out,  and  in  1855  came  to  Sterling,  entering  the  real- 
estate  business,  and  buying  grain  and  live  stock. 
After  following  this  for  a  year  or  two,  he  started,  in 
1856,  the  first  (except  one)  agricultural  store  west 
of  Chicago,  acting  as  general  agent  for  the  sale  of 
threshers  and  reapers  for  the  Shite  of  Illinois  for 


-:.    .-    - 


.     ' 


WHITES! DE  COUNTY. 


(2; 


•£ 
I 


manufactory  in  Ohio,  and  followed  that  business  until 
1878,  since  which  time  he  has  devoted  his  attention 
to  real  estate.  He  owns  lots  7  and  8,  in  block  39, 
west  of  Broadway,  lots  i  and  2  in  block  22,  on  Mul- 
berry Street,  275  acres  south  of  Morrison,  160  in 
the  township  of  Hahnaman,  12%  acres  of  timber  in 
Fenton  Township,  and  320  acres  in  Palo  Alto  Co., 
Iowa. 

Mr.  Hubbard  is  an  influential  citizen,  a  Freema- 
son, and  a  Republican.  He  married  Miss  Mary  O., 
daughter  of  Rev.  Daniel  Dorchester,  April  17,  1850; 
and  they  have  six  children  living,  namely:  Siley  M., 
Charlie,  Ferdinand  B.,  Lizzie  (deceased),  Belle,  Hat- 
tie  and  Lena.  Siley  M.  married  Wilks  C.  Bunn ; 
Ferdinand  B.,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Carrie  Paddock,  and 
has  one  son,  Charlie  E. 


acob  M.  Van  Demark,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  section  3,  Tarnpico  Township,  was 
born  in  Olive  Township,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  18,  1832.  .  His  father  was  J.  S.  Van  De- 
mark,  a  mechanic,  of  whom  a  sketch  is  given 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  He  worked  with 
his  father  in  mechanical  pursuits  until  of  age,  receiv- 
ing only  a  limited  school  education,  but  a  good  train- 
ing in  the  art  of  honse-buildtng. 

After  he-  attained  his  legal  age  he  worked  four 
years  for  Martin  Acker,  an  architect,  and  then,  in 
1858,  he  came  West  and  located  upon  40  acres  in 
Yorktown  Township,  Henry  County,  this  State,  and 
followed  his  tirade.  In  1859  he  came  to  Tarn  pi  co 
Township,  this  county,  and  helped  to  organize  that 
division  of  the  county,  being  elected  the  first  Town- 
ship Clerk.  He  has  since  served  also  as  Road  Com- 
missioner several  years.  In  1866  he  settled  on  a 
farm  of  80  acres  on  the  section  he  now  occupies.  At 
present,  however,  he  owns  an  aggregate  of  220  acres, 
all  finely  improved,  the  county  ditch  passing  through 
his  farm.  His  farm  buildings  and  equipments  are 
also  first-class,  and  he  exhibits  every  evidence  of  a 
No.  i  agriculturist.  His  cattle  are  of  a  high  grade 
of  Short-horns. 

He  votes  the  Republican  ticket.  Feb.  19,  1857, 
in  his  native  township,  he  married  Miss  Mary  A. 
Lane,  who  is  also  a  native  of  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
her  father,  Cornelius  Lane,  was  a  farmer.  Her 


.*  K-- 


mother's    maiden  name    was   Catharine  Elmendorf. 
Her  parents  now  reside  in   Hume  Township.     Mrs. 
Van  Demark  received  a  good  education,  and  before    a 
her  marriage,  taught  school.     Mr.   and  Mrs.  V.  are 
the  parents  of  two  children,  namely :  Fred,  born  Oct.    ^ 
25,  1863;  and  Irma,  born  Sept.  12,  1870. 


ewell  W.  Paddock,  a  farmer,  residing  on 
section  7,  Prophetstown  Township,  is  a 
son  of  Chauncey  and  Lucy  Paddock,  and 
was  born  in  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  20,  1851. 
The  same  year  that  witnessed  the  birth  of  Mr. 
Paddock,  his  parents'  family  came  to  Prophets- 
town  Township,  this  county,  and  located  on  the 
Paddock  Bottoms,  two  miles  northeast  of  Prophets- 
town.  In  December,  1870,  the  family  moved  to  the 
homestead  on  which  they  at.  present  reside.  In  the 
fall  of  1875,  Mr.  Paddock,  in  company  with  his  two 
brothers,  bought  the  homestead,  consisting  of  280 
acres  of  fine  and  improved  land,  on  which  Mr.  Pad- 
dock at  present  resides. 

Mr.  Paddock  was  united  in  marriage  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county,  Sept.  6,  1876,  to  Miss  Laura 
E.  Brydia,  daughter  of  Sidney  and  Lucy  Brydia. 
She  was  born  in  the  township  in  which  she  was  mar- 
ried. Her  parents  came  to  this  county  about  1850. 
Her  father  died  in  Portland  Township,  and  her 
mother  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 


eter  F.  Hellerstedt,  of  the  firm  of  Heller- 
stedt  Bros.,  manufacturers  of  carriages, 
spring  wagons,  buggies,  hearses,  etc.,  at 
Morrison,  was  born  in  East  Gothia,  Sweden, 
Oct.  20,  1843,  and  is  the  son  of  Anders  P. 
and  Anna  K.  Hellerstedt.  The  father  was  a 
carriage  ironer  and  locksmith  and  reared  his  son  to 
the  same  trades.  The  latter  afterward  entered  a 
coach  factory  to  complete  his  knowledge  of  the  busi- 
ness in  all  its  branches. 

In  1865  he  left  his  native  land  to  seek  his  ad- 
vancement in  the  Western  world,  arriving  in  Novem- 
ber of  the  same  year  in  Chicago.  He  entered  a  shop 
in  that  city,  where  he  worked  for  more  than  four 
years.  He  went  thence  to  Moline,  111.,  where  he  es- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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tablished  liimself  in  business  in  his  own  behalf,  with 
relations  on  a  limited  scale,  in  accordance  with 
his  resources  and  ideas  of  safety  in  his  transactions. 
Four  years  later  he  disposed  of  his  interests  at  Mo- 
line,  by  sale,  and  in  August,  1874,  he  came  to  Mor- 
rison, where  he  entered  upon  the  duties  pertaining  to 
the  position  of  foreman  of  the  Morrison  Carriage 
Works,  in  which  he  was  occupied  until  October, 
1876,  the  date  of  his  initiation  of  his  present  business 
relations.  July  7,  1879,  he  admitted  his  brother,  C. 
A.  Hellerstedt,  to  a  partnership,  and  their  establish- 
ment has  been  conducted  under  their  joint  manage- 
ment since.  They  have  had  a  business  career  of 
marked  prosperity  and  have  built  up  a  reputation  sec- 
ond to  none,  in  point  of  integrity  and  ability.  They 
have  invented  and  received  letters  patent  for  a  two- 
wheeled  vehicle,  known  to  the  trade  as  Hellerstedt's 
Road  Cart,  which  is  attracting  favorable  attention 
and  bids  fair  to  become  popular.  The  patent  is 
dated  Jan.  27,  1885.  The  demands  of  their  factory 
require  several  different  buildings  and  they  employ 
an  average  working  force  of  ten  men.  The  carriage 
repository  and  office  are  situated  in  the  Opera  House 
Block.  Three  buildings  owned  by  Hellerstedt  Bros, 
are  situated  on  Main  Street,  where  they  own  a  front- 
age of  100  feet. 

Mr.  Hellerstedt  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

He  was  married  Nov.  20,  1879,  at  Morrison,  to 
Effie  S.  Smith,  and  they  have  two  children, — Carl 
Johan,  born  Oct.  21,  1880,. and  Ruth  Mary,  born  Oct. 
7,  1882.  Mrs.  Hellerstedt  was  born  in  Kane  County 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Edmund  and  Mary  Smith. 


eorge  W.  Brewer,  a  retired  farmer,  resid- 
ing at  Sterling,  was  born  May  6,  1827,  *n 
Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  his  paretits  being  Henry 
and  Lucinda  (Johnson)  Brewej,  natives  also 
of  the  Empire  State.  His  father  was  a  wagon- 
maker  and  millwright.  The  subject  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch,  was  an  inmate  of  the  par- 
ental home  until  of  age,  receiving  a  common-school 
education  and  acquiring  a  practical  knowledge  of  the 
wagon-maker's  trade  of  his  father.  This  vocation  he 
continued  to  follow  until  he  was  about  25  years  of 

&, 


age.  He  came  to  Sterling  in  February,  1838,  and  is 
therefore  the  oldest  male  resident  of  the  place. 

When  he  discontinued  his  trade  he  exchanged  his 
shop  and  business  for  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Sterling 
T&wnship ;  but  within  six  weeks  he  sold  the  farm,  at 
a  net  gain  of  $1,625  '<  tnen  h£  bought  another  farm 
and  sold  it.  In  1855  he  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Sterling  for  a  year,  and  then  turned  his  at- 
tention to  farming  and  dealing  in  farms,  horses  and 
cattle,  until  1881.  At  the  present  time  he  has  only 
100  acres,  and  that  he  rents.  He  has  a  fine  resi- 
dence on  block  26,  east  of  Broadway.  He  generally 
votes  the  Republican  ticket. 

Mr.  Brewer  was  married  March  4,  1851,  to  Eliza- 
beth S.  Green,  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  of 
their  ten  children  the  following  four  are  living: 
Dolora  E.,  Orra  L.,  Carrie  M.  and  Myrtie  M.  The 
first  named  was  married  Jan.  T4,  1874,  to  Isaac  S. 
Bressler,  and  their  two  children  are,  Freddie  N.,  born 
Sept.  12,  1876;  and  George  B.,  Dec.  21,  1881. 


A.  Tuller,  farmer,  residing  on  section  36, 
Prophetstown  Township,  is  a  son  of  Elam 
and  Eunitia  (Eno)  Tuller,  and  was  born  in 
Simsbury,  Hartford  Co.,  Conn.,  Oct.  13,  i8r3. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  the  same  State,  born 
near  Simsbury,  as  likewise  was  his  mother. 
The  father  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  and 
mechanic,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of 
six  children,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living.  J.  A., 
subject  of  this  notice,  is  the  oldest.  Henry  L.  re- 
sides in  Peru,  this  State.  William  G.  is  a  railroad 
official  and  resides  in  New  York  city.  Andrew  died 
in  Sterling;  and  Elam  is  also  deceased. 

Mr.  J.  A.  Tuller,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
on  attaining  adult  age,  worked  in  a  steam  engine 
manufactory  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  of  which  his  father 
was  the  principal  owner.  In  July,  1833,  he  came 
with  his  father's  family  to  Chicago  and  soon  after- 
ward went  to  what  is  now  Joliet,  this  State,  where  he 
remained  a  short  time.  In  June,  1836,  Mr:  Tuller 
came  to  Portland  Township,  this  county,  and  re- 
mained a  short  time  and  then  returned  to  Joliet,  and 
in  the  fall  following,  came  back  and  made  a  claim  of 
1 60  acres  in  Portland  Township.  He  resided  there 
a  short  time  and  then  sold  his  claim  and  bought 


.IF" 


• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


other  pieces  of  land  in  the  county,  and  in  1857  he 
purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  at  present  resides, 
at  that  time  consisting  of  1 60  acres.  He  has  subse- 
quently increased  his  acreage  until  he  at  present  is 
the  proprietor  of  37 1  acres,  all  in  a  body,  and  con- 
stituting a  fine  and  well  cultivated  farm.  His  son, 
Wilbur  E.,  now  cultivates  the  farm  and  they  together 
have  27  head  of  fine  horses,  with  Norman  Fercheron 
blood,  and  a  number  of  fine  cattle.  Mr.  Tuller  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

Mr.  Tuller  was  united  in  marriage  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county,  June  8,  1837,  to  Harriet  M. 
Fuller,  a  daughter  of  Simeon  and  Lucina  Fuller,  and 
a  native  of  New  York.  They  have  three  children  : 
Albert  G.,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  in  Osage  Co., 
Kan.;  Emmet,  a  cattle  raiser  in  Southern  Colorado  ; 
Wilbur  E.  resides  on  the  homestead,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Grace  McDonald.  They  have  one  child, 
Agnes,  born  Feb.  2,  1883. 


rancis  W.  Hodges,  farmer,  section  30, 
Coloma  Township,  was  born  Aug.  3,  1823, 
in  Taunton,  Mass.,  and  is  a  son  of  David 
and  Clarissa  M.  (Jones)  Hodges,  who  were 
born,  married  and  died  in  the  Bay  State. 
Their  children  also  included  a  daughter  named 
Clarissa.  Mr.  Hodges  was  sent  to  the  public  schools 
and  afterwards  to  a  seminary  in  Maine,  which  he 
attended  two  years.  In  1840  he  came  to  Kane  Co., 
111.  In  1841  he  became  a  resident  at  Como,  in  Hop- 
kins Township,  where  he  was  a  citizen  until  1850. 
In  that  year  he  made  an  overland  journey  to  Califor- 
nia for  the  purpose  of  mining.  After  four  years  of 
effort  with  fair  success  he  returned  to  Whiteside 
County,  and  located  on  a  tract  of  land  he  had  en- 
tered in  1841  and  where  he  had  established  his 
homestead  for  a  permanency.  His  estate  comprises 
170  acres  in  the  townships  of  Coloma  and  Hahna- 
man,  which  is  all  under  tillage.  In  politics  Mr. 
Hodges  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  B.  Stewart 
in  Como,  Jan.  24,  1856,  and  they  have  had  four 
children— Joseph  W.,  Frank  A.,  Jennie  L.  and 
James  S.  Mrs.  Hodges  was  born  March  19,  1839, 
in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  James  and 
Jane  (Lowry)  Stewart.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Ireland  and  were  ot  Scotch  lineage.  They  came  to 
^HfiKftu  ^.axn.^  ,-N  * 


lien  Hays,  general  farmer,  section  15,  Hume 
Township,  was  born  Oct.  26,  1825,  in  Ve- 
nango  Co.,  Pa.  His  father,  John  P.  Hays, 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  was  a  farmer. 
Mr.  Hays  was  married  March  14,  1850,  to 
Esther  Willing,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  nine  children  :  Maria  married  Jacob  Seth,  and 
lives  on  her  father's  homestead ;  Lorena  J.  married 
Joseph  Brimmer,  a  farmer  of  Hume  Township;  Alice 
resides  at  home  ;  the  other  children  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Hays  was  a  farmer  in  Venango  County  until 
the  fall  of  1882.  In  that  season  he  removed  to 
Whiteside  County,  settling  on  a  farm  of  120  acres  in 
Hume  Township.  He  became  the  owner  of  the 
property  in  1864,  at  which  time  it  was  wholly  uncul- 
tivated. After  purchase  he  rented  the  place  until 
he  became  its  occupant. 

In  political  faith  Mr.  Hayes  is  an  earnest  Repub- 
lican, and  he  has  held  several  offices. 


Whiteside   County  in  1853    and  settled   in  Coloma 
Township.     They  had  nine  children  and  the  follow- 
ing survived  to  mature  age:    Eliza  A.,  Letitia  M.,    *j  * 
Mary  B.,  James   H.,  John  W.  and  Sarah  C.     Mrs. 
Hodges  is  a  communicant  in  the  Episcopal  Church.    \&) 


-*- 


\ 


j:  odney  C.  Crook,  a  retired  farmer  residing 
in  Prophetstown,  this  county,  is  a  son  of 
>>Kq\~  Stephen  and  Mary  C.  (Gibbs)  Crook.  He 
x(  was  born  in  Orange  County,  Vt,  Aug.  24, 
1836.  His  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  in  April,  1838,  came  West,  and 
located  in  what  is  now  Prophetstown  Township,  this 
county,  and  about  one  and  a  half  miles  east  of  the 
present  village  of  that  name.  Asa  Crook,  a  brother 
of  Stephen  Crook,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  bio-  f 
graphical  notice,  moved  from  New  York  to  Michi- 
gan, and  in  May,  1834,  came  to  this  county  and 
located,  and  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first, 
settler  in  Prophetstown  Township.  The  parents  of 
Mr.  Crook,  of  this  sketch,  drove  from  Vermont  with 
teams  in  the  fall  of  1837,  spending  the  winter 
in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  following  spring  came 


• 


WHITES! DE  COUNTY. 


i 


557 


) 

A 


West,  with  two  teams  loaded  with  household  goods, 
and  located  in  this  county.  The  family  consisted 
of  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  One  daughter  was 
married  and  remained  in  Vermont;  and  one  broth- 
er, David  P.,  had  already  preceded  the  family  to  this 
county  to  prepare  a  place  of  shelter ;  Mary,  now  de- 
ceased, was  married  to  Harry  C.  Crook,  in  Vermont ; 
David  P.  and  Albert  G.  are  also  deceased ;  Lucy  A. 
is  a  widow,  and  resides  in  Denver,  Col. ;  Irene  G.  is 
the  wife  of  Joel  Kirshbaum,  of  Burlington,  Iowa,  a 
book-keeper  by  occupation  ;  Charles  H.  is  a  resident 
of  Iowa;  Harriet  is  deceased,  and  Rodney  C.,  the 
subject  of  this  notice.  The  father  died  here  in  the 
fall  after  the  arrival  of  the  family.  The  mother  was 
assisted  by  her  two  sons,  David  P.  and  Albert  G., 
and  when  the  land  had  come  into  market  on  which 
they  originally  settled,  they  purchased  240  acres. 
The  mother  died  in  Sterling,  Sept.  30,  1861,  where 
she  was  living  with  her  daughter,  Lucy  A. 

Mr.  Crook  remained  at  home,  assisting  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  family  and  receiving  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  by  the  common  schools,  until  the 
spring  of  1834,  when  he  went  to  California,  in  com- 
pany with  two  brothers,  D.  P.  and  Charles.  He 
was  employed  in  herding  for  his  brother,  D.  P.,  and 
in  1857  he  returned,  and  the  following  spring  he 
was  employed  in  a  livery  stable  at  Sterling.  He 
then,  in  1860,  went  to  Colorado,  but  only  remained 
a  short  time.  In  1861  he  again  made  the  same  trip. 
In  1862  he  went  for  the  third  time,  and  remained 
until  1864,  engaged  in  mining,  and  meeting  with 
very  good  success.  He  had  several  claims,  and 
made  enough  to  return  and  purchase  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  located  on  sections  30  and  31,  Hume  Town- 
ship. He  resides  on  section  30,  and  has  since 
added  by  subsequent  purchase  to  his  landed  inter- 
ests until  he  is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  240 
acres.  He  gradually  worked  into  fine  stock,  and 
when  he  retired  from  farming  he  had  53  head  of 
cattle,  among  which  were  17  head  of  full-blooded 
Short-horn  and  graded.  He  still  owns  his  24o-acre 
farm,  and  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  one 
year,  Commissioner  three  years,  School  Trustee 
three  years,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  nearly  four 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order.  In 
the  spring  of  1885  he  retired  from  active  labor  on 
the  farm,  and  moved  to  Prophetstown. 

Mr.  Crook  was  united  in   marriage  in  Livingston 


._ 


Co.,  111.,  Feb.  20,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Brydia,  a 
daughter  of  Truman  W.  and  Laura  (Day)  Brydia. 
She  was  bom  in  Bluffdale,  Green  County,  May  13, 
1844.  They  have  one  daughter,  Mary  L.,  born  in 
Hume  Township,  this  county,  March  20,  1876.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Crook  were  natives  of  Vermont. 
Her  father  is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  resides  in 
Livingston  Co.,  111.  Her  mother  died  in  that  county, 
July  8,  1873. 


ewis  C.  Arnett,  farmer,  residing  on  section 
27,  Portland  Township,  and  the  owner  of 
200  acres  on  the  same  section,  was  born  in 
the  township  in  which  he  resides,  on  section 
35,  Dec.  18,  1842,  and  has  spent  his  life  within 
[  the  borders  of  the  county.  His  parents  were 
Jacob  and  Charlotte  (Summers)  Arnett.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  France,  in  which  country  he  was 
born  April  15,  1815.  He  came  to  this  country  in 
1827,  and  located  in  Warren  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  lumbering.  In  1836  he  came  West  and 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Portland 
Township,  this  county.  He  was  there  engaged  by 
the  month  one  season  and  in  1837  located  the  old 
homestead  of  160  acres  on  section  35,  where  the 
subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  born.  The 
parents  of  Mr.  Arnett's  father,  Lewis  and  Clara 
(Shedeg)  Arnett,  came  to  this  State  in  1838  and  lo- 
cated one  mile  south  of  the  residence  of  Jacob  Ar- 
nett, over  the  line  in  Henry  County,  and  died  in 
Loraine  Township,  that  county.  Lewis  C.'s  father 
went  back  to  Pennsylvania  and  was  there  married 
in  the  village  of  Warren,  in  March,  1842,  to  Miss 
Charlotte  Summers.  They  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  all  living,  ot  whom  Lewis  C.  is  the  eldest, 
Samuel  resides  in  Geneseo,  111.,  and  is  a  dealer  in 
agricultural  implements,  in  company  with  two  other 
brothers,  Philip  and  Albert.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  An- 
drew Smith,  a  farmer,  who  is  residing  in  Loraine 
Township,  Henry  County.  Clara  is  the  wife  of 
Abraham  Rapp,  a  farmer  residing  in  the  same  town- 
ship. Otilla  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Alber,  who  keeps 
a  restaurant  and  bakery  in  Kansas  City. 

Mr.  Arnett  was  reared  at  home  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  2 1  years,  receiving  the  advantages  af- 
forded by  the  common  schools  and  assisting  in  .the 
maintenance  of  the  family.  In  1866  he  bought  120 

— Ava^ 

" 


• 


' 


• 


<§, 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


acres  of  his  present  farm,  and  in  1868  purchased 
the  remainder.  He  now  has  200  acres  of  good  till- 
able land  and  also  twenty-five  acres  of  timber  in 
Loraine  Township,  Henry  County.  Mr.  Arnett  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Order.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  in  Loraine  Township,  Henry  County,  this 
State,  Sept.  6,  1868,  to  Miss  Sarah  Roos.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Martin  and  Elizabeth  Roos,  and  was 
born  in  Loraine  Township,  May  22,  1849.  They 
have  six  children,  all  born  in  Portland  Township,  this 
county,  namely:  Clara,  born  June  23,  1869;  Stacy, 
born  Nov.  15,  1870;  Leroy,  born  March  7,  1872; 
Ida,  born  Aug.  20,  1873;  Agnes,  Feb.  14,  1875;  and 
vVinnie,  Sept.  5,  1876. 

^      ^ 

~^^*  ''"fir" J~" — sT* 


evi  D.  Baldwin,  dealer  in  coal,  feed,  flour 
and  meal,  lime  and  cement  at  Lyndon,  be- 
came a  resident  of  that  place  in  1873.     In 
1879  he  bought  the  business  interests  he  is  now 
conducting  of  G.  W.  Fitch.     He  is  the  owner 
of  a  considerable  amount  of  village   property, 
which  he  purchased  at  various  times. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  born  Oct.  i,  1825,  in  Manchester, 
Benmngton  Co.,  Vt.  His  parents,  Silas  G.  and  Han- 
nah (Church)  Baldwin,  were  both  born  in  the  same 
State.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  in  company  with  two  brothers  came  to  Amer- 
ica. They  resided  for  a  time  in  Connecticut  and  re- 
moved thence  to  Washington  Co.,  Vt.,  going  from 
there  to  Windham  County,  where  the  grandsire  died. 
Mr.  Baldwin  was  but  six  years  old  when  his  mother 
died,  and  his  father  went  soon  after  to  Jamaica,  in 
Windham  County,  where  he  was  again  married.  Mr. 
Baldwin  began  to  take  care  of  himself  when  but 
nine  years  old,  obtaining  work  in  summer  and  at- 
tending school  in  winter.  In  1842  he  left  his  native 
State  and  went  to  Massachusetts,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  returning  at  the  expiration  of 
that  time  to  Vermont. 

Mr.  Baldwin  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  Nov. 
4,  1845,'  with  Samantha  Hogeboon.  He  remained 
in  Vermont  until  1855,  and  during  the  last  year  of 
his  stay  in  that  State  he  worked  as  a  brick  and 
plaster  mason.  On  coming  to  Illinois  he  purchased 
a  considerable  acreage  of  land  in  Fairfield  Town- 
ship, Bureau  County,  consisting  of  both  wild  and 


improved  land.  He  began  to  apply  himself  indus- 
triously as  a  farmer  and  also  worked  at  the  trade  of 
a  mason.  In  1871  he  sold  his  farm  and  went  to 
Washington  County,  whence  he  returned  after  a  stay 
of  eighteen  months  to  Bureau  County.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1872,  he  came  to  the  township  of  Lyndon,  this 
county.  Mrs.  Baldwin  is  the  daughter  of  John 
Hogeboon,  a  member  of  the  family  of  his  son-in- 
law,  and  91  years  of  age. 


Deveraux  Parish,  insurance  agent  and 
|"  special  agent  and  adjuster  for  Northern 
Illinois,  for  the  Home  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  New  York,  has  his  office  in  Prophets- 
town.  He  is  a  son  of  Oliver  and  Amanda  M. 
(Deveraux)  Parish,  and  was  born  in  Genesee 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  26,  1845.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
i>y  occupation,  and  was  Sheriff  of  that  county  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  held  numerous  other  offices.  Both 
parents  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Parish  attended  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  county,  and  afterward  the  Alexander  and 
Oakfield  Academies,  and  then  attended  the  Hamilton 
College  two  years.  He  then  engaged  with  the  Mich- 
igan Southern  Railroad  in  the  capacity  of  Civil  Engi- 
neer, and  remained  with  them  for  two  or  three  years, 
and  continued  to  follow  the  business,  working  for  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  and  the  Sheboygan  & 
Fond  du  Lac  Railroad  Companies  from  1865  to 
1871.  In  1870  he  came  to  Prophetstown  as  Civil 
Engineer  for  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad,  and  in  187  i  he  opened  a  store  in  company 
with  Benjamin  Robinson,  which  they  continued  to 
successfully  conduct  for  a  period  of  five  years  and 
over.  He  then  sold  his  interest  and  engaged  in  the 
insurance  business,  in  which  he  has  since  been  in- 
terested. He  has  a  number  of  leading  fire  insur- 
ance companies,  which  he  represents,  among  which 
are  the  Home  of  New  York,  Phcenix  of  Hartford, 
Firemen's  Fund,  Sun  of  London,  Commercial  Union, 
American  of  Philadelphia,  German  of  Peoria,  and 
American  Central  of  St.  Louis.  He  does  the  prin- 
cipal portion  of  the  business  of  this  section  of  the 
county,  and  is  also  engaged  to  a  considerable  extent 
in  the  real-estate  and  loan  business.  He  owns  his 
nice  residence  in  Prophetstown  and  one  block  on  the 


@J 

Sk 


V§) 


iMf  ui-  ILLINOIS 





WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


' 


south  side  of  the  railroad.  Mr.-  Parish  is  also  a 
Notury  Public  ;  also  a  Freemason,  belonging  to  Blue 
Lodge,  and  Chapter  173,  Sterling  Commandery,  No. 
57  ;  is  a  Knight  Templar  and  belongs  to  the  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  having  passed  all  the  chairs;  is  a 
member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  also  of  the  Order  of 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Mr.  Parish  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophets- 
town,  Aug.  10,  1871,  to  Miss  Libbie  Robinson.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Fanny  Robinson,  and 
was  born  in  Prophetstown,  March  n,  1848.  One 
daughter,  Lute  R.,  was  born  to  them  Sept.  28,  1875. 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Parish  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county,  coming  here  in  1843.  Her 
father  is  deceased  and  her  mother  is  still  living  in 
Prophetstown. 

Mr.  Parish  was  City  Clerk  for  a  number  of  years, 
until  May  i,  1885.  He  took  the  census  of  1880  and 
is  and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  the  township 
Representative  on  the  County  Republican  Central 
Committee,  of  which  he  was  secretary.  He  is  also 
one  of  the  Directors  of  the  Whiteside  County  Central 
Agricultural  Society  of  Morrison.  In  1880  he  was 
one  of  the  editors  and  proprietors  of  the  Walnut 
Motor,  of  Bureau  County,  111.,  the  firm  being  Parish 
&  Wilde.  He  was  also  Secretary  of  the  Prophets- 
town  Driving  Park  Association  two  years.  He  has 
been  an  active  Republican  worker  in  local  politics. 
In  the  32d  General  Assembly  he  was  Secretary  of 
the  Revenue  Committee.  In  April,  1885,  he  took 
control  of  the  State  of  Nebraska  for  the  Home  In- 
surance Company  of  New  York,  in  its  farm  depart- 
ment as  superintendent,  with  an  office  at  Lincoln. 
Is  also  interested  in  the  firm  of  Parish  Bros.,  in 
Denver,  Col. 


^oseph  Benner,  farmer,  section  i,  Hopkins 
fe-  Township,  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Mary 
(Fralich)  Benner,  who  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  married  and  resided  in 
their  native  State  until  her  death.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  Canada,  where  he  lived  till 
his  death.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  Joseph  was  the  seventh. 

He   was  born   in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,   March  30, 
1817,  and  lived  in  his  native  State  till   21   years  of 


age,  when  he  went  to  Canada,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  in  the 
spring  of  1868,  and  bought  160  acres  of  land  in 
Hopkins  Township,  on  section  i.  Here  he  has  since 
lived.  All  his  land  is  profitably  tillable. 

He  was  married  in  Canada,  April  r3,  1847,  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Eaton,  who  were 
natives  of  Ireland.  She  was  the  seventh  of  a  family 
of  ten  children,  and  was  born  in  Ireland,  May  26, 
1824.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are  the  parents  of  u  chil- 
dren, namely:  Maggie  A.,  Barbara,  Elias  D.,  George 
W.,  Elam  E.,  Mary  E.,  Angie,  Sarah  E.,  Alice,  Maria 
and  Joseph  H.  Alice  died  in  infancy,  when  four 
months  old. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Benner  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Democratic  party. 


Larrison  D.  Burch,  farmer,  section  r 5,  Union 
Grove  Township,  was  born  July  22,  18331 
in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is  the  son 
of  Ira  and  Joanna  M.  (Bacon)  Burch,  who  were 
born  respectively  in  New  York  and  Vermont. 
After  their  marriage,  they  located  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  a  few  years  later  they  went  to 
Indiana,  whence  they  removed  in  1837  to  Illinois. 
They  are  mentioned  in  the  records  of  the  county  as 
being  one  of  four  families  who  settled  in  the  town- 
ship of  Garden  Plain  in  that  year.  The  father  is 
deceased.  The  mother  survives  and  lives  in  Union 
Grove  Township.  They  have  four  children  living, — 
Harrison  D.,  Thomas  J.,  Eliza  S.  and  Ira  S. 

Mr.  Burch  was  four  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  he  has  practically 
passed  his  life  thus  far  within  its  limits,  having  spent 
but  18  months  outside  of  them  since  he  was  brought 
hither  by  his  father  and  mother.  He  is  a  farmer  of 
extensive  agricultural  relations,  owning  335  acres  of 
land  in  Union  Grove  Township,  which  is  nearly  all 
under  tillage. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Burch  to  Elizabeth  VV. 
Wookey  took  place  Jan.  r,  1856,  in  Kenosha,  Wis. 
Mrs.  Burch  was  born  May  29,  1835,  in  England. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  George  and  Maria  (Bryant) 
Wookey.  The  family  of  her  father  came  to  America 
about  1850  and  located  in  Kenosha,  where  he  died 


•:••• 


•V 


WH1TES1DE  COUNTY. 


Aug.  28,  1854.  The  mother  died  in  Union  Grove 
Township,  May  12,  1880.  They  had  ten  children, 
who  were  named  Mary  A.,  John,  Sarah,  James, 
George,  Thomas,  William,  Jane,  Elizabeth  W.  and 
Frank  R.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burch  have  been  the  par- 
ents of  13  children,  four  of  whom — William,  Marion, 
Franklin  and  Nellie — are  deceased.  They  were  born 
in  the  following  order:  William,  Thomas  J.,  Frank- 
lin, Lafayette  W.,  Marion,  Mary  A.,  Ella  M.,  George, 
Lizzie  J.,  Nellie,  Bertie,  Henrietta  and  Freddie. 

In  his  political  views  and  connections  he  affiliates 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  been  active 
in  local  official  positions.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  his  wife  also 
belongs. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Burch  appears  on  a  preceding 
page  and  represents  a  man  who  is  esteemed  as  a 
worthy  citizen  and  an  upright,  honorable  man.  It  is 
copied  from  a  photograph  recently  taken. 


Albert  Field,  a  farmer,  owning  278  acres  of 
land  located  on  sections  22,  27  and  28, 
Prophetstown  Township,  was  born  one- 
eighth  of  a  mile  from  his  present  residence, 
Jan.  5,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Olive  (Paddock)  Field,  natives  of  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  who  reside  in  Prophetstown 
Township.  Mr.  Field  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  the 
latter  township,  receiving  the  advantages  afforded  by 
the  common  schools  and  assisting  in  the  labors  of 
the  farm.  In  1877  his  father  gave  him  82^2  acres  of 
land  where  he  at  present  resides,  and  he  has  since 
added  to  his  original  tract  until  he  is  at  present  the 
proprietor  of  the  number  of  acres  mentioned.  Mr. 
Field  makes  a  specialty  of  dealing  in  cattle.  He 
buys  and  fattens  his  stock  on  his  farm  and  ships 
mostly  to  the  Chicago  market,  usually  shipping  from 
one  to  two  cars  of  cattle  and  the  same  of  swine. 

Mr.  Field  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophetstown, 
March  25,  1877,  to  Miss  Alice  A.  Jewell.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Lewis,  H.  and  Margaret  Jewell,  and  was 
born  in  Carroll  County,  this  State,  Oct.  31,  1856. 
Her  parents  are  both  living  and  reside  in  Lucas  Co., 
Iowa.  Mr.  Field  has  made  a  success  in  life,  and  has 
a  fine  farm  under  good  cultivation  and  is  one  of  the 

(g\V9rgs/ROT 


representative  and  prosperous  farmers  of  Whiteside 
County. 

Samuel  Field,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical notice,  resides  on  section  26,  the  same 
township.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Fan- 
ning) Field,  and  was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
15,  1821.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island 
and  his  mother  a  native  of  Connecticut.  Their 
family  consisted  of  1 1  children,  four  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. Edmund,  a  farmer.  Samuel,  the  subject  of  this 
paragraph.  Waterman,  a  farmer  in  California  ;  and 
Silas,  a  rancher  in  British  Columbia.  Samuel  Field 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  in  1852  was  the  possessor 
of  65  acres,  which  he  sold,  and  located  on  the  Rock 
River  bottom,  where  he  bought  80  acres  and  subse- 
quently added  to  it  until  he  was  the  possessor  of 
630  acres,  which  he  has  since  divided  among  his 
children,  except  88  acres.  In  1865  he  came  to  his 
present  farm  and  now  has  120  acres,  58  of  which  is 
on  the  river  bottom. 

He  was  married  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss 
Olive  Paddock,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Polly  Pad- 
dock. She  was  bom  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  7, 
1829.  They  have  six  children,  one  born  in  New 
York  and  five  in  Prophetstown  Township.  Helen  is 
the  wife  of  John  Ellsworth,  a  farmer  in  Prophetstown 
Township.  Albert  is  also  a  farmer  in  the  same  town- 
ship. Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Marion  Green,  a  farmer 
in  Hume  Township.  George  also  follows  the  occu- 
pation of  a  farmer.  Nettie  C.  is  the  wife  of  William 
Washburn;  and  Emma  resides  with  her  parents. 


B.  Worthington,  deceased,  formerly  a 
prominent  resident  of  Sterling,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Colchester,  Conn.,  married,  April 
24,  1834,  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  E.  McShane, 
of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  in  1837,  with  her  and 
their  two  children,  emigrated  from  Luzerne  Co., 
Pa.,  to  Harrisburg,  this  county,  now  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  Sterling,  and  then  consisting  of  but  four  log 
cabins.  The  two  children  were  Anna,  who  afterward 
married  Lorenzo  Hapgood,  and  Edward  L., — l>oth 
now  deceased.  This  was  the  fifth  family  to  locate 
here. 

To  induce  Mrs.  Worthington  to  open  a  school,  the 
town  proprietors  gave  her  a  town  lot,  on  which  her 

Z^ >«^W^__  ..'.     ^. 


r 


husband  built  the  first  frame  house  in  the  locality. 
The  frame  was  raised  on  the  4th  of  July,  1837,  and 
occupied  on  the  last  day  of  November.  The  school 
was  commenced  early  the  following  spring,  with  10 
or  12  pupils.  For  a  list  of  their  names,  see  history 
of  Sterling,  on  another  page. 

Mr.  W.  made  a  claim  on  the  south  side  of  Rock 
River,  and,  after  improving  it,  sold  it  to  Henry  C. 
Landis,  the  present  owner.  Mr.  Worthington  was 
chosen  Postmaster,  under  President  Harrison,  and 
remained  in  office  12  years.  When  the  county  seat 
was  located  and  the  court-house  about  to  be  built) 
the  towns  of  Harrisburg  and  Chatham  united,  under 
the  name  of  Sterling,  in  honor  of  Major  Sterling,  of 
Pennsylvania.  Being  desirable  that  the  postoffice 
should  be  more  central,  Mr.  W.  selected  a  location 
on  Broadway,  namely,  block  52,  east  of  Broadway, 
built,  and  removed  there  in  November,  1843.  This 
place  he  continued  to  occupy  until  his  death,  which 
took  place  Nov.  14,  1871  :  it  is  still  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  his  widow,  who  is  now  in  her  ygth  year. 
Mr.  W.  held  the  position  of  Deputy  Clerk  of  the  Cir- 
cuit Court  for  several  years.  Before  leaving  Penn- 
sylvania, Mr.  Worthington  edited 'the  Anti-Masonic 
Journal  and  Wilkes  Barre  Advertiser  for  four  years, 
when,  on  deciding  to  emigrate  West,  he  sold  to  a 
Mr.  Minor. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  four  daughters  were  born,  in 
Sterling,  viz.:  Mrs.  S.  S.  Lukons,  Mrs.  A.  A.  Nor- 
wood, Mrs.  C.  C.  Johnson  and  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Since  then  the  first  named  has  also  died. 


harles  Frederick  Peterson,  boot  and  shoe 
merchant  at  Morrison,  was  born  Dec.  16, 
1831,  in  Germany,  and  his  patents,  Peter 
P.  and  Dorathy  Petersen,  were  also  natives  of 
that  country.  The  son  was  reared  in  the  same 
manner  as  other  German  children,  the  laws  of 
his  native  country  fixing  the  course  of  training  under 
which  all  male  children  are  brought  up.  After 
spending  the  required  time  in  school,  he  was  placed 
in  an  apprenticeship  and  learned  the  business  of 
shoemaking.  On  reaching  manhood,  he  was  con- 
scripted in  the  regular  army.  He  was  in  the 
Schleswig-Holstein  war  and  was  under  fire  in  sev- 
eral actions. 

In  1855  he  determined  on  emigrating  to  America, 


and  in  the  same  year  he  arrived  in  the  United  States. 
He  spent  a  few  months  at  his  trade  in  Albany  and 
went  thence  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  was  simi- 
larly employed  for  a  short  period.  He  went  next  to 
Painesville,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  n&arly  three 
years. 

He  came  in  1858  to  Morrison,  and  established  his 
business,  in  which  he  has  operated  continuously,  and 
is  the  oldest  craftsman  in  his  line  at  that  place.  He 
first  operated  on  a  small  scale,  opening  a  boot  and 
shoe  store  and  also  did  repairing.  He  bought  the 
stand  where  he  is  now  pursuing  the  relations  of  his 
business  in  1859,  and  has  been  its  occupant  26  years 
(1885).  He  is  the  owner  of  120  acres  of  land  three 
miles  south  of  Morrison,  and  a  residence  at  Morrison. 

May  2,  1 86 1,  he  was  united  in  marriage  at  Paines- 
ville, Ohio,  to  Hannah  Louisa  Voelker,  and  they 
have  five  children, — Minnie,  Frank,  Edward,  Albert 
and  Bertha.  The  oldest  daughter  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Johnson,  of  Morrison. 


dward  Cleaveland,  general  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  section  33,  Hume  Township, 
was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  27, 
1841,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Amy  Cleave- 
land. He  was  about  12  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  emigrated  West  with  their  family  and 
settled  in  Hume  Township.  He  was  reared  as  a 
farmer's  son,  remaining  at  home  until  he  was  23 
years  of  age.  When  21  years  old  he  enlisted  for  the 
war  in  defense  of  his  country,  enrolling  in  Co.  C, 
75th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  at  Dixon.  The  regiment 
was  attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  under 
Gens.  Buel  and  Rosecrans.  Oct.  8,  he  was  engaged 
in  the  hottest  of  the  battle  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  and 
was  wounded  in  both  legs  below  the  knees  by  a  gun- 
shot from  the  enemy.  After  lying  in  the  hospital 
about  four  months  he  was  honorably  discharged,  on 
account  of  physical  debility,  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Dec. 
ii,  1862. 

Jan.  3,  1865,  he  was  married  at  Prophetstown, 
this  county,  to  Miss  Harriet  Morehead,  who  was 
born  in  Venango  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  17,  1847,  and  came 
West  to  Illinois  with  her  father  when  very  young. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cleaveland  have  three  children, — 
Amy,  Grant  and  Mary  Blanche. 

During  the  spring  after  his  marriage  Mr.   C.  set- 


S 


V 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


•;» 


- 


tied  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  then  com- 
prising 40  acres  but  now  160,  all  well  improved  and 
equipped  with  good  farm  buildings. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  C.  is  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat, and  he  has  been  Road  Commissioner  three 
years  and  Tax  Collector  four  years. 


Cornelius  Cunningham,  farmer,  section 
20,  Hahnaman  Township,  was  born  in 
Ireland,  in  1820,  and  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  1850.  He  lived  in  Clinton,  Hunt- 
erdon  Co.,  N.  J.,  until  1852,  in  Pennsylvania 
until  the  next  year,  then  in  Rockford,  111., 
about  two  years,  then  in  Monroe,  Green  Co.,  Wis., 
till  February,  1866,  when  he  came  to  this  county, 
settling  in  Hahnaman  Township,  where  he  is  now 
the  proprietor  of  400  acres,  about  250  of  which  is  in 
thorough  cultivation. 

Mr.  C.  was  married  in  Pennsylvania,  Nov.  14, 
1852,  to  Eliza  Fogarty,  who  also  is  a  native  of  Ire- 
land. They  have  12  children,  viz. :  Morris,  John  J., 
Mary  A.,  Lizzie  A.,  Cornelius,  Nellie  M.,  Sadie  F., 
Frank,  Thomas,  Edward,  Margaret  and  Charles. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  C.  is  a  Republican,  and 
both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 


nson  H.  Brauer  has  been  a  farmer  in  Ster- 
ling Township,  since  1875,  when  he  located 
on  section  n,  and  where  he  made  a  purchase 
of  80  acres  of  land.  The  farm  is  in  excellent 
agricultural  condition.  Mr.  Brauer  was  born 
in  Lee  Co.,  111.,  May  30,  1849,  and  he  is  the  son 
of  William  and  Helen  Brauer.  Both  his  parents 
were  natives  of  Germany,  and  emigrated  to  Illinois 
in  1840.  They  located  in  Lee  County,  where  they 
are  now  living:  They  had  three  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Those  who  still  survive  are 
named  Anson  H.  and  Frank  W. 

Mr.  Brauer  has  passed  his  life  since  his  school 
days  in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture,  remaining  with 
his  parents  until  he  was  25. 

He  was  married  April  8,  1874,  in  Lee  County,  to 


Lillian  H.  Butler,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Myrtle  M.  and  Leroy.  Mrs.  Brauer  was  born  June 
7,  1855,  in  Lee  County,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Timothy  A.  and  Roxana  (Stewart)  Butler.  The 
former  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  the 
latter  in  Illinois.  Their  children,  seven  in  number, 
were  born  and  named  as  follows:  Mary  M.,  Lillian 
H.,  Otho  J.,  Perdita  A.,  Cicely  E.,  Catherine  and 
NoraM. 

Politically  Mr.  Brauer  is  a  Republican,  and  in  re- 
ligious preference  he  is  a  believer  in  the  tenets  of 
the  German  Lutheran  Church.  He  has  been  Over- 
seer of  Highways  five  years,  and  School  Director 
since  the  spring  of  1885. 


elson  Maxson,  of  Sterling,  residing  at  the 
corner  of  Fourth  and  Clinton  Streets,  was 
born  in  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  3,  1818, 
his  parents  being  Phineas  and  Phebe  (Ring- 
K,  gold)  Maxon,  natives  of  Rhode  Island  and  resi- 
dents upon  a  farm. 

Mr.  Maxson  was  but  15  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  died,  and  then  went  to  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  worked  on  a  farm  three  years ;  next,  he  went  to 
Augusta,  Oneida  County,  that  State,  purchased  a 
wagon  shop  and  carried  it  on  until  1851,  when  he 
sold  it  and  moved  to  Oswego  County,  same  State, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  one 
year;  he  was  Deputy  Sheriff  of  Oneida  County,  and 
while  at  Augusta  he  was  Postmaster  during  Taylor 
and  Fillmore's  administrations;  and  while  in  Oswego  V 
County  he  was  Postmaster  until  his  removal  West- 
He  sold  his  position  in  the  lumber  business  in  Os- 
wego County,  and  moved  to  La  Salle  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  took  charge  of  a  carriage  shop  two  years.  In 
1855  he  came  to  Sterling,  this  county,  and  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  carr.ages  until  1859,  when  he 
closed  the  business  and  entered  the  mercantile  trade 
with  Rice  Bros.,  remaining  with  them  until  1862. 
Then  selling  his  interest  to  them,  he  followed  the 
real-estate  business  until  1872  ;  then  was  a  merchant 
again  until  1874,  in  Sterling.  He  moved  his  stock 
of  goods  to  Tampico,  this  county,  where  he  was  in 
business  nearly  two  years,  when  he  was  burned  out. 
Returning  to  Sterling  for  a  year,  he  purchased  a 
farm  at  Midland  Junction,  Iowa,  where  he  was  en- 


'*  • 


7 

fa 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


gaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  six  years.  Selling  a 
part  of  the  farm,  he  moved  back  to  Sterling,  into  the 
same  house  he  built  and  owned  since  1855.  He  is 
now  enjoying  a  retirement  from  the  responsibilities 
of  business. 

In  1862  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Sterling  and 
served  a  term,  and  in  1865  was  re-elected.  He  has 
also  been  Overseer  of  the  Poor  for  Sterling  for  six 
years,  and  School  Director  for  several  years.  He 
•was  one  of  the  Vestrymen  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  from  the  time  their  house  of  worship  was 
built,  in  1865,  for  several  years.  Since  1844  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  in  politics  he 
is  a  Republican.  He  is  an  influential  and  leading 
citizen  of  Sterling. 

Mr.  Maxson  was  married  Aug.  u,  1839,10  Miss 
Mary  Alexander,  a  native  of  Butternuts,  Otsego  Co., 
N.  Y.'They  have  two  children  living  and  an  adopted 
daughter.  The  children  are,  Adelbert  A.,  who  mar- 
ried Lizzie  Monohon  in  1870,  and  has  a  daughter 
named  Virginia ;  J.  C.,  who  married  Annie  Strong  in 
1883;  and  the  adopted  daughter  is  named  Georgie. 

Aug.  n,  1864,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maxon  celebrated 
their  silver  wedding.  Both  being  in  good  health, 
they  expect  in  1889  to  celebrate  their  golden  wed- 
ding. 


ilson  B.    Bull,   farmer,  section  9,   Union 
Grove  Township,  is   a  son  of  J.  W.  and 
,         and  Huldah  (Wilson)  Bull.     (See  sketch 
|>     of  J.   W.  Bull.)     He  was  born    in    Ustick 
Township,  this  county.  June  25,  1855,  and 
was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm, 
receiving  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools. 

At  the  age  of  22  years,  Mr.  Bull  left  the  parental 
homestead  and  "  worked  out  "  for  about  14  months. 
He  then  rented  his  father's  farm,  which  he  cultivated 
for  one  year,  then  rented  a  farm  of  Mrs.  Sally  Mar- 
tin and  cultivated  that  four  years:  He  has  since 
rented  various  farms  in  the  county,  and  is  at  this 
writing  (1885)  cultivating  a  farm  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  9. 

Mr.  Bull  was  united  in  marriage  Feb.  26,  1879,  to 
Miss  Eva  M.,  daughter  of  B.  P.  and  Adelia  (Green- 
Ice)  Baker,  in  Ustick  Township,  and  in  which  town- 
ship Mrs.  B.'s  parents  still  reside.  Mrs.  Bull  was 


born  in  Union  Grove  Township,  Nov.  28,  1856.  She 
and  her  husband  are  the  parents  of  three  children, 
namely,  Huldah  M.,  Roy  W.  and  Gertrude. 

Politically,  Mr.  Bull  is  a  Republican,  and  socially, 
belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


dam  Wallace,  retired  farmer,  resident  at 
Morrison,  was  born  May  7,  1816,  near 
Loch  Winroch,  Scotland,  and  is  the  son  of 
Robert  and  Jane  (McLachlan)  Wallace.  His 
father  was  a  tradesman  and  acquired  a  world- 
wide celebrity  as  a  philanthropist.  During 
the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  devoted  his  time  prin- 
cipally to  the  personal  investigation  of  the  condition 
of  the  poorer  classes  and  in  exertions  for  the  amel- 
ioration of  their  necessities.  He  was  the  author  of 
a  pamphlet  entitled  "The  Christian  Soldier."  Adam's 
mother  was  also  a  native  of  Scotland.  They  were 
the  parents  of  11  children,  and  four  are  living: 
William  is  a  retired  farmer  and  resides  at  Morrison  ; 
Mary  is  a  widow  and  lives  near  Chicago;  Agnes  is 
the  wife  of  Robert  Ralston,  a  painter  in  Clinton, 
Iowa. 

Mr.  Wallace  is  the  second  child  of  his  parents 
now  living.  After  he  was  16  years  of  age  he  was 
an  assistant  in  a  cotton  factory  in  his  native  country 
until  1840,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States,  lo- 
cating in  Saco,  Maine,  where  he  obtained  a  position 
as  overseer  in  a  cotton-mill.  He  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Whiteside  County  since  1856,  when  he  set- 
tled in  Ustick  Township.  In  1878  he  quit  the  farm 
in  Ustick  Township  and  moved  to  Morrison. 

He  look  a  prominent  part  in  religious  matters  in 
the  township  of  Ustick  and  aided  materially  in  the 
construction  of  the  Presbyterian  church  edifice  in 
that  township.  He  was  one  who  helped  to  purchase 
an  organ  for  the  Sunday-school,  and  through  the 
mutual  efforts  of  himself  and  the  minister  he  was 
instrumental  in  its  being  played  during  the  services, 
notwithstanding  the  determined  opposition  of  many 
members  of  the  society  who,  true  to  their  educational 
prejudices,  believed  it  sinful.  The  feeling  grew  to 
such  strength  that  some  of  the  Scotch  members  took 
the  offending  instrument  a  mile  away  and  burned  it! 
His  marriage  to  Olive  Peabody  took  place  in 
Kennelmnk,  Maine.  Four  children  were  born  of, 


WHITESTDE  COUNTY. 


• 


their  union  and  two  are  deceased.  William  H.  is  a 
banker  in  Exeter,  Neb. ;  Susan  P.  is  acting  as  cashier 
in  the  banking  house  of  her  brother.  The  mother 
died  in  Biddeford,  Maine.  Mr.  Wallace  was  a 
second  time  married,  in  Chicago,  to  Hannah  Roberts, 
who  was  born  at  Holly  Center,  Maine.  Two  chil- 
dren born  of  the  second  marriage  are  deceased. 


rank  Davis,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  sec- 
tion 3,  Tampico  Township,  was  born  in 
'»"  Lyndon,  this  county,  Sept.  16,  1854.  His 
father,  Isaac  S.  Davis,  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey  and  a  farmer;  his  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Jane  Belt,  and  she  was  a  native  of 
Ohio.  His  parents  emigrated  to  the  West  in  1840, 
and  were  among  the  first  settlers  in  Lyndon  Town- 
ship. His  father  died  in  August,  1881,  aged  66 
years,  and  was  buried  at  the  Lyndon  Cemetery.  His 
mother  is  still  living  with  her  son  Frank,  and  is  now 
68  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Davis,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  young- 
est of  a  family  of  seven  children  ;  he  attended  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  township  until  he  was 
14  years  of  age,  when  his  parents  removed  to  Tam- 
pico Township,  locating  upon  a  splendid  farm  of  160 
acres,  where  he  developed  a  taste  for  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  since  the  death  of  his  father  he  has 
been  the  possessor  of  the  homestead.  The  whole 
acreage  is  well  improved  and  in  fine  condition.  Mr. 
Davis  is  also  successfully  increasing  his  operations 
in  rearing  live  stock. 

In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican. 


^"ohn    H.    Kempster,    farmer,   owning    150 
acres    on    sections    33    and    34,    Portland 
Township,  is   a   son   of  John    and    Lydia* 
(Hall)  Kempster  (see  sketch  of  William    W. 
Kempster  for  biography  of  parents),  and  was 
born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  u,  1818. 
He  came  West  with  his  father's  family  by  water, 
via  the  lakes  and  Chicago,  and  Aug.  25,  1837,  came 
to  Portland  Township,  this  county.     He  was  reared 
on  the  farm  and  attended  the  common  schools  of  the 
^county.     On  his  father  dividing  his  land  among  his 


three  sons,  John  H.  received  120  acres  and  has  since 
added  by  purchase  30  acres,  and  at  present  has  a 
fine  farm  of  150  acres.  He  has  a  fine  residence  and 
good  farm  buildings  on  his  place  and  the  entire 
tract  well  fenced.  In  the  winter  of  1856  he  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  a  mill  which  his  brothers  and 
a  Mr.  Butzer  had  erected  (see  sketch  of  Wm.  W. 
Kempster),  buying  out  Mr.  Butzer. 

Mr.  Kempster  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor 
one  year,  also  Commissioner  of  Highways  and  School 
Trustee. 

He  was  married  in  Portland  Township  Oct.  6, 
1853,  to  Miss  Eliza  Rowe,  daughter  of  Smith  and 
Rachel  Rowe.  She  was  born  in  Steuber.  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  1830.  The  issue  of  their  union  was  eight  chil- 
dren, namely:  Ellen  A.,  born  Sept.  23,  1854;  Mary 
J.,  born  March  17,  1856;  Henry  J.,  born  May  31, 
1858,  died  Aug.  5,  1879;  Lottie  J.,  born  Dec.  24, 
1860;  Robert  A.,  born  March  5,  1863;  Ulysses  G., 
Feb.  i,  1865;  Minnie  E.,  Sept.  n,  1868;  Estella 
M.,  July  7,  1870;  Ethel  C.,  Sept.  23,  1874;  and 
Bessie  R.,  Feb.  i,  1877. 

Ellen  A.  married  John  Hahn,  a  farmer  in  Larimer, 
Col.  Mary  J.  is  the  wife  of  Wm.  Arnett,  a  farmer 
in  Loraine  Township,  Henry  County,  this  State. 
Lottie  J.  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Arnett,  a  farmer  of  the 
same  township  and  county. 


illiam  R.  McKenzie,  a  farmer  residing  on 
section  35,  Prophetstown  Township,  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Lovisa  (Richmond) 
McKenzie,  and  was  born  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Oct.  30,  1815.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
the  same  State  in  which  his  son  was  born,  and 
his  mother  a  native  of  Connecticut.  Their  children 
were  five  in  number,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
William  R.,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  is  the  oldest ; 
Milton,  Marlow  C.,  and  Laura  A.  are  the  remaining 
three  who  are  living  ;  and  Catherine  is  deceased. 

Mr.  McKenzie  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  time 
and  locality  in  which  he  resided.  In  1837  he  came 
West  and  located  in  Prophetstown  Township,  this 
county ;  he  came  by  steamer  from  New  York  to  Chi- 
cago, then  in  company  with  several  others  walked  to 
this  county,  where  he  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  a 


S 

-  _* 

I 


^-^  VV-MMOI 
WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


I 


farmer  for  different  parties.  He  entered  a  piece  of 
land  on  section  27,  which  he  afterwards  sold  a_nd 
bought  (1849)  where  he  at  present  resides  40  acres. 
He  kept  adding  to  his  original  purchase  at  different 
times,  until  he  now  has  360  acres  of  land,  which 
constitutes  a  nice  and  well  improved  farm,  with  sub- 
stantial out-buildings,  residence,  etc.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years,  and  also 
that  of  School  Trustee. 

Mr.  McKenzie  was  united  in  marriage  in  Lyndon 
Township,  this  county,  March  17,  1842,  to  Miss 
Harriet  Martin,  a  daughter  of  Silas  and  Sarah  Mar- 
tin. She  was  born  in  Canada,  May  16,  1822,  and 
has  borne  to  her  husband  seven  children,  two  of  whom 
are  deceased.  The  living  are,  Luther  B.,  born  Feb. 
23,  1843,  and  is  a  farmer  residing  in  Prophetstown 
Township;  Lovisa,  born  Aug.  7,  1848,  is  the  wife  of 
F.  D.  Ramsay,  an  attorney  at  law,  residing  in  Mor- 
rison; Ella,  wife  of  A.  H.  Reynolds,  a  farmer  of 
Green  Co.,  Iowa,  was  born  Dec.  20,  1850;  Mabel, 
wife  of  George  H.  Hyde,  a  merchant  at  Little  Rock, 
Ark.,  was  born  May  10,  1853;  Arthur,  born  March 
29,  1855,  resides  at  home.  The  deceased  are,  Wil- 
liam, born  May  4,  1844,  died  Aug.  8,  1883;  and 
Dallas-,  bovn  Dec.  29,  '845,  died  Aug..  29,  1847. 


Charles  F.  Adams,  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 13,  Portland  Township,  has  332  acres 
of  land  in  the  township.  He  is  a  son  of 
Abela  and  Olive  (Hawes)  Adams,  and  was 
born  in  Pittsford,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  Aug.  24, 
1829.  In  1840  the  family  came  to  this 
county,  and  located  in  Portland  Township,  where  his 
father  bought  a  claim  of  200  acres  of  land,  located 
where  the  son,  Charles  F.,  now  resides,  on  section 
13.  Both  parents  are  still  living,  opposite  their  son, 
Charles  F. 

When  22  years  of  age  he  left  home  and  bough',  am 
interest  in  a  saw-mill  in  Portland  village,  and  was 
engaged  in  running  the  same  for  about  six  years. 
He  then  sold  his  mill  property,  and  went  to  Colo- 
rado, where  he  was  engaged  in  mining,  and  was 
quite  successful.  He  remained  in  the  latter  State 
five  years,  and  then  returned  to  Portland  Township, 
this  county,  where  he  purchased  92  acres  of  the 
present  farm.  He  has  since  added  40  acres,  by 


subsequent  purchase,  to  his  homestead,  and  is  at 
present  the  owner  of  322  acres  in  the  township,  and 
also  120  acres  in  Henry  Co.,  111.  He  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  fine  Short-horn  cattle,  and  has  usually  50 
head  of  graded,  and  one  thoroughbred,  and  also 
about  70  hogs  and  several  horses.  He  has  a  fine, 
well-improved  farm,  good  residence  and  buildings. 

Mr.  Adams  was  married  in  Portland  Township, 
May  2,  1853,  to  Miss  Sarah  Brown.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  A.  and  Betsey  Brown,  and  was 
born  in  Pittsford,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  Aug.  19,  1833. 
They  have  one  child,  a  daughter,  Katie  E.,  born  in 
Portland  Township,  March  30,  1855.  She  is  the 
wife  of  J.  V.'Washburn,  now  a  resident  on  the  home- 
stead. They  were  married  April  2,  1885.  He  was 
Deputy  Postmaster  of  Portland  village  six  years,  and 
Township  Treasurer  for  eight  years.  The  father  of 
Mrs.  Adams,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  is  de- 
ceased, and  her  mother  resides  in  Rutland  Co.,  Vt. 


rson  G.  Baldwin,  residing  in  Prophets- 
tcrwn,  is  the  son  of  Harley  M.  and  Eliza 
S.  (Sherman)  Baldwin,  and  was  born  in 
Hinesburg,  Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  Dec.  13, 1845. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  in  1867  left 
home  and  came  west  to  Prophetstown,  this 
county,  where  his  brother,  Sherman,  had  preceded 
him,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  him  in  the 
general  mercantile  business.  They  were  very  suc- 
cessful in  trade,  and  in  1872  erected  the  brick 
building  the  brother  now  occupies.  Mr.  Baldwin 
retired  from  the  business  July  19,  1884,  which  at 
that  time  was  the  leading  commercial  house  in  town. 
Since  his  retirement  from  the  mercantile  business, 
Mr.  Baldwin  has  dealt  largely  in  stocks,  and  has  in- 
terested himself  in  farming.  He  has  80  acres  of 
land,  one  half  mile  south  of  Prophetstown,  and  also 
owns,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  320  acres  of 
land  in  Woodbury  Co.,  Iowa.  Himself  and  wife  are 
the  joint  owners  of  160  acres  of  land,  in  Suez  Town- 
ship, Mercer  County,  this  State.  Mr.  Baldwin  also 
owns  a  fine  residence  in  the  northern  part  of  Proph- 
etstown, and  a  store  building  on  Washington  Street. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  belonging  to 
the  Royal  Arch  Chapter ;  he  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Town  Board  two  terms. 


. 


•- 


-       ..       - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Baldwin  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophets- 
town,  Oct.  20,  1869,  to  Miss  J.  Mina  Shaw,  and  they 
have  two  children- — Blanche,  born  Nov.  7,  1870,  and 
Beth,  born  Aug.  13,  1875.  Mrs.  Baldwin  died  in 
Prophetstown,  July  4,  1881,  and  Mr.  Baldwin  was 
again  married,  in  Aledo,  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  20, 
1884,  to  Miss  Vesta  Ransom.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Asa  W.  and  E.  Susan  Ransom,  and  was  born  in  Suez 
Township,  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  22,  1859,  and  was 
one  of  eight  children  born  to  her  parents. 

When  the   First  National  Bank  of  Prophetstown 
was  organized   he  became  a   stockholder,  and  con-' 
tinned  as  such  during  its  existence. 


Chapin  is  a  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 24,  Portland  Township,  and  is  the 
owner  of  81  acres  of  land.  He  is  the 
son  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  (Jennings)  Cha- 
pin, and  was  born  in  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  Oct. 
23,  1823.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts,  and  his  mother  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut.  Both  are  deceased.  They  are  the 
parents  of  five  children,  of  which  Mr.  Chapin,  of  this 
biographical  notice,  was  fourth  in  order  of  birth,  and 
the  only  survivor.  The  father  died  March  9,1831, 
and  the  mother  died  in  Tampico  Township,  this 
county,  Dec.  29,  1871. 

Mr.  Chapin  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Massachu- 
setts, and  received  the  advantages  afforded  by  the 
common  schools.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until 
he  attained  the  age  of  22  years,  when  he  came  West 
(in  1845)  to  this  county,  and  worked  by  the  month 
on  a  farm  until  1849.  Previous  to  that  time  he  had 
purchased  63  acres  of  his  present  farm,  and  added 
to  it  by  subsequent  purchase  until  he  was  the  pos- 
sessor of  375  acres.  He  gave  his  son,  Samuel,  120 
acres,  and  his  daughter,  Louisa  E.,  120  acres,  in 
Prophetstown  Township.  In  1877  he  retired  from 
his  farm,  and  has  since  continued  to  rent  it. 

Mr.  Chapin  was  united  in  marriage,  near  Lyndon, 
this  county,  Sept.  19,  1849,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  La'. he, 
daughter  of  Reuel  and  Sally  (Robbins)  Lathe.  She 
was  born  in  Hornby  Township,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Oct.  24,  1825.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, born  on  the  farm:  Louisa  E.,  Sept.  16,  1851, 
and  was  married  April  4,  1877,  to  Andrew  Steven- 


son, a  fanner  residing  in  Portland  Township;  they 
have  one  child,  Charlie ;  Samuel  R.,  born  on  the 
home  farm,  July  5,  1855,  and  was  married  Oct.  9, 
1879,  to  Lillie  D.Payne;  they  have  three  children — 
Milo  Wallace,  Alma  Mabel  and  John. 

Mr.  Chapin  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry, 
and  also  is  a  Knight  Templar. 


^herman  G.  Baldwin,  dealer  in  general 
merchandise  at  Prophetstown,  and  Super- 
visor of  the  township,  is  a  son  of  Harley 

M.  and  Eliza  S.  (Sherman)  Baldwin,  and  was 

born  in  Hinesburg,  Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  Nov. 

26,  1843.  His  father  was  born  Oct.  4,  1804, 
and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His  mother  was  a 
native  of  Roxbury,  Conn.,  and  was  born  May  5, 
r8o8,  and  resides  in  Hinesburg,  Vt.  They  were 
married  Oct.  8,  1826,  and  the  father  died  in  Hines- 
burg, Vt.,  Jan.  24,  1874.  They  had  eight  children, 
six  of  whom  survive:  Myron  H.,  a  merchant  in 
Lincoln,  Neb. ;  Mary  E.,"wife  of  Lewis  Sanctuary,  a 
boot  and  shoe  dealer,  residing  in  Hinesburg,  Vt. ; 
Susan  A.  Ray,  a  widow,  and  resides  in  Burlington, 
Vt. ;  Orson  G.  resides  in  Prophetstown  ;  Sherman  G. 
is  the  subject  of  this  notice;  Frederick  W.,  a  farmer, 
and  resides  in  Lincoln,  Neb. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received 
the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common  schools. 
When  1 8  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  i4th 
Vt.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  a  private,  and  served  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  about  one  year,  receiving  his  discharge 
July  30,  1863,  at  Brattleboro,  Vt.  He  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  On  receiving  his  dis- 
charge, he  returned  to  Vermont,  and  in  October  of 
the  same  year  came  to  this  county  and  located  at 
Morrison,  where  he  had  a  sister  (wife  of  C.  W.  Sholes). 
Soon  afterward  he  went  to  Fulton,  this  county,  and 
was  employed  as  clerk  in  the  mercantile  establish- 
ment of  Rice  Bros.,  remaining  with  them  for  three 
years.  He  then  went  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  was  there 
engaged  in  the  dry -goods  house  of  Wadsworth  &  Co. 
one  year,  when  he  returned  to  Morrison  and  was 
employed  by  Charles  Spears  for  a  short  time.  He 
then  went  to  Prophetstown,  and  in  April,  1867,  in 
company  with  his  brother,  Orson  G.,  opened  a  gen- 
eral store.  In  1871  they  built  the  fine  brick  he  now 

• _«vs>>* 


Ci] 


•V 

•*• 


•     • 


<* ILLINUib 

URBANfl 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


occupies,  24  x  75  feet  in  dimensions,  being  two  stories 
with  basement  and  a  brick  warehouse  adjoining 
18x60.  They  enlarged  their  business  from  a  $2,000 
stock  to  about  $20,000,  and  largely  engaged  in  buy- 
ing and  shipping  produce.  In  July,  1884,  his  brother 
retired  from  the  business.  Mr.  Baldwin  employs 
three  assistants,  carries  a  line  of  groceries,  dry -goods, 
ready-made  clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  hats  and  caps, 
carpets  (on  second  floor),  and  does  an  annual  busi- 
ness approximating  $60,000.  He  owns  his  residence, 
two  lots  on  Second  Street,  also  320  acres  of  land  in 
Woodbury  Co.,  Iowa.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Order,  Blue  Lodge,  Royal  Arch  Chapter  174, 
Prophetstown,  and  Sterling  Commandery,  No.  57;  also 
a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophets- 
town,  March  27,  1872,  to  Miss  Laura  C.  Brace,  a 
native  of  Cook  Co.,  Ill ,  and  born  Jan.  29,  1849. 
They  have  four  <hildren,  born  in  Prophetstown: 
Kate,  Dec.  23,  1872;  Cass,  June  3,  1875;  Mary, 
April  9,  1878;  and  Louane,  July  18,  1881.  When 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Prophetstown  was  organ- 
ized, he  was  a  stock-holder  and  director,  and  con- 
tinued to  be  such  until  the  bank  was  changed  to  a 
private  one.  He  was  appointed  as  Supervisor  to  fill 
a  vacancy  in  1879,  and  in  1880  was  elected  to  the 
position  and  has  been  re-elected  each  term  since. 

Politically,  Mr.  Baldwin  is  identified  with  the  in- 
terests of  the  Republican  party,  and  at  the  last  Re- 
publican National  Convention  held  at  Chicago,  and 
also  at  the  State  Conventions  of  1880  and  1884,  he 
was  a  Delegate. 


aniel  Hollinshead,  farmer,  section  8,  Us- 
tick Township,  is  the  third  son  and  fourth 
child  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Rush)   Hol- 
linshead, who   were    pioneers   of  Whiteside 
County  of  1839.     John  Hollinshead  was  born 
Jan.  6,  1798,  in  Jersey  City,  N.  J.     He  went  to 
S^  Canada  and    came   thence   to   Clyde   Township    in 
Whiteside  County.     While  in  Canada  he  was  a  par- 
bticipant  in  the  Patriot  War,  and  his  Yankee  shrewd- 
S>  ness    made    him    a   valuable    auxiliary    to  the    in- 
surgents.      His  wife,  Elizabeth   Rush,  was  a   grand- 
niece  of  Benjamin  Rush,  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.     Julia  Ann  Rush,  her 


1 


mother,  lived  in  the  stirring  times  that  preceded  the 
Revolution,  and  endorsed  the  cause  of  the  colonists 
with  all  the  energies  she  possessed,  which  were  of 
no  mean  character.  She  put  on  male  attire  and  per- 
formed picket  duty  whenever  her  services  were 
needed.  She  accompanied  her  son-in-law  to  Canada 
and  came  with  his  family  to  Ustick  Township  in 
1839.  She  died  in  1842  and  was  the  first  person 
buried  in  the  cemetery  on  the  Hollinshead  farm, 
where  John  Hollinshead  is  buried. 

Mr.  Hollinshead  was  born  Feb.  7,  1833,  in  Can- 
ada. He  came  to  Whiteside  County  with  his  par- 
ents in  the  summer  of  1839,  and  he  lived  at  home 
until  he  was  21  years  of  age,  when,  in  company  with 
his  brother  Jacob,  he  rented  the  old  homestead  of 
his  mother.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  230  acres  of 
improved  land  and  has  placed  80  acres  under  tillage. 
A  part  of  the  estate  is  on  the  first  half-section  of 
land  claimed  in  Ustick  Township,  which  was  made 
by  Ed.  Rolfe  and  was  entered  by  Daniel  Reed. 

Mr.  Hollinshead  was  a  Democrat  in  principle,  but 
latterly  adopts  the  views  of  the  National  party,  and 
is  also  a  strong  adherent  of  prohibition.  He  has 
held  several  official  positions  of  various  degrees  of 
importance. 

He  was  first  married  in  Mt.  Carroll,  111.,,  July  2, 
1859,  to  Mary  L.  Knight.  She  was  born  July  3, 
1842,  in  Nauvoo,  111.  She  died  after  having  given 
birth  to  four  children, — Viola,  Emma,  Dora  and 
Agnes.  Dora  is  the  only  survivor.  The  mother's 
death  transpired  in  Ustick  Township  April  8,  1867. 
Mr.  Hollinshead  was  a  second  time  married,  Sept. 
16,  1868,  in  St.  Glair  Co.,  Mich.,  to  Rebecca,  daugh- 
ter of  Matthew  and  Betsey  (Foote)  Hubbell.  Her 
parents  were  born  respectively  in  Connecticut  and 
New  York,  and  had  four  children,  born  in  the  fol- 
lowing order :  Lucy,  Lois,  Angelina  and  Rebecca. 
Mrs.  Hollinshead  was  born  July  31,  1837,  in  Sum- 
mit Co.,  Ohio.  She  has  been  the  mother  of  five 
children, — Delia  O.,  L.  Hubbell,  D.  Earle,  Archie 
F.  and  C.  Burton.  Archie  died  when  five  years  old. 
Mrs.  Hollinshead  is  a  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Hollinshead,  which  appears  on 
the  opposite  page,  forms  a  valuable  addition  to  the 
collection  in  this  volume.  He  is  a  representative  of 
the  best  class  who  were  factors  in  the  first  develop- 
ment of  the  county,  and  sustains  the  honor  of  the 
line  of  descent  to  which  he  belongs. 


<D 


WHITES  IDE  COUNTY. 


*  ? 

I 


Ibert  J.  Glassburn,  a  farmer  on  section  5, 
Hahnaman  Township,  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Jane  (Fee)  Glassburn,  natives  of  Ohio.  They 
had  a  family  of  six  children, — David,  John, 
Thomas,  Albert  J.,  Sally  A.  and  Mary  J.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio, 
Sept.  26,  1842,  attended  the  common  school  until 
about  1 8  years  of  age,  and  remained  a  resident  of 
Ohio  until  25  years  old,  engaged  in  the  vocation  of 
agriculture.  In  the  fall  of  1867  he  came  to  White- 
side  County  and  purchased  120  acres  of  land  in 
Hahnaman  Township,  where  he  erected  good  build- 
ings and  has  since  resided.  He  now  owns  200  acres, 
about  150  of  which  is  in  a  state  of  good  cultivation. 
He  has  a  fine  farm. 

Mr.  Glassburn  was  married  in  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio, 
Sept.  26,  1861,  to  Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  James 
P.  and  Rebecca  (Mauck)  Wood,  her  parents  being 
natives  of  Ohio,  and  having  in  their  family  seven 
children,  viz.:  Irene,  Mary  J.,  Harrison,  Lydia  M., 
Joseph  M.,  James  P.  and  Kate  S.  Mrs.  G.  was  born 
in  Gallia  Co,  Ohio,  April  29,  1842.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Glassburn  have  had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  John  P.,  Rebecca  J.,  Ina  I.,  Albert 
J.,  Jr.,  and  William  G.  The  deceased  were  named 
Effie  M.,  Charles  D.  and  Edward  T. 

In  his  political  principles  he  is  identified  as  a 
Democrat,  and  in  religion  both  himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


obert  L.  Burchell,  dealer  in  dry  goods, 
clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  hats  and  caps, 
notions,  groceries  and  queensware,  at  Erie, 
is  a  son  of  Robert  C.  and  Mary  J.  (Morris) 
Burchell,  and  was  born  in  Columbus  City, 
Iowa,  May  31,  1846.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Virginia  and  an  attorney  by  profession,  and  came 
West  about  1850,  locating  in  Columbus  City,  Iowa. 
In  1855  he  moved  to  Oregon,  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  is  now  Mayor  of  the  city.  He  was  State  District 
Attorney  for  eight  years,  was  one  of  the  Electors 
on  the  Greeley  ticket  and  was  a  strong  Blaine  man. 
The  mother  of  Robert  L.  is  a  native  of  New  Albany, 


Ind.  The  issue  of  their  union  was  six  children,  all 
living :  Kate  is  the  wife  of  Adolphus  Jones,  farmer, 
residing  in  Iowa:  Henry  is  a  merchant  at  Walnut, 
Bureau  Co.,  111.;  Nancy  resides  at  home;  Robert 
L.  is  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice ;  Frank 
is  a  merchant  at  Oregon,  111. ;  Jenny  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Wales,  a  butcher  in  Savannah,  111. 

Robert  L.  Burchell,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  re- 
ceived his  education  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  Co.,  111., 
then  entered  a  store  as  clerk  in  Oregon,  where  he 
remained  three  years.  He  then  went  to  Franklin 
Grove,  Lee  County,  where  he  clerked  for  a  time,  and 
then  went  to  Dixon,  III.,  where  he  also  clerked  one 
year. 

In  1868  he  came  to  Erie  and  opened  a  dry-goods 
store.  He  started  with  $3,600,  and  has  continued  in 
the  business  ever  since.  He  has  enlarged  the  busi- 
ness until  he  now  has  three  large  stores  which  open 
into  each  other,  and  carries  a  stock  approximating 
$35,000.  His  store  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the 
county.  He  also  has  400  acres  of  farming  land  in 
Erie  and  Fenton  Townships,  and  also  has  in  Erie 
a  number  of  buildings.  He  has  kept  the  postoffice 
since  1870.  Mr.  Burchell  also  has  a  creamery  in 
Erie,  and  in  1884  manufactured  100,000  pounds  of 
butter.  He  ships  his  products  to  St.  Louis,  New 
York  and  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Burchell  has  been  Supervisor  of  Erie  six 
years,  and  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for 
two  terms.  He  is  also  Village  Treasurer  and  also 
Treasurer  of  the  school  fund.  He  has  taken  quite 
an  interest  in  politics. 

Mr.  Burchell  was  united  in  marriage  at  Chicago, 
111.,  Nov.  18,  1866,  to  Miss  Margaret  Victoria  Jones. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Augustus  and  Mary  Jones,  and 
was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  Nov.  18,  1847. 
They  have  had  four  children.  The  record  is  as  fol- 
lows:  Edith  L.,  born  March  27,  1868,  and  died 
Sept.  14,  1880;  Robert  C.,  born  June  16,  1870; 
Mary  J.,  bora  Nov.  5,  1875  ;  and  George  A.,  Aug. 
13,  1877. 

Mr.  Burchell  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order 
and  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge  of  Erie. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Prophetstown  Chapter 
and  Sterling  Cotnmandery.  He  owns  a  one-half 
interest  in  the  store  of  Burchell  Bros.,  at  Walnut,  111. 
He  employs  in  his  store  eight  clerks  and  a.  book- 
keeper, and  has  put  in  the  Lampson  Cash  Railway 


Ai. 
=1 


i    • 


L 


I 

; 


System.  In  the  main  building  he  has  two  stories, 
and  also  a  large  cellar.  In  addition  he  has  a  large 
warehouse  and  handles  large  amounts  of  butter, 
eggs,  etc.  He  is  one  of  the  representative  and  ener- 
getic business  men  of  Whiteside  County. 


|£.arry  F.  Kellum,  resident  of  Prophetstown, 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Lucretia  (Eldridge) 
Kellum,  and  was  born  in  Susquehanna  Co., 
Pa.,  town  of  Dimock,  April  i,  1818.  His  father 
was  a  farmer  and  lumberman,  and  was  born 

I  Oct.  19,  1783,  and  his  mother  Nov.  27,  1787. 
The  former  died  Jan.  2,  1869,  and  the  latter  Jan.  2, 
1879.  They  had  seven  children,  of  whom  only  two 
survive,  Judge  Charles  Kellum,  of  Sycamore,  De 
Kalb  County,  this  State,  and  the  subject  of  this 
biographical  notice. 

Mr.  Kellum,  subject  of  this  notice,  was  reared  on 
the  farm,  alternating  his  labors  thereon  with  attend- 
ance at  the  common  schools,  and  working  at  the 
lumber  business,  until  he  was  18  years  old.  At  this 
age  in  life  he  left  school  and  the  farm  and  entered 
the  store  of  John  F.  Means,  in  which  he  acted  in  the 
capacity  of  clerk  for  five  years,  the  same  being  in 
Towanda,  Bradford  Co.,  Pa. 

In  1844  Mr.  Kellum  came  to  this  State,  locating 
in  Peru,  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1845, 
when  he  went  to  the  city  of  New  Orleans.  In  De- 
cember, 1846,  he  enlisted  in  Gen.  Scott's  Division, 
as  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  was  in  the  ser- 
vice two  years.  He  participated  in  a  number  of 
prominent  engagements,  and  was  promoted  from  a 
private  to  the  position  of  Deputy  Quartermaster. 
After  his  term  of  service  had  expired,  he  came  to 
Peoria,  this  State,  where  he  was  engaged  for  a  period 
in  the  capacity  of  book-keeper.  In  the  spring  of 
1850  he  bought  a  team,  and  in  May  of  that  year 
joined  a  caravan  and  traveled  across  the  plains  to 
Sacramento.  He  stopped  on  his  way  at  Salt  Lake 
one  month,  and  arrived  in  Sacramento  in  September 
of  the  same  year ;  he  went  into  the  gold  mines, 
where  he  endeavored  to  secure  a  fortune,  and  worked 
at  the  business  four  years  ;  then  became  agent  for 
Wells,  Fargo  &  Co..  at  Prairie  City,  Sacramento 
County,  that  State,  in  whose  employ  he  remained 
until  1859.  During  the  latter  year  he  returned 
'  East  via  the  Isthmus,  and  in  1860  came  to  this 


county  and  located  on  a  farm  one  and  a  half  miles 
east  of  Prophetstown. 

Mrs.  Kellum  died  Dec.  14,  1864,  aged  33  years, 
and  after  her  death  Mr.  Kellum  sold  his  property 
and  came  to  Prophetstown.  He  soon  opened  a 
livery  stable,  which  he  ran  until  1881,  when  he  sold 
it ;  he  then  entered  the  grocery  store  of  D.  K.  Smith 
&  Co.,  and  remained  with  them  two  years. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Kellum  occurred  in 
Prairie  City,  Sacramento  Co.,  Cal.,  Feb.  14,  1854, 
and  the  lady  of  his  choice  was  Miss  Sarah  J.  French, 
a  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Mariah  French.  She 
was  born  in  Racine  County,  city  of  Burlington,  Wis., 
in  1831.  They  had  five  children,  four  of  whom  still 
survive.  Samuel  was  born  Feb.  7,  1855,  in  Prairie 
City,  Cal.,  and  died  April  23  of  the  same  year. 
Addie  was  born  May  22,  1856,  in  Folsom,  Cal.; 
Mary,  Nov.  n,  1858,  in  the  same  place,  and  is  the 
wife  of  George  Parks,  a  jeweler  in  West  Union,  Iowa; 
Louie  was  born  Jan.  21,  1861,  in  Burlington,  Wis.  ; 
Alice,  Nov.  12,  1862,  and  is  the  wife  of  William 
Norton,  station  agent  and  telegraph  operator  in 
Shellsburg,  Benton  Co.,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Kellum  was  again  united  in  marriage,  in 
Prophetstown,  July  21,  1872,  to  Mrs.  Louise  Spencer, 
nee  Minchen,  born  in  Montpelier,  Vt.,  July  27,  1823, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1838. 


erman  Sterling,  a  farmer  on  section  14 
Montmorency  Township,  is  the  son  of 
Isaac  H.  and  Harriet  (Emmons)  Sterling. 
His  parents  were  born,  reared  and  married  in 
Connecticut;  and  soon  after  the  event  of  their 
I  union  in  matrimony  they  went  to  Pennsylvania, 
settling  in  Susquehanna  County.  In  1864  they  re- 
moved thence  to  Whiteside  County,  and  resided  for  a 
period  of  17  years  in  Montmorency  Township,  and 
in  1 88 1  they  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  where  the 
father  died,  Oct.  15,  1882.  The  mother  was  born  in 
1803,  and  is  still  living,  aged  82  years.  Their  chil- 
dren were  named  as  follows  :  Amos,  Ansel,  James, 
Charles,  Herman,  Ralph,  Harriet  L.,  Harriet, 
Charles  M.,  Julia  and  Ursula  U.  Amos,  Harriet  L. 
and  Charles  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Sterling  was  born  Oct.  8,  1831,  in  Brooklyn, 
Susquehanna    Co.,    Pa.      He    came    to    Whiteside 


County  in  1853,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  1858  he  became  a  landholder 
by  the  purchase  of  80  acres  of  land,  on  which  he 
has  since  operated,  together  with  managing  200  acres 
additional,  which  he  has  acquired  by  later  purchase. 
He  has  erected  excellent  buildings.  Nearly  all'  his 
land  is  tillable. 

Mr.  Sterling  is  not  the  adherent  of  any  political 
party  or  faction,  and  he  has  been  Assessor  four  years, 
and  School  Trustee  seven  years. 

His  marriage  to  Frances  A.  Stroud  took  place 
April  27,  1858,  in  Brooklyn,  Susquehanna  Co.,  Pa. 
Mrs.  Sterling  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Elvira  M. 
(Kingsley)  Stroud,  respectively  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut and  Pennsylvania.  They  settled  after  marriage 
in  Susquehanna  County,  where  the  whole  of  their 
married  lives  were  spent,  the  father  dying  Dec.  29, 
1850.  The  mother  is  now  the  wife  of  C.  R.  Palm- 
er, and  lives  in  Montmorency.  Mrs.  Palmer  had 
five  children  by  her  first  husband  :  Elhanan,  Fran- 
ces, William,  William  E.  and  John  E.  Mrs.  Sterling 
was  born  in  Brooklyn,  Susquehanna  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb. 
27,  1840. 

Mr.  Sterling  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 


^ 

s> 


Edwin  Brookfield,  President  and  Treas- 
urer of  the  Rock  Falls  Manufacturing 
Company  (specialty,  burial  cases),  was  born 
in  Coleta,  this  counly,  June  5,  1860.  His 
parents  were  Ephraim  and  Harriet  (Yager) 
Brookfield,  and  were  natives  of  the  Empire 
State.  His  father  was  a  banker  at  Rock  Falls,  and 
died  Jan.  10,  1876. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  at  home  with 
his  parents  until  1883,  being  educated  at  the  public 
schools  of  Sterling;  and  at  the  early  age  of  17  he 
took  charge  of  the  business  of  the  Rock  Falls  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  which  was  organized  in  August, 
1877,  and  now  does  a  business  of  $100,000  annually. 
In  1884  he  built,  at  Rock  Falls,  the  Brookfield 
Block,  on  Main  Street,  containing  three  stores — one 
for  hardware,  one  for  dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes  and 
one  for  a  restaurant.  This  block  cost  $r  0,000.  Mr. 
B.  also  owns  a  farm  of  So  acres  in  Genesee  Town- 
ship, this  county,  and  three  houses  in  Sterling, 
where  he  resides.  Though  so  young,  he  has  already 


become  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the 
place. 

Mr.  Brookfield  was  married  Sept.  15,  1882,  to  Miss 
Helen  J.,  daughter  of  Thomas  A.  and  Catherine 
(Anthony)  Gait,  of  Sterling.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter, born  June  14,  1883,  and  named  Emily  C. 

In  his  political  sympathies  Mr.  B.  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Knights 
Templars. 


ichael  Carney,  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 27,  Portland  Township,  and  owning 
1 60  acres  thereon,  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Sally  (England)  Carney,  and  was  born  in 
Massena  Township,  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y., 
April  5,  1847.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  afid  died  when  the  subject  of  this  notice 
was  about  nine  years  of  age.  His  mother  was  also 
a  native  of  the  same  county,  and  still  resides  there. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  eight  liv- 
ing, all  in  New  York  except  Michael  and  one  sister. 
The  record  is  as  follows:  John,  Margaret,  William, 
Michael,  Libbie,  wife  of  Joseph  Cockins,  shoemaker 
and  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes  at  Erie,  this  county, 
Mary,  James,  Robert.  James  (tst)  is  deceased. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Carney  came  to  this  township  with- 
out any  capital,  but  with  the  firm  determination  to 
establish  a  home  for  himself  and  family.  He  was 
employed  by  the  month  for  a  period  of  six  months, 
when  he  hired  to  his  present  father-in-law,  David 
Chase,  for  whom  he  worked  one  year.  He  then  rented 
Mr.  Chase's  farm  of  160  acres,  which  he  continued 
to  cultivate  for  a  period  of  six  years,  meeting  with 
success  in  a  financial  point  of  view.  He  then 
tented  a  farm  of  200  acres  adjoining  his  present 
farm  on  the  north,  and  for  four  years  cultivated  il. 
In  1880  he  bought  130  acres  of  his  farm,  and  sub- 
sequently has  added,  by  purchase,  30  acres  more, 
which  latter  purchase  occurred  in  1884.  He  now 
has  a  nice  farm  well  improved  and  profitable.  Mr. 
Carney  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  held 
the  position  of  Constable  for  four  years,  having  been 
re-elected  in  the  spring  of  1885. 

Mr.  Carney  was  united  in  marriage  in  Geneseo, 
Henry  County,  this  State,  June  21,  1870,  to  Miss 
Esther  M.  Chase.  She  is  a  daughter  of  David  and 


»  • 


•ce 


•    « 

I 

/*\ 
^ 


Sally  Chase,  and  was  born  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y., 
village  of  Rushford,  Oct.  5,  1848.  The  issue  of 
their  union  has  been  three  children,  of  whom  the 
following  is  a  record:  Dency  was  born  Sept.  21, 
1871;  Zena  was  born  Jan.  14,  1875;  and  Bertie, 
born  March,  1872,  died  Aug.  9,  1872.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Carney  are  both  deceased.  They  came 
from  New  York  to  this  county,  and  both  died  here. 


elon  Cleveland,  a  farmer  on  sections  19 
and  30.  Hume  Township,  was  born  near 
Rome,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1845.  In  r8so  his 
father,  David  Cleveland,  came  to  Whiteside 
County,  and,  after  locating  a  farm  in  the  town- 
ship of  Hume,  returned  to  the  State  of  New 
York  to  make  the  necessary  preparations  for  the  re- 
moval of  his  family  to  the  West,  which  purpose  was 
accomplished  in  1852.  The  family  consisted  of  the 
mother,  Mrs.  Amy  (Hawkins)  Cleveland,  and  ten 
children.  Three  children  had  died  in  infancy. 
David  Cleveland  was  a  relative  of  Stephen  Grover 
Cleveland,  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  extensive  land-holders  in  Hume 
Township,  his  original  claim  consisting  of  300  acres 
of  land,  which  he  improved  from  the  unbroken 
prairie.  He  died  Dec.  15,  1878,  aged  77  years.  His 
wife  died  Aug.  28  of  the  following  year,  when  she 
was  73  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Cleveland  was  seven  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  came  to  Hume  Township  and  he  was  an  in- 
mate of  the  parental  home  until  he  became  the  head 
of  an  independent  household,  when  he  was  24  years 
of  age.  He  was  married  Feb.  22,  1870,  at  Prophets- 
town,  to  Fanny  Z.  Humaston.  Her  parents,  Ephraim 
and  Frances  (Pember)  Humaston,  were  natives  of 
New  York,  where  all  the  after  incidents  of  their  lives 
transpired  until  their  removal  to  Whiteside  County. 
Mrs.  Cleveland  was  born  Feb.  26,  1846,  near  Vienna, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  was  the  seventh  of  a  family 
of  nine  children,  and  was  principally  educated  in 
her  native  county,  coming  West  with  her  parents 
when  she  was  15  years  of  age.  They  made  their 
first  stop  near  Aurora,  Kane  Co.,  111.,  and  in  the 
year  following  came  to  Prophetstown,  where  they 
passed  the  remaining  years  of  their  lives.  The 
father  died  in  May,  1880;  the  death  of  the  mother 


occurred  Aug.  15,  1875.  Their  two  children  are, 
Charles  D.,  who  was  born  July  6,  1874  ;  and  Jesse 
E..,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Two  years  after  their  marriage  they  moved  from 
Prophetstown  to  the  township  of  Hume,  and  rented 
a  farm  for  three  years.  In  August,  1882,  they  took 
possession  of  the  Cleveland  homestead,  which  in- 
cluded 320  acres,  all  under  good  improvement,  be- 
coming its  owner  by  purchase.  Mr.  Cleveland  is 
engaged  also  in  feeding  and  raising  Durham  cattle. 
In  political  faith  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  Cleveland 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


raper  B.  Richmond,  a  farmer  of  Lyndon 
Township,  section  4,  was  born  Feb.  19, 
1836,  in  the  township  of  Rutland,  Tioga 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Mahala 
(Reynolds)  Richmond.  When  he  was  eight 
years  of  age  he  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
where  he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
was  reared  to  the  vocation  of  farmer.  He  was  a 
member  of  his  father's  family  until  his  marriage. 

He  became  the  husband  of  Dorothy  A.  Hutchin- 
son,  Dec.  25,  1857.  She  was  born  March  25,  1842. 
With  his  bride,  he  settled  on  section  33,  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township.  His  claim  was  unimproved,  and  he 
erected  necessary  buildings,  and  set  himself  vigor- 
ously to  work  to  put  his  farm  in  prosperous  agricul- 
tural condition,  and  the  prospects  of  the  little  house- 
hold were  in  most  promising  condition  when  the 
tornado  of  June  3,  1860,  two  years  and  six  months 
after  the  marriage  of  the  young  couple,  forever 
wiped  out  of  existence  their  home  and  their 
plans.  Their  house  was  blown  to  fragments  and 
scattered  beyond  finding.  Mrs.  Richmond,  who 
was  then  but  18  years  old,  was  found  fatally  injured 
a  few  rods  from  the  site  of  her  house,  and  died  within 
an  hour.  Mr.  Richmond  was  permanently  hurt,  and 
at  the  time  thought  to  be  fatally  so,  but  pariially 
recovered.  When  he  was  again  able  to  do  business, 
he  sold  his  place  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township.  Sept. 
5,  1861,  he  was  again  married,  to  Maggie  Gibson. 
She  was  born  Oct.  17,  1843.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rich- 
mond settled  on  section  5,  Lyndon  Township,  where 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


• 


he  has  since  resided  with  the  exception  of  three 
years,  which  the  family  spent  at  Morrison  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  better  school  advantages.  Five 
children  are  included  in  the  family  circle,  named 
Mary  K,  Dorothy  A..  Mina  M.,  Frank  D.  and 
Rew  J. 


alph  B.  Colcord,  marble  dealer  at  431 
Third  Street,  Sterling,  was  born  in  Steuben 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  8,  1828.  His  father,  Ivory 
Colcord,  a  native  of  Maine,  was  a  farmer, 
moved  from  Steuben  County  to  Genesee 
Township,  this  county,  arriving  Oct.  14,  1837, 
where  he  died  in  1865.  His  mother,  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  was  born  June  27,  1805,  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  the  village  of  Coleta. 

Mr.  Colcord  remained  at  his  parental  home  until 
he  was  25  years  old,  receiving  a  practical  education 
and  engaging  in  farming,  the  vocation  of  his  father. 
About  a  year  after  he  left  home  he  entered  the  busi- 
ness he  has  since  pursued.  He  arrived  in  Sterling, 
this  county,  Dec.  22,  1869,  since  which  time  he  has 
prospered  in  his  trade. 

In  his  political  principles  and  sympathies,  Mr. 
Colcord  is  a  Republican;  he  has  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  Alderman  several 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  of 
Sterling,  as  are  also  his  family. 

March  8,  1854,  Mr.  Colcord  married  Miss  Mary 
A.  Shively,  a  native  of  Lyndon,  this  county,  and  they 
have  two  children,  namely:  Emma  L.  and  Luella 
M.  The  first  mentioned  married  George  W.  Pearl, 
July  21,  1875,  and  they  have  one  child,  Glennie  L. 


j.zekiel  Murray,  farmer,  section  5,  Hahna- 
man  Township,  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Richardson)  Murray.  (See 
sketch  of  George  Murray  in  this  work.)  He 
was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ind.,  Oct.  21, 
1855.  Mr.  Murray  remained  at  home  in  Indi- 
ana, assisting  his  father  in  the  maintenance  of  the 
family,  and  attending  the  common  schools  until  his 
parents  moved  to  this  county,  when  he  accompanied 
them.  In  the  spring  of  :88o  he  purchased  a  farm 
of  68  acres  in  Hahnaman  Township,  on  which  he 


moved.  He  cultivated  this  land  until  1882,  when 
he  sold  out  and  purchased  100  acres  on  section  5, 
same  township,  on  which  he  at  present  resides.  All 
of  his  land  is  tillable,  and  he  has  good  substantial 
farm  buildings  on  his  place. 

Mr.  Murray  was  united  in  marriage  Dec.  24,  1879, 
to  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  B  and  Martha  J.  (Curry) 
Ferris.  (See  sketch  of  Albert  Ferris.)  She  was  born 
in  Franklin  Co.,  Ind.,  July  15,  1861.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  children  :  Martha  E.  and  Rolla  J. 

Politically  Mr.  Murray  is  a  supporter  of  the  tenets 
of  the  Democratic  party.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Murray 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


ilas  Langdon  is  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 24,  Portland  Township,  and  is  the 
owner  of  130  acres  of  land  thereon.  He 
is  a  son  of  Zaphna  and  Mercy  (Hall)  Lang- 
don, and  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  at 
present  resides,  Aug.  13,  1855.  His  parents 
came  from  Massachusetts  about  1845  or  1846,  and 
located  on  the  identical  farm  on  which  the  son  now 
lives.  The  father  first  bought  40  acres,  built  a  log 
house,  and  entered  vigorously  upon  the  task  of  im- 
proving his  land.  The  issue  of  their  union  was  ten 
children,  of  whom  only  four  at  present  survive,  and 
of  whom  the  following  is  a  record:  Sarah  M.  is  the 
wife  of  Peter  A.  Jackson,  a  farmer  in  Butler  Co., 
Kan. ;  Silas  is  next  in  order  of  birth  ;  Perry  G.  is  a 
farmer  in  Washington  Territory  ;  and  George  R.  is  a 
farmer  in  the  same  territory.  The  father  died  on 
the  old  homestead,  Dec.  21,  1877,  and  the  mother 
died  in  Elgin,  this  State.  His  father  used  to  drive 
an  ox  team  to  Chicago,  and  sold  corn  at  8  cents  and 
wheat  at  15  cents  per  bushel.  The  date  of  his 
birth  is  Feb.  15,  1818,  and  he  died  as  stated.  The 
date  of  the  mother's  birth  is  Sept.  10, 1819,  and  that 
of  her  death,  Oct.  8,  1880. 

Mr.  Langdon  bought  out  the  other  heirs,  and  now 
has  a  fine  farm  with  good  residence,  barn,  etc.,  and 
buys  and  feeds  cattle  for  the  market.  He  usually 
keeps  from  30  to  40  cattle,  among  which  are  some 
good  graded  Herefords.  He  raises  60  to  75  hogs, 
mostly  the  Jersey  Red  breed. 

Mr.  Langdon  was  united  in  marriage  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county,  July  4,  1877,  to  Miss  Addie 


\ 
t 


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* 

•  .« 


& 


I 


A.  Booth.  She  is  a  daughter  of  William  Booth,  and 
was  born  in  Cattaraugus  County,  June  29,  1861. 
Her  father  is  deceased,  and  her  mother  resides  in 
this  township  with  her  son,  Wesley  Booth.  They 
are  the  parents  of  four  children,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing is  the  record:  Mark  M.,  born  Feb.  8,  1878; 
Edmund  S.,  born  Aug.  5,  1879;  Howard  D.,  born 
Jan.  9,  1 88 1  ;  Addie  May,  born  Dec.  14.  1882. 

Mr.  Langdon  has  met  with  success  in  his  voca- 
tion as  a  farmer.  When  he  was  united  in  marriage 
he  was  the  possessor  of  only  $60  in  money,  and  by 
good  judgment  and  energetic  effort,  combined  with 
the  active  co-operation  of  his  help-meet,  he  has  at- 
tained to  comfortable  circumstances. 


.lias  D.  Le  Fevre,  retired  farmer  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Sterling,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  5,  1825.  His  father,  John 
W.  Le  Fevre,  was  of  French  ancestry,  and  his 
mother,  nee  Mary  Espenshade,  was  of  French 
and  German  parentage.  They  came  to  Ster- 
ling in  1847,  purchasing  about  200  acres  on  section 
21,  in  township  21,  where  they  remained  until  their 
death.  Mrs.  L.  died  Oct.  31,  1859,  and  Mr.  L.,  Dec. 
31,  1872. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  resides  still  in  the  same 
house  which  his  father  purchased  in  1847,  taking 
possession  in  1849,  the  year  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Annabella  Hacker.  They  have  had 
nine  children,  namely:  John  W.,  born  Dec.  10, 
1850;  Lemuel  H.,  Aug.  17,  1852;  Mary  R.,  Aug. 
19,  1854;  Eliza  Bell,  Sept.  19,  1856;  Ida  I.,  Dec.  3, 
1858;  Lottie  B.,  April  6,  1861 ;  Hattie  B.,  April  20, 
1863;  Edward  H.,  Nov.  2,  1865;  and  E.  Jasper, 
June  28,  1870.  John  W.  and  Lemuel  H.  died  in  child- 
hood. Mary  R.  died  Aug.  31,  1879.  She  was  a 
graduate  of  the  first  class  (1873)  from  the  Second 
Ward  School,  and  was  a  successful  teacher  in  the 
same  school  for  five  years,  and  only  left  her  position 
to  come  home  to  die!  Eliza  Belle  is  still  living  and 
the  wife  of  Charles  W.  Snyder  :  they  have  had  three 
little  girls,  at  one  birth,  all  of  whom  are  dead;  Ida  I. 
died  July  2,  1884;  she  was  also  a  graduate  of  the 
Second  Ward  School ;  Lottie  B.  is  a  teacher  and  a 
graduate  of  the  Second  Ward  School,  and  has  se- 
cured a  position  in  the  same  school  the  coming  year ; 


Hattie  B.  is  the  family's  stand-by,  and  qualified  for 
any  position;  Edward  H.  is  a  book-keeper  and 
shipping  clerk  for  H.  F.  Batcheller  &  Son,  manu- 
facturers at  Rock  Falls  ;  E.  Jasper  has  not  yet 
finished  his  education. 

Mr.  Le  Fevre  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  for  the  Second  Ward  for  nine  years  ;  is  a 
worthy  citizen,  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  latter  body 
his  wife  also  belongs. 


dward  Tyne,  a  farmer  in  Montmorency 
Township,  was  born  March  27,  1841,  in 
County  Tipperary,  Ireland.  William  Tyne, 
his  father,  was  proprietor  of  a  grocery  and  prod- 
uce store  in  Ireland.  In  i86r,  with  his  family, 
he  emigrated  to  America,  coming  because  he 
liked  this  Government  better  than  that  of  his  native 
land.  He  sold  out  everything  and  brought  a  large 
sum  of  money  with  him.  He  has  never  engaged  in 
any  active  business  in  this  country,  but  has  lived  on 
the  income  from  his  money.  He  is  still  living.  The 
elder  Tyne  came  shortly  after  his  wife's  death,  bring- 
ing three  children  with  him,  two  of  whom  now  reside 
in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Tyne  was  one  of  the  trio,  and  at  the  time  was 
20  years  of  age.  He  came  first  to  Sterling,  111.,  and 
worked  two  years  as  a  common  laborer.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  had  so  far  bettered  his  circumstances 
that  he  determined  to  marry,  and  Bridget  Conboy 
became  his  wife  on  Easter  Sunday,  in  the  spring  of 
1864.  She  was  born  in  1845,  in  County  Galway, 
Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in  i86r,  with  her 
brother  Thomas,  of  whom  a  sketch  appears  else- 
where. She  became  a  domestic  in  the  family  of  Mr. 
Sears,  in  Hume  Township,  Mr.  Tyne  being  in  the 
same  employment.  After  his  marriage  the  latter 
rented  a  farm  in  Hopkins  Township,  which  he  man- 
aged one  year.  He  moved  to  another  place,  where 
he  resided  the  year  ensuing,  after  which  he  came  to 
Hume  Township  and  rented  a  farm  two  years.  In 
1870  he  purchased  80  acres  on  section  i,  Hume 
Township,  which  he  afterward  exchanged  for  160 
acres  on  section  13,  and  in  the  summer  of  1885 
moved  to  his  present  home  in  Montmorency  Town- 
ship. He  has  been  prospered  in  his  efforts  and 
economy,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  323^  acres  of 


• 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


< 


improved  land.  Mr.  Tyne  is  a  Democrat  politically, 
and  has  held  several  township  offices.  The  family 
are  Catholics. 

Following  are  the  names  of  the  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tyne :  Maggie,  Julia,  William,  Thomas, 
Edward,  Mary,  Fanny,  Martin,  James  and  Nellie; 
Thomas  and  Edward  are  deceased;  Maggie  is 
married.  • 


illiam  W.  Kempster,  farmer,  residing  on 
section  34,  Portland  Township,  and  own- 
ing 461  acres  on  sections  27,  33,  34  and 
35,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Lydia  (Hall) 
Kempster.  She  was  born  Dec.  24,  1794. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Berkshire,  England, 
in  which  country  he  was  born  March  5,  1794.  He 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1819,  and  located 
in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  married  Miss  Lydia 
Hall,  a  native  of  that  county.  The  issue  of  their 
union  was  five  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  record  of  those  living  is  as  follows : 
John  H.,  Ephraim  H.  and  William  W.,  farmers  in 
Portland  Township  (see  respective  biographical 
sketches  in  this  work);  and  Julia  A.  is  the  wife  of 
George  W.  Rowe,  a  farmer  in  Phcenix  Township, 
Henry  County,  this  State.  The  family  came  West  in 
in  1837,  and  in  August  of  that  year  the  father  pur- 
chased a  claim,  of  J.  H.  Avery,  on  section  34.  This 
claim  consisted  of  240  acres,  and  when  the  land 
came  into  market  he  purchased  it  from  the  Govern- 
ment. He  located  upon  it  with  his  family,  Aug.  25, 
1837,  erected  a  log  hut  (the  palatial  residence  of 
those  days)  and  made  the  house  his  residence  for 
about  15  years.  His  health  failing,  he  divided  his 
land  between  his  three  sons,  and  lived  with  his  son 
J.  H.,  until  his  death,  which  event  occurred  Jan.  i, 
1869.  He  was  born  March  5,  1794,  and,  coming  to 
this  county  in  1837,  when  its  natural  condition  had 
not  been  disturbed  by  the  hand  of  man,  he  expe- 
rienced, with  his  family,  all  the  trials  and  depriva- 
tions incident  to  an  early  settlement.  His  wife  died 
April  i,  1843,  and  the  kind  parents  are  remembered 
by  the  four  surviving  children  as  loving  father  and 
mother,  and  by  many  citizens  as  energetic  and  re- 
spected pioneers  of  Whiteside  County. 


-      -- 


William  W.  Kempster  was  born  in  Oneida  County, 
N.  Y.,  June  7,  1832.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  in 
this  county,  receiving  the  advantages  of  the  common 
schools.  In  1837  he  was  brought  by  his  parents 
to  this  county,  and  consequently  has  passed  the 
greater  portion  of  his  life  here,  and  is  truly  a  pioneer 
of  the  county.  He  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  his  father  divided  the  land  between  his  broth- 
ers and  himself,  when  he  removed  on  the  portion  he 
received,  and  has  since  continued  to  reside  on  the 
same.  By  good  judgment,  hard  labor  and  energetic 
effort,  Mr.  Kempster  has  added  to  his  original  inher- 
itance until  he  is  at  the  present  time  the  possessor 
of  461  acres  of  land.  He  keeps  on  his  farm  usually 
from  30  to  60  head  of  cattle,  including  a  number  of 
high-grade  Short-horns,  30  to  40  horses,  including 
10  brood  mares,  and  raises  annually  from  75  to-ioo 
head  of  hogs. 

In  the  winter  of  1855-6  two  of  the  brothers,  Wil- 
liam W.  and  Ephraim  H.,  and  Jacob  F.  Butzer,  con- 
cluded to  erect  a  saw-mill  on  the  homestead  farm ; 
and  as  a  proof  of  the  energy  and  push  they  possess, 
we  mention  the  fact  that  within  30  days  from  the 
origination  of  the  thought  the  mill  was  erected  and 
running.  After  running  the  mill  one  season  Mr. 
Butzer  sold  his  interest  to  another  brother,  J.  H., 
and  it  was  run  by  the  three  brothers.  In  a  few 
years  they  added  turning  lathes.  They  manufac- 
tured all  kinds  of  wooden  material  for  household 
furniture,  which  they  shipped  mostly  to  Davenport, 
Iowa.  They  continued  to  run  the  mill,  meeting 
with  success  for  a  number  of  years,  and  occasionally 
run  it  now,  and  sometimes  rent  it. 

Mr.  Kempster  was  united  in  marriage  in  Sterling, 
this  county,  Oct.  31,  1855,  to  Miss  Margaret  Hahn. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Caroline  Hahn, 
natives  of  Germany,  and  in  which  country  she  was 
born,  Aug.  21,  1838.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kempster  have 
had  10  children,  six  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
record  of  the  surviving  four  is  as  follows  :  Flora  was 
born  May  12,  1857,  and  is  the  wife  of  Nathan  M. 
Crook,  a  farmer  in  Henry  County,  this  State.  They 
have  two  children,  Roy  and  Birdie;  Wallace  was 
born  April  30,  1868;  Perry  W.  was  born  Dec.  5, 
1869;  and  Myrtle,  Aug.  8,  1874.  The  three  last- 
named  reside  at  home.  Mr.  Kempster  has  held  the 
position  of  School  Director  for  25  years,  and  is  one 
of  the  progressive  farmers  of  the  county. 


(Z) 


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LIBRARY 

ILLINOIS 


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1=1 

I 


rank  B.  Thomas,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  section  29,  Tampico  Township,  was 
born   in  Sterling  111.,  May  20,  1858.     His 
parents,  Henry  and  Hannah  (Norton)  Thomas, 
were  natives  of  Massuchusetts,  who  came  West 
in  1855,  locating  in  Sterling;  but  for  the  last 
five  years  they  have  resided  with  their  son,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  reared  and  educated  at  Sterling 
until  18  years  of  age;  and  before  his  marriage  he 
followed  wagon-making  a  year  and  carpentry  two 
years,  which  latter  trade  he  learned  of  his  father. 
After  marriage,  he  resided  one  year  on  the  Bullock 
homestead,  and  then  located  on  an  adjoining  farm  of 
80  acres,  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies,  and 
most  of  which  is  well  improved. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  married  May  29,  1879,  to  Miss 
Ida  M.,  daughter  of  Rufus  M.  Bullock  (see  sketch). 
She  was  born  in  Rockton,  Winnebago  Co.,  111.,  April 
12,  1857,  and  was  13  years  of  age  when  her  parents 
moved  with  their  family  to  this  county,  settling  in 
Tampico.  She  was  educated  at  Sterling.  By  this 
marriage  there  are  two  children,  namely  :  Mabel, 
born  Aug.  3,  i88r  ;  and  Alfred  M.,  Dec.  13,  1882. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  T.  is  a  reliable  Repub- 
lican. 


g:  evi  Bressler  is  one  of  the  prominent,  enter- 
prising farmers  of  Jordan  Township,  and  is 
located  on  section  35.  He  is  the  grand- 
son of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Stoner)  Bressler. 
The  former  was  born  in  Germany,  and  was 
about  six  years  of  age  when  his  parents  emi- 
grated thence  to  the  United  States.  They  settled  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Peter  Bressler  grew  to 
man's  estate.  He  was  married  there  to  Elizabeth 
<  Stoner,  who  was  of  German  parentage  and  American 
I,  birth.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and  farmer,  and  both 

T 

'^himself  and  his  wife  died  in  Lancaster  County. 

Their  youngest  child  and  only  son,  Isaac,  was  the 
of  Mr.  Bressler,  of  this  present  narration. 
'.&  He  acquired  a  complete  knowledge  of  farming  in 
^•Lancaster  County,  where  he  was  born,  and  he  was 


there  married  to  Fanny  Neff,  a  daughter  of  a  Penn- 
sylvania farmer,  and  a  native  of  the  same  county. 
She  was  of  German  origin,  and  became  the  mother 
of  12  children,  of  whom  n  are  still  living,  and  who 
are  all  married.  One  resides  in  Nebraska,  two  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  remaining  eight  in  Whiteside 
County.  Isaac  Bressler  was  a  farmer,  and,  in  con- 
nection with  his  agricultural  operations,  managed  an 
overland  transportation  business,  carried  on  between 
the  cities  of  Philadelphia,  Wheeling  and  Pittsburg — 
the  latter  being  the  eastern  terminus  of  the  western 
water  route.  This  was  conducted  by  means  of  the 
famous  "Conestoga"  wagon,  having  a  capacity  of 
four  to  six  tons,  and  drawn  by  six  horses.  This 
was  the  limit,  as  the  route  crossed  the  several  moun- 
tain chains  of  the  Appalachian  system.  He  was  a 
successful  stock-grower  and  dealer.  Among  his 
pioneer  experiences  was  that  of  being  a  passenger 
on  the  first  railroad  between  Columbia  and  Phila- 
delphia, horses  furnishing  the  motive  power.  The 
passengers  were  on  the  top  of  the  car,  and  one  was 
nearly  killed  while  passing  under  a  bridge,  neglect- 
ing to  stoop  at  the  proper  time.  Associated  with  the 
farmers  of  Lancaster  County,  he  established  the 
Lancaster  County  Bank,  in  the  city  of  the  same 
name.  He  acted  as  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
institution  until  1856,  when  he  removed  to  White- 
side  County.  He  purchased  extensive  tracts  of  land 
in  Jordan  Township  and  in  other  portions  of  the 
county,  making  the  aggregate  of  700  acres.  He 
built  a  large  residence  on  his  farm  in  Jordan  Town- 
ship, and  a  barn  of  the  variety  known  as  a  "  bank," 
or  Swisser  barn,  the  first  structure  of  the  kind  in  the 
township,  if  not  in  the  county.  He  was  born  at  the 
very  close  of  the  r8th  century,  and  died  March  31, 
1 88 1,  after  a  life  of  active  usefulness,  during  the  en- 
tire course  of  which  he  experienced  but  a  few  days' 
illness.  His  death  was  caused  by  fatty  degeneration 
of  the  heart,  at  82  years  of  age.  The  mother  is  still 
living  at  Sterling.  She  was  born  in  1800,  and  is  85 
years  of  age.  She  has  been  for  some  years  nearly 
blind. 

Levi  Bressler  lived  in  his  native  county  until  he 
was  25  years  of  age,  and  during  the  last  five  years 
of  that  time  he  drove  a  team  for  his  father  in  the 
transportation  business.  In  the  spring  of  1848  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  spent  the  ensuing  summer  in 
Whiteside  County,  returning  in  the  fall  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  remained  until  he  exchanged  his 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


bachelor  condition  for  that  of  a  benedict.  He  was 
\inited  in  marriage  March  26,  1850,  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  to  Frances  Eby.  She  was  born  Oct.  10,  1823, 
in  Leacock  Township,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  a  Pennsylvania  farmer  of  German  ex- 
traction, Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Groff)  Eby.  Her 
parents  were  lifelong  residents  of  the'State  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Mrs.  Bressler  died  at  her  home  in  Jordan 
Township  Jan.  18,  1879, leaving  five  children.  One 
little  one  preceded  her  to  the  home  of  eternal  peace. 
She  was  a  devoted  adherent  of  the  Mennonite  faith. 
Mary  F.  died  Jan.  31,  1861 ;  Emma  E.  lives  at  home  ; 
Louisa  married  John  S.  Landis,  a  farmei  of  Sterling 
Township  ;  Amanda  is  the  wife  of  Henry  R.  Rutt,  a 
farmer  of  Jordan  Township;  Lydia  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  P.  Wilson,  and  lives  on  the  hom-estead  of  her 
father;  Mary  is  also  resident  at  home. 

In  1850  Mr.  Bressler  came  with  his  young  wife  to 
Jordan  Township,  and  located  on  section  35.  He  is 
now  the  owner  of  240  acres,  situated  on  sections  33, 
34  and  35,  which  is  chiefly  under  excellent  tillage, 
and  furnished  with  first-class  farm  buildings.  In 
political  faith  and  connections  he  is  a  Republican  of 
the  genuine  stamp. 

Accompanying  the  foregoing  sketch,  on  a  page 
opposite  the  beginning,  is  given  a  good  likeness  of 
Mr.  Bressler,  printed  from  an  engraving  on  stone. 
The  position  which  the  subject  has  so  justly  and 
meritoriously  earned,  and  for  so  many  years  main- 
tained, in  the  community  where  he  resides,  as  a 
citizen  and  as  a  gentleman,  justifies  the  insertion  of 
his  portrait  in  the  gallery  of  the  Whiteside  County 
collection. 


3 

(  J.  Bracken,  farmer,  residing  on  section  23, 

Portland  Township,  and  the  owner  of  240 
acres  of  land  thereon,  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  he  at  present  resides,  April  29,  1854, 
and  has  resided  there  ever  since.  His  par- 
ents, Andrew  T.  and  Mary  (Crock)  Bracken, 
were  among  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  this  county. 
His  father  was  born  Aug.  6,  1804,  and  his  mother 
Sept.  7,  1815,  in  New  York.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  yet  survive.  James  L.  is  a  grain 
dealer  in  Tama  City,  Iowa,  and  married  Nettie 
Adams.  They  have  two  children,  Rachel  and 

§&&&• **$&£ §-A^j 


James.  The  father  of  Mr.  Bracken  died  on  the  old 
homestead  Dec.  9,  1870,  and  the  mother  Feb.  22, 
1882.  The  mother  had  been  previously  married  to 
John  Penwell,  by  whom  she  had  one  son,  John,  a 
farmer  residing  in  Geneseo,  Henry  Co.,  111. 

Mr.  Bracken  bought  out  the  heirs  of  the  old  home- 
stead, consisting  of  240  acres,  and  now  has  a  fine 
farm.  Politically  his  father  was  a  Republican  and 
served  several  years  as  Supervisor,  and  all  the  boys 
of  his  family  are  identified  with  the  interest  of  the 
party  to  which  the  father  belonged. 

Mr.  Bracken  was  united  in  marriage  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county,  June  9,  1873,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Besse,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Besse.  She 
was  born  in  Portland  Township,  this  county,  Nov. 
27>  1853- 


ussell  Hunt  has  been  a  farmer  on  section 
12,  Albany  Township,  since  1867.  He 
was  born  June  7,  1825,  in  Kanawha  Co., 
W.  Va.,  and  is  the  son  of  Whiting  B.  and 
Sarah  (Moss)  Hunt.  His  parents  were  na- 
tives respectively  of  Connecticut  and  Massa- 
chusetts, and  they  settled  in  West  Virginia  after 
their  marriage.  The  senior  Hunt  died  in  1 828,  leav- 
ing his  wife  with  seven  children.  She  went  with  her 
family  to  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio,  and  after  a  brief  resi- 
dence there  went  to  Scioto  County  in  the  same  State. 
After  several  removals  in  Ohio,  they  went  to  Indi- 
ana, and  remained  until  1844,  when  they  came  to 
Rock  Island  Co.,  111.  Four  years  later  they  went  to 
Clinton  Co.,  Iowa.  There  the  mother  made  her 
home  until  1867,  when  she  came  to  Albany  to  live 
with  her  son.  She  died  in  1874. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  three  years  old  when  his  father  died, 
and  after  that  went  to  live  principally  with  an  older 
sister  in  Kentucky  and  in  Cincinnati.  In  the  spring 
of  1844  he  came  to  Illinois,  making  the  journey  on 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers.  He  reached  Rock 
Island  April  16,  and  went  at  once  to  Davenport, 
Iowa,  and  resided  with  a  sister  there  until  1846, 
when  he  went  to  Clinton  County,  in  the  same  State, 
and  entered  Government  land  in  the  township  of 
Comanche,  on  which  he  built  a  frame  house  of  hard 
wood.  He  operated  to  a  considerable  extent  in  land 
traffic,  buying  claims  of  the  United  States,  which 


X 


it 

-3> 


he  improved  and  sold  at  an  advance.  In  1867  he 
crossed  the  Mississippi  River,  and  bought  a  farm 
on  section  12,  in  Albany  Township,  of  which  he  has 
since  been  the  occupant.  Mr.  Hunt  is  a  Republican 
in  political  principle.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  the 
State  Constitution  of  Iowa. 

He  was  married  in  December,  1848,  to  Anna 
Mathews.  She  was  born  March  24,  1833,  in  Wayne 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Butler)  Mathews.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  her  mother  was  born  in  Ohio.  In  1839 
the  family  settled  in  Clinton  Co.,  Iowa,  and  were 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  there.  Her  father  died 
in  Clinton  County,  in  October,  1877.  Alfred  W., 
Eva  L.,  Sarah  L.,  Olive  M.  and  Ida  are  the  names 
of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt.  The  parents 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Albany. 


|r  ames  Stewart,  farmer,  residing  on  section 
K-  29,  Prophetstown  Township,  is  the  owner 
of  240  acres,  located  on  the  section.  He 
was  born  in  Warrensburg,  Warren  Co.,  N.  Y., 
April  28,  1820.  His  father,  Daniel  Stewart, 
was  a  native  of  Scotland,  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  in  the  year  1809  he  emigrated  to  Prince 
Edward  Island,  and  the  following  year,  1810,  he 
came  to  New  York.  He  died  in  Prophetstown  Town- 
ship, July  24,  1864,  aged  79  years,  8  months  and  23 
days.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Stewart,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Christiann  Moon,  was  likewise  born  in 
Scotland,  and  died  in  Prophetstown  Township,  this 
county,  June  15,  1878,  aged  94  years  and  4  months. 
They  had  six  children,  only  two  of  whom  survived : 
Alexander,  a  farmer  in  Henry  County,  this  State ; 
and  James. 

Mr.  Stewart  is  the  youngest  of  his  parents'  family 
and  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  alternating  his  labors  thereon  by  attend- 
ing the  common  schools.  In  1858,  he  came  to  this 
township  with  his  brother  Alexander  and  their  par- 
ents. He  and  his  brother  bought  80  acres  of  land, 
the  same  being  a  part  of  the  farm  on  which  James 
now  resides.  They  farmed  it  together  and  subse- 
quently purchased  80  acres  more  in  partnership.  In 
James  bought  out  his  brother,  and  has  since 


added  to  his  home  estate  80  acres  additional.  He 
also  owns  40  acres  of  woodland  in  Henry  County, 
five  miles  distant  from  his  present  residence.  He  is 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  and 
has  a  dairy  consisting  of  16  cows,  and  usually  keeps 
a  number  of  hogs. 

Mr.  Stewart  was  united  in  marriage  in  Troy,  N.  Y., 
May  28,  1857,  to  Malvina  Ellis,  born  in  New  York, 
Aug.  7,  1822.  They  have  three  children  :  Henry, 
born  April  29,  1858;  Charles,  born  Oct.  1,1862;  and 
Fred,  born  July  25,  1865.  The  mother  of  Mrs. 
Stewart  is  deceased,  and  her  father  resides  in  Johns- 
town, N.  Y.,  aged  94  years. 


amuel  A.  Langdon,  farmer,  section  7 ,  Lyn- 
don Towiiship,  was  born  June  17,  1833,  in 
Monterey,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.  His  pa- 
rents, Amos  and  Naomi  (Thompson)  Langdon, 
were  both  born  in  the  same  place.  His  pater- 
nal great-grandsire  was  a  native  of  Eastern 
Massachusetts,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
town  of  Monterey.  His  maternal  grandfather  and 
four  brothers  were  farmers  and  extensive  landholders 
in  the  same  town. 

Mr.  Langdon  was  brought  up  in  the  pursuit  of  his 
ancestors,  and  Was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  discharged  the  obligations  of  his  minority  to  his 
parents,  and  at  21  years  of  age  went  to  Ross  Co., 
Ohio.  He  was  appointed  agent  at  Lyndon  Station, 
in  Ross  County,  on  the  line  of  the  Cincinnati,  Wash- 
ington &  Baltimore  Railroad,  where  he  operated  six 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  engaged  in  the 
sale  of  merchandise  in  the  village  of  Lyndon.  In 
1865  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Ross  County,  and 
removed  to  Chillicothe,  the  county  seat.  In  1867 
he  was  re-elected,  and  served  his  two  entire  terms, 
retiring  from  office  in  the  fall  of  1870. 

He  came  to  Morrison,  111.,  in  the  spring  of  1871, 
whence  he  removed,  a  year  later,  to  the  farm  he  has 
since  occupied.  He  purchased  the  place  early  in 
the  spring  of  1872.  His  homestead  comprises  344 
acres,  all  in  excellent  agricultural  condition.  It  is 
fenced,  and  supplied  with  all  necessary  and  commo- 
dious buildings.  The  place  is  one  of  the  best  man- 
aged in  the  county,  and  is  beautified  by  shade  and 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


fruit  trees  and  ornamental  shrubs.  Two  barns, 
built  by  Mr.  Langdon,  have  been  destroyed  by  fire. 
The  farm  stock  includes  a  considerable  herd  of 
thoroughbred  Holstein  cattle,  in  which  the  owner 
takes  a  justifiable  pride. 

He  was  married  Nov.  25,  1862,  to  Lucelia  Brewer, 
and  their  children  are  named  Elsie  L.,  Porter  B., 
Buel  A.,  Ross  S.  and  Clark  E.  Mrs.  Langdon  is 
the  daughter  of  Daniel  P.  and  Emeline  (Hollister) 
Brewer,  pioneers  of  Whiteside  County. 

Mr.  Langdon  is  a  gentleman  of  culture  and  excel- 
lent judgment  of  men  and  general  affairs,  and  enjoys 
a  high  degree  of  esteem  among  his  friends  and 
acquaintances.  He  has  served  three  terms  as  a 
member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors. 


arles  B.  Peugh,  general  farmer,  section 
27,  Genesee  Township,  was  born  Dec.  9, 
1819,  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky.  Samuel  Peugh,  his 
father,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  was  of 
English  descent.  He  removed  later  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  when  his  son  was  about  four  years 
of  age,  made  another  transfer  of  his  residence  and 
interests,  to  Washington  Co.,  Ind.,  locating  on  an 
unimproved  farm  in  a  county  which  was  in  its  ear- 
liest pioneer  days.  The  mother,  Elizabeth  Peugh, 
died  in  Indiana  about  1875,  and  was  nearly  80 years 
of  age.  The  father  died  at  his  son's  house  in  Gen- 
esee Township  about  1865,  when  he  was  77  years  of 
age. 

Mr.  Peugh  was  a  member  of  his  father's  family 
until  his  marriage,  which  took  place  when  he  was 
26  years  of  age.  He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
with  Jane  A.  Loudon  in  September,  1845.  Her  par- 
ents, John  and  Lavinia  (Lee)  Loudon,  were  born  re- 
spectively in  Ireland  and  New  Jersey.  Her  father 
came  to  the  United  States  in  childhood,  and  was 
married  in  the  State  of  New  York.  He  settled  on 
a  farm  in  Washington  County,  York  State.  Mrs. 
Peugh  was  born  there  March  28,  1827,  and  was 
third  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  eight  children. 
Her  parents  went,  when  she  was  12  years  of  age,  to 
Washington  Co.,  Ind.,  where  they  died — the  de- 
cease of  the  father  occurring  in  1852,  and  that  of 
the  mother  about  1871.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peugh  have 
been  the  parents  of  13  children,  and  all  are  liv- 


ing but  one :  John  L.  married  Martha  Swearin- 
gen,  and  they  reside  on  a  farm  in  Genesee  Township; 
Eliza  is  the  wife  of  E.  R.  Grubb,  of  whom  a  per- 
sonal account  is  given  in  this  book,  and  who  has  of- 
ficiated as  Deacon  in  the  Christian  Church  about  1 1 
years,  and  is  a  great  worker  in  the  Sunday-school  in- 
terest;  Samuel  married  Nancy  Howe,  and  is  a  fann- 
er and  also  a  stock  dealer,  in  Carroll  Co.,  111. ;  Will- 
iam C.  married  Catherine  Wetzel,  and  is  a  farmer  in 
Genesee  Township;  Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Harrison,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work ;  James  L.  married  Alice  Colcord  (see  sketch 
of  William  H.  Colcord) ;  Viola  B.  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Wetzel,  of  Genesee  Township;  Elizabeth  is 
the  wife  of  Frank  Shannon,  a  farmer  of  Tama  Co., 
Iowa;  Sarah  A.  married  Patrick  Flynn,  and  they  re- 
side in  the  county  last  named  ;  Malinda  R.  is  the 
widow  of  Millard  Hannis;  Nora  E.  and  Cora  M.  re- 
side with  their  parents  ;  one  child  died  in  infancy. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peugh  resided 
on  a  farm  owned  by  the  former  for  a  time,  removing 
in  1851  to  Illinois,  and  fixing  their  residence  on  a 
farm  which  he  had  purchased  previously.  The  en- 
tire tract  was  all  unbroken  prairie,  with  no  visible 
traces  of  civilization.  The  place  is  now  in  first-class 
condition  with  fine  and  valuable  farm  buildings.  Mr. 
Peugh  is  a  progressive  farmer,  and  is  interested  in 
stock.  The  entire  family,  with-  a  single  exception, 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Peugh 
has  been  a  Deacon  five  years,  and  has  officiated  as 
Elder  about  seven  years.  In  his  political  convic- 
tions he  is  a  Democrat. 


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tarles  Shirk,  a  retired  farmer  of  White- 
side  County,  resident  at  Morrison,  is  a 
leading  and  representative  pioneer  citizen 
of  the  county,  and  has  been  for  20  years  inti- 
mately identified  with  the  development  and 
substantial  progress  of  its  agricultural  inter- 
ests, and  been  especially  active  in  the  furtherance 
of  its  social,  moral  and  religious  interests. 

He  was  born  Dec.  23,  1816,  in  Center  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Sissler) 
Shirk.  His  parents  were  born  in  the  Keystone 
State,  where  his  father  was  engaged  in  the  business 
of  a  tanner  and  currier.  They  had  five  children, 


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Mr.  Shirk  and  two  older  brothers  constituting  the 
survivors.  Robert  is  a  shoe  dealer  in  Center  County; 
Mordecai  is  a  tanner  in  the  State  of  his  nativity. 
The  sons  were  brought  up  at  home  under  the  super- 
vision and  authority  of  their  parents. 

Jan.  i  [,  1838,  Mr.  Shirk  of  this  sketch  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Sarah  Galbraith,  who  was  born  Aug. 
15,  1815,  in  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living.  Catherine  was  born  Oct.  6,  1838,  and  died 
Dec.  12  ensuing.  Miles  B.  was  born  May  23,  1840, 
and  is  the  proprietor  of  a  clothing  establishment  at 
Morrison.  Mary,  born  April  13,  1842,  was  married 
Nov.  5,  1860,  to  Clemens  Watson  ;  Milton  was  born 
May  9,  1844,  and  died  July  i,  of  the  same  year; 
John  B.,  born  May  3,  1845,  died  Sept.  i,  1863; 
James  C.,  born  May  5,  1847,  died  Aug.  23,  1868; 
Ellwood  W.,  born  July  13,  1849,  is  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  at  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  William,  born 
June  22,  1851,  is  a  farmer  near  Morrison;  Eliza- 
beth, born  April  10,  1853,  is  the  widow  of  James 
Shafer;  Margaret,  born  March  10,  1855,  died  Feb. 
i,  1863.  The  wife  and  mother  died  Aug.  14,  1881, 
after  a  wedded  life  of  move  than  43  years.  Mr. 
Shirk  was  a  second  time  joined  in  marriage,  to 
Emeline  Johnson,  April  5,  1882.  This  union  was  of 
short  duration,  the  second  wife  passing  to  the  world 
of  silence  and  of  mystery  April  20,  1884,  after  but 
little  more  than  two  years  of  married  existence. 
Sept.  24,  1884,  Mr.  Shirk  contracted  a  third  matri- 
monial alliance,  with  Ellen  Steer.  She  was  born 
April  24,  1830. 

Mr.  Shirk  was  a  citizen  of  his  native  State  until 
1864,  when  he  transferred  his  energies  and  interests 
to  Whiteside  County,  purchased  160  acres  of  promis- 
ing land  on  section  12,  Union  Grove  Township,  and 
section  7,  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  and  brought  to 
bear  thereon  all  the  abilities  and  skill  which  were 
the  outgrowth  of  a  life  of  endeavor  under  the  foster- 
ing influences  of  the  East.  He  placed  all  its  acres 
under  the  best  style  of  cultivation,  and  he  made  it 
an  attractive  home  for  his  family  of  growing  children, 
and  its  ownership  is  still  held  in  the  possession  of 
him  who  tilled  its  soil  in  hopefulness  and  made  it 
the  nucleus  of  his  years  of  successful  effort.  He 
also  owns  320  acres  on  section  16,  and  200  acres  on 
section  21,  in  the  same  township,  together  with  40 
acres  of  timber  in  the  township  of  Clyde  and  two 


lots  with  residences  in  the  city  of  Morrison,  one  of 
which  is  occupied  by  his  family,  the  other  by  that  of 
his  son  William.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  $12,000 
invested  in  the  stock  of  the  First  National  Bank  at 
Morrison,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  Directors.  He 
belongs  in  membership  to  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Morrison,  and  was  one  of  the  most  liberal 
contributors  in  the  erection  of  the  new  and  hand- 
some church  edifice  of  the  society. 


i  lanson  Stowell,  farmer,  residing  on  section 
4,  Prophetstown  Township,  and  the  owner 
''  of  320  acres  thereon,  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and 
Elizabeth  (Pratt)  Stowell,  and  was  born  in 
Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  30,  1812.  His  father 
and  mother  were  both  natives  of  the  same 
State,  and  the  former  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and  both  were  of  Scotch,  English  and  Welsh  ex- 
traction. 

Alanson  Stowell,  subject  of  this  notice,  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  assisted  in  the  maintenance  of  the  family, 
and  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
county  until  he  was  21.  He  then  left  the  parental 
roof-tree,  and  went  to  Canisteo,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  millwright.  He  served 
three  years  in  the  latter  county,  and  in  May,  1836, 
came  to  Quincy,  this  State,  and  worked  at  his  trade 
for  about  three  months.  He  then  went  to  Iowa  in 
the  vicinity  of  Davenport,  where  he  worked  one  sea- 
son on  several  mills  in  that  neighborhood.  He  then 
returned  to  Quincy,  where  his  parents  resided,  and 
in  the  spring  again  returned  to  Iowa,  where  he  was 
engaged  at  his  trade  for  another  three  months. 

In  July,  1837,  Mr.  Stowell  came  to  Prophetstown, 
which  was  then  a  part  of  Jo  Daviess  County,  and  in 
company  with  three  others  made  a  claim  of  360  acres 
of  land.  They  erected  a  saw-mill  on  the  same,  one- 
half  mile  from  the  mouth  of  Coon  Creek,  and  cut  a 
race  one  and  a  half  miles  in  length,  which  cost  them 
$2,000,  and  which  proved  a  failure,  and  Mr.  Stowell 
was  the  loser  thereby  to  the  extent  of  one-fourth  of 
the  -amount  invested.  They  then  moved  the  mill 
and  ran  it  something  over  two  years,  and  finally 
abandoned  it,  as  it  had  a  poor  foundation  and  had 
fallen  down ;  but  Mr.  Stowell  was  lucky  in  having 
sold  out  his  interest  some  time  before  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  property,  although  he  was  a  loser  by  the 


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investment.  Mr.  Stowell  purchased  80  acres  of  his 
present  farm  on  section  4  from  the  Government  after 
the  land  had  come  into  market,  and  has  increased 
his  acreage  by  subsequent  purchases,  until  he  is  now 
the  proprietor  of  320  acres  on  the  section  named, 
1 20  seres  of  the  same  being  inside  the  corporate 
limits  of  the  village  of  Proplietstown.  He  has  also 
six  acres  of  timber  land  in  Portland  Township. 

Mr.  Stowell  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophets- 
town,  May  12,  1842,  to  Miss  Annette  E.  Nichols. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Erastus  G.  and  Elizabeth  G. 
Nichols,  and  was  born  in  Hardwick,  Caledonia  Co., 
Vt.,  Sept.  21,  1824.  They  have  had  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living:  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Henry 
S.  Davidson,  farmer  in  Prophetstown  Township ; 
Erastus  C.,  a  farmer  residing  on  the  farm  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  R.  ].  Pense,  a 
farmer  in  Nebraska ;  Marion,  wife  of  Frank  McGrady, 
section  foreman  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad  branch;  Bradford  M.,  a  farmer;  Addie  A., 
wife  of  John  Blackmore,  a  carpenter  in  Prophetstown  ; 
Mark  A.  resides  at  home ;  Erastus  C.  married  Lucy 
Blackmore;  Bradford  married  Maud  Daratt. 

Mr.  Stowell  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Whiteside  County  and  has  been  ever  active  in  de- 
veloping its  resources  and  laboring  to  promote  the 
welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  community.  He  is.  and 
long  has  been,  one  of  the  leading  and  representative 
men  of  his  section  of  the  county,  and  being  a  man  of 
this  standing,  we  take  pleasure  in  presenting  his  por- 
trait in  this  ALBUM. 


aniel  Lipe,  a  retired  farmer  of  Sterling, 
was  the  son  of  Godfrey  and  Barbara 
(House)  Lipe,  natives  of  North  Carolina 
and  of  'German  descent.  They  were  far- 
mers and  died  in  their  native  State.  He 
remained  at  his  parental  home  until  he 
was  23  years  of  age,  receiving  a  common-school 
education  and  assisting  on  the  farm.  On  leaving 
home  he  came  to  Montgomery  County,  this  State, 
purchased  500  acres  of  land  and  followed  agricul- 
ture there  for  33  years,  when  he  sold  and  came  to 
Sterling,  buying  23  acres  of  land  joining  town  ;  he 
still  resides  on  a  portion  of  the  same  tract. 

Mr.  Lipe  was  married   March    8,    1832,  to  Miss 

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Matilda  Walter,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  they 
have  had  n  children,  9  of  whom  are  still  living, 
namely : 

1.  Louisa  C.,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  Feb. 
11,  1833,  moved  with  her  parents  to  Illinois  in  1835, 
arriving  Oct.  13,  and  Dec.  25,  1856,  married  Whit- 
son  Hefley,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  who  died  in  the 
Union  Army,  Oct   18,  1863.     By  that  marriage  Mrs. 
H.  had  two  children,  one  of  whom,  Arthur,  is  living. 
In  the  fall  of  1865   she  married  William  F.  Henry, 
and    by  the  present    matrimonial  union    there    have 
been  five  children.     The  three  children  living  are 
May,  Loa  M.  and  Jesse.     Arthur  Hefley  is  married 
and  has  two  children. 

2.  Wiley  A.  Lipe,  who  is  a  minister  of  the  Gospel. 
He  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  July  9,  1835,  and  was 
moved  with  his  parents    in    emigration    to    Illinois 
when   only    three    months  old.     Oct.   25,  1860,  he 
married  Elizabeth  E.  Brown,  and  now  has  six  chil- 
dren—Eva,   Ada,    Walter   S.,  George,   Archie   and 
Augustus  K.,  besides  Ida,  deceased. 

3.  Barbara   ].,   born  in  Illinois,    Sept.    29,   1837, 
married  Levi  S.  Hefley,  a  farmer,  Oct.  24,  1858,  and 
has  five  children — Cyrus,  Elizabeth,  Daniel,  George 
and  Mary,  besides  one  deceased.     Elizabeth  married 
Smyth  Caton,    Feb.    9,     1882,    and    has  one    child, 
Mabel. 

4.  Rufus  F.,  who  is  a  merchant.     He  was   born 
in  Illinois,  Jan.  6,   1840,  married  Mary  M.  Holmes, 
Jan.  15,  1863,  and  has  had  two  children — Dalton  S., 
deceased,  and   Lilly  D.     The  latter  married  Hiram 
E.  Price,  May  3,  1879,  and  has  one  child,  Murriel 
by  name. 

5.  Mary  Elizabeth,  who  was  born  in  this  State, 
April  9,  1842,  married  Jacob  Single,  a  farmer,  March 
14,  1860,  and  died  Feb.  27,  1861. 

6.  Luther  L.,  who   is  a  minister  of  the  Gospel. 
He  was  born   Oct.    17,  1844,  married  Flora  Stager, 
Oct.  5,  187 2,  and  has  had  two  children,  Johnnie,  de- 
ceased, and  Olive. 

7.  Cecelia  A.,  who  also  was  born  in  this  State,  in 
August,  1850,  and  married  Henry  Raffenberger,  an 
insurance  agent,  Dec.  5,  1870,  and  has  four  children 
— Walter,  Levi,  Olive  and  Roy. 

8.  George  W.,  a  druggist,  who  was  born  in  Illi- 
nois, April   18,   1853,  married  Mary  E.  Miller,  May 
19,  1875,  and  has  one  child,  Zula. 

9.  Sarah  A.  C.,  who  was  born  in  the  Prairie  State, 


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WHITES/DM  COUNTY. 


May  23,  1856,  and  May  6,  1880,  married  Thomas 
W.  Henry,  a  general  carriage  and  buggy  agent  for 
the  Enterprise  Manufacturing  Company  of  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio. 

10.  Leora  J.,  who  was  born  in  Illinois,  Dec.  30, 
1859,  and  Sept.  25,  1880,  married  Cyrus  L.  Schriver, 
general  carriage  and  buggy  agent  for  the  Enterprise 
Manufacturing  Company  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Lipe,  the  subject  of 
this  record,  has  had  29  grandchildren  (seven  of 
whom  are  dead),  and  four  great-grandchildren.  His 
sons  and  daughters  who  are  living  are  all  married 
and  are  doing  well,  the  men  being  in  active  business 
or  professional  life. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Lipe  is  a  Republican, 
and  both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 


K  hilip  H.  Smith,  of  the  firm  of  Hull  &  Smith, 
dealers  in  drugs,  medicines,  notions,  paints, 
oils,  jewelry,  etc.,  at  Prophetstown,  is  a  son 
of  Adam  and  Catherine  (Berner)  Smith,  and 
was  born  in  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  near  Lockport, 
Dec.  26,  1844.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  at  present  re- 
sides in  Boone  Co.,  lo.wa,  retired  from  the  active 
labors  of  life.  His  mother  was  also  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  is  still  living.  The  issue  of  their  union 
was  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  living.  When  Mr. 
Smith  was  six  months  old,  his  parents  came  West 
to  Cook  Co.,  111.,  where  they  resided  about  20  years, 
his  father  owning  a  farm  some  20  miles  from  the  city 
of  Chicago.  In  1861  the  family  moved  to  Henry 
County,  this  State,  where  Mr.  Smith  of  this  notice 
had  purchased  a  farm  of  120  acres,  and  subsequently 
increased  his  acreage  in  that  county  until  he  owned 
280  acres.  He  resided  in  Henry  County  until  1875, 
when  he  came  to  Prophetstown  and  in  company  with 
J.  J.  Green  opened  a  general  store,  which  they  con- 
ducted until  the  fall  of  1881.  In  the  spring  of  1884, 
•Mr.  Smith  formed  a  partnership  with  H.  C.  Hull  in 
the  drug  business,  which  relation  exists  at  the  pres- 
ent writing.  They  erected  their  fire-proof  store 
building,  and  carry  a  stock  approximating  $3,000  in 
drugs  and  fancy  goods.  Mr.  Smith  still  owns  a  farm 
in  Bureau  County,  and,  in  connection  with  J.  J. 


Green,  123  acres  in  Henry  County.  Socially,  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Order  of  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 


.phraim  H.  Kempster,  farmer,  residing  on 
section  33,  Portland  Township,  and  own- 
ing 370  acres  of  land  in  the  township,  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Lydia  (Hall)  Kempster  (see 
sketch  of  William  W.  Kempster),  and  was  born 
near  Utica,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  16,  1834. 
When  three  years  of  age  his  parents  came  with  him 
to  this  county,  settling  on  wild  land  in  Portland 
Township.  Ephraim  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and 
received  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common 
schools.  On  the  death  of  his  father  he  inherited  60 
acres  of  the  homestead,  and  purchased  30  acres  of 
the  same  from  his  brother,  William.  He  at  once 
located  on  his  land,  and  has  resided  there  continu- 
ously since.  By  energetic  effort  and  good  judgment 
he  has  succeeded  in  increasing  his  landed  interests 
until  he  is  at  present  the  owner  of  370  acres.  In 
the  winter  of  1855-6  he  and  his  brother  William, 
together  with  Jacob  F.  Butzer,  erected  a  mill,  which 
they  ran  for  a  season,  when  Mr.  Butzer  sold  his  in- 
terest to  J.  H.  Kempster,  another  brother.  The 
three  brothers  ran  the  mill  for  about  20  years  as  a 
saw-mill,  when  they  converted  it  into  a  turning 
establishment,  and  manufactured  all  kinds  of  furni- 
ture material  for  some  10  years.  They  have  ceased 
to  run  it,  and  for  the  past  few  years  have  rented  it. 

Mr.  Kempster  makes  a  specialty  of  stock  on  his 
farm.  He  has  from  150  to  200  head  of  hogs,  mostly 
Poland  China.  He  has  also  a  number  of  graded 
Norman  and  Clydesdale  horses.  Mr.  Kempster  is 
also,  in  addition  to  his  agricultural  labors,  engaged 
in  manufacturing  lumber,  which  he  ships  to  Daven- 
port. On  his  farm  he  has  a  deer  park  in  which  he 
and  his  brother  have  six  White-Tailed  or  Virginia 
deer. 

Mr.  Kempster  was  united  in  marriage  May  15, 
1859,  to  Miss  Rachel  Ann  Spicer.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Abigail  (Scudder)  Spicer, 
and  was  born  April  23,  1846,  in  Will  Co.,  111.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  three  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  The  record  is  as  follows:  Loretta  A., 
born  Feb.  14,  1860,  died  Sept.  12,  1860;  Arthur  E., 


— £@5§)f 


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. 


WHITES J DE  COUNTY. 


born  March  17,  1862,  died  Feb.   20,   1864;  Charles 
M.,  born  July  5,  1855,  died  Aug.  5,  1867  ;  Frank  E., 
,  born  Sept.  12,  1868;  Elbert  A.,  born  May  7,  1873; 
and  Mabel  M.,  born  April  n,  1881. 


i  infield  Scott  Wilkinson,  of  Morrison,  be- 
came a  resident  of  Whiteside  County  in 
1839,  and  had  been  in  the  State  two 
years  previous  to  that  date.  He  has  been 
prominently  connected  with  the  municipal 
affairs  .of  that  county  during  the  entire  period  of  his 
active  life.  He  is  widely  known  in  his  public  and 
official  relations,  and  as  a  staunch  friend  and  pro- 
moter of  the  general  welfare. 

The  genealogical  record  of  the  Wilkinsons  in 
America  is  complete.  Lawrence  Wilkinson  was  the 
founder  of  the  race,  and  Mr.  Wilkinson  belongs  to 
the  sixth  generation.  Lawrence  was  born  in  Lan- 
chester,  in  the  shire  of  Durham,  England.  His 
father  was  named  William,  and  his  grandfather  bore 
the  same  name  as  himself.  He  settled  at  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  in  1645,  as  nearly  as  can  be  estimated, 
and  he  died  in  1692,  nine  years  after  the  death  of 
Roger  Williams.  From  William  Wilkinson,  who 
married  Mary  Conyers,  the  succession  is  traced,  as 
follows :  Lawrence  married  Susannah  Smith ;  John, 
their  third  child,  married  Deborah  Whipple;  Daniel, 
fifth  child  of  John'  and  Deborah,  married  Abigail  In- 
man.  John,  who  was  the  seventh  child  of  the  latter, 
married  Betsey  Tower,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  four  children — Alpha,  Alfred,  John  and  Diana — 
all  now  deceased.  Alfred  was  born  in  Cumberland, 
R.  I.,  July  6,  1786.  His  parents  went  thence  to  Troy, 
and  from  there  to  Skaneateles,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died, 
July  19,  1859,  on  the  farm  where  the  family  settled, 
and  on  which  he  was  buried.  He  was  distinguished 
for  his  learning,  conscientiousness,  public  spirit  and 
religious  fervor.  He  married  Susan  Smith,  by  whom 
he  had  six  children  :  Joab,  Winfield  Scott,  Harry, 
Morton  Smith,  Elizabeth  and  Sarah.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  Laura  Edwards, 
who  survived  him.  Two  children,  Harr,  and  Eliza- 
beth, are  deceased.  Joab  is  a  farmer  in  Macon  Co., 
111.  Morton  is  an  attorney  at  Welles,  Minn.  He 
studied  for  his  profession  at  Skaneateles,  began  his 


practice  at  Eaton  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  removed,  in 
1847,  to  Minnesota.  Sarah  resides  on  the  home- 
stead which  was  the  pioneer  home  of  her  grand- 
father. The  generations  that  have  descended  from 
Lawrence  Wilkinson  have  included  some  of  the  most 
distinguished  names  in  the  history  of  the  country. 
Ruth  Wilkinson,  daughter  of  Samuel,  eldest  son  of 
Lawrence,  was  the  mother  of  Stephen  Hopkins, 
Governor  of  Rhode  Island,  and  signer  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence.  Jemima  Wilkinson,  the 
Prophetess,  belonged  to  the  fourth  generation.  The 
roll  of  those  who  attained  distinction  in  learning, 
law,  theology  and  mechanics  is  too  extensive  for  the 
scope  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Wilkinson  was  born  Sept.  n,  1812,  in  Skane- 
ateles, N.  Y.  He  was  under  the  parental  authority 
during  his  minority,  and  obtained  a  good  education. 
He  first  engaged  in  teaching  on  reaching  the  period 
of  his  legal  freedom,  and  afterward  acquired  a  thor- 
ough and  practical  knowledge  of  the  business  of 
civil  engineering.  In  1837  he  came  to  Jacksonville, 
111.,  and  was  employed  by  the  State  in  the  capacity 
of  civil  engineer  until  the  fall  of  1839,  when  he 
located  in  Whiteside  County. 

In  October  of  that  year  he  bought  a  farm  on  sec- 
tion 25,  near  Como,  in  Hopkins  Township,  which 
contained  70  acres.  Como  flourished,  and  became 
the  leading  settlement  in  the  eastern  part  of  White- 
side  County.  The  Government  land  sales  took 
place  in  1843,  ar"d  Mr-  Wilkinson  was  one  of  three 
selected  by  the  claimants  of  Como  to  bid  them  in. 
He  was  chosen  to  perform  the  same  service  for  the 
settlers  in  Hopkins  Township.  During  the  entire 
period  of  his  residence  in  Hopkins,  his  peculiar 
fitness  for  the  transaction  of  business  in  the  interests 
of  a  pioneer  community  were  recognized  and  kept  in 
active  use.  In  1842  he  was  elected  County  Sur- 
veyor, and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  position  five 
years.  In  1844  he  was  elected  Representative,  and 
served  two  years  in  the  General  Assembly,  fulfilling 
the  obligations  of  his  trust  in  a  manner  that  reflected 
credit  upon  himself  and  upon  the  judgment  of  his 
constituents. 

The  business  of  Whiteside  County  was  transacted 
by  a  Commissioners'  Court,  until  the  institution  of 
the  County  Court.  Mr.  Wilkinson  was  named  for 
the  chief  official,  but  declined,  and  accepted  an  ap- 
pointment as  Associate  Justice.  The  first  meeting 
of  the  Court  was  held  in  -March,  1850.  In  1853  he 


: 


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LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  iLUNOIS 


v-r*. 


a€»K- 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


was  again  elected  County  Surveyor,  and  held  the 
position  until  1857,  when  he  was  elected  County 
Clerk,  the  event  being  made  conspicuous  by  his  be- 
ing the  nominee  of  the  Independent  Democratic 
element  of  the  county.  He  was  twice  re-elected, 
and  served  an  aggregate  of  12  years,  or  until  1869, 
when  he  declined  a  further  incumbency.  The 
ability  and  public  spirit  he  had  manifested  in  his 
official  relations  won  for  him  the  appreciation  of  the 
community,  and  the  commendation  of  the  officials  of 
the  county  with  whom  he  was  connected  ex  officio. 
He  was  elected  Senator  in  1870,  when  the  adoption 
of  the  new  Constitution  of  Illinois  demanded  that 
the  people  should  be  represented  by  the  soundest 
judgment  and  most  disinterested  integrity.  His  dis- 
trict included  the  counties  of  Whiteside  and  Lee, 
and  the  service  rendered  by  Mr.  Wilkinson  in  the 
Legislature  justified  the  discretion  of  his  constit- 
uents. In  September,  1856,  he  removed  to  Sterling, 
then  the  county  seat.  On  the  removal  of  the  county 
government  to  Morrison,  in  1858,  he  changed  his 
residence  to  the  latter  place,  of  which  he  has  since 
been  a  resident.  At  the  termination  of  his  Sena- 
torial term,  in  1872,  he  retired  from  public  and 
active  life. 

Mr.  Wilkinson  owns  a  farm  on  section  34,  Hop- 
kins Township,  which  is  conducted  by  a  tenant,  and 
also  his  residence  at  Morrison,  and  16  acres  of  land. 

His  marriage  to  Frances  E.  Sampson  occurred  at 
Como,  Nov.  10,  1841,  and  they  have  had  four  chil- 
dren. Mary,  born  April  14,  1843,  married  Dr.  C. 
H.  Cogswell,  and  resides  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa. 
Alfred  E.,  born  Dec.  6,  1846,  is  an  attorney  at  Den- 
nison,  Texas.  He  studied  at  the  University  of 
Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  was  graduated  in  1869, 
reading  the  class  poem.  Henry  B.,  born  April  8, 
1849,  is  in  company  with  his  uncle,  Hon.  H.  R. 
Sampson,  and  is  doing  business  as  a  real-estate  and 
loan  agent.  They  are  the  owners  of  the  only  com- 
plete set  of  abstracts  in  Whiteside  County.  Frank, 
born  March  n,  1857,  died  Nov.  21,  1860.  Mrs. 
Wilkinson  is  the  daughter  of  Capt.  H.  B.  and  Nancy 
(Turner)  Sampson,  pioneers  of  Hopkins  Township. 
She  was  born  Jan.  8,  1814.  On  her  father's  side  she 
is  descended  from  "  Myles  "  Standish  and  John  Al- 
den,  whose  children  intermarried.  On  her  mother's 
side,  she  is  descended  from  Governor  Carver,  of 
Massachusetts,  and  her  grandfather,  Colonel  Turner, 


was  a  graduate  from  Harvard  in  1767,  and  joined    ^< 
the  Colonial  army  at  Boston  with  a  company  of  vol-    ' 
unteers.     (See  sketch  of  Hon.  H.  R.  Sampson.) 


y.on.  Dwight  S.  Spafford,  dealer  in  groceries, 
crockery  and  cutlery  at  Morrison,  was  born 
Dec.  22,  1834,  in  Bergen,  Genesee  Co.,  N. 
Y.  His  father,  Sumner  Spafford,  was  born  in 
1799,  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  died  in  Feb- 
ruary,. 1858,  in  Bergen.  Delia  (Barber)  Spaf- 
ford, his  mother,  was  born  in  Connecticut  and  died 
in  October,  1883,  aged  68  years.  Three  of  their  four 
children  yet  survive.  Burton  J.  is  deceased.  Cath- 
erine married  Thomas  J.  Tone,  a  grain  dealer  in 
Bergen,  N.  Y.  Jerome  is  a  farmer  in  his  native  town- 
ship,— Bergen. 

Mr.  Spafford  is  the  oldest  of  the  surviving  children 
of  his  parents.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
and  until  he  was  17  years  of  age,  and  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  winter  terms  of  school  only,  after  he  at- 
tained sufficient  growth  to  render  his  labors  profitable 
on  the  farm.  But  he  made  excellent  use  of  the 
advantages  he  had,  and  at  the  age  named  began 
teaching  winters  and  became  a  student  at  the  Nor- 
mal School  in  the  city  of  Albany.  He  was  graduated 
at  that  institution  in  1853.  He  passed  one  year 
ensuing  in  teaching  at  Greene,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  officiated  as  Principal.  He  then  went  to 
Equality,  Gallatin  Co.,  111.,  and  filled  the  position 
of  Principal  three  years. 

In  1859  he  came  to  Morrison,  and,  associated  with 
O.  B.  Crosby,  established  a  business  similar  to  that 
in  which  he  is  now  engaged.  This  relation  existed 
two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  Mr.  Spafford  be- 
came by  purchase  sole  proprietor,  and  has  since 
operated  singly.  In  1863  he  built  the  brick  building 
in  which  he  is  now  transacting  his  business.  It  is 
three  stories  high  above  the  cellar,  and  is  26  by  52 
feet  in  dimensions,  with  a  brick  ware-house  two 
stories  in  height,  in  the  rear,  situated  upon  the  rail- 
road, furnishes  him  every  facility  for  carrying  one  of 
the  largest  stocks  of  goods  in  his  line  in  the  city, 
and  the  aggregate  of  his  annual  transactions  is  a 
speaking  testimony  to  the  character  and  business 
methods  of  the  proprietor.  The  duties  of  the  estab- 
lishment require  the  aid  of  four  assistants.  Mr. 
Spafford  is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  First 


\ 


-i ...  - 


V  ' 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


© 

M> 


National  Bank  at  Morrison,  also  in  the  First  National 
Hank  of  Kearney,  Neb.;  has  officiated  four  years  as 
Supervisor  of  the  township  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  is 
the  owner  of  considerable  real  estate  at  Morrison. 

He  is  a  Freemason,  and  is  a  member  of  the  ad- 
vanced bodies,  including  Sterling  Royal  Arch  Chap- 
ter, Dixon  Commandery,  and  Freeport  Consistory. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Nov.  15,  1866,  in  Mor- 
rison, to  Lide  E  Robertson,  and  they  have  three 
children, — Frank  S.,  Earl  J.  and  Rob  Roy.  Mrs. 
Spafford  was  born  Jan.  20,  1845,  in  Union  Grove 
Township,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  A.  and  Emily 
Robertson.  Mr.  Robertson  came  to  Whiteside  County 
about  1838,  from  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
among  its  first  pioneers. 

Mr.  Spafford's  portrait  appears  on  a  preceding 
page.  It  is  a  peculiarly  fit  addition  to  the  gallery  of 
likenesses  of  distinguished  citizens  of  Whiteside 
County,  from  a  fact  in  his  career  not  yet  referred  to. 
On  the  death  of  Hon.  Robert  E.  Logan,  of  whom  a 
sketch  is  given  in  this  work,  he  was  elected  to  serve 
as  his  successor  as  Representative  in  the  Thirty- 
fourth  General  Assembly  from  the  Nineteenth 
Senatorial  District,  comprising  Whiteside  and  Lee 
Counties  It  is  a  sufficient  tribute  to  the  estimate  of 
the  character  of  Mr.  Spafford  by  his  party,  that  he 
was  selected  in  the  midst  of  a  session  of  the  As- 
sembly of  Illinois  which  will  mark  one  of  the  most 
significant  historical  eras  in  the  State  annals.  It 
was  one  that  was  a  forcible  reminder  of  the  times 
when  the  party  watchword  characterized  its  picket 
guard,  and  the  emergency  demanded  that  the  posi- 
tion be  filled  by  a  man  of  inflexible  principle  and  un- 
approachable probity. 


E.  Frary,  section  25,  Portland  Township, 
|F  is  a  son  of  Myron  and  Martha  (Morrill) 
Frary,  and  was  born  in  Napoli  Township, 
Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  3,  1843;  his 
father  was  a  fanner.  Mr.  Frary  finished  his 
school  education  in  the  Randolph  Academy  in 
his  native  county.  In  the  same  village,  Aug.  7,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  1541!!  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  a 
private,  and  served  until  May  26,  1865,  rising  in  the 
meanwhile  to  the  position  of  Sergeant.  At  the  battle 
of  Chancellorsville  he  was  wounded  in  the  left  elbow 


and  the  right  hip,  which  confined  him  to  the  hospi- 
tal;  he  came  near  losing  his  arm.  He  was  brought 
home  by  his  father,  and  his  arm  was  saved.  He 
then  came  to  Portland  Township,  to  which  place  his 
parents  had  moved  in  the  spring  of  1865;  and  he, 
being  their  only  son,  has  resided  with  them  nearly 
ever  since.  In  1884  he  bought  of  his  father  the  120 
acres  he  now  occupies,  and  where  he  has  a  herd  of 
50  head  of  graded  Short-horns, — one  full-blood, — and 
50  to  75  hogs. 

He  was  married  in  Morrison,  this  county,  July  i, 
1869,  to  Miss  Mary  Martin,  daughter  of  James  and 
Elvira  Martin;  she  was  born  Jan.  10,  1849,  in  Pal- 
ermo, Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  have  two  children, 
both  born  here,  and  named  Nora  A.,  who  was  born 
Aug.  14,  1871,  and  Claude  E.,  April  19,  1877. 


•* 
" 


ilton  B.  Woodward,  farmer  residing  on 
section  29,  Prophetstown  Township,  and 
owning  120  acres  of  land  thereon,  is 
a  son  of  David  and  Mary  (Leach)  Wood- 
ward. He  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  at 
present  resides,  and  where  he  has  lived  all  his 
life,  June  10,  1852.  His  father  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  and  was  born  April  13,  1811.  He  came  to 
this  county  in  1838;  the  following  year  he  bought  a 
claim,  the  same  being  the  farm  on  which  Milton  B., 
the  subject  of  this  notice,  now  resides,  and  on  which 
the  father  died  Nov.  22,  1882.  His  mother  was  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  was  born  Dec.  12,  i8i_r, 
and  now  resides  with  Milton  B.  The  parents  had 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living.  Eliza- 
beth is  the  wife  of  James  Keefer,  a  farmer  residing 
in  Henry  Co.,  111. ;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  J.  E.  Gra- 
ham, a  farmer  in  Carroll  Co.,  Iowa;  Eleanor  is  the 
wife  of  J.  W.  Keefer,  a  farmer  residing  in  Prophets- 
town  Township;  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Edgar  Ham- 
mond, a  farmer  residing  in  the  same  township;  the 
deceased  are  Henry  M.  and  Martin.  The  parents 
were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Prophetstown 
Township.  They  came  here  from  Chicago  with  .an 
ox  team,  spending  the  winter  of  1838  and  1839  with 
a  brother  of  the  mother,  and  then  came  to  Prophets- 
town  Township,  and  located  on  the  identical  farm  on 
which  the  subject  of  this  notice  is  residing.  They 
built  a  log  hut  on  what  is  known  as  Woodward's 


—  ••.~- 


Vg) 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Bluff,  in  which  they  resided  for  a  number  of  years, 
when  the  present  comfortable  frame  residence  was 
erected. 

About  1877  Mr.  Woodward  purchased  the  parental 
homestead.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  Jersey  cattle, 
and  is  engaged  also  in  the  dairy  business;  he  also 
raises  from  30  to  40  hogs  annually  and  a  number  of 
sheep.  He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Fletcher,  Sac 
Co.,  Iowa,  Sept.  12,  1883,  to  Miss  Evelyn  Brimmer, 
daughter  of  Gilbert  and  Lucinda  (Finch)  Brimmer. 
She  was  born  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  26,  1860. 
They  have  one  child,  David  H.,born  Jan.  n,  1885. 
The  father  of  Miiton  B.  was  identified  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  but  the  son  is  not  a  party  man. 


fo 


. 


ohn  Ferguson,  proprietor  of  the  Revere 
House,  Morrison,  and  a  member  of  the 
Novelty  Carriage  Works  Company,  situated 
on  Main  Street,  in  that  city,  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Jenett  (Fairchild)  Ferguson.  His  father 
was  born  in  Argyleshire,  Scotland,  Nov.  i, 
1804.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1831,  stopping  first  at  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  and  he  then  came  lo  Indiana,  where  he  spent 
one  year.  He  then  moved  further  West,  becoming 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  great  State,  Iowa.  He 
located  in  Cedar  County,  in  1836,  and  was  the  sec- 
ond settler  in  that  county.  He  was  an  active,  enter- 
prising man,  and  did  much  to  develop  the  country, 
which  he  had  chosen  for  his  home.  He  dealt  very 
largely  in  land,  handling  several  thousands  of  acres, 
during  his  active  life,  and  was  also  a  successful 
fanner.  He  retired  from  agricultural  pursuits  in 
1880,  and  died  on  the  old  homestead,  Sept.  1 1,  1884. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  is  also  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, and  at  present  resides  with  her  son,  Mr.  Fergu- 
son of  this  sketch,  and  is  in  her  6oth  year.  The 
elder  Ferguson  and  his  wife,  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children.  The  father  was  also  the  parent  of 
four  children  by  a  former  marriage.  All  of  the  eight 
children,  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferguson,  are  still 
living,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest.  Bessie, 
the  next  in  order  of  birth,  is  the  wife  of  E.  H.  Jones, 
lumber  dealer  in  Kingman,  Kan  ;  Nellie  J.,  wife  of 
Barry  D.  Woods,  grocer,  Morrison,  111.;  Isabel,  wife 
of  James  Albright,  farmer,  Ida  Co.,  Iowa ;  James 
D.  and  William  A.,  resident  on  the  old  homestead, 

^^^ ^A<;D  0 


and  Alice  and  Clara,  now  attending  school  at  Mt. 
Carroll,  111.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
four  children,  by  the  first  marriage:  Hugh,  farmer 
in  Ida  Co.,  Iowa ;  Ann,  wife  of  A.  Rogers,  farmer  in 
Dakota;  Mary,  wife  of  R.  M.  Davidson,  farmer, 
Cedar  Co.,  Iowa.;  Margaret,  wife  of  John  G.  Greig, 
farmer,  Cedar  Co.,  Iowa  :  all  are  living. 

Mr.  Ferguson,  the  subject  of  this  personal  sketch, 
was  born  in  Cedar  Co.,  Iowa,  near  Tipton,  Dec.  7, 
1848.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  enjoying 
the  limited  educational  advantages  offered  at  that 
time.  When  he  reached  the  age  of  21,  he  bought 
an  interest  in  a  drug  store  at  Tipton,  Iowa,  which 
he  retained  until  1877,  when  on  account  of  ill-health 
he  was  obliged  to  sell  and  select  a  different  calling. 
For  a  period  of  one  year  following,  he  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business,  and  for  the  next  two  years  con- 
ducted a  farm.  In  December,  1881,  he  came  to 
Morrison,  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in 
company  with  B.  D.  Woods.  In  October,  1882,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  John  Clark,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  manufacturing  carnages.  In  February, 
1884,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  grocery  business  to 
Henry  Meyers,  and  turned  his  entire  attention  to  the 
carriage  business,  in  which  he  was  interested  until 
he  became  the  proprietor  of  the  Revere  House.  Dec. 
16,  1884.  Mr.  Ferguson  still  sustains  his  relation  to 
the  hotel,  which  is  the  leading  place  of  public  enter- 
tainment in  the  city. 

Mr.  Ferguson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ella  M.,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  Culbertsont 
at  Tipton,  Iowa,  Nov.  12,  1872.  Mrs.  Ferguson  was 
born  at  that  place  Oct.  28,  1849.  Her  father  was 
the  leading  merchant  of  Tipton  for  25  years,  and 
about  1870  retired  from  active  business.  Mrs.  Fer- 
guson died  at  Tipton,  Aug.  19,  1879,  of  pulmonary 
disease. 


,aron  Pope  is  a  general  farmer  and  stock- 
grower  on  section  34,  Hume  Township. 
He  is  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  by  adop- 
tion, having  been  born  Feb.  23,  1845,  in  Lin- 
colnshire, England.  His  father,  Abraham 
Pope,  was  an  English  mechanic  and  married 
Sarah  Crampton,  a  native  of  that  shire  and  country. 
In  1853  they  came  to  the  United  States  and  made 


r&  l^-XiA^ 

•V  ' 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


(3; 


their  first  location  in  the  township  of  Lyndon,  in 
Whiteside  County.  After  three  years  they  went  to 
Tampico  Township,  where  they  lived  until  1874.  In 
that  year  they  removed  to  Vancouver's  Island,  where 
the  mother  died  Dec.  n,  1878,  aged  75  years  and 
four  months.  Abraham  Pope  is  still  living  there. 

At  the  age  of  22  years  Mr.  Pope  commenced  busi- 
ness independently  by  renting  a  farm,  in  which 
method  he  continued  two  years,  when  he  became,  by 
purchase,  the  owner  of  the  homestead  of  his  parents, 
and  of  which  he  was  the  proprietor  and  manager 
until  his  removal  to  Hume  Township,  where  he  pur- 
chased 160  acres  of  land  as  a  beginning.  He  is  at 
present  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  land,  under  good 
improvement,  with  two  good  residences  and  other 
buildings. 

He  was  married  Feb.  22,  1874,  to  Mary  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Welzell,  whose  sketch  is  given  on  an- 
other page.  They  have  one  child, — J.  Thomas,  born 
Jan.  22,  1877.  Mrs.  Pope  was  born  in  Tuscarawas 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  came  in  childhood  with  her  parents 
to  Whiteside  County. 

Mr.  Pope  is  a  Republican  in  his  views  of  national 
policy. 


Barren  Olds,  of  Albany,  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  cultivation  of  small  fruits, 
and  is  also  a  market  gardener.  He  is  the 
oldest  son  of  Cheney  and  Amma  (Walker) 
CMds,  and  was  born  Nov.  29,  1818,  in  Stur- 
bridge,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.  His  father  was 
born  March  3,  1793,  in  Brookfield,  Mass.,  which  was 
also  the  birthplace  of  his  mother,  June  23,  1794. 
The  family  descent  on  both  sides  is  from  the  Eng- 
lish. The  progenitors  emigrated  to  Worcester  Co., 
Mass.,  in  the  early  part  of  the  i8th  century.  Ezeki- 
el,  father  of  Cheney  Olds,  was  born  in  Worcester 
County,  and  about  1800  went  to  New  Jersey.  Soon 
after  the  close  of  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain, 
he  settled  in  Auburn,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
became  interested  in  the  lumber  business,  owning  a 
saw-mill,  and  managing  the  traffic  in  its  various 
avenues  until  his  death. 

Cheney  Olds  was  12  years  of  age  when  his  father 
removed  to  New  Jersey  with  his  family,  and  he  there 
attained  to  man's  estate.  His  employer  was  drafted 


as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  he  took  his  place 
as  a  substitute,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  con- 
test. He  went  to  the  county  where  he  was  born, 
after  obtaining  his  discharge,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried, locating  on  the  homestead  estate  of  the  family 
of  his  wife.  He  lived  in  Sturbridge  until  1828,  when 
he  set  out  with  his  family  for  the  State  of  New  York, 
removing  by  the  aid  of  teams  to  Albany,  and  thence 
on  the  Erie  Canal  to  Weedsport,  in  Cayuga  County. 
After  a  residence  there  of  two  years'  duration  he 
went  to  Cattaraugus  County,  and  bought  140  acres 
of  land  included  within  the  Holland  Purchase.  The 
heavy  timber  of  that  section  has  become  traditional, 
and  it  was  necessary  to  cut  the  trees  and  burn  them 
on  the  ground,  the  farmers  cultivating  the  ground 
between  the  stumps.  There  the  family  remained 
until  1838,  and  Mr.  Olds  cleared  100  acres  of  land. 
In  the  spring  of  that  year,  having  sold  the  farm,  he 
removed  his  family  to  Olean,  on  the  Allegheny 
River.  They  arrived  there  about  the  middle  of 
March,  intending  to  go  down  the  river  by  the  first 
steamer  that  moved  after  the  ice  should  go  out,  but 
failed  to  do  so.  Their  disappointment  was  fully  al- 
leviated by  the  intelligence  of  the  explosion  of  the 
steam  boiler  of  the  "  Mozelle,"  causing  160  deaths! 
Mr.  Olds  and  his  sons  engaged  in  the  common  busi- 
ness of  cutting  pine  logs  until  the  last  day  of  April, 
when  the  family,  consisting  of  the  parents  and  nine 
children,  took  passage  on  one  of  the  rafts  on  which 
the  father  and  sons  were  employed,  and  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, where  they  arrived  May  16.  They  went 
thence  on  the  steamer  "  Knickerbocker  "  to  Albany, 
which  they  reached  May  26,  at  2  o'clock  in  the 
morning. 

Mr.  Olds  made  a  claim  three  and  a  half  miles  east 
of  Albany,  where  he  broke  a  few  acres.  It  was 
State  land,  and  he  afterwards  abandoned  his  title. 
He  readily  obtained  plenty  of  work  at  boot  and  shoe 
making,  which  he  had  learned  in  his  native  State. 
He  built  a  frame  house  in  Albany  on  the  corner  of 
Church  and  Vine  streets,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death  Dec.  7,  1874.  Mrs.  Olds,  the  mother,  died 
Jan.  18,  1883. 

Their  children  were  born  in  the  following  order : 
Warren,  in  Sturbridge,  Mass.;  Chester,  in  Stur- 
bridge, July  27,  1820  (died  at  Albany,  March  3, 
1852);  Louis  lives  in  Woodland,  Yolo  Co.,  Cal.; 
Nancy  is  the  wife  of  Peter  Van  Nest,  of  Garden 
Plain  Township;  Ezekiel  and  Walker  live  in  Al- 


m 


...-.    ' 


<  • 


^  bany  ;  Cheney  resides  in  Woodland,  Yolo  Co.,  Cal. ; 
Asenath  is  the  wife  of  John  Faxon,  and  lives  in  Ne- 
•'.>  braska;  Mary  died  in  Albany  in  1838,  aged   three 
years. 

Mr.  Olds,  of  this  sketch,  was  nine  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  went  to  the  State  of  New  York, 
where  he  grew  up.  He  accompanied  them  on  their 
removal  to  Albany,  111.,  and  on  arrival  there  ob- 
tained immediate  employment  at  the  carpenter  and 
joiners'  trade.  While  living  in  Franklinville,  Cattar- 
augus Co.,  N.  Y.,  he  obtained  a  practical  knowledge 
of  the  trade  of  carpenter,  at  which  he  worked  dur- 
ing the  year  previous  to  his  removal  to  Albany.  The 
first  work  in  Illinois  done  by  Mr.  Olds  was  the  build- 
ing of  a  sod  fence  at  a  point  seven  miles  south  of 
Albany,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  Warren  Fay  and 
Timothy  Clark.  They  occupied  a  log  shanty,  and 
attended  to  their  domestic  affairs  after  the  method 
")  known  as  "  keeping  bach."  They  had  numerous  ad- 
ventures, all  of  which  served  to  break  the  monotony 
of  toil,  and  aided  materially  in  making  the  situation 
interesting.  One  Saturday  afternoon  the  party  were 
on  their  way  to  Albany  in  a  skiff  on  the  river,  when 
five  stalwart  Indians  swam  out  to  them  and  com- 
pelled them  to  go  ashore,  where  they  were  detained 
two  hours.  Their  captors  searched  their  clothes 
thoroughly,  and  after  holding  a  council  of  some 
sort,  they  were  set  at  liberty,  and  made  their  way  to 
Albany.  During  the  period  of  their  detention  their 
thoughts  were  made  entertaining  by  visions  of 
scalping,  burning,  and  other  interesting  devices  they 
had  seen  delineated  by  illustrations  of  the  encount- 
ers between  whites  and  Indians. 

Mr.  Olds  passed  his  first  summer  in  Illinois  at  a 
point  two  miles  north  of  Galena,  where  he  obtained 
employment  in  haying  and  harvesting.  In  1839  he 
went  to  Platteville,  Grant  Co.,Wis.,  and  the  next  two 
years  he  was  engaged  in  steamboat  and  barge  build- 
ing at  Rock  Island.  He  returned  at  the  end  of  that 
time  to  Albany,  and  was  employed  by  George  Clark 
five  years  as  a  builder.  A  few  years  later,  in  com- 
pany with  Duty  Back,  he  built  a  steam  saw-mill  at 
Albany,  in  whose  management  they  were  jointly  in- 
terested until  their  establishment  and  business  were 
wrecked  by  the  tornado  of  June  3,  i  860,  in  which 
Mr.  Buck  lost  his  life. 

Mr.  Olds  continued  to  operate  as  a  contractor  and 
builder  until  1877,  when  he  engaged  in  the  enter- 


? 

r-x 


prise  to  which  he  has  since  given  his  attention.  He 
owns  31  acres  of  land  in  first-class  condition,  situ- 
ated adjoining  the  village  of  Albany,  where  he  cul- 
tivates all  kinds  of  small  fruits.  His  market  list,  for 
1884  comprised  13,344  quarts,  or  417  bushels,  of 
strawberries,  196  cases  of  black  raspberries,  each 
containing  16  quarts,  202  cases  of  red  raspberries, 
255  cases  of  blackberries,  40  cases  of  cherries  and 
50  cases  of  grapes.  He  also  raises  many  varieties 
of  vegetables. 

Mr.  Olds  was  first  united  in  marriage  to  Harriet 
Shively,  and  they  had  two  children.  One  is  now 
living, — Mary  Jane.  The  wife  and  mother  died  in 
1850.  Mr.  Olds  was  married  a  second  time  in  Han- 
cock Co.,  111.,  to  Phebe,  daughter  of  Jacob  Golden. 
She  was  born  in  Mason  Co.,  Ky.  Four  children 
were  born  of  the  second  marriage,  one  of  whom, 
George  W.,  is  still  living. 


ilbert  Rogers,  a  farmer  residing  on  section 
19,  Prophetstown  Township,- is  a  son  of 
William  and  Hannah  (Wildes)  Rogers, 
and  was  born  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
n,  1838.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington County,  that  State,  where  he  was  born 
Feb.  20,  1807.  His  mother  was  likewise  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  was  born  in  Schoharie  County  March 
1 6,  1810.  She  died  in  Cattaraugus  County,  Dec. 
12,  1865,  and  the  father  still  resides  there.  Their 
children  were  five  in  number,  four  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. George  is  a  farmer  in  New  York  ;  Giles  is  a 
farmer  and  manufacturer  of  shingles,  and  resides  in 
Randolph,  Cattaraugus  County,  same  State ;  Gilbert 
R.,  subject  of  this  notice,  is  next  in  order  of  birth  ; 
Jane  L.  is  the  wife  of  Alfred  J.  Samples,  a  farmer 
residing  in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  Jerome,  de- 
ceased, was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill, 
while  fighting  in  the  72d  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  reared  on  a  farm,  assisted  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  family,  attended  the  common 
schools  and  developed  into  manhood.  Sept.  3,  1862, 
he  enlisted,  in  Randolph,  N.  Y.,  in  Co.  H,  I54th  N. 
Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
receiving  an  honorable  discharge  in  June,  1865.  He 
attained  to  the  rank  of  Sergeant,'  and  participated 
with  his  company  in  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville 


-.    ..    :- 


598 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


and  Buzzards'  Roost.  After  receiving  his  discharge 
he  returned  to  the  farm  and  worked  the  old  home- 
stead for  a  time. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  united  in  marriage  in  Randolph, 
N.  Y.,  Aug.  9,  1864,  to  Miss  Cynthia  A.  Frary, 
daughter  of  Myron  and  Martha  (Morrill)  Frary.  She 
was  born  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  7,  1841. 
Her  mother  is  deceased,  and  her  father  resides  in 
Portland  Township,  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rogers  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  one  born  in 
New  York  and  one  in  Portland  Township,  this 
county.  Frank  E.,  born  July  17,  1866,  and  Myron 
C.,  Dec.  15,  1877. 

Mr.  Rogers  came  to  this  county  in  1867,  and  lo- 
cated in  Portland  Township,  where  for  eight  years 
he  was  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  farming,  on 
rented  land.  He  is  at  present  the  owner  of  38  acres, 
has  a  nice  residence  and  his  place  is  well  improved. 
He  has  held  numerous  offices,  among  which  we're 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Portland  Township  four 
years,  Commissioner  of  Highways  three  years,  dur- 
ing one  of  which,  in  1884,  he  was  Treasurer;  he  has 
held  the  position  of  School  Trustee  for  two  years 
and  is  at  present  acting  in  that  capacity.  He  is 
also  Secretary  of  the  Prophetstown  Farmers'  Mutual 
Insurance  Company.  In  the  spring  of  1885,  Mr. 
Rogers  was  elected  Supervisor  of  his  township. 


-J67— •- 


illiiim  J.  Patterson,  general  farmer,  sec- 
tion 21,  Ustick  Township,  is  the  son  of 
Alexander  and  Martha  (Jemison)   Patter- 
son, who   were   natives  of  Ireland.     They 
came  in  early  life  to  America  and  are  now 
deceased.     Mary  J.,  William  J.  and  Samuel  A. 
are  the  names  of  their  children. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  born  July  26,  1848,  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  he  lived  in  that  city  until  he  was  ten 
years  old,  coming,  in  1858,  to  Whiteside  County, 
where  he  has  since  lived  with  the  exception  of  two 
years'  stay  in  Iowa,  and  seven  months  spent  in  the 
Army  of  the  United  States  during  the  Civil  War. 
He  enlisted  Feb.  28,  1864,  in  the  156111  111.  Inf.,  but 
was  in  no  actual  service.  His  farm  of  80  acres  is  all 
under  tillage.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has 
held  various  town  offices. 

Mr.  Patterson's  marriage  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of 

<§£f3@ff* zsig^. ^ 


Charles  and  Lucinda  (Martin)  Casselman,  occurred 
in  Ustick  Township  in  1871.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Patterson  were  born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  now 
live  in  Nebraska.  They  had  eight  children — Lorinda, 
Rhoda,  Mary  E.,  Alice,  Austin,  Charles,  Jason  and 
William.  Mrs.  Patterson  was  born  Aug.  4,  1848,  in 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  she  has  been  the  mother  of 
three  children — Charles  E.,  Minnie  M.  and  Gracie. 
The  latter  child  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Patterson  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

-* 4«* *- 


dam  B.  Young,  a  retired  farmer,  residing 
on  section  30,  Portland  Township,  and  own- 
ing 140  acres  thereon  and  also  120  acres 
on  section  25,  same  township,  is  a  son  of  Geo. 
B.  and  Catherine  (Burket)  Young,  and  was 
born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Pa.,  March  3,  1823.  His 
father  was  a  stone  mason,  and  his  son  was  reared  on 
a  farm  in  Pennsylvania,  receiving  the  advantages 
afforded  by  the  common  schools,  and  assisting  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Young  was  united  in  marriage  in  Blair  Co., 
Pa.,  Sept.  18,  1844,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ebersole.  She 
was  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  27,  1824,  and  has 
borne  to  her  husband  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
were  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  two  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county.  The  following  is  the  record : 
Jacob  was  born  Dec.  15,  1845,  and  is  a  farmer 
in  Portland  Township.  John  was  born  April  10, 
1847,  and  is  sL  farmer  by  occupation.  Isaac  was  born 
Sept.  9,  1848,  and  is  a  farmer  residing  on  the  par- 
ental homestead.  Daniel  was  born  Jan.  6,  1851, 
and  is  a  farmer  in  Portland  Township.  George  was 
born  Sept.  10,  1853,  and  is  a  farmer  residing  in 
Ad  air  Co.,  Iowa.  Adam  was  born  Dec.  12,  1859, 
and  resides  on  the  homestead  farm.  Mary  C.  was 
born  Feb.  9,  1857,  and  is  the  wife  of  John  Martin,  a 
farmer  in  Portland  Township. 

Mr.  Young  came  West  in  1853,  and  bought  120 
acres  of  land  on  section  25,  where  he  resided  until 
the  fall  of  1876,  when  he  purchased  an  additional 
tract  adjoining,  and  now  has  240  acres.  He  rents 
his  land  and  has  retired  from  active  farming  since 
about  1875.  He  has  a  cider  press  on  his  farm  and 
makes  cider  for  the  farmers  of  the  county  on  shares. 
He  can  turn  out  about  40  barrels  per  day.  His  press 

^9 — >&* -te> 


- 


• 
; 


1 


v®  is  a  patent  one  and  was  manufactured  in  Syracuse, 
^  N.  Y.  It  is  run  by  horse  power  but  is  adapted  to 

being  run  by  steam  power.  He  also  raises  sugar 
i?j*  cane  and  manufactures  sorghum  for  others.  In  the 

fall  of  1883  he  made  a  thousand  gallons  of  sorghum. 
Mr.  Young  has  ten  grandchildren.  Isaac  has  three 

children, — Frank,  Charles  and  Robert.     Daniel  has 

five  children,  Albert,  Elmer,  Maud,  Hattie  and  Edith  ; 

and  George  has  two  children,  Grace  and  Mary. 


emuel  L.  Hunt  is  an  enterprising  and  sub- 
stantial farmer  of  Newton   Township,  and 
is  located  on  section  3,  where  he  bought  a 
claim   in   r862.     He  is  now  the   proprietor  of 
320  acres  of  land  in  first-class  agricultural  con- 
dition, with    good   farm  buildings,  shade   and 
fruit  trees. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  born  Oct.  2,  1823,  in  Loraine 
Township,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of 
Lemuel  and  Mary  (Brown)  Hunt.  The  former  was  a 
Vermonter  by  birth,  and  the  latter  was  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  The  son  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and  at  18  entered  upon  an  appren- 
ticeship in  a  carriage  shop  at  Watertown.  He  de- 
voted three  years  to  the  acquisition  of  a  complete 
understanding  of  the  business.  Later  he  went  to 
Springfield,  Mass.,  where  he  was  made  foreman  in  a 
carriage  car  and  machine  shop.  He  went  next  to 
Worcester,  where  he  was  employed  by  the  Washburn 
&  Moen  Manufacturing  Company,  and  afterward  at 
Whittngville,  building  cotton  machinery  in  the  inter- 
ests of  Paul  Whiting  &  Sons. 

In  1849  he  went  to  California,  proceeding  by  ocean 
steamer  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  River  in 
Texas,  following  the  course  of  the  river  to  Browns- 
ville, in  that  State.  The  remainder  of  the  journey 
was  made  overland,  the  entire  distance  requiring 
about  six  months'  travel.  He  was  engaged  three 
years  in  mining,  and  in  1852  came  to  Illinois.  He 
located  near  the  Meredocia  River  in  Rock  Island 
County,  entering  a  claim  of  160  acres  of  land,  and 
engaging  in  agricultural  pursuits.  The  remembrance 
of  the  land  of  gold  had  always  made  it  look  pleasant 
to  him  as  a  place  for  a  home,  and  in  1860  he  went 
there  again,  making  the  journey  via  New  York  and 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  He  visited  California  and 


Oregon,  prospecting  at  various  points  for  a  satis- 
factory location,  without  accomplishing  the  desired 
results.  After  nearly  two  years  of  vain  effort  to  locate 
a  home,  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  bought  a  tract  of 
unimproved  land,  where  he  has  since  operated,  and 
whereon  he  made  the  usual  preparations  for  taking 
possession.  He  built  a  small  frame  house  and 
entered  vigorously  on  the  work  of  improving  his 
property.  He  has  doubled  his  acreage,  built  a  good 
class  of  frame  structures,  and  has  increased  the 
beauty  and  value  of  the  place  by  setting  out  numer- 
ous fruit,  shade  and  ornamental  trees. 

Mr.  Hunt  has  been  a  Republican  from  the  organ- 
ization of  the  party,  and  was  at  the  convention  which 
nominate'd  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  is  tolerant  and 
liberal  in  his  religious  views. 

He  was  married  in  1852,  to  Caroline  A.  Gilman,  a 
native  of  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  have  had  nine 
children,  but  seven  of  whom  survive, — John  M., 
Chester  L.,  Mary  P.,  Homer,  Frederick  S.,  Levi  E. 
and  Hattie  L. 


a  Fayette  T.  Stocking,  attorney  at  Mor- 
rison, was  born  at  Pulver's  Corners,  Dutch- 
ess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  25,  1857.  His  parents, 
Ransler  V.  and  Mary  (Keefer)  Stocking,  were 
natives  of  the  same  county.  His  father  was 
born  July  4,  1831,  and  is  a  mechanic  by  natural 
gift  and  acquired  knowledge.  The  marriage  of  the 
latter  occurred  July  4,  1852,  and  he  located  at  Pine 
Plains,  in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  where  he  resided 
until  r856,  when  he  removed  to  Pulver's  Corners. 
A  year  later  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at 
Prophetstown.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  removed 
his  family  and  interests  to  Morrison,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Since  his  removal  to  Whiteside  Coun- 
ty, he  has  given  his  atttention  to  his  relations  as  a 
mechanic,  with  the  exception  of  nine  months'  service 
in  the  defense  of  the  Union.  He  enlisted  in  the 
winter  of  1861,  in  Co.  K,  34th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was 
in  considerable  active  service,  including  the  battle  of 
Shiloh.  He  was  honorably  discharged  for  disability 
and  returned  to  Morrison.  Mr.  Stocking  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Beard  of  Trustees  12  years  and  servad 
as  its  chief  official  several  terms.  He  has  been  an 


_->-  ~_ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Alderman  two  or  three  terms  since  the  city  of  Mor- 
rison was  incorporated. 

Mr.  Stocking  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  surviving 
child.  He  obtained  his  elementary  education  at  the 
Morrison  High  School,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
June,  1875.  A  month  later  he  entered  the  law  office 
of  F.  D.  Ramsay  and  read  under  his  instructions  one 
year.  He  matriculated  at  the  Law  School  of  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  in  1876,  where  he  completed  the  prescribed 
course,  and  took  his  degree  in  1877.  He  returned 
to  Morrison  and  has  since  been  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  his  na- 
tive State,  in  1879. 

Mr.  Stocking  was  married  Feb.  u,  1879,  to  Kate 
M.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Stiles)  Griffin. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Lena  K.,  born  July  29, 
1880.  Mrs.  Stocking  was  born  Nov.  28,  1860,  at 
Morrison.  Her  parents  are  natives  respectively  of 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and  are  residents  of 
Lee  Co.,  111. 

Mr.  Stocking  has  been  a  Republican  since  he  be- 
came a  citizen.  He  has  served  as  City  Attorney 
since  1882,  when  he  was  elected  to  fill  a  vacancy 
caused  by  the  removal  of  the  incumbent  to  another 
State.  He  was  re-elected  in  1883,  and  in  1885,  the 
current  year. 

Mr.  Stocking  is  a  gentleman  of  modest  pretentions, 
assuming  no  prerogatives  but  those  of  paying  his  just 
obligations  and  observing  a  due  discretion,  commonly 
designated  as  "  minding  his  own  business." 


olomon  Hubbard,  a  pioneer  of  Whiteside 
County,  whither  he  came  in  1838,  was  born 
July  19,  1804,  in  Sangersfield,  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.  His  parents  were  named  Abel  and 
Lila  (Andrews)  Hubbard,  and  he  was  under 
their  care  and  authority  until  he  reached  his 
majority.  In  1825  he  went  to  Sweden,  Monroe  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  married,  Aug.  31,  1826,  to  Sa- 
repta,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Branch) 
Stone.  He  purchased  a  farm  in  Sweden  Township, 
which  he  conducted  until  his  removal,  in  1830,  to 
Ohio.  He  there  bought  a  farm  in  the  township  of 
York,  in  Medina  County,  on  which  he  prosecuted  his 
agricultural  interests  until  1838.  He  sold  out  in  the 


.:    •;•-_ 


spring  of  that  year,  and  after  settling  his  family  com- 
fortably he  started  for  Illinois  on  foot.  He  walked 
all  the  way  to  Whiteside  County,  where  his  brother, 
E.  A.  Hubbard,  had  made  a  claim  for  him.  He  put 
in  a  crop  on  the  farm  of  his  brother,  and  in  July 
went  back  to  Ohio.  He  started  for  Illinois  with  his 
family  and  household  goods,  traveling  by  canal  and 
the  lakes  to  Chicago,  where  he  left  his  family  and 
walked  to  Whiteside  County.  He  obtained  three 
yokes  of  oxen  and  two  wagons,  and  went  back  to 
Chicago  for  his  family.  He  occupied  the  claim  of 
his  brother  until  1845,  and  meanwhile  improved  his 
own,  which  was  located  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  18,  Lyndon  Township.  In  the  year  last 
mentioned  he  removed  to  his  farm. 

Four  sons  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard  responded  to 
the  call  of  the  Nation  in  its  hour  of  danger  from  foes 
of  its  own  household :  Chauncey  B.,  was  born  July 
4,  1827  ;  he  enlisted,  and  was  made  Sergeant  of  Co. 
B,  75th  111.  Regt.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Stone  River,  in  December,  1863,  receiving 
a  discharge  on  account  of  his  injury.  He  afterward 
raised  a  volunteer  company,  which  was  assigned  to 
the  I45th  111.  Regiment,  and  on  its  organization  as 
Co.  G  he  was  made  its  Captain.  He  served  through 
the  remainder  of  the  war.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Morris,  and  lives  in  Clark  Co.,  Dak.  Orson  K.  was 
born  May  24,  1843.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  75111  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  killed  Oct.  8,  1862,  at  the  battle 
of  Perryville,  Ky.  He  was  shot  through  the  heart. 
William  was  born  Nov.  20,  1838.  He  lives  in  Lin- 
coln, Republic  Co.,  Kan.  He  also  enlisted,  and  was 
wounded  at  Stone  River.  George  H.  is  the  occu- 
pant of  the  homestead.  He  was  born  Feb.  16,  1845. 
In  1861,  when  16  years  of  a?e,  he  became  a  soldier 
in  Co.  B,  75th  111.,  and  received  a  severe  gunshot 
wound  at  Shiloh,  the  ball  entering  his  face  and 
coming  out  at  the  back  of  his  head.  He  was  dis- 
charged, but  on  recovery  he  again  enlisted  to  pay 
the  private  score  he  owed  the  rebels,  reasoning  that 
lightning  and  minie  balls  seldom  strike  twice  in  the 
same  place.  He  enrolled  in  the  Eighth  111.  Vol. 
Cav  ,  and  served  through  the  war.  He  was  married 
in  1871  to  Eliza  Paulins,  who  died  a  year  later. 
Mr.  Hubbard  was  again  married,  April  2,  1875,  to 
Olive  L.  Adams.  Burtie,  Maxie  and  Edna  are  their 
children.  Elizabeth  was  born  Sept.  20,  1831,  and 
died  in  1848;  Elrnina  A.,  born  Dec.  11,1836,  died 
in  1848;  Darwin,  born  July  15,  1833,  died  in  1848. 


•'.'  X- 


fa) 
f 


-$@&c@ 


WH1TES1DE  COUA/'l  Y. 


, 


1 

I 


September,  October  and  November  of  the  fatal  year, 
Death's  messenger  took  away  a  number  of  the  hith- 
erto unbroken  household.  Levi  was  born  June  15, 
1829,  and  is  a  resident  of  Mapleton,  Iowa. 

Mrs.  Hubbard's  father  was  born  Oct.  24,  1779,  in 
Massachusetts,  and  died  Sept.  20,  1849,  in  Ohio. 
Her  mother  was  born  Dec.  20,  1781,  also  in  the  Bay 
State,  and  died  Oct.  22,  1849,  in  Ohio. 


ontgomery  H.  Thompson,  a  farmer  on 
section  9,  Jordan  Township,  has  lived  in 
that  township  since  he  was  15  years  of 
age,  his  parents  having  settled  in  1848  on 
section  28,  where  they  are  still  living.  He  re- 
ceived a  practical  knowledge  of  the  various 
kinds  of  agricultural  arts  on  his  father's  farm,  until 
he  began  to  operate  independently,  when  he  pur- 
chased 80  acres  of  wild  prairie  on  section  22.  After 
making  important  improvements,  he  sold  the  place 
and  bought  160  acres,  which  now  constitutes  his 
homestead.  It  is  in  good  order  for  farming,  with 
suitable  and  necessary  buildings.  Mr.  Thompson  is 
breeding  high  grades  of  Durham  cattle.  In  political 
sentiment  he  is  independent. 

He  was  born  March  3,  1833,  in  Erie,  Pa.,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  M.  Thompson,  a  native  of  Madison 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  descended  from  New  England  an- 
cestry. The  latter  was  married  in  that  county  and 
removed  with  his  wife  and  one  child  to  Erie,  where 
the  son  who  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born. 
Four  children  were  born  later,  and  the  whole  num- 
ber included  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  1837, 
the  senior  Thompson  made  another  transfer  of  his 
family  and  interests,  to  Palmyra  Township,  Lee  Co., 
111.,  where  they  remained  n  years.  In  1848  they 
made  a  permanent  settlement  in  Whiteside  County, 
and  are  still  living,  aged  respectively  78  and  76 
years. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  at  Morrison,  Dec.  31, 
1862,  to  Alvira,  daughter  of  Perry  and  Mary  J. 
(Montgomery)  Pierce.  The  former  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont and  the  latter  in  Ireland.  She  was  born  in  the 
north  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  her  parents  were 
neighbors  of  the  parents  and  other  relatives  of 
President  Pierce.  The  family  was  prominent  in  the 
Irish  rebellion  in  the  closing  years  of  the  i8th  cen- 


tury,  and  an  uncle  of  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Thompson 
lost  his  head.  She  was  22  years  of  age  when  she 
came  to  the  United  Slates,  where  she  was  married, 
and  located  with  her  husband  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
at  a  place  called  Mendon.  Mrs.  Thompson  was 
born  there  March  4,  1839.  When  she  was  eight 
years  of  age,  her  parents  came  West.  Her  father 
was  a  soldier  of  1812  and  received  a  serious  wound. 
Two  of  her  brothers  entered  the  military  service  of 
the  United  States  during  the  civil  war,  the  younger 
of  whom  was  killed  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell.  Her 
father  located  first  at  Rock  Falls  and  afterward  in 
Sterling  Township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson 
nine  children  have  been  born.  Three  died  in  in- 
fancy. Marian  I.  married  John  Muntz,  a  farmer  in 
Jordan  Township.  Alice  J.,  James  F.,  Ada  R.,  John 
I.  and  Robert  M.  are  the  names  of  those  who  are 
still  members  of  the  family  circle.  Mrs.  Thompson 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 


"udge  Joseph  Golder,  whose  portrait  ap- 
pears on  the  opposite  page,  is  a  resident  of 
Sterling,  and  was  born  on  the  Hudson 
River,  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  20,  1814. 
His  father,  William  Golder,  was  also  a  native 
of  the  Empire  State,  and  a  farmer ;  and  his 
mother,  nee  Mary  Chase,  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island. 

Judge  Golder  was  only  eight  years  of  age  when 
his  mother  died,  and  12  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  After  the  latter  event  he  went  to  live  with 
M.  J.  Conklin,  his  brother-in-law  in  Western  New 
York,  where  he  was  a  laborer  on  a  farm  and  a  pupil 
at  school  until  he  reached  the  age  of  18  years.  At 
the  age  of  22  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  in  1838  he 
bought  200  acres  in  McHenry  County,  where  he 
followed  the  vocation  of  a  farmer  until  1848.  Being 
then  elected  Judge  of  Probate  for  that  county,  he 
sold  out  and  moved  to  Woodstock,  the  county  seat, 
where  he  remained  four  years  in  the  discharge  of  his 
official  duties.  He  was  also  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  12  years,  and  County  Treasurer  and  Assessor,  by 
appointment. 

In  1852  he  left  Woodstock  and  came  to  Sterling, 
this  county,  where  he  resided  six  years,  when  he 
bought  a  half  section  of  land  in  Montmorency  Town- 
ship, this  county,  moved  upon  it  and  improved  it. 


v> 

\ 

*:  * 
(21 


While  there  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Super- 
visor. He  resided  there  from  1858  to  1868,  when 
he  sold  the  place  and  returned  to  Sterling,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home,  with  the  exception  of  one 
winter  spent  in  California,  one  in  Texas  and  three  in 
Florida. 

In  his  political  principles  he  is  a  Republican  ;  both 
himself  and  Mrs.  G.  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Sterling. 

Judge  Colder  was  married  March  23,  1837,  to 
Prudence  S.  Goodrich,  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
and  they  have  had  five  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living,  namely :  William  A.,  who  was  born  May  30, 
1838,  married  Hellen  Green,  and  has  two  children, 
—Hugh  and  Lena;  Alonzo  C.,  who  was  born  April 
4,  1840,  and  died  April  2,  1862;  Eliza  I,  who  was 
born  April  10,  1842,  manied  L.  C.  Jenkins  and  has 
seven  children, — William,  Harry,  Lotta,  Ella,  Lewis, 
Robert  and  Prudence ;  Emma  J.,  who  was  born 
March  22,  1845,  an^  became  the  wife  of  Moses 
Dillon  and  the.  mother  of  Mary,  Maggie,  Alice, 
Joseph  J.  and  Moses,  Jr. ;  Ella  A.,  who  was  born 
July  i,  1847,  and  is  now  Mrs.  N.  G.  Van  Slant. 


efferson  Hannis,  general  farmer  on  section 
'<-  8,  Genesee  Township,  was  born  March  14, 
1848,  in  LuzerneCo.,  Pa.  (See  sketch  of 
John  Hannis.)  He  was  nine  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  went  to  Henry  Co.,  Iowa, 
whence  they  removed,  two  and  a  half  years 
later,  to  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  locating  on  a  farm  in  Wysox 
Township.  He  was  the  oldest  but  one  of  six  children, 
and  is  the  only  one  now  living.  He  was  brought  up 
on  his  father's  farm  and  received  a  common-school 
education. 

His  marriage  to  Sarah  Wallace  occurred  Aug.  14, 
1875,  at  Mt.  Carroll.  Mrs.  Hannis  is  the  daughter 
of  Joel  and  Rebecca  (Ro-nany)  Wallace,  and  she 
was  born  Dec.  27,  185  r,  in  Wysox  Township,  Carroll 
Co.,  111.,  where  her  parents  located  about  a  year  after 
their  marriage,  removing  from  New  York,  their  na- 
tive State.  She  was  reared  at  home  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  district  schools  and  in  the  seminary  at 
Mt.  Carroll.  Her  father  died  in  1873,  and  her 
mother  still  resides  in  Wysox  Township.  The  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hannis  have  been  three  in 


number:       Linnie    E.    was  born    Dec.    27,    1879;    Vf 
Miles  M.,  Feb.  12,  1882;  Ruth  died  while  an  infant.     ' 

Two  years  subsequent   to   marriage,   Mr.  Hannis    ^ 
worked  a  farm  "  on  shares,"  and  in  1877  removed  to 
Genesee   Township.      He    purchased  the  farm    on      £. 
which   he  has  since  prosecuted  his   business   as   a 
farmer,  then  comprising  80  acres  and  now  including 
1 20  acres,  he  having  added  40   acres  by  later  pur- 
chase.    He  is  a  careful  and  judicious  farmer,  and 
raises  several  varieties  of  stock. 

Politically,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held  sev- 
eral local  offices.  He  is  a  Trustee  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  also  a  mem- 
ber. 


athan  Thompson,  retired  merchant  and 
farmer,  residing  at  Prophetstown,  is  a  son 
of  Nathan  and  Lucy  (Plumb)  Thompson, 
and  was  born  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March 
.!(,  9,  1822.  His  father  was  a  native  of  the  same 
county,  was  a  physician  of  the  old  allopathic  school, 
and  died  in  that  county  in  October,  1837,  when  in  his 
6oth  year.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
and  died  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1852.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  four  of  whom  yet 
survive.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Ira  Brockett,  a  retired 
merchant  residing  in  Saratoga  County.  Charles  has 
been  for  the  past  30  years  cashier  for  the  Mohawk 
Bank  in  Schenectady  Co.,  N.  Y.,  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  reliable  banks  of  that  vicinity.  Martha 
resides  in  Jacksonville,  Florida.  Nathan  is  next  in 
the  order  of  birth. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice  had  several  farms  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
Nathan  was  reared  to  manhood  on  one  of  these 
farms,  receiving  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon schools.  When  21  years  of  age,  in  1843,  ne 
came  West,  and  located  in  Elgin,  this  State,  where  he 
remained  two  years.  In  March,  1845,  'ie  came  to 
this  county,  locating  near  Prophetstown,  on  a  farm, 
and  followed  that  occupation  for  some  time.  In  '• 
1852,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Andrew  J.  Tuller, 
and  they  erected  a  store  building  in  the  village  of 
Prophetstown,  and  placed  in  it  a  general  stock  of 
merchandise.  The  co-partnership  existed  for  15 
years,  during  which  time  Mr.  Thompson  also  carried 
on  farming.  At  the  present  time  (1883)  he  is 


\i 


w  --  — 

JK    the  proprietor  of  500  acres  of  land  in  Prophetstown 

i)    Township,  which  he  leases.     Upon  the  organization 

*&   of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Prophetstown,  he  was 

A 

elected   its    President,    and  held   the  office   several 
(5>j  years. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophets- 
town,  Dec.  22,  1867,  to  Miss  Sarah  ].  Parrott,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  in  which  State  she  was  born, 
and  she  died  March  28,  1882. 


aron  Henry  Martin,  druggist,  at  Morrison, 
was  born  at  Fitch's  Point,  Washington  Co., 
N.  Y.,  July  25,  1838.     Joseph  Martin,  his 
father,  is  and  has  been  all   his  life   a  farmer, 
and  is  still  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on 
the  homestead  where  his  son  was  born.     The 
former  was  born  in  April,   1796,  and  married  Lucy 
Palen,  a  native  of  Essex  Co.,   N.  Y.     Their  seven 
$$}    children  were  named  Mary  E.,  Aaron  H.,  Lambert 
•    A.,  William  R.,  Martha  L.,  Josephus,  John  D. 

Mr.  Martin  was  reared  to  man's  estate  on  the  farm 
where  he  was  bom.  He  had  a  predilection  for  the 
medical  profession,  and  at  20  years  of  age  he  came 
West  and  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Lucius  Clark,  of 
Rockford,  as  a  student.  He  read  diligently  about  18 
months,  when  he  yielded  to  the  pressure  brought  to 
bear  on  the  young  men  of  that  generation,  and  de- 
termined to  enter  the  Army  of  the  United  States. 
He  enlisted  at  Rockford,  in  1861,  in  Co.  K,  74th 
Regt,  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Colonel  Marsh,  commanding- 
He  enrolled  for  three  years,  and  his  regiment  was  as- 
signed to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  in  the  Divi- 
sion of  Gen.  Jeff.  C.  Davis.  Mr.  Martin  served  as  a 
private  about  14  months,  and  encountered  the 
chances  of  war  in  the  battles  at  Perryville  and  Stone 
River.  In  1862  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
medical  dispensary  connected  with  the  hospital  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  which  position  he  occupied  until 
the  expiration  of  his  period  of  enlistment.  He  re- 
ceived honorable  discharge  June  30,  1865,  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  returned  to  Rockford. 

The  position  he  had  filled  in  the  dispensary  at 
Nashville,  had  awakened  in  him  a  predilection  for 
the  drug  business,  and  he  obtained  a  situation  in  the 
drug-store  of  Potter  &  Harding,  of  Rockford,  in 
whose  interests  he  operated  two  years,  meanwhile 

: — ftACMlfl: 


gaining  a  comprehensive  and  practical  knowledge  of 
the  trade. 

He  came  to  Morrison  in  the  fall  of  1867  and,  as- 
sociated with  William  Clendenin,  purchased  the  drug 
business  and  stock  of  S.  T.  Harding.  They  con- 
ducted their  business  operations  on  the  same  site  12 
successive  years.  During  that  time  the  expanding 
character  of  their  relations  required  more  commodi- 
ous quarters,  and  they  erected  the  brick  building 
which  has  since  been  devoted  to  the  prosecution  of 
the  same  trade.  In  1875  a  branch  store  was  estab- 
lished at  Moline,  with  Mr.  Clendenin  as  persona) 
manager.  The  firm  dissolved  its  relations  in  Janu- 
ary, i88i,Mr.  Martin  retaining  the  Morrison  brand). 
He  has  since  transacted  a  successful  and  popular 
business,  and  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  dealers  in 
in  the  avenue  of  trade  in  which  he  is  operating  in 
Whiteside  County. 

Mr.  Martinis  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Morri- 
son, in  point  of  reliability,  probity  and  uprightness, 
and  enjoys  the  general  esteem.  He  belongs  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  has  officiated  as  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school.  He  is  a  member  of 
Post  Alpheus  Clark,  G.  A.  R.  and  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.  In  1880  and  1881  he  served  as  City  Treasurer. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  E.  Lewis, 
Jan.  26,  r86g.  Following  is  the  record  of  their  chil- 
dren: Mattie  J.  was  born  March  15,  1870;  Lottie 
A.,  July  9,  187  r  (died  Sept.  2,  1871);  Edith  B.,  Jan. 
7,  1878;  Henry  Dwelle,  July  15,  1881  (died  Jan.  15, 
1884).  Mrs.  Martin  was  born  Aug.  27,  1849,  in 
Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of  M.  Y.  and 
Martha  J.  Lewis. 


illliam  Cavert,  of  the  firm  of  Cavert  & 
>  Mallory,  proprietors  of  the  Sterling  Iron 
Works,  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Pa., 
Dec.  20,  1837,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Anna  (Fulton)  Cavert,  also  natives  of  the 
same  county.  When  13  years  of  age  he  left  home, 
and  worked  on  a  farm  until  he  was  16  years  old. 
He  then  learned  the  carriage-making  and  black- 
smithing  trade,  at  which  he  worked  until  1861  ;  next, 
learning  the  business  of  an  "artist,"  he  followed  that 
until  1869,  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in 
the  machinists'  trade.  In  company  with  Messrs. 


Mason  &  Smith,  he  in  1874  bought  out  the  iron 
department  of  the  Empire  Feed-Mill  Company,  and 
turned  the  same  into  their  present  "Sterling  Iron 
Works."  These  gentlemen  are  carrying  on  a  pros- 
perous trade. 

Mr.  Cavert  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  in  political  principles  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

He  came  to  Sterling  in  1858, and  has  since  resided 
on  Fourth  Street,  between  B  and  C  Streets. 

May  1 8,  1865,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Hattie  E. 
Brainard,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  Yorl^. 


[uren  S.  Brewer,  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
section  23,  Tampico  Township,  was  born  in 
Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  March  18,  1838.  His 
father,  Hiram  Brewer,  also  a  native  of'the  Bay 
State,  was  a  farmer  and  mechanic,  but  is  now 
retired  and  resides  in  Washington,  D.  C , 
where  he  was  time-keeper  for  the  Government  during 
the  erection  of  the  extension  of  the  Capitol  building. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  Auren  S.  was 
Clarissa  Hollister,  also  a  native  of  Massachusetts. 
Both  the  parents  were  of  Scotch  descent  and  of  New 
England  ancestry. 

When  Mr.  Brewer,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
14  years  of  age,  his  parents  removed  with  their  family 
to  Maryland,  settling  near  the  United  States  capital. 
At  the  age  of  22  he  set  out  upon  the  buffeting  sea  of 
life  for  himself,  and  the  first  position  he  had  was  the 
charge  of  the  transfer  while  constructing  the  bridges, 
and  then  the  superintendency  of  a  division  of  the 
Orange  &  Alexandria  Railroad,  for  a  period  of  two 
years.  Next,  he  was  in  the  service  of  the  Adams 
Express  Company  for  some  time.  The  route  chang- 
ing to  the  Southern  Express  Company,  he  continued 
as  express  messenger  for  a  period.  At  this  time  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion  was  inaugurated,  and  Mr. 
Brewer  accepted  the  position  of  Inspector  of  Guns 
for  the  Confederate  Army  ;  but  in  the  fall  of  1862  he 
returned  North.  In  this  movement  he  experienced 
some  difficulty,  as  the  rebels,  supposing  him  to  be  a 
Federal  spy,  interrupted  his  travels.  He  next  ac- 
cepted a  position  in  the  banking  house  of  Lewis, 
Johnson  &  Co.,  at  Washington  City  (yet  in  existence), 
and  remained  there  nine  years;  then  he  was  em- 


ployed at  the  Patent  Office  two  years ;  then  in  the 
Treasury  Department  until  1877,  when  he  emigrated 
West  and  located  upon  his  present  farm,  near  Tam- 
pico,  which  he  had  bought  in  1867.  It  comprises 
240  acres,  well  improved,  and  is  a  splendid  place. 
Besides,  he  still  owns  property  in  Washington,  which 
yields  an  annual  rental  of  $600,  besides  several 
small  tenements.  He  is  one  of  the  most  extensive 
farmers  in  that  portion  of  the  county,  and  makes  a 
specialty  of  raising  Clydesdale  horses  and  Short -horn 
cattle. 

In  his  principles  of  civil  government,  he  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  he  takes  a  zealous  hold  of 
local  interests;  he  has  been  Township  Supervisor 
since  the  spring  of  1884,  and  has  also  held  other 
offices  in  the  township 

He  was  married  July  12,  1870,  in  Milford,  Otsego 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Amelia  A.  Barnard,  who  was 
born  in  Milford,  April  14,  1837.  Her  parents  were 
Deacon  M.  and  Adelia  (Grover)  Barnard,  natives 
respectively  of  New  York  and  New  England,  and  of 
English  ancestry.  Her  parents  dying  early  in  her 
life,  she  began  school-teaching  attheageof  16  years. 
After  teaching  about  three  terms,  she  graduated  at 
the  Delaware  Literary  Institute  at  Franklin,  Delaware 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  at  the  age  of  20  years.  She  succeeded 
well  in  her  calling.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brewer  have  had 
three  children,  namely :  Hattie,  who  was  born  June 
28,  1871,  and  died  April  15,  1879;  Clara,  who  was 
born  Sept.  10,  1873;  and  Freddie,  born  Sept.  29, 
1875.  Mrs.  Brewer  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 


5  Los  Parker  is  a  farmer  on  section  28, 
Garden  Plain  Township.  He  was  born 
April  14,  1835,  in  Wells,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt., 
and  is  the  grandson  of  Abel  Parker,  the  first 
settler  of  Garden  Plain.  He  is  the  second  son 
of  Abel,  Jr.,  and  Amanda  (Goodspeed)  Parker. 
His  parents  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Rut- 
land Co.,  Vt.  Ansel  Goodspeed,  his  maternal 
grandfather,  was  Town  Clerk  of  Wells  46  consecu- 
tive years.  He  was  also  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
a  Representative  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Green  Mountain  State.  He  was  born  in  Barnstable, 
Mass. 

Mr.  Parker  was  brought   up  on  his  father's  farm, 


§&&*& 


C? 


V 


and  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town.  At  14  he  engaged  with  a  carpenter  and  join- 
er to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  business  in  which 
he  was  employed  two  years.  He  then  clerked  one 
year  in  a  drug  store. 

In  1853  he  came  West  to  find  a  home  and  busi- 
ness. At  Chicago  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  &  Galena  Railroad  corporation,  in  whose 
interests  he  operated  until  the  spring  of  1855,  when 
he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  worked  at  the 
business  of  a  carpenter  one  year.  He  then  engaged 
in  mercantile  affairs  at  Garden  Plain  Corners.  In 
1860  he  sold  out  and  went  overland  to  Pike's  Peak, 
arriving  at  his  destination  after  about  60  days'  travel. 
He  spent  a  few  months  in  prospecting  and  mining, 
and  returned  home  on  account  of  ill  health.  He 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  in 
1863  bought  a  farm  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 28.  The  place  was  under  partial  improvement, 
having  a  small  frame  house  and  a  few  acres  of  prai- 
rie, which  had  been  plowed.  The  place  is  now  sup- 
plied with  a  valuable  set  of  farm  buildings,  trees  and 
shrubs  of  different  varieties.  The  proprietor  is  en- 
gaged in  mixed  husbandry,  and  is  interested  in  rais- 
ing cattle  and  sheep,  and  also  in  conducting  a  dairy. 

Mr.  Parker  was  married  Dec.  25,  1860,  to  Mary 
E.,  daughter  of  Jacob  L.  and  Rosina  (Baker)  Parker, 
and  they  have  six  children  :  Wilbur,  Harry  J.,  Fred 
L.,  Jessie  E.,  Albert  J.  and  Nellie  Edith.  Minnie 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Parker  is  the  representative  of 
the  children  of  the  first  marriage  of  his  grandfather, 
Abel  Parker. 


' 
. 

»\\, 

S 


Jacobs,  deceased,  formerly  a  farmer 
I?-  of  Tampico  Township,  was  born  in  Cas- 
tile, N.  Y.,  Oct.  15,  1828,  and  was  reared 
to  manhood  as  a  farmer's  son.  During  his 
youth  the  family  changed  residence  to  a  point 
on  the  Genesee  River,  in  Allegany  County, 
same  State,  where  he  received  his  education.  On 
arriving  at  the  age  of  2 1  he  came  to  Illinois,  and 
settled  in  La  Salle  County,  near  Sandwich.  A  year 
later  he  removed  to  a  farm  near  Aurora,  111.  While 
living  here  he  was  married,  and  soon  afterward  he 
moved  upon  a  farm  in  DeKalb  Co,  111,  near  Sand- 
wich, and  he  came  thence  to  this  county  and  located 


upon  an  8o-acre  tract  of  land  in  Tampico  Township, 
which  he  improved  10  years,  and  then  he  moved  to 
another  8o-acre  piece  of  land  on  section  23,  near  the 
village  of  Tampico,  half  of  which  has  since  been 
incorporated  into  the  village  plat.  He  afterward 
bought  80  acres  more  on  section  10,  and  the  whole 
tract  of  land  he  improved  and  occupied  up  to  the 
date  of  his  death,  July  21,  1881. 

Mr.  Jacobs  was  a  kind  husband  and  father,  a 
quiet  neighbor,  and  a  useful  citizen.  He  was  a  re- 
liable Republican,  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Mrs.  Jacobs  is  also  a  member  of  the  same. 
He  was  married  Jan.  23,  1850,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Smith,  daughter  of  Jehiel  and  Roxanna  (White) 
Smith.  Her  father,  a  farmer,  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  her  mother  of  New  York.  After  her  pa- 
rents were  married  they  settled  in  Allegany  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  she  was  born,  Nov.  12,  1831,  and  she 
was  18  years  of  age  when  the  family  emigrated 
West,  settling  in  DeKalb  Co.,  111.  She  is  the  mother 
of  four  children :  Alphia  Eugene  (see  sketch)  ;  J. 
Marion,  who  resides  in  Brown  Co.,  Dak.,  engaged  in 
farming;  Mary  Evaline,  who  married  Dr.  A.  H. 
Morse,  and  resides  in  Walcott,  Dak.  and  Albert  H  , 
at  home. 


iGrman  Sturtz,  general  farmer,  section  12 
Montmorency  Township,  connected  his  for- 
tunes with  the  development  of  Whiteside 
County,  in  December,  1855,  when  he  became, 
by  purchase,  the  proprietor  of  So  acres  of  land, 
which  formed  the  nucleus  of  further  purchases, 
whereby  he  became  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  land 
situated  in  Whiteside  and  Lee  Counties.  He  has 
displayed  his  sense  and  judgment  in  the  erection  of 
exceptionally  good  buildings,  ranking  with  the  best 
in  the  county,  his  dwelling  and  barns  having  cost 
over  $6,000.  He  keeps  an  average  herd  of  75  head 
of  cattle,  15  horses,  and  fattens  about  100  hogs  and 
from  one  to  two  car-loads  of  cattle  annually. 

Mr.  Sturtz  was  born  Jan.  7,  1829,  in  Somerset  Co., 
Pa.,  and  is  the  oldest  son  and  second  child  of  John 
and  Rebecca  (Beal)  Sturtz.  His  parents  were  life- 
long residents  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  Their 
children  were  named  Kate,  Hiram,  Herman,  Mar- 


XX 

f 

•2  3» 

(21 


garet,  Christine,  Charles,  Susan,  Noah,  Edward  and 
Louisa.  Until  he  was  20  years  of  age,  Mr.  Sturtz 
was  engaged  in  the  acquisition  of  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  and  in  farm  labor.  At  that 
period  he  found  himself  with  the  privilege  of  his  own 
maintenance  in  his  possession,  and  with  an  undis- 
puted right  to  build  his  own  fortune.  He  began  the 
contest  by  farm  work  during  the  summer  seasons 
and  by  teaching  winters.  He  passed  five  years  in 
this  alternate  method  of  operation,  and  at  the  close 
of  that  time  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  as  stated. 

In  political  connection  Mr.  Sturtz  is  a  Republican. 
He  has  officiated  six  years  as  Highway  Commissioner, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1885  (current  year),  he  was 
elected  Supervisor  of  Montmorency.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Sterling  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows. 

As  a  leading  agriculturist  and  a  representative 
citizen  of  Whiteside  County,  we  place  the  portrait  of 
Mr.  Sturtz  in  the  galaxy  of  portraits  of  prominent 
and  representative  men  of  the  county  given  in  this 
ALBUM. 


liharles  Hooks  Sloeumb,  a  retired  farmer 

•  •.  >  1  * 

resident  at  Albany,  was  born  Nov.  14, 
1817,  near  Carmi,  White  Co.,  111.  Rev. 
Samuel  Sloeumb,  his  father,  was  a  native  of 
Georgia,  and  was  born  Nov.  23,  1783,  in  At- 
lanta. The  family  trace  their  descent  in  a 
direct  line  from  Anthony,  Giles  and  Edward  Slo- 
eumb, who  came  to  America  from  England  in  1637. 
The  first  named  is  recorded  as  the  first  landed  pro- 
prietor by  purchase  of  103  acres,  which  was  called 
New  Plymouth  and  is  now  included  in  Taunton  and 
vicinity.  Giles  settled  in  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  and 
died  there  in  1682.  Edward,  is  on  record  as  one  of 
the  Supervisors  of  Highways  in  Taunton,  June  i, 
1647.  There  is  no  further  record  of  him.  The 
Sloeumb  family  of  Whiteside  County  are  lineal  de- 
scendants from  Giles  Sloeumb.  Joseph  Sloeumb, 
great-grandfdther  of  C.  H.  Sloeumb,  was  a  merchant 
at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  early  in  the  i8th  century,  and  he 
had  two  sons,  John  Charles  and  Ezekiel.  The 
former  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
became  a  Methodist  preacher.  About  the  year  1800 
he  went  to  Kentucky,  whence  he  removed  about 
five  years  later  to  Concord,  White  Co.,  111.,  and  there 
died,  about  1825. 

Ezekiel  lived  in  North  Carolina  after  the  close  of 


the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  from '1812  to  1818 
he  was  a  member  of  what  was  then  designated  the 
"  House  of  Commons  "  of  that  State.  He  was  a 
valiant  soldier  in  the  Colonial  struggle  with  England, 
and  was  a.  Lieutenant  at  the  battle  of  Moore's  Creek. 
He  was  promoted  to  a  Colonelcy  for  bravery  in  ac- 
tion. Samuel  Sloeumb,  son  of  John  Charles,  went 
with  his  parents  to  Kentucky,  and  in  1812  he  re- 
moved to  the  Territory  of  Illinois,  settling  near 
Carmi.  The  second  struggle  with  Great  Britain 
called  him  into  the  military  service  in  the  same  year, 
and  he  became  an  officer.  He  married  Mary  Ann 
Beck,  March  21,  1804,  and  settled  to  the  pursuit  of 
farming  in  Concord.  He  was  a  man  of  recognized 
abilities  and  became  Postmaster  at  Concord.  He 
also  held  other  important  official  positions  at  that 
place.  In  1833  he  went  to  Knox  Co.,  111.,  where  he 
settled  on  Government  land  and  engaged  in  farming. 
He  built  a  log  house  entirely  without  nails,  covered 
with  clapboards  bound  in  place  with  poles,  and  hav- 
ing a  puncheon  floor.  He  lived  on  the  place  five 
years,  and  in  1838  settled  where  the  village  of  Al- 
bany now  stands.  He  died  there  Dec.  29,  1859. 
His  wife's  death  took  place  Feb.  24,  1851.  He 
officiated  many  years  as  a  local  preacher  in  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  was  a  farmer  nearly  all  his 
life.  After  coming  to  Albany  he  Wag  made  Justice 
of  the  Peace  and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  posi- 
tion a  number  of  years.  To  him  and  his  wife  1 1 
children  were  born :  Samuel  lives  in  La  Bette  Co., 
Kan.  ;  William  W.  is  a  steamboat  captain  and  lives 
at  Winona,  Minn.  With  the  exception  of  Mr.  Slo- 
eumb of  this  sketch  no  others  are  living.  Samuel 
Sloeumb  died  at  the  age  of  76  years.  He  was  six 
years  old  when  the  Republic  entered  upon  its  first 
stage  of  existence  under  the  administration  of  a 
President,  and  he  died  during  the  executive  term  of 
the  i5th  head  of  the  nation.  He  was  always  a  pio- 
neer, and  encountered  the  trials,  privations  and 
vicissitudes  of  the  period  of  first  things  successively 
in  White,  Knox  and  Whiteside  Counties,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  Albany  was  just  emerging  from  its 
formative  stage.  If  the  record  of  his  experiences  as 
pioneer  farmer  and  preacher  had  been  preserved, 
the  recital  would  have  possessed  the  interest  of  a. 
work  of  fiction. 

When  the   family  removed  to  Knox  County  they 
traveled  with  the  aid  of  ox  and  horse  teams,  driving 
their  stock  and  camping  and  cooking  by  the  wayside. 
' _3A/svX 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


SK 

I 


:> 


I 

» 
• 


There  were  no  mills  to  grind  gvain,  and  their  food 
was  shaved  corn,  or  hominy  made  by  pounding  the 
grain  in  a  mortar;  and,  having  plenty  of  milk,  they 
subsisted  on  mush  and  milk.  What  would  they 
have  said  if  they  could  have  forseen  the  time  when 
their  wholesome  but  compulsory  food  would  be 
served  as  a  luxury  on  aristocratic  tables  ? 

Charles  H.  Slocumb  was  20  years  old  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Albany.  He  rented  five  acres 
of  land  and  engaged  in  farming  in  1839.  In  the 
winter  which  ensued  he  chopped  wood,  at  25  cents 
per  cord.  In  1840  he  established  a  sort  of  indepen- 
dent transportation  line,  carrying  passengers  to  vari- 
ous points  in  the  county.  He  did  a  good  business, 
as  many  travelers  came  to  Albany  on  the  river  who 
had  business  inland.  After  pursuing  this  vocation 
two  years,  he  entered  a  claim  in  the  (now)  township 
of  Newton,  where  he  erected  a  log  house,  the  ma- 
terial for  which  was  removed  from  Albany.  He 
made  his  land  claim  at  Dixon  in  1842,  whither  he 
went  for  the  purpose,  accompanied  by  his  brother. 
Associated  with  two  brothers,  he  improved  and  fenced 
1 60  acres,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  removal  in 
185  i  to  the  township  of  Garden  Plain.  He  at  first 
bought  40  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  added  by  sub- 
sequent purchases  of  State  land  until  he  was  the 
possessor  of  218  acres.  He  occupied  his  estate  un- 
til 1878,  when  he  rented  the  property  and  removed 
to  Albany. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  (Bennett)  Slocumb  was  horn 
March  23,  1830,  in  Cazenovia,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. 
She.  is  the  oldest  daughter  of  Lyman  and  Susan  E. 
(Latham)  Bennett.  Her  father  was  born  Nov.  8, 
1802,  in  Ludlow,  Hampden  Co.,  Mass.,  of  English 
parentage.  He  went  to  Cazenovia,  where  he  was 
married  Oct.  31,  1827.  Susan  Elizabeth  Latham, 
who  became  his  wife,  was  born  in  Norwich,  Conn., 
in  September,  1808,  and  while  yet  young  went  to 
Madison  County  with  her  aunts.  In  the  fall  of 
1835  the  family  set  out  for  Whiteside  County,  travel- 
ing in  the  primitive  method  then  in  vogue.  They 
had  an  ox  team  as  a  motive  power  and  went  to 
Buffalo,  where  they  embarked  on  a  steamboat  for 
Detroit,  their  team  coming  across  the  lakes  by  the 
same  boat;  and  it  was  again  brought  into  requisition 
in  the  journey  from  the  City  of  the  Straits  to  White- 
side  County.  The  family  brought  all  their  personal 
possessions,  and  they  camped  and  cooked  their  food 
while  on  the  way  to  their  destination. 


Mr.  Bennett  entered  a  claim  on  the  north  bank  of 
Rock  River,  opposite  Portland,  where  he  built  a  log 
cabin,  and  resided  about  four  years.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  Mr.  Bennett  went  to  what  is  now  the  town- 
ship of  Newton.  He  entered  a  claim,  built  a  log 
dwelling,  and  fenced  and  otherwise  improved  40 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  was  a  resident  until  1859, 
the  year  in  which  he  located  in  Albany  Township. 
A  few  years  later  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Albany, 
which  was  his  home  until  his  death,  which  trans- 
pired March  3,  1884.  His  wife  died  April  9,  1873. 
Their  children  included  two  sons  and  eight  daugh- 
ters, and  all  but  one  lived  to  reach  maturity :  Eliza- 
beth was  married  to  C.  H.  Slocumb,  Oct.  23,  1848; 
Helen  M.  is  the  wife  of  David  C.  Hanks,  and  lives 
in  Albany;  Harriet  A.  is  the  wife  of  A.  T.  Jenks,  of 
Stillwater,  Minn.;  Lewis  D.  is  a  resident  of  Lyons, 
Iowa ;  Alice  married  J.  F.  Hopper,  and  is  a  resident 
of  Albany ;  Irene  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Paddock, 
and  lives  at  Albany ;  Emily  Jane  and  Sophronia  are 
deceased.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slocumb 
now  living  are:  Lyman  C.,  Samuel  Chester,  Sylves- 
ter B.,  Grandus  H.,  Robert  D.  and  Mabel  Azelma  : 
four  children  are  not  living. 


illiam  J.  Love,  stock  dealer  at  Tampico, 
was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  June  10,  r844. 
His  father,  George  Love,  was  a  native  of 
England,  a  farmer,  who  came  to  America  in 
early  life  and  settled  in  Greene  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
he  married  Mrs.  Hannah  Leonard,  nee  Rein- 
hart,  a  native  of  that  county  and  of  German  ancestry. 
Mr.  Love  was  only  four  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  His  mother  afterward  married  William  Adams, 
a- native  of  Ohio.  Two  years  after  the  death  of  his 
father,  Mrs.  Love  moved  West  with  her  family,  lo- 
cating in  Fairfield  Township,  Bureau  Co.,  111.  When 
he  became  of  age,  Mr.  Love  began  farming  on  his 
own  account,  on  a  tract  of  160  acres,  in  that  town- 
ship, where  he  continued  until  1883,  when  he  came 
to  Tampico  and  purchased  three  lots,  with  a  good 
dwelling,  where  he  has  since  lived;  and  since  his 
location  here  he  has  devoted  his  attention  to  dealing 
in  live  stock,  buying  and  selling  about  100  car-loads 
annually. 

In  politics  he  is  a  thorough  Republican.     When 


'-; 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


he  was  about  25  years  of  age,  March  23,  1870,  he 
married  Miss  Margaret,  daughter  of  Ix>dowick  and 
Anna  Underbill.  Her  father  was  born  in  New  York 
and  her  mother  in  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Love  was  born 
in  Yorktown  Township,  Henry  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  10, 
1852,  but  she  was  brought  up  and  educated  in  Mc- 
Donough  County,  this  State,  where  her  parents  still 
reside.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Love  are  the  parents  of  three 
children,  namely:  Claud  D.,  who  was  born  June  6, 
1871;  May,  May  31,  1873;  and  Arling,  Sept.  27, 
1879. 


— H 


j,r.  David  Wilson  Lundy,  deceased,  former- 
ly a  practicing  physician  and  surgeon  at 
Albany,  was  born  March  10,  1842,  in  East 
Guillambury,  York,  Canada.  He  was  the  son 
of  Judah  and  Elizabeth  (Lepard)  Lundy,  who 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  removed 
thence  to  Canada,  where  they  are  still  living. 

Dr.  Lundy  received  his  primary  education  at  the 
grammar  school.  He  was  of  studious,  reflective 
temperament,  and  early  in  the  course  of  his  educa- 
tional career  determined  on  a  professional  life. 
While  in  comparative  youth  he  entered  the  office  of 
Dr.  Noble,  of  Sharon,  Ont.,  under  whose  preceptor- 
ship  he  read  medicine.  He  matriculated  in  1861,  at 
Victoria  College,  in  Coburg,  where  he  accomplished 
the  rigid  course  of  study  required  by  the  regulations 
of  that  institution,  and  was  graduated  with  honor, 
May  3,  1865.  He  was  Delineator  of  Anatomy  in 
the  college  while  completing  his  studies,  and  was 
prominent  while  yet  a  student  for  his  proficiency  in 
the  science  and  art  of  surgery. 

Dr.  Lundy  entered  upon  his  practice  at  Albany, 
whither  he  came  soon  after  completing  his  course. of 
study.  He  at  once  established  a  substantial  and 
popular  business,  in  which  he  continued  without  in- 
termission with  the  exception  of  a  few  months  spent 
in  Canada.  He  formed  at  Albany  a  partnership 
with  Dr.  H.  M.  Booth,  which  was  in  existence  but  a 
short  time. 

Dr.  Lundy  was  a  man  of  fine  character.  His  in- 
tellectual qualities  were  pre-eminent,  and  he  was 
always  an  ardent  student.  He  was  considered  a 
leader  in  the  surgical  branch  of  his  profession,  and 
in  common  practice  as  well.  He  was  fitted  by  na- 


ture for  his  profession,  his  calm,  equable  tempera- 
ment rendering  him  an  auxiliary  to  the  sick-room 
in  the  capacity  of  friend  and  nurse  as  well  as  of 
physician. 

He  was  married  May  17,  1866,  to  Sarah  C., 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Rockey)  Slay- 
maker,  natives  of  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Slaymaker 
was  born  in  1799,  and  came  to  Whiteside  County 
about  1855,  with  his  family.  He  died  July  17,  1881, 
in  Newton  Township,  where  he  was  a  farmer.  Mrs. 
Slaymaker  was  born  Feb.  28,  1815,  and  is  still  living. 
Mrs.  Lundy  was  born  Aug.  28,  1844,  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Whiteside 
County.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Lundy  had  two  daughters  : 
Mary  E.  was  born  at  Albany,  Oct.  25,  1867;  and 
Kate  E.  was  born  March  19,  1869.  The  elder  is 
engaged  in  teaching. 

Dr.  Lundy  died  in  April,  1881,  losing  his  life  by 
an  accident  on  the  railroad.  He  was  on  his  way  to 
Cordova  to  perform  a  surgical  operation,  when  the 
bridge  over  the  Meredocia  sank  under  the  weight  of 
the  train,  having  been  rendered  insecure  by  recent 
high  water,  which  had  destroyed  the  highway  bridges 
in  the  vicinity.  Dr.  Lundy  was  the  only  citizen  of 
Albany  who  was  injured.  '  His  loss  was  regarded  as 
a  public  calamity. 


' 
i 


A 


leary  C.  Hrown,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  section  28,  Tampico  Township,  was 
born  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  19,  1829, 
his  father  being  Allen  Brown,  a  mason  and 
farmer,  and  a  native  also  of  that  Stale.  At  the 
age  of  24  years,  having  previously  learned  the 
trade  of  stone-mason,  he  came  West,  spent  a  few 
months  in  La  Salle  County,  this  State,  and  in  1854 
entered  an  8o-acre  tract  in  Tampico  Township ;  and 
on  this  he  commenced  to  make  improvements,  while 
boarding  with  a  neighbor,  and  soon  he  made  his  resi- 
dence upon  it.  This  is  the  place  he  still  occupies, 
but  he  has  increased  his  landed  possessions  to  320 
acres,  all  improved  and  in  fine  condition.  Mr. 
Brown  has  an  imported  stallion  from  France,  valued 
at  $2,000. 

Dec.  6,  1857,  is  the  date  of  Mr.  Brown's  marriage, 
at  Erie,  this  county,  to  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of 
William  H.  and  Susan  (Vanbiber)  Gray.  Her  par- 


'     .  . 

Of  ILLINOIS 
URBAN/1 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


were  natives  of  Ohio,  and  of  English  ancestry, 
who  settled  on  a  farm  in  Athens  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
Mrs.  Brown  was  born,  July  25,  1835.  She  was  12 
years  of  age  when  the  family  changed  residence  to 
a  point  near  Pekin,  111.  Afterward  they  moved  to 
New  Bedford,  Bureau  County,  and  finally  to  Erie, 
this  county,  where  she  was  educated.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brown  have  been  the  parents  of  four  children,  two 
of  whom  have  died.  The  living  are :  Herbert  E., 
born  Oct.  6,  1859,  residing  at  home;  and  Willis,  who 
was  born  Feb.  5,  1861,  married  Miss  Minnie  Badg- 
ley,  and  resides  in  Tampico,  the  owner  of  80  acres 
on  section  27  in  this  township.  Their  biographical 
sketches  are  given  more  fully  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume. The  deceased  are  Estella,  who  died  Nov.  23, 
1 86 1,  at  the  age  of  about  three  years  ;  and  Mary,  who 
was  born  Dec.  18,  1863,  and  died  Sept.  9,  1864. 

Mr.  Brown,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  in  his  politi- 
cal views,  is  a  National  Greenbacker.  He  has  been 
honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with  the  offices  of  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  and  Township  Clerk,  Treasurer, 
Trustee,  etc.  Both  himself  and  Mrs.  B.  are  mem- 
bers  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 


-0*-= 


dwin   A.    Emmons.    farmer,    section    31, 
Tampico  Township,  was  born  in  Coloma 
Township,  this  county,   Feb.  4,  1847,  his 
parents   being   Samuel   and    Malinda  (Booth) 
Emmons.    His  father,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation,  settled  in  Tampico 
Township  in  r87o,  and   died  Feb.  29,    1880,  at  the 
i  age  of  67  years.     Edwin's  mother  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  died  July  24,  1883,  at  the  residence  of  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Macomber,  in  Sterling. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  elder  of  the  two 
children  born  to  his  parents,  was  married  the  first 
time  in  Sterling,  Jan.  25,  1867,  to  Miss  Sarah  Pike,  a 
native  of  the  State  of  New  York.  His  second  mar- 
riage occurred  in  Tampico,  March  i,  1876,  when  he 
wedded  Miss  Irene  Foy,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Matilda  (Williams)  Foy.  Her  father  is  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  her  mother  of  Kentucky.  The  latter 
'  were  married  in  Hancock  County,  this  State,  and 
after  a  residence  for  some  time  in  Tampico  Town- 
ship, this  county,  moved  in  1874  to  Phillips  Co., 
Kan.  Mrs.  Emmons  was  born  in  this  county,  Dec. 


17,  1852.  She  is  now  the  mother  of  two  children, 
namely  :  Mabel,  who  was  born  June  28,  1877  ;  and 
Minnie,  born  Jan.  i,  1883. 

Mr.  Emmons  occupies  the  old  homestead,  which 
he  now  owns  and  which  comprises  200  acres  of  well 
improved  land.  He  is  a  School  Director,  and  in  his 
political  views  is  a  decided  Republican. 


Joshua  Hollinshead,  farmer,  section  8,  Us- 
^  tick  Township,  is  the  oldest  son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Rush)  Hollinshead,  pio- 
neers of  Whiteside  County  of  1839.  The  first 
three  years  after  they  came  to  Illinois  they 
lived  in  Clyde  Township.  His  father  was  born 
Jan.  6,  1798,  in  New  Jersey.  He  went  thence  to 
Canada  and  was  a  resident  there  during  McKenzie's 
Rebellion,  or  the  Patriot  War,  in  which  he  was  a 
participant  and  did  valiant  service  in  behalf  of  the 
Canadian  insurgents.  His  wife  was  the  great-niece 
of  Benj.  Rush,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence.  They  had  eight  children, — Joshua, 
Julia  A.,  Jacob  W.,  Daniel,  Lydia,  Charles,  Mary 
and  Emily  E.  John  Hollinshead  lived  and  died  on 
the  farm  under  the  bluffs  of  Ustick  Township,  where- 
on he  settled  when  he  first  came,  there,  and  on 
which  he  was  buried. 

Mr.  Hollinshead  was  born  Sept.  7,  1827,  in  Can- 
ada, and  came  thence  with  his  parents  to  Whiteside 
County  in  June,  1839.  He  is  the  proprietary  owner 
of  202  acres  of  land  in  Ustick  Township,  and  has 
placed  80  acres  under  cultivation.  He  is  a  liberal 
Democrat  and  has  been  Supervisor  two  years  and 
also  Assessor  three  years,  besides  having  held  other 
positions  of  minor  importance.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  Order. 

He  was  first  married  Oct.  7,  1848,  in  Ustick  Town- 
ship, to  Miss  Nancy  S.  Ingham,  and  they  had  two 
children, — John  D.  and  Reuben  P.  The  mother  died 
March  25,  1858.  Mrs.  Mehitable  M.  (Applebee) 
Lawrence  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Hollinshead  April 
5,  1865.  She  was  the  widow  of  Albert  G.  Lawrence. 
By  her  second  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of 
five  children, — Lilla  M.,  George  L.,  Georgiana,  Mat- 
tie  I.  and  Emma  E.  The  first  and  third  daughters 
died  in  infancy,  and  the  mother  died  July  9,  r882. 
Mr.  Hollinshead  was  again  married  Aug.  21,  1883, 


/  x 


Vx/        ^ 

<v  • 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


at  Morrison,  to  Miss  Emma  Wilson.     She  was  born 
Nov.  6,  1858,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Hollinshead,  which  is  given 
on  the  opposite  page,  is  presented  with  much  satis- 
faction as  a  representative  of  the  pioneer  element  of 
Whiteside  County,  whose  ancestry  and  record  cor- 
respond in  honorable  prominence. 


illis  L.  Brown,  general  farmer,  section  30' 
Tampico    Township,    was   born    Feb.   5, 
1861,  in  Tampico,  and  is  the  son  of  E.  C. 
Brown,  whose  sketch  is  given  in  this  ALBUM. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  township  and  in   the  Northern  Illi- 
nois College  at  Fulton,  this  county. 

On  arriving  at  the  age  of  manhood,  he  married 
Miss  Minnie  Badgley,  daugh'er  of  J  Perry  Badgley, 
who  was  educated  in  the  village  of  Tampico.  He 
then  settled  on  the  farm  of  80  acres  which  he  still 
occupies.  It  is  all  improved,  and  under  Mr.  Brown's 
good  judgment  and  industry  it  doubtless  will  in- 
crease in  value. 

In  political  principles  Mr.  B.  is  a  Republican,  and 
both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


(bel  Parker,  deceased,  was  the  first  perma- 
nent  settler  in  the  township  of  Garden 
PI3"1-  He  located  in  a  grove,  which  has 
since  borne  his  name,  adopting  the  prevalent 
sentiment  of  the  pioneers  of  the  prairies  by 
j  selecting  a  situation  in  the  timber.  Mr.  Par- 
ker was,  presumably,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  where 
it  is  certain  his  parents,  Abel  and  Elinor  Parker, 
were  born.  They  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Poultney, 
Rutland  Co.,  Vt.  Later,  the  senior  Parker  bought  a 
mill  property  in  the  adjoining  town  of  Wells,  where 
he  pursued  his  business  until  his  removal  to  Illinois, 
in  1836.  On  the  3oth  day  of  June  he  started,  with 
his  wife  and  nine  children,  to  Whiteside  County, 
traveling  with  two  pairs  of  horses  and  two  wagons. 
The  party  remained  at  Naperville  two  weeks,  after 
which  they  proceeded  to  Garden  Plain  Township, 
where  they  arrived  August  2gt\\.  The  household 


effects  were  sent  by  the  lake  route,  in  charge  of 
Jacob  L.  Parker,  the  second  son.  The  location  of 
the  claim  of  Abel  Parker  was  on  section  25,  township 
2  i ,  range  3. 

He  was  born  Aug.  21,1772.  Clarissa  Stephens 
became  his  wife  April  18,  1799,  and  their  children, 
six  in  number,  were  named  Horace,  Lydia,  Abel, 
Betsey,  Willard  and  Sarah.  The  mother  died  Oct. 
12,  iSio.  Abel  Parker  was  again  married  March 
7,  i8n,to  Eleanor  Howe,  and  they  had  10  children: 
David  is  deceased.  A  full  sketch  of  his  life,  together 
with  a  portrait,  has  been  supplied  for  this  work,  by 
his  son,  C.  D.  Parker,  and  may  be  found  elsewhere; 
Jacob  L.  is  deceased,  and  is  represented  in  this  vol- 
ume by  a  personal  narration,  furnished  by  his  son, 
James  L. ;  Phoebe  is  deceased ;  Clarissa  L.  and 
Eliza  T.  are  among  the  survivors,  as  is  Francis ; 
Erminia  is  deceased ;  Edwin  and  Hiram  are  famous 
in  Garden  Plain  Township,  and  sketches  of  them 
may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mrs.  Parker 
was  born  Nov.  i,  1789,  and  died  Oct.  29, 
Abel  Parker  died  Nov.  25,  1839. 


oseph  Spear  is  one  of  the  most  substantial 
and  enterprising  agriculturists  of  Mont- 
morency  Township.  He  resides  on  section 
24,  where  he  located  in  1860,  removing  there 
from  Coloma  Township.  He  came  to  White- 
side  County  in  1854,  when  he  was  21  years  of 
age  and  there  became  the  proprietor  ot  a  farm  .by 
purchase.  Six  years  later,  he  transferred  his  family 
and  interests  to  Montmorency  Township,  selling  the 
farm  from  which  he  removed.  He  first  purchased 
160  acres  of  land,  and  has  continued  to  buy  until  he 
is  the  owner  of  1,009  acres  in  Whiteside  County,  all 
improved.  Besides,  he  holds  valuable  interests  in 
both  Sterling  and  Rock  Falls.  In  political  faith  and 
connection  Mr.  Spear  is  a  Republican. 

He  was  born  July  21,  1833,  in  Newbury,  Vt., 
where  he  remained  through  his  minority  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  and  high  schools.  His 
parents,  James  and  Mary  (Sevage)  Spear,  were  born 
respectively  in  Vermont  and  Canada.  They  passed 
the  entire  course  of  their  married  lives  in  the  Green 
Mountain  State,  and  they  died  there.  Their  chil- 


.  • 

ci/./vV«'VS 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


dren  were:     Albert  G.,  Julia  A.,  Charlotte,  William 
and  Joseph. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Spear  to  Maria  D.  Sturtevant 
took  place  April  5,  1860,  in  Coloma  Township,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  five  children — -Harry  W., 
William  H.,  Eugene  V.,  Ernest  B.  and  Joseph  -D. 
Mrs.  Spear  is  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Susan  (Sum- 
mers) Sturtevant,  of  whom  a.  personal  narration  is 
given  elsewhere.  The  eight  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sturtevant  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Jane,  Maria  D.,  Henry  J.,  William  S.,  Jerome  B., 
Emma  A.,  Susan  O.  and  Ida  M.  Mrs.  Spear  was 
born  in  Vermont,  Nov.  18,  1836. 


eorge  K.  Hamilton  is  a  pioneer  of  Lyndon 
Township  and  the  son  of  a  pioneer.  Fa- 
ther and  son  came  to  Whiteside  County  in 
1835.  Adam  R.  Hamilton,  the  former,  was 
born  Oct.  12,  1791,  in  Massachusetts.  He 
was  married  to  Nancy  Miller,  April  18,  1813. 
She  was  born  Feb.  9,  1792,  in  Massachusetts,  and 
became  the  mother  of  eight  children.  George  R.' 
was  born  in  Northampton,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass., 
Feb.  24,  1820.  When  he  was  three  years  of  age  his 
father  removed  his  family  to  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y., 
traveling  on  the  Erie  Canal  to  Rochester,  where  it 
then  terminated.  Their  further  transit  was  made 
with  teams  to  Clarendon,  where  they  were  pioneer 
settlers.  The  senior  Hamilton  bought  land  in  the 
timber,  built  a  log  house  and  was  a  resident  there 
until  1835,  when  he  sold  his  estate  and  came  to 
Whiteside  County,  where  he  was  one  of  the  earliest 
of  the  permanent  settlers.  Only  four  families  pre- 
ceded his  arrival,  and  the  county  was  not  set  off  from 
Jo  Davies  County  for  some  months  afterward.  His 
claim  was  made  on  section  19,  town  20,  range  5  east, 
now  Lyndon  Township.  Three  families — those  of 
Mr.  Hamilton,  W.  D.  Dudley  and  C.  G.  Woodruff- 
left  the  State  of  New  York  at  the  same  time,  each 
with  a  pair  of  horses  and  a  wagon.  A  month  was 
consumed  in  the  overland  journey  to  Chicago.  The 
families  stopped  for  a  time  at  Plainfield,  in  Will 
County,  about  25  miles  from  Chicago,  while  the  men 
went  on  in  advance.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  accom- 
panied by  his  son  John,  and  after  making  his  claim 
he  returned  for  his  family,  leaving  John  to  construct 


£\  •  -v 

>.•    v     /•-- 


a  dwelling,  into  which  they  moved.  Through  the 
first  winter  it  was  covered  with  hay  and  had  no  fl<>or. 
In  the  spring  following  a  larger  house  was  b'lilt, 
which  was  of  a  more  aristocratic  type,  covered  with 
shakes  and  having  a  puncheon  floor.  A  door  lo  the 
establishment  was  made  of  the  boards  from  a  pick- 
ing box,  and  it  had  wooden  hinges  and  latch.  Chi- 
cago was  the  place  of  supplies,  and  the  journey  there 
and  back  occupied  from  eight  to  thirteen  days. 
Adam  R.  Hamilton  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life 
in  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  the  farm  on 
which  he  first  settled,  dying  in  1861;.  His  wife  died 
in  r86o.  They  had  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are 
still  living:  John  M.  is  a  farmer  in  Lyndon  Town- 
ship (see  sketch);  Louisa  B.  is  the  wife  of  J.  W. 
Olds,  of  Lyndon;  George  R.  is  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Adam'R.  lives  in  California;  Mary  E.  mar- 
ried John  Garlick ;  and  Amelia  lives  in  Nebraska. 

Mr.  Hamilton  of  this  sketch  was  15  years  of  age 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Whiteside 
County,  and  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  improve- 
ment of  the  farm  on  which  the  family  located  r.rd 
which  is  now  his  property. 

He  was  married  May  28,  1867,10  Hannah  L.  Belt, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Deborah  Belt.  (See  sketch  of  B.  Belt.) 
They  have  two  children, — George  W.  and  Louie 
Effie. 

With  the  exception  of  two  seasons,  Mr.  Hamilton 
has  lived  on  the  homestead  since  his  removal  to 
Whiteside  County.  The  place  includes  315  acres, 
all  in  good  agricultural  condition. 


ewis  L.  Griffin,  general  farmer  and    stock- 
raiser,  section  20,  Tampico  Township,  was 
born  Sept.   30,   1834,   near    Lake    George, 
Town  of  Bolton,  Warren  Co.,  N.  Y.,  his  parents 
being  Garles  B.  and  Lucinda  (Kenneyj  Griffin, 
natives  also  of  the  Empire  State.     His  father 
was  a  follower  of  agriculture. 

Until  25  years  of  age  Mr.  Griffin  was  an  inmaie  of 
his  paternal  home,  being  brought  up  on  the  farm  and 
in  attendance  at  the  common  schools.  After  mar- 
riage he  resided  in  the  town  of  Chester,  Warren 
County,  for  two  years,  when,  in  1865,  he  came  West 
and  settled  in  Sugar  Grove,  Kane  Co.,  111.  After  a 


• 


*  ^ 

i 


year's  residence  there  he  removed  to  Bristol  Town- 
ship, Kendall  County,  this  State;  thence  to  Piano, 
same  county;  and  in  1872  he  settled  upon  the  quar- 
ter section  where  he  now  resides.  His  farm  is  well 
improved,  and  he  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  fine 
Durham  cattle. 

Mr.  Griffin  was  married  in  his  native  county 
and  township,  Jan.  29,  1860,  to  Miss  Emily,  daugh- 
ter of  John  R.  and  Judith  (Bradt)  Bradley,  natives  of 
the  Empire  State.  Mrs.  Griffin  was  born  in  Renssel- 
aer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  26,  1843,  and  when  they  were 
three  years  of  age  her  parents  moved  with  their 
family  to  Bennington  Co.,  Vt.  and  nine  years  after- 
ward to  Warren  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffin 
are  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely.  Marvin 
L.,  who  married  Miss  Flora  Winchell  and  resides  in 
Tampico;  Dora,  who  married  Joseph  Scherett  and 
lives  in  Logan  Township,  Ida  Co.,  Iowa;  and  Hattie, 
who  married  Marion  LaDue,  and  is  a  resident  of 
Prophetstown. 

Mr.  Griffin  is  a  staunch  Republican. 


ames  P.  Overholser,  boot  and  shoe  mer- 
f  chant,  Third  Street,  Sterling,  was  born  in 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  2, 1841.  His  parents, 
Martin  and  Barbara  (Arford)  Overholser,  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Ohio,  and 
emigrated  to  this  State  in  1854,  arriving  at 
Coleta,  this  county,  May  3,  where  Mr.  O.  purchased 
210  acres  of  land,  and  afterward  300  acres  more. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  with  his  par- 
ents until  23  years  of  age,  receiving  a  district-school 
education.  In  1864  he  engaged  in  the  boot  and 
shoe  trade  at  Lanark,  this  county,  for  nearly  two 
years.  Next  he  attended  the  Eastman  Business 
College  at  Chicago  and  graduated.  In  1866  he  en- 
tered general  mercantile  business  at  Coleta,  in  which 
he  continued  until  the  summer  of  1868,  when  he 
sold  out  and  went  to  Perry,  Dallas  Co.,  Iowa,  and 
bought  200  acres  of  land.  Returning  to  Sterling,  he 
served  McCoy  &  Gait  as  clerk  for  eight  years;  then, 
in  1875,  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  on  Third 
Street,  continuing  until  1882,  when  he  sold  out  that 
business  and  opened  out  in  his  present  line  of  trade. 
Mr.  Overholser  is  a  leading  man  in  the  city  of 
Sterling;  is  President  of  the  Board  of  Education  in 


the  Second  Ward,  a  Republican  in  his  |x>litical  prm-' 
ciples,  and  a  member  of  the   Methodist   Episcopal 
Church,  as  is  also  his  wife. 

July  4,  1866,  he  was  married  to  Lizzie,  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Susannah  (Bidler)  Wetzell,  of  Coleta. 
who  are  from  Ohio.  They  have  had  ten  children, 
nine  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Cora  Belle  (died 
Dec.  23,  1876,  at  the  age  of  e  ght  years),  Nellie  M  , 
S.  Guy,  Lillie  Blanche,  Ida,  Leona,  Arthur  Ray,  Lena 
Viola,  Mabel  and  Mertie. 


I 


.ranklin  B.  Clark,  general  farmer,  section 
^   29,  Tampico  Township,  was  born  in  Tioga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  n,  1819,  and  was  reared  in 
hisnativecounty.  He  was  first  married  in  Tomp- 
kins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Shepherd,  a 
native  of  that  State,  who  was   brought  up  in 
that  county,  and  finally  died  there,  in  1882,  leaving  (  ^) 
five  children, — one  son  and  four  daughters,  all  mar-  ^ 
ried. 

Mr.  Clark  immediately  came  West,  and  was  again  i= 
married,  Dec.  27,  1882,  to  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Gibson,  ^ 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Lois  (Gridley)  Hart.  Her  = 
parents  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and  settled  in  •/ 
Tioga  County  before  their  marriage.  Mrs.  Clark  was 
born  in  Candor,  that  county,  Oct.  29,  1823,  received 
a  good  education  at  the  public  schools,  and  Sept.  3, 
1840,  married  Rowland  Day,  a  native  of  Connecticut 
and  a  farmer,  who  changed  his  residence  to  the  State 
of  New  York  when  14  years  of  age.  He  came  West 
with  his  family  in  1858,  settling  in  Kenosha,  Wis., 
where  he  died  three  months  afterward,  leaving  two 
children  bereaved,  one  of  whom  has  since  died,  * 
namely,  Elizabeth  A.,  who  married  William  H.  Dow, 
and  died  in  the  asylum  at  Morrison,  this  county, 
March  15,  1882,  leaving  no  children.  Rowland  J. 
Day,  the  surviving  son,  married  Miss  Lotta  Coates, 
and  resides  on  a  farm  in  Brown  Co.,  Dakota.  He 
has  two  children,  Blanche  E.  and  Charles  R.  For 
the  eight  years  succeeding  Mr.  Day's  death,  his 
widow  (now  Mrs.  Clark)  resided  with  her  children  at 
Rockton,  Winnebago  Co.,  111. ;  later,  they  removed  to 
Port  Byron,  Rock  Island  Co.,  111.  Her  second  mar- 
riage occurred  Nov.  28,  1861,  while  at  Rockton,  to 
Walter  Kingsley,  a  brother  of  the  late  W.  C.  Kings- 
ley,  who  built  the  Brooklyn  Bridge  across  the  East 
River,  N.  Y.  Mr.  K.  was  born  in  New  York,  where 


•"- 


^  vv-.uux>Mn:y^v  ^ 
WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


-  ..  - 


I 
6ig< 


V 

i 

• 


he  was  also  reared  to  manhood  and  received  a  good 
education,  and  early  in  life  became  a  railroad  con- 
tractor. He  went  to  Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  first 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Dingley,  a  native  of  Massa 
chusetts,  who  died  at  Freeport,  111.,  after  having  be- 
come by  this  marriage  the  mother  of  three  children. 
Only  one  of  these  now  survives,  James  A.,  a  thor- 
oughly educated  civil  engineer  of  California.  The 
other  two  died  when  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Kingsley,  after  his  marriage  to  the  present 
Mrs.  Clark,  resided  at  Rockton  some  years;  but,  his 
health  failing,  he  removed  to  Port  Byron,  before 
mentioned,  with  the  view  of  conducting  the  Nation- 
al Hotel  at  that  place,  since  consumed  by  fire.  In 
1869  he  came  to  this  county  and  purchased  a  quar- 
ter of  section  29,  Tampico  Township,  the  present 
homestead,  where  he  died,  Jan.  18,  1870,  leaving  no 
children. 

Mrs.  Clark's  third  husband  was  William  Gibson,  a 
farmer,  whom  she  married  Feb.  15,  1871.  He  was 
born  in  Barnesville,  Ohio,  Feb.  7,  1830,  but  was 
brought  up  in  Morris,  Grundy  Co.,  111.  He  was  first 
married  in  Nauvoo,  111.,  to  Miss  Mary  Gleason,  who 
was  born  and  bred  in  Williamsport,  Ohio.  By  this 
marriage  there  was  one  child,  Charles  W.,  now  a 
postal  clerk  in  the  Chicago  postoffice.  Mr.  Gibson 
died  upon  the  present  homestead,  June  7,  1876,  of 
heart  disease. 

Mrs.  Clark's  present  estate  comprised  120  acres  of 
well  improved  land.  As  to  her  religious  relations, 
she  was  formerly  a  Presbyterian,  but  is  now  an  act- 
ive member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Her  first  and  last  husbands  were  members  of  the 
former  denomination,  and  all  except  Mr.  Kingsley, 
in  political  matters,  were  Republicans. 


eorge  S.   Hoover,   farmer  on  section    22 
Sterling  Township,  is  an  enterprising  agri- 
culturist of  Whiteside  County.    He  moved 
here  in  1855,  and  is  now  the  proprietor  of  350 
acres  of  land,  all  lying  in  the  township  of  Ster- 
ling and  all  under  improvements.     In  politics 
Mr.  Hoover  is  a  Republican  and   supports   the  gen- 
eral and  local  issues  of  that  party. 

He  was  born  Feb.  14,  1823,  in   Bedford  Co.,  Pa., 
and  is  the  son  of  Samuel   and  Elizabeth   (Sprecher) 


Hoover.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  moved  to  Bedford  County,  that  State,  in  1821, 
and  were  residents  there  until  1855,  when  they 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  section  22,  in  the 
township  of  Sterling.  They  died  on  the  homestead. 
Their  ten  children  were  named  William,  Catherine, 
George  S.,  Samuel  M.,  Sarah,  John  W.,  Louisa, 
David  C  ,  Elizabeth  A.  and  Henry  H. 

Mr.  Hoover  was  educated  principally  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county,  and  afterward  was 
a  farmer  in  Pennsylvania  for  a  time.  He  engaged 
about  two  years  there  in  mercantile  business.  After 
coming  to  Whiteside  County,  he  engaged  in  the  same 
interest  in  Sterling  about  two  years,  and  afterwards 
as  a  butcher.  Later,  he  engaged  in  farming  on  sec- 
tion 22,  Sterling  Township. 

His  marriage  took  place  Dec.  18,  1862,  at  Mar- 
tinsburg,  Blair  Co.,  Pa.,  when  Christine  S.,  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Margaretta  (Glazier)  Grafins,  became 
his  wife.  The  parents  were  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  their  entire  lives  were  passed.  Mrs.  Hoover 
had  two  brothers  and  two  sisters,  as  follows  :  Anna 
M.,  Ellen  M.,  Martin  and  Silas,  all  younger  than 
herself.  She  was  born  Jan.  28,  1833,  in  Mifflin  Co., 
Pa.,  and  to  her  and  her  husband  four  chilnren  have 
been  born,  named  Edward  S.,  Harry  G.,  Martin  G. 
and  Frank  W. 

Mr.  Hoover  has  held  the  office  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner and  School  Director.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


*&- 


La  Fayette  McKenzie,  deceased,  a  form- 
er resident  of  Coloma  Township,  was  born 
April  30,  1827.  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.  His 
parents  removed  with  their  family  when  he 
was  young  to  the  western  part  of  his  native 
State,  whence  he  came  in  1834  to  Whiteside 
County.  He  first  located  at  Prophetstown,  where  he 
was  a  resident  for  about  eight  years.  In  1842  he 
went  to  the  township  of  Portland  and  from  there,  in 
1868,  to  the  township  of  Coloma  and  was  a  resident 
there  until  his  heath,  Nov.  21,  1879.  He  was  the 
owner  of  480  acres  of  land  when  he  died. 

He  was  married  in  Sterling,  Feb.  2,  1853,10  Lucia, 
daughter  of  Nathan  and  Louisa  (Chapin)  Brewer. 
The  father  and  mother  of  Mrs.  McKenzie  were  born 

* ^^^~ 


IVHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


ill  Massachusetts.  They  came  thence  to  White- 
side  County  in  1850  and  settle  in  Portland  Town- 
ship. The  mother  died  July  25,  1859;  the  father 
survives.  Mrs.  McKenzie  is  the  oldest  of  their  ten 
children.  She  was  born  Dec.  23,-  1835,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  is  the  mother  of  four  children — Nathan 
L.,  Fred  E.,  Julia  C.  and  Wallace  L.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Kenzie owns  160  acres  of  improved  land. 

In  1870  Mr.  McKenzie  went  to  Colorado  to  en- 
gage in  the  stock  business.  He  was  accompanied 
by  his  family  and  made  the  trip  overland  as  the 
methods  of  traveling  were  then  called,  when  parties 
moved  with  their  own  teams.  Three  years  later  they 
returned  to  the  homestead  in  the  township  of  Coloma. 
Mr.  McKenzie  also  went,  in  1859,  to  Pike's  Peak, 
but  he  returned  the  same  season.  While  in  Color- 
ado, associated  with  another  man,  he  established 
the  first  trading  post  at  Golden  City,  Colorado.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

— 


ugh  Shannon,  a  prominent  stock-breeder 
and  farmer  of  Whiteside  County,  is  located 
on  section  1 5,  Genesee  Township.  He  was 
born  May  28,  1835,  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland, 
and  came  to  this  continent  when  14  years  of 
|  age.  He  came  to  Whiteside  County  on  attain- 
ing his  majority,  and  entered  the  employ  of  Van  J. 
Adams,  of  Sterling  Township.  Later,  he  rented  a 
farm  in  that  township,  which  he  "  took  on  shares," 
and  in  1858,  two  years  later,  he  went  to  Round 
Grove,  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  where  he  passed 
three  years  as  a  renter.  In  1861  he  purchased  80 
acres  of  land  in  the  same  township.  He  continued 
to  own  the  place  between  two  and  three  years,  when 
he  sold  out  and  bought  a  small  farm  in  Genesee 
Township,  which  he  managed  seven  years  before  in- 
creasing his  real  estate.  He  bought  then  sufficient 
land  to  constitute  a  farm  of  175  acres,  which  he 
placed  in  good  condition  for  agricultural  purposes, 
and  which  he  supplied  with  suitable  buildings.  His 
next  removal  brought  him  to  a  place  near  Coleta  vil- 
lage, where  he  began  by  buying  40  acres  of  land  on 
section  15.  He  has  since  purchased  120  acres,  two- 
thirds  of  which  is  situated  on  section  16.  The 
quality  of  his  energies  and  judgment  may  be  under- 
stood from  the  fact  that  in  addition  to  the  property 


named  he  owns  120  acres  of  pasture  land  in  Genesee 
Township,  and  160  acres  in  the  township  of  Lyndon. 
His  aggregated  estate  comprises  627  acres,  and  he 
is  also  the  owner  of  a  house  in  the  village  of  Coleta. 

In  1860  Mr.  Shannon  began  to  interest  himself  in 
trade  in  stock,  and  was  soon  operating  extensively 
in  buying  and  shipping.  One  season  he  sent  eight 
car-loads  of  cattle  to  market.  He  has  since  given 
much  attention  to  raising  colts,  calves,  and  other 
small  stock.  In  the  fall  of  1882  he  purchased  of  M. 
W.  Dunham,  of  Du  Page,  111.,  the  registered  stallion 
"  Hercules,"  of  Percheron  blood  and  of  full  pedigree, 
which  is  registered  in  France,  whence  he  was  im- 
ported by  his  original  owner.  "  Hercules  "  weighs 
nearly  2,000  pounds.  In  October,  1883,  Mr.  Shan- 
non purchased  "Breeze,"  of  the  same  breed  and 
pedigree,  fully  registered.  His  weight  is  about  1,800 
pounds.  . 

Mr.  Shannon  is  of  mixed  Irish  and  Scotch  descent. 
His  father,  Robert  Shannon,  was  of  unmixed  Irish 
lineage  and  married  Rose  Young,  who  was  born  in 
Ireland  of  Scotch  parentage.  They  belonged  to  the 
class  distinctively  known  as  North-of-Ireland  people, 
and  after  their  marriage  they  remained  about  20 
years  in  their  native  country.  They  emigrated  thence 
to  America  and  located  in  Ontario,  then  Canada 
West.  The  senior  Shannon  was  a  hotel  proprietor  in 
his  native  country,  and  he  acquired  a  fine  compe- 
tency, but  the  generous  character  which  he  inherited 
proved  the  cause  of  disastrous  loss,  his  belief  in  the 
trustworthiness  of  his  friends  failing  to  produce  cor- 
responding results.  He  lost  his  gains  and  came  to 
this  country  to  rebuild  his  fortune,  and  rear  his  chil- 
dren. Six  years  after  the  family  left  Ireland  they 
came  to  the  "  States."  They  made  a  brief  stay  in 
the  township  of  Sterling,  afterwards  going  to  Wiscon- 
sin. Later,  they  returned  to  Sterling,  where  the  par- 
ents were  resident  until  the  death  of  the  mother,  in 
July,  1 88 1.  She  was  68  years  of  age.  The  father 
has  since  resided  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Jennie 
Hazard,  of  Sterling.  He  is  75  years  of  age  (1885). 
Their  14  children  were  named  Ellen,  Mary,  Hugh, 
Thomas,  Rachel,  Robert,  John,  Anna,  Glasgow, 
Archie,  Jennie,  David,  George  and  Prudence.  Mr. 
Shannon  has  one  brother — Thomas — and  one  sister 
— Jennie — still  living. 

He  was  married  July  9,  1856,10  Susannah,  daugh- 
ter of  Martin  and  Mary  A.  (Harvey)  Durstine.  The 
latter  were  born  of  German  ancestors  in  Pennsyl- 


T 

®) 


._ 


<k) 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


vania  and  located  after  marriage  in  Butler  County. 
Mrs.  Shannon  was  born  in  that  county  Dec.  12, 1835. 
In  1852  her  parents  removed  to  the  West,  and  re- 
mained for  a  time  in  Iowa.  They  came  thence  to 
Round  Grove,  in  Whiteside  County.  They  had  n 
children  and  she  is  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shannon  have  one  child,  Mary,  who  was  -mar- 
ried Nov.  30,  1879,  to  Chauncey  A.  Brow,  a  farmer 
in  Genesee  Township.  They  have  three  children — 
May,  Minnie  and  Hugh. 

Mr.  Shannon  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party  and  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which 
Mrs.  Shannon  is  also  a  member. 


§ 

ii 


eter  Van  Nest,  deceased,  was  a  pioneer  of 
Whiteside  County.  He  came  to  the  town- 
ship of  Albany  in  1837,  and  settled  in  the 
f""J  township  of  Garden  Plain  in  1853.  He  was 
born  March  11,  1812,  at  Dutch  Neck,  Mercer 
Co.,  N.  J.,  and  was  the  youngest  son  of  John 
and  Ida  (Bergen)  Van  Nest.  His  parents  were  both 
descendants  of  the  Hollanders  who  settled  on  the 
Atlantic  seaboard  during  the  early  history  of  the 
American  continent,  and  his  father  was  a  well-to-do 
farmer.  The  latter  died  when  the  son  was  ten  years 
old.  Peter  Van  Nest  learned  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith from  an  older  brother  when  he  arrived  at  a 
suitable  age,  and  followed  the  business  in  the  place 
of  his  nativity  until  his  removal  to  Illinois.  In  1837 
he  set  out  by  stage  and  crossed  the  Allegheny  Moun- 
tains to  Pittsburg,  whence  he  came  on  the  rivers  to 
Albany.  He  established  the  first  blacksmith  shop  at 
that  place,  and  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of 
the  present  site  of  the  village.  He  became  inter- 
ested in  the  establishment  of  the  Congregational 
Church  at  that  place,  before  he  became  a  member, 
and  in  1846  he  joined  the  communion.  He  was  soon 
after  elected,  a  Deacon  and  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  position  until  March,  1885,  when  he  transferred 
his  membership  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
Soon  after  coming  to  the  county  he  made  a  claim 
of  land  on  the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  31,  in  Garden  Plain  Township,  and  also  on 
the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  same 
section.  When  the  land  came  into  market  he  se- 
cured his  title.  In  1853  he  took  possession,  living 


at  first  in  a  log  house.  This  soon  gave  place  to  a 
commodious  brick  dwelling,  which  his  family  have 
since  occupied.  He  made  extensive  improvements, 
setting  out  trees  and  varieties  of  small  fruit,  with 
ornamental  shrubs.  He  grew  prosperous  and  added 
more  land  to  his  estate,  until  he  owned  240  acres, 
all  under  excellent  improvement.  Afterward  he  also 
bought  80  acres  of  land  in  Audubon  Co.,  Iowa,  in 
1879.  In  his  |x>litical  proclivities  he  was  a  decided 
Republican  His  death  occurred  May  21,  1885. 

Peter  Van  Nest  was  married  Dec.  21,  1842, 
to  N.mcy,  oldest  daughter  of  Cheney  and  Annie 
(Walke-)  Olds.  (See  sketch  of  Warren  Olds.)  She 
was  lorn  Aug.  19,  1824,  in  Sturbridge,  Worcester 
Co.,  Mass.  Their  ten  children  are  recorded  as  fol- 
lows:  George  D.  became  a  soldier  when  18;  he  was 
a  drummer  in  the  g^d  Regt.  111.  Vfcl.  Inf.,  and  was 
with  Sherman  in  his  route  to  the  sea  and  through 
the  Carolinas,  serving  through  the  war  and  partici- 
pating in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington ;  lives  at 
Laurel,  Marshall  Co.,  Iowa;  Henry  B.  lives  at  Grin- 
nell,  Powesheik  Co.,  Iowa ;  Ida  is  the  wife  of  Her- 
bert Simpson,  of  Garden  Plain  Township;  Louisa 
O  married  John  Nicewanger,  also  of  that  township; 
Sarah  E.  married  James  Coyne,  and  they  reside  in 
Audubon  Co.,  Iowa;  Walter  C.,  Willis  W.  and  John 
F.  live  with  their  mother  on  the  homestead. 


2  olon  Stevens  is  one  of  the  practical,  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Fenlon  Township,  and 
is  located  on  section  25,  where  he  owns 
320  acres  of  land,  in  first-class  agricultural 
condition.  He  was  born  in  Standing  Stone, 
Bradford  Co,  Pa.,  Oct  13,  1820  His  father, 
Seth  Stevens,  was  the  grandson  of  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.  The  hitter  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  and  was  the  first  to  engage  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits  where  he  located  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  shared  the  universal  fate  at  the  massacre  of 
Wyoming.  His  son,  who  became  the  father  of  Seth 
Stevens,  was  then  16  years  o'd,  and,  infuriated  by 
the  dreadful  experience,  enlisted  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  and  served  until  its  close.  He  seitled 
at  Standing  Stone,  where  he  improved  a  fine  farm, 
and  was  its  occupant  until  his  death.  The  place  is 
still  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants. 

Seth  Stevens  grew  to  manhood  in  the  place  of  his 

. 


nativity,  where  he  lived  a  few  years  after  his  mar- 
riage.    He  removed  to  Albany,  irt  the  same  county, 
•'*.»and  was  a  farmer  there  until  1871,  when  he  went  to 
Crawford  Co.,  Mo.,  and  died  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
,  at  the  home  of  his  son.     His  wife  returned  to 
Pennsylvania,  where   she   died    a    few   years  later. 
They  had  13  children. 

Mr.  Stevens  is  the  third  child  of  his  parents.     He 
passed   the   early  years  of  his  boyhood,  youth  and 
manhood  in  his  na'.ive  place,  and  was  there  married 
to   Charlotte  M.,  daughter   of  Abraham  and  Han- 
's nah  (Letcher)  Smith.     She  was  born  in  Petersburg, 


Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.   27,  1822.     He  became 
a  farmer  in   New  Albany,  in  his  native  county.     In 
1845  he  came  to  Illinois  to  prospect,  and  he  engaged 
as  assistant  in  building  the  bridge  across  the  Rock 
River,  at  Milan,  Rock  Island  County.     He  took  land 
near  Rock  Island  for  payment.     After  a  stay  of  six 
,  months  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania.     In  1851  he 
removed  with  his   family  to  Illinois.     He  journeyed 
^«  by  rail    to  Dunkirk,  and  thence  to  Detroit  on  the 
^  lake.     He    came    across    Michigan   by  rail  to  New 
^  Buffalo,  and    reached  Chicago   from   that   place  by 
•  Lake  Michigan.     He  went  on  the  cars  to  Elgin,  and 
JT^  drove  from  that  to  Rock  Island.     He  engaged  as  an 
assistant  in  a  steam-mill  until  winter,  when  he  en- 
s  tered    the   employment   of   McMurphy    &  Co.,  the 
v  )  surveyor  of  Rock  Island  County,  and  assisted  in  the 
survey  of  all  the  swamp  lands  in  that  county. 

In  March,  1832,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
and  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres  of  land  on  section 
25,  of  the  township  which  is  now  Fenton,  for  which 
he  paid  $3.38  per  acre.  He  has  since  purchased  an 
additional  quantity,  similar  in  extent,  and  has  put 
the  entire  place  under  improvements.  He  has 
erected  substantial  buildings,  and  supplied  the  natu- 
ral deficiency  of  trees  by  setting  out  fruit,  shade  and 
ornamental  varieties.  He  is  interested  in  raising 
grain  and  stock. 

Mr.  Stevens  was  a  Whig  in  his  early  political 
affinities,  but  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organ- 
ization of  the  party. 

Following  is  the  record  of  the-children  of  Mr.  and 
.    Mrs.  Stevens:  Addie  C.  is  now  the  wife  of  Jesse  W. 
,  Scott,  a  farmer  of  Montmorency  Township;  Martha 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Wallace  Halladay,  a  farmer,  resid- 
K*y   ing  in  Pottawatomie  Co.,  Iowa;  John  E.  is  a  stock 
p-  and  grain  buyer  and  farmer;  he  married  Selah  Em- 
. 


~ 


ory;  Anna  C.  is  now  Mrs.  B.  F.  Freeman,  who  is  a 
banker  in  Persia,  Harrison  Co,  Iowa;  Etta  M.  is 
the  wife  of  Fred  E.  Ryan,  conductor  on  the  C.,  B.  & 
Q.  Railroad,  and  resides  at  Mendota,  111.;  Emma 
A.  is  the  wife  of  Robert  L.  Porter,  traveling  auditor 
on  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  Railroad  ;  Susie  died  when  three 
years  old. 


Murray  Eaton,  Supervisor  of  Garden 
'f-  Plain  Township,  was  born  Oct.  31,  1835, 
in  Willett,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.  John  Ea- 
ton, his  father,  was  born  Sept.  9,  1785,  in 
Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  married  in  1825, 
to  Lucy  (Lee)  Dains.  She  was  born  Dec.  7, 
1795,  in  Oxford,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  went 
to  Cherry  Valley,  and  later  to  Willett,  where  they 
were  pioneers.  The  senior  Eaton  had  bought  a 
military  claim  and  took  possession  of  the  land, 
which  was  covered  with  heavy  timber.  He  improved 
a  large  farm  and  occupied  it  until  1836. 

The  Eaton  family  descended  from  John  Eaton, 
who  settled  in  1635  in  Dedham,  Mass.,  and  who 
came  from  England.  The  mother's  ancestral  descent 
came  from  the  Bunker's,  whose  name  is  perpetuated 
by  Bunker  Hill. 

In  1836  John  Eaton  removed  his  family  to  Illi- 
nois, traveling  with  teams,  and  reaching  his  destina- 
tion in  six  weeks.  They  settled  on  a  claim  at 
Elkhorn  Grove,  in  Carroll  County.  Mr.  Eaton  built 
the  first  fame  house  at  the  Grove,  and  it  was  the  first 
between  Chicago  and  the  Mississippi  River.  He 
improved  a  (arm,  of  which  he  was  the  occupant  until 
1854.  In  that  year  he  sold  it  and  removed  to  Us- 
tick  Township.  He  died  in  1868.  He  was  married 
first  to  Lydia  Preston,  about  the  year  1806,  and  their 
children  were  ten  in  number.  From  the  second 
marriage  there  were  four  children,  and  of  the  whole 
number,  r4,  there  are  12  survivors.  The  second  wife 
is  still  living. 

Mr.  Eaton  was  one  year  old  the  day  his  parents 
reached  Elkhorn  Grove,  and  he  was  brought  up  at 
home,  ac<ompanying  them  to  Ustick  Township  in 
1854.  In  1864,  associated  with  his  brother,  he 
bought  240  acres  of  land  on  sections  23  and  26  of 
Garden  Plain  Township.  They  continued  their  joint 
ownership  and  relations  a  few  years,  when  they  made 

' _.iV3^>j 


UHlVthSM?  -J 


WHITES1DI-.  COUNTY. 


a  division  ;  and  Mr.  Eaton  is  the  owner  of  170  acres 
on  section  23,  where  he  has  placed  his  estate  in  ex- 
cellent condition  for  prosperous  farming. 

He  was  married  Oct.  26,  1869,  at  Lowell,  Mass., 
to  Emma  Green.  She  was  born  in  Greensbotough, 
Vt.,  June  1 6,  1834,  and  was  educated  in  Lowell. 
She  was  for  a  half-score  of  years  a  teacher  in  the 
schools  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Eaton  has  served  as  Supervisor  of  Garden 
Plain  Township  nine  years.  He  has  also  filled  the 
position  of  Town  Clerk  and  held  other  offices  of 
trust. 


Charles  Lancaster,  a  well  to-do  farmer,  re- 
^    sides  on  section  24,  Prophetstown  Town- 
ship, where   he  has  a  fine  farm  of  286 
acres.     His  parents,  Charles  and  Sarah  (Cur- 
tis) Lancaster,  were  both  natives  of  England. 
His   mother  died  in  her  native  country,  and 
his  father  in  Prophetstown  Township,  Nov.  9,  1869. 

•  Our  subject  was  born  in  Nottinghamshire,  England, 

*  July  14,  1827,  but  went  into  Lincolnshire  at  the  age 
^  of  two  years,  where  he  lived  until  the  time  he  left  the 
s  country.     He  was  reared  on  a   farm,  enjoying  only 

such  educational  advantages  as  the  times  in  that 
country  afforded.  Shortly  after  reaching  his  major- 
ity, in  1851,  he  turned  his  face  toward  the  New 
World,  where  he  desired  to  come  to  better  his  for- 
tune. He  landed  at  New  York,  where  he  worked  on 
a  farm  till  the  autumn  of  1855,  when  he  returned  to 
England,  where,  however,  he  only  remained  for  a 
short  time,  returning  to  the  United  States  in  the 
i  spring  of  the  following  year,  with  his  brother,  Ed- 
ward. They  came  to  Prophetstown,  where  our  sub- 
3  ject  for  several  years  rented  a  farm.  In  the  spring 
of  1865  he  bought  80  acres  of  his  present  farm, 
and  to  this  nucleus  he  has  added  until  he  now 
has  nearly  300  acres  of  fine  farm  land.  He  has 
erected  a  splendid  residence ;  has  good  barns,  fine 
orchard,  and,  indeed,  one  of  the  best  improved  farms 
(oVn  the  county. 

In  connection  with  carrying  on  this  general  farm- 
-,.,  ing  business,  he  gives  special  attention  to  the  raising 
of  Short-horn  cattle,  in  which  particular  line  he 
takes  considerable  pride  and  no  little  pleasure.  On 
his  farm  he  usually  has  about  75  head  of  cattle,  13 
to  15  head  of  horses,  and  from  75  to  125  hogs. 


While  not  enjoying  all  the  educational  advantages 
that  the  modern  school  system  of  this  country 
affords,  he  nevertheless  takes  an  active  interest  in 
promoting  the  welfare  of  the  schools,  and  giving  the 
young  every  available  advantage  possible  for  secur- 
ing an  education. 

While  on  his  visit  to  England  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Hippy,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Mary  Arin  Hippy.  The  marriage  took 
place  in  South  Lufenham,  County  Rutland,  Eng- 
land, in  April,  1856.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lancaster  are 
the  parents  of  six  children,  besides  having  an 
adopted  daughter.  The  following  are  their  names  : 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  Mallory  Hill,  farmer  in  Prophets- 
town  Township;  Charles  H.,  engaged  in  the  fur- 
niture business  in  Prophetstown ;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Millard  Hill,  farmer  in  Prophetstown  Township; 
William,  Henry,  and  Franklin,  still  at  home;  Clara 
is  the  name  of  the  adopted  daughter. 

As  a  gentleman  worthy  to  be  classed  among  the 
representative  citizens  of  the  county,  we  place  Mr. 
Lancaster's  (lortrait  in  connection  with  this  sketch, 
and  accompanying  the  portraits  of  many  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  the  county.  It  is  engraved  from  a 
portrait  taken  in  1885. 


ev.  Edward  White,  a  resident  of  the  town- 
ship of  Garden  Plain,  is  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States    by    adoption,  having  been 
born  in  Sunderland,   Durham  Co.,   England) 
Jan.  i,  1815.     His  father,  John  White,  was 
born  in  the    same  shire  and  was  for    many 
years  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  stone  quarry. 

Mr.  White  was  sent  to  school  in  his  native  coun- 
try until  he  was  13  years  of  age.  In  1828  he  was 
apprenticed  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  mercantile  es- 
tablishment and  served  seven  years,  according  to  the 
custom  of  the  country.  He  went  then  to  Newcastle 
and  was  employed  for  a  short  time  in  the  capacity 
of  a  shipping  clerk,  after  which  he  obtained  a  posi- 
tion as  foreman  in  a  store  at  Houghton,  Lee 
Springs,  continuing  to  discharge  its  duties  between 
three  and  four  years.  Later,  he  went  to  Lan- 
cashire, where  he  embarked  in  the  sale  of  dry  goods 
and  operated  in  his  own  interests  until  1843.  In 
the  next  year  he  came  to  the  United  States.  He 


S»VV 
y.-   v 


626 


-,     ..       - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  in  March,  and  six 
weeks  after  landed  at  New  Orleans.  He  proceeded 
directly  from  the  Crescent  City  to  Albany,  in  White- 
side  County.  He  made  his  way  to  Garden  Plain 
Township,  and  found  a  suitable  location  on  section 
33,  where  he  bought  a  farm.  He  has  applied  the 
habits  he  acquired  in  his  native  land  to  the  de- 
velopment of  his  estate  and  now  has  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  township,  which  is  noted  for  its  fine  ag- 
ricultural advantages.  Among  other  prominent  fea- 
tures of  the  place  is  an  exceptionally  choice  orchard, 
and  the  proprietor  has  manifested  good  sense  and 
judgment  by  setting  out  numerous  shade  and  orna- 
mental trees. 

Mr.  White's  connection  with  religious  matters  be- 
gan with  his  conversion  at  14  years  ot  age.  He 
joined  the  communion  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodists, 
soon  after  becoming  an  exhorter,  and  later  a  local 
preacher.  He  .  connected  himself  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  in  Garden  Plain  and  has 
since  exercised  his  talents  as  a  local  preacher  on  oc- 
casion. 

Mr.  White  was  married  in  1842,  to  Mary  A. 
Mathew.  She  was  born  Aug.  26,  1819,  at  Hough- 
ton,  Lee  Springs,  and  is  the  daughter  of  a  physician 
of  that  place.  They  have  five  children — John, 
Alice,  wife  of  Frank  Peck,  Hattie,  widow  of  Samuel 
Curry,  Thomas  and  Mary. 


(.apt.  Cornelius  Knapp,  a  resident  of  Al- 
bany, was  born  July  9,  1830,  in  the  town- 
ship of  Mooers,  Clinton  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is 
the  third  son  of  Robert  and  Emily  (Frost) 
Knapp.  His  father  was  born  in  1792,  in 
Nassau,  N.  Y.,  and  was  brought  up  in  Lan- 
singburg,  near  the  city  of  Troy.  He  was  a  commis- 
sioned officer  during  the  war  of  1812,  and  after  its 
close  located  in  Clinton  County,  where  he  was  a  citi- 
zen until  his  removal  to  Illinois  in  1845.  He  made 
the  journey  with  his  family,  comprising  his  wife  and 
five  children,  and  they  set  out  from  Rouse's  Point  on 
Lake  Champlain,  whence  they  proceeded  to  White- 
hall. They  went  from  there  via  the  Champlain  and 
Erie  Canals  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  on  the  lakes  to 
Chicago.  A  farmer  brought  the  party  from  the  Gar- 
den City  to  Whiteside  County. 


Mr.  Knapp  bought  a  tract  of  Government  land  in 
what  is  now  Garden  Plain  Township,  on  which  he 
built  a  small  frame  house,  suited  to  the  times  and  his 
means ;  but  it  soon  gave  way  to  one  of  more  conveni- 
ent dimensions.  On  this  place,  which  the  proprietor 
placed  under  excellent  improvements,  he  resided  un- 
til his  death,  in  1871,  a  period  of  26  years.  The 
mother  was  born  May  4,  1799,  in  Rutland,  Vt,  and 
she  died  March  15,  1877,  aged  78  years.  Their  chil- 
dren were  five  in  number.  C.  Seymour  lives  in  Gar- 
den Plain  Township,  which  is  also  the  place  of  resi- 
dence of  George  M.,  the  second  son,  and  of  Hiram 
F.  and  Mary  Almira. 

Captain  Knapp  was  15  years  of  age  when  he  ac- 
companied his  father's  family  to  Whiteside  County. 
In  the  winter  following  he  attended  school  at  Al- 
bany, and  in  the  ensuing  summer  he  was  employed 
as  teamster  by  Capt.  W.  S.  Barnes.  He  spent  the 
succeeding  winter  in  school  at  Union  Grove.  In  the 
spring  of  1847  he  engaged  in  rafting  on  the  Mississippi 
River,  and  followed  that  occupation  three  consecu- 
tive seasons,  attending  school  two  alternating  winters 
and  teaching  a  third  in  the  school-house  in  Cedar 
Creek  District.  In  1850  he  went  to  California,  jour- 
neying thither  most  of  the  way  on  foot,  supplies,  etc., 
being  transported  by  horse  teams.  He  was  en 
route  three  months.  He  became  interested  in  gold 
mining  and  remained  on  the  Pacific  coast  until  the 
fall  of  1853,  when  he  returned  via  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama  and  New  Orleans.  In  1854  he  once  more 
engaged  in  his  former  occupation  of  rafting  on  the 
river,  and  was  engaged  in  that  business  until  the 
war.  In  1857  he  bought  an  interest  in  a  steamboat, 
but  was  not  concerned  personally  in  its  management. 
On  the  advent  of  civil  war,  Captain  Knapp  became 
master  on  a  freight  boat  plying  between  St.  Croix 
and  Burlington,  which  he  conducted  one  summer. 
In  the  winter  following  he  took  the  boat  to  Memphis 
and  sold  it.  Captain  Knapp  continued  in  the  river 
service  until  1884,  operating  during  the  time  princi- 
pally as  master  and  pilot  on  steamboats.  He  was 
engaged  two  years  on  the  "  Diamond  Joe "  line, 
which  was  his  only  digression  from  the  service  above 
mentioned. 

Captain  Knapp  was  married  Nov.  22,  1855,  to 
Harriet  L.  Townley.  She  was  born  in  Quincy,  111., 
and  is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Harriet  (Hunt- 
ington)  Townley.  Her  father  was  born  March  5, 


, 

. 


t 


x  . 


'  *^ 


1803,  in  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.  Her  mother  was  born 
in  Owego,  N.  Y.,  March  3,  1808.  The  family  settled 
Illinois  in  1833.  The  two  older  children  of  Cap- 
tain and  Mrs.  Knapp,  Florence  and  Mildred  C.,  live 
in  Chicago;  William  T.  lives  in  Clinton,  Iowa;  Mary 
L.  lives  with  her  parents.  Florence  is  the  widow  of 
Harry  Leland. 


to 

}  ichard    Drury,    a    substantial     farmer    of 
Newton  Township,  resident  on   section   4, 
is  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  by   adop~ 
tion.     He  was   born   May   15,    1826,  in  Lin- 
colnshire,   England,    which    was    the    native 
shire  of  his  parents,  William  and  Mary  (In- 
gamells)  Drury. 

The  son  was  reared  a  farmer  near  where  he  was 
born,  and  at  the  age  of  23  years  came  to  the  United 
States  on  the  sailing  vessel  "  Ivanhoe,"  landing  at 
New  York  after  a  voyage  of  33  days.  He  went  to 
Albany  in  a  steamboat  on  the  Hudson  River,  whence 
he  came  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  on  the  lake  to  De- 
troit. He  spent  a  month  at  Dexter,  Mich.,  and  came 
next  to  New  Buffalo,  and  from  there  on  Lake  Mich- 
igan to  Chicago.  He  spent  a  month  working  on  a 
boat  on  the  Illinois  Canal.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  started  for  Whiteside  County,  coming  by  rail  from 
Chicago  to  St.  Charles,  whence  he  proceeded  by  stage 
to  Albany.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  William  Minta,  one  year,  and  in  that  succeeding 
he  went  to  New  Orleans.  He  was  "seized  with  ill- 
ness in  the  Crescent  City,  and  spent  five  weeks  in 
the  hospital.  He  returned  up  the  river  as  far  as  St. 
Louis,  and  there  engaged  as  overseer  in  the  employ 
of  an  extensive  market  gardener.  At  the  end  of 
the  season  he  came  to  Garden  Plain  Township,  and 
after  passing  a  few  weeks  with  his  brother-in-law, 
he  went  to  Albany  and  engaged  as  an  assistant  in 
the  warehouse  of  Mcllvaine  &  Hopper,  operating  in 
their  interests  three  months.  In  the  spring  of  1851 
he  rented  a  farm  in  Newton  Township,  on  which  he 
purposed  to  spend  one  year  in  company  with  William 
Brewer.  After  three  months  he  sold  his  interest  in 
the  crops  to  his  partner  and  bought  three  yoke  of 
oxen,  with  which  he  engaged  in  breaking  prairie.  In 
the  fall  he  operated  as  a  farm  hand  in  the  harvest. 
In  August,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Sally  A.  Brad- 


ley,  and  they  began  housekeeping  in  Albany.  Mr. 
Drury  was  occupied  through  the  fall  and  winter  in 
teaming.  In  1853  he  settled  on  unimproved  land  in 
what  is  now  Newton  Township,  locating  on  section 
4.  He  built  a  house  14  x  18  feet  in  dimensions  and 
one  story  high,  entering  at  once  on  the  improvement 
of  his  land.  He  has  resided  on  the  same  place 
since  that  time,  a  period  including  more  than  30 
years,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  310  acres  of  land, 
all  fenced  and  improved  with  the  exception  of  six 
acres  of  timber.  In  addition  to  his  homestead,  he 
owns  640  acres  of  land  in  Floyd  Co.,  Texas,  He 
has  erected  three  frame  houses  on  the  place  and  four 
fine  barns.  Fruit,  shade  and  ornamental  trees  have 
been  planted  on  the  premises,  and  1,000  rods  of 
hedge  has  been  set.  The  farm  is  considered  one  of 
the  best  in  Whiteside  County.  Mr.  Drury  is  inter- 
ested in  raising  stock  and  grain.  His  first  wife  died 
May  17,  1866,  aged  38  years,  n  months  and  9  days. 
Three  children  survive  the  mother :  Mary  ].,  wife 
of  T.  W.  Huggins,  William  W.  and  Robert  I.  Mr. 
Drury  was  married  a  second  time  Feb.  24,  1875,  to 
Mary  Becken. 

In  his  success  Mr.  Drury  typifies  the  value  of  the 
privileges  to  be  enjoyed  by  those  who  come  to  this 
continent  from  the  crowded  acres  of  the  Old  World. 
He  came  with  naught  but  his  manhood's  strength 
and  correct  habits,  with  which  he  has  carved  out  a 
position  second  to  none,  and  at  three-score  can  con- 
template in  affluence  the  results  of  a  well  ordered 
life. 


'apt.  Austin  M.  George,  a  resident  ot 
Garden  Plain  Township,  was  born  Feb. 
16,  1803,  and  is  the  oldest  son  of  Daniel 
and  Elizabeth  (Morse)  George.  Father  and 
son  were  born  in  Conway,  N.  H.  The  moth- 
er was  a  native  of  Peacham,  Vt.  When 
Capt.  George  was  16  his  father  died,  leaving  a  widow 
and  five  children.  The  son  passed  three  years  suc- 
ceeding in  farming  in  the  neighborhood,  after  which 
he  engaged  in  a  flour-mill  at  Conway  until  1837, 
when  he  went  to  Hiram,  Maine.  He  operated  as 
foreman  in  a  flour-mill  at  that  place  one  year,  after 
which  he  went  to  Boston,  Mass.  He  entered  the 


employment  of  James  Vila,  with  whom  he  remained 
eight  years. 

In  1846  he  came  to  Whiteside  County  to  make  a 
permanent  stay.  In  1844  he  had  come  here,  and 
entered  a  claim  of  land  on  section  14,  of  Garden 
Plain  Township,  and  in  1845  had  employed  help  in 
breaking  14  acres  of  land.  In  the  year  in  which  he 
took  possession  of  his  property  he  built  a  house  and 
fenced  the  part  of  his  farm  that  was  under  improve- 
ment. He  raised  his  first  crop  of  wheat  in  1847. 
The  farm  is  at  present  under  advanced  cultivation, 
with  all  improvements  common  to  this  section. 

Capt.  George  has  been  an  extensive  traveler  in  his 
own  country,  and  has  visited  nearly  every  portion  of 
the  United  States. 

He  has  been  twice  married.  Sophronia  Bachelder 
became  his  wife  June  19,  1836,  and  died  Jan.  20, 

1850,  leaving  four  children  :   Daniel  lives   in  Paola 
Co.,  Kan. ;  Charles  is  a  resident  of  Cordova,  Rock 
Island  Co.,  111.;  King  resides  in  the  same  place; 
Sophronia  lives    near  Blunt,    D.  T.     Capt.    George 
was  a  second   time  married,  at  Cordova,  March  13, 

1851,  to    Mrs.  Caroline  A.,  widow  of  Ira  Stowell. 
She  was  born  Feb.  20,  1823,  in  New  York,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Abigail  (Mitchell)  Rice. 
Mr.   Stowell    left   one   son,   Andrew,    who    lives   in 
Garden  Plain  Township.     She  has  been   the  moth- 
er of  five  children  from  her  second  marriage :  Mary 
and  Martha  are  twins;  the   former  married  Hiram 
Sweet,   of  Sanborn,    Iowa;    Martha  is    the    wife   of 
William    Page,  of  Garden  Plain  Township;  Dewit 
and  Etta  are  the  youngest :  one  child   is  deceased. 

Capt.  George  received  his  commission  in  the  State 
militia  of  New  Hampshire  when  18  years  of  age. 


Crum,  a  retired  farmer  at  Sterling, 
was  born  April  18,  1822,  in  Indiana,  and 
was  the  son  of  William  and  Rosanna 
(Whitinger)  Crum,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  emigrated  that  year  to  Indiana.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  of  12 
children  in  his  father's  family,  and  was  only  eight 
months  old  when  his  father  died.  He  was  brought 
up  on  the  farm  and  in  attendance  at  school  until 
1838,  when  he  left  home  and  came  to  Genesee  Town- 
ship, this  county.  Buying  a  quarter-section  of  land 


as  soon  as  it  came  into  market,  he  followed  agricul- 
tural pursuits  upon  the  same  for  28  years;  then  for 
six  years  he  was  engaged  in  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Gait;  selling  out,  he  purchased  a  farm  of  106 
acres  in  Hopkins  Township,  and  resided  upon  it  nine 
years;  and  finally,  in  1884,  he  moved  to  Sterling,  oc- 
cupying a  residence  which  he  purchased  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Eighth  and  Market  Streets. 

May  14,  1843,  Mr.  Crum  was  married  to  Emeline 
Wick,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they  had  one  child, 
Nancy  E.,  who  married  Joseph  M.  Sowles  and  has 
five  children, — William,  Arthur  H.,  Lulu  A.,  Bertha 
M.  and  Mary  E.  Mrs.  Crum  died  March  25,  1844 
in  Genesee  Township,  this  county,  and  Mr.  Crum, 
for  his  second  wife,  married  Rachel  M.  Lee.'Sept.  26, 
1846.  She  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  died  Aug,  n, 
1 88 1,  in  Gait,  this  county.  May  28,  1884,  is  the 
date  of  Mr.  Crum's  marriage  to  his  present  wife,  La- 
tina  L.  Patrick,  a  native  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Crum's  political  views  are  Democratic,  and 
both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.  He  is  a  liberal,  intelligent  Christian,  and 
therefore  a  useful  and  worthy  citizen. 

i -   <:>•   - ^ 


'ohn  S.  Kimball,  a  retired  farmer,  resident 
at  Tampico,  was  born  at  Saccarappa,  Cum- 
berland Co.,  Me.,  Nov.  1 6,  1833,  his  par- 
ents being  P.  H.  and  Susan  (Stanley)  Kimball. 
He  was  a  child  when  the  family  removed  to 
Yarmouth,  in  his  native  county.  When  15 
years  of  age  he  went  to  Ipswich,  one  of  the  oldest 
towns  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  where  he  spent 
five  years  in  attending  school. 

After  spending  a  year  at  South  Bend,  he  came  to 
Prophetstown  Township,  this  county,  where  his  father 
had  previously  settled,  and  took  possession  of  160 
acres  of  land,  which  his  father  had  entered  from  the 
Government.  Here  he  commenced  life  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  soon  afterwards  was  married,  at 
Morrison,  Jan.  i.  1870,  to  Miss  Martha  Underhill, 
daughter  of  Arnold  and  Anna  (Chase)  Underhill,  na- 
tives of  Ohio.  Mrs.  Kimball  was  born  in  Shreves, 
Sullivan  County,  that  State,  July  3,  1838,  and  died 
at  her  home  in  Tampico,  Aug.  8,  1882,  aged  44  years", 
i  month  and  5  days.  After  she  was  reared  and 
educated  in  her  native  State,  she  came  with  her  par- 


•  • 

' 


1UIHW8 


WHITKSIDK  COUNTY. 


A 


ents  to  the  West,  locating  in  the  village  of  Prophets- 
town,  where  she  was  a  milliner  and  dress-maker 
until  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimball  had  one 
child,  Charlie,  who  died  Aug.  4,  1875,  at  the  age  of 
one  ye.ir  and  18  days.  Mrs.  Kimball  was  an  active 
and  useful  member  of  society,  and  her  death  was  a 
loss  to  all  the  living. 

Immediately  after  marriage  Mr.  Kimball  settled 
on  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Tampico  Township,  ad- 
joining Glassburn's  original  plat  of  the  village  of 
Tampico.  Half  of  it  is  now  within  the  corporation 
and  six  acres  of  it  is  platted  as '"  Kimball 's  Addition 
to  Tampico."  The  other  half  is  a  handsomely  im- 
proved farm,  made  such  altogether  by  Mr.  Kimball's 
own  industry  and  good  judgment.  He  is  politically 
a  stanch  and  reliable  Republican,  and  socially  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Order.  He  is  also  very  ac- 
tive in  local  interests. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimball  took  into 
their  care  a  girl  named  Lizzie  Kewley,  daughter  of 
James  and  Anna  (McClure)  Kewley,  who  was  born  in 
Fairfield,  March  i,  1863,  and  under  their  supervision 
she  was  carefully  reared  and  educated. 

Mr.  Kimball  was  again  married,  in  Prophetstown, 
May  15,  1885,  to  Sarah  Jones,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Anna  Jones,  natives  of  Ohio.  She  was  born  in 
Newton  Township,  this  county,  Oct.  7,  1857. 


1 


mbrose    L.    Hotchkiss,    manufacturer    of 
and  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes,  and  repair- 
er, at    Prophetstown,   is   a  son   of  David 
and  Phoebe  (Brown)  Hotchkiss,  and  was  born 
in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  24,  1832.     His 
father  was  a  cooper,  and  when  13  years  of  age 
Ambrose  L.  went  to  learn  the  boot  and  shoe  trade  in 
Syracuse,  his  native  State,  and  served  at  the  same 
two  years.  He  then  went  to  Mexico,  Oswego  County, 
where  his  parents  resided,  and  followed  his  trade   at 
that  place  and  New  Haven,  an  adjoining  village,  un- 
til he  came  West. 

Mr.  Hotchkiss  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Miss  Lydia  Oles,  in  Central  Square,  Oswego  County, 
March  27,  1852.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Asahel 
and  Dorcas  Oles,  and  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Os- 
wego Co,  N.  Y.  They  had  one  child,  Frank  by 
name,  who  was  born  in  Mexico,  that  county,  and  re- 

IK-x  o ^^ — - 


sides  in  the  State  of  New  York.  In  June,  1864,  Mr. 
Hotchkiss  came  to  Prophetstown  and  was  employed 
at  his  trade  for  a  time.  He  also  bought  and  sold 
several  farms  and  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer.  In  1877  he  opened  the  business  in  which 
he  is  at  present  engaged.  He  owns  his  building, 
also  another  store  building  in  Prophetstown,  and  his 
residence  and  six  lots  in  the  same  village.  In  ad- 
dition to  his  Prophetstown  property,  lie  is  the  owner 
of  220  acres  of  land  in  Green  Co.,  Iowa,  which  he 
rents.  Hr.  Hotchkiss  is  a  member  of  the  Free- 
masons, Knights  Templars  and  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Mrs.  Hotchkiss  died  in  Prophetstown,  March  8, 
1872,  and  Mr.  Hotchkiss  formed  another  matrimonial 
alliance  Nov.-4,  1873,  with  Miss  Lydia  E.  Leach,  a 
daughter  of  Francis  and  Adelphia  Leach.  She  was 
born  in  New  York,  July  29,  1841.  One  son  has 
been  born  of  the  latter  union,  Halla  G.,  March  20, 
1876,  in  Prophetstown. 


osiah  C.  Sturtevant,  resident  on  sec.  31, 
Coloma  Township,  has  resided  in  White- 
side  County  since  1844,  and  since  that  time 
he  has  been  identified  with  the  agricultural 
development  of  Coloma  Township.  He  was 
born  at  Center  Harbor,  N.  H.,  June  16,  1805, 
and  went  to  Vermont  about  1826,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  live  until  he  came  to  Whiteside  County. 
He  is  the  owner  of  250  acres  of  land,  which  includes 
80  acres  acquired  by  a  recent  purchase.  His  first 
investment  in  land  in  Coloma  Township  embraced 
170  acres. 

Mr.  Sturtevant  was  married  March  16,  1826,  in 
Peacham,  Vt.,  to  Mary  A.  Robbins.  She  was  born 
Sept.  30,  1809,  in  Vermont.  She  became  the  mother 
of  17  children,  all  but  six  of  whom  lived  to  maturity. 
The  names  of  those  who  survived  their  infancy  were 
Eliza  A.,  Antoinette,  Newton  C.,  Nelson  A.,  Rosetta 
C.,  Hamdin  A.,  Harriet,  Mary  A.,  Jonas,  Edward, 
Emma  F.,  Evaline  F.,  Addie  B.,  Charles  P.,  and 
Carrie.  Antoinette  taught  the  first  school  in  the  town 
of  Coloma.  Mrs.  Sturtevant  died  Feb.  3,  i88r.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  Sturtevant  was  made  the  first  Justice  of  the 
Peace  on  the  organization  of  the  Township  of  Colo- 
ma, and  was  also  the  first  Road  Commissioner.  He 


.     •-• 


WH1  Tl'.SfDH   CO UNT\ '. 


Sk 

(O 


I 


has  held  other  minor  official  positions.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  belief  and  connection. 

His  parents,  Perez  and  Dolly  (Kimball)  Sturte- 
vant,  were  natives  of  New  England,  and  their  family 
included  eight  children:  Starrett  P.,  Josiah  C.,  Heze- 
kiah  F.,  Isaac,  John  D.,  Albert,  Rosetta  and  Mary. 

The  portrait,  which  appears  on  the  preceding  page, 
is  a  copy  of  a  photograph  recently  taken.  Mr.  Stur- 
tevant  is  a  representative  of  the  pioneer  period  of 
Whiteside  County. 


'ames  H.  Mosher,   physician   and  druggist, 
residing  at  Prophetstown  and  an  extensive 
dealer  in    Hambletonian,   and   Clydesdale 
horses,  is  a  son  of  George   F.   and   Elizabeth 
(Tieman)  Mosher.     He  was  born  in  Herkimer 
Co.,   N.  Y.,  May  28,  1840.     His  father  was  a 
native  of  Maine  and  a  mechanic  by  vocation. 

Dr.  Mosher  was  reared  at  home  until  he  attained 
the  age  of  majority.  He  graduated  -at  the  Mexico 
(N.  Y.)  Academy.  At  18  he  began  teaching,  and 
was  Principal  of  Constantia  School  two  years.  In 
1862  he  went  to  California  and  was  engaged  as 
Principal  of  the  schools  at  Eureka,  Humboldt  County, 
that  State,  for  two  years.  He  then  returned  to  New 
York  city  and  entered  a  medical  college  (having 
previously  studied  medicine)  known  as  the  Bellevue 
Hospital  Medical  College,  and  graduated  from  the 
Long  Island  Hospital  Medical  College  in  the  spring 
of  1867.  That  fall  he  came  West,  lo:ating  at 
Prophetstown,  this  county.  He  opened,  an  office 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
which  he  has  continued  to  follow  ever  since,  and  has 
established  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  In  1871 
he  built  a  brick  store  on  the  corner  of  Third  and 
Washington  Streets,  24  x  65  feet  in  dimensions,  being 
two  stories  with  basement,  and  put  in  a  stock  of 
goods.  In  July,  1871,  he  admitted  R.  A.  Majors  as 
a  partner  in  his  business  and  he  took  charge  of  the 
same.  They  were  together  in  business  five  years, 
until  1876,  since  which  time  the  Doctor  has  con- 
ducted the  business  alone.  He  employs  two  clerks 
and  carries  a  stock  of  about  $5,000,  in  drugs,  paints, 
oils,  wall  paper,  books,  stationery,  etc.  The  Doctor 
has  purchased  considerable  land  since  coming  to  the 
township,  and  is  the  possessor  at  the  present  time  of 


over  1,000  acres  of  good  farming  land.  He  has 
'  700  acres  of  fine  farming  land  near  Prophets- 
town,  and  leases  the  major  portion.  He  keeps  about 
200  acres  which  he  devotes  to  the  raising  of  stock. 
He  has  about  50  head  of  horses,  among  which  are 
three  thoroughbred  registered  Clydesdales  and  one 
imported  Norman.  He  has  also  some  six  or  eight 
standard  bred  horses.  Doctor  Mosher  has  two 
farms  in  Iowa,  one  in  Pottawatomie  and  one  in 
Boone  County,  that  State,  where  he  raises  Short- 
horn cattle,  among  which  are  a  number  of  thorough- 
bred and  graded.  He  has  about  175  head  of  cattle 
and  50  head  of  horses. 

Doctor  Mosher  was  an  alternate  at  the  National 
Convention  of  the  Republican  party  held  in  Chicago 
in  1880.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry, 
and  a  Knight  Templar,  belonging  to  Sterling  Com- 
mandery,  No.  57  ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  State 
Medical  Society  and  belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Doctor  Mosher  was  united  in  marriage  at  Proph- 
etstown, Oct.  10,  1871,  to  Miss  Florence  A.  Warner. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  J.  and  Elvira  (Rowe) 
Warner.  The  mother  is  deceased,  and  the  father 
resides  in  Prophetstown.  Mrs.  Mosher  was  born  in 
Prophetstown,  Aug.  24,  1852.  She  is  the  mother  by 
Dr.  Mosher  of  two  children,  both  born  in  Prophets- 
town, — Maud,  Dec.  17,  1873,  and  George  Warner, 
Dec.  20,  1878. 


oswell  B.   Denison,    general    farmer   and 
stock-raiser,  and  one  of  the  energetic  and 

o 

prosperous  farmers  of  the  county,  residing 
on  section  ir,  Tampico  Township,  was  born 
in  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  March  27,  1836,  his 
parents  being  William  and  Emeline  (Bill) 
Denison,  of  New  England  ancestry  and  of  Scotch 
and  English  descent.  The  senior  Denison  was  also 
a  farmer,  and  in  1854  he  emigrated  West  with  his 
family,  locating  in  the  village  of  Prophetstown,  this 
county.  Five  days  afterward  he  died  of  cholera; 
Mrs.  D.  yet  survives,  being  about  73  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Denison  of  this  sketch  remained  at  home  with 
his  mother  for  some  years  after  the  death  of  his 
father.  In  1854  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land, 
improved  and  occupied  it  three  years  before  his  mar- 
riage. He  continued  upon  it  for  three  years  after- 


, 


(i) 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


633 


ward,  then  lived  three  years  in  Hume  Township  and 
finally,  in  1868,  he  purchased  240  acres  of  wild  land 
where  he  now  resides.  This  is  now  nearly  all  im- 
proved and  furnished  with  farm  buildings  of  fair 
quality. 

Mr.  Denison  is  a  positive  Republican,  and  has 
held  the  minor  offices  of  his  township.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which 
body  he  has  been  Trustee. 

He  was  married  May  8,  1862,  to  Miss  Jenette  P. 
Paddock,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Christina  (Wager) 
Paddock.  Her  father,  a  fanner,  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  after  marriage  settled  in  Lewis 
County,  that  State,  where  she  was  born  May  3,  1845. 
She  was  six  years  old  when  her  parents  emigrated 
West  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Prophetstown,  where 
she  was  reared,  educated  and  married.  She  also  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Denison  have  six  children,  namely  :  Ada 
V.,  born  Feb.  17,  1863;  Er/in  I.,  Jan.  21,  1867; 
Everett  W.,  Oct.  .10,  1868;  Jennie  E.,  Aug.  9,  1873; 
Elmer  R.,  July  16,  1875  ;  Earl  M.,  Feb.  23,  1883.  - 


V    3 


^,oratio  Wells,  deceased,  a  pioneer  of  White- 
side  County,  and  formerly  a  resident  of 
Como,  was  born  in  Greenfield,  Franklin  Co., 
Mass.,  April  10,  1796,  and  was  a  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Electa  (Bascom)  Wells,  both  natives  of 
the  Bay  State.  He  was  reared  to  agriculture, 
his  father's  farm  lying  contiguous  to  the  village  in 
which  their  residence  was  located.  In  1821  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Swan,  who  was  born  in  Greenfield,  May 
30,  1800,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Wait)  Swan,  also  natives  of  that  village.  Mr.  Wells 
resided  upon  the  farm  of  his  mother-in-law  two 
years,  when  he"  purchased  a  farm  in  Deerfield,  lived 
there  a  few  years,  then  bought  a  farm  in  Heath,  and 
occupied  it  a  short  time,  and  then  moved  to  Athol. 
While  a  resident  of  the  latter  place  before  the  day 
of  railroads,  he  was  engaged  in  hauling  goods  -be- 
tween that  place  and  Boston  with  a  six-horse  team. 

In  the  fall  of  1836  he  started  with  his  family  for 
the  great  Prairie  State,  then  the  distant  West,  coming 
by  way  of  Troy,  the  Erie  Canal,  Buffalo  and  the 
lakes  to  Milwaukee,  where  he  hired  a  conveyance 
and  brought  his  family  to  Sterling.  In  the  spring  of 

iff- ^^^ ^<iU 


1839  he  settled  upon  his  claim  at  Round  Grove, 
built  a  log  cabin  and  commenced  making  improve- 
ments. He  made  that  place  his  homo  until  18  , 
when  he  moved  to  Como,  where  he  lived  in  retire- 
ment until  his  death,  in  1874.  His  wife  survived 
until  1878.  They  were  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 

They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  five  of  whom 
are  now  living,  viz. ;  Samuel,  who  lives  in  Ransom 
Co.,  Dak. ;  Sarah  Louisa,  widow  of  William  Mc- 
Dearmon;  Horatio,  a  resident  of  Mercer  Co.,  111.; 
Carrie,  wife  of  Charles  Tobey,  and  residing  in  Adams 
Co.,  Iowa. 


illiam  C.  Booth,  deceased,  a  pioneer  of 
Whiteside  County,  of  1839,  was  born 
Nov.  28,  r 82 1,  in  Randolph  Co.,  Va.  His 
parents,  William  and  Deborah  (Hart)  Booth, 
were  married  in  Beverly,  in  the  county  and 
State  above  named.  A  few  years  later  they 
located  at  what  was  then  Booth's  Ferry,  now  Phil-, 
lippi,  in  Barbour  County.  In  1835  they  went  to 
Ohio,  and  made  a  temporary  location  in  Vinton 
County.  In  1835  they  went  to  Indiana,  and  after  a 
stay  in  Cass  County  they  came  to  Illinois,  traveling 
with  their  own  teams,  as  there  were  no  methods  of 
public  transportation.  They  settled  in  Whiteside 
County,  the  father  making  a  claim  on  section  9,  in 
Newton  Township.  Mr.  Booth  of  this  sketch  located 
on  section  8,  of  the  same  township.  He  made  his 
home  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage,  in  1849,  to 
Elizabeth  Wells,  a  native  of  the  State  of  Vermont. 
After  that  event  he  bought  a  farm  in  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township,  in  Rock  Island  County,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  prosecute  his  agricultural  operations  until 
1856,  when  he  returned  to  Whiteside  County,  and 
took  possession  of  his  claim  which  he  had  made  on 
section  8.  After  a  residence  of  one  year  he  returned 
to  his  property  in  Rock  Island  County,  and  remained 
two  years,  when  he  came  back  to  Newton  Township. 
In  1877  he  bought  a  farm  on  section  36,  in  Albany 
Township,  of  which  he  took  possession  in  1880.  On 
this  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  Feb. 
23,  1883.  He  was  an  able  man,  and  contributed 
largely  through  his  energetic,  active  life  to  the  devel- 
opment of  the  townships  in  which  he  was  a  pioneer. 


•^ 


WHJTESIDE  COUNTY. 


He  was  the  recipient  of  universal  esteem  wherevei 
he  was  known. 

The  first  wife  died  in  1855,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren :  Amanda,  wife  of  Andrew  Cessford,  is  the  only 
survivor,  and  lives  in  La  Mar,  Barton  Co.,  Mo.  In 
1856  Mr.  Booth  married  Lydia  A.  Kittle.  She  was 
born  in  Beverley,  Pa.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Eli  and 
Rebecca  (Wies)  Kittle.  Six  children  were  born  of 
the  second  marriage, of  whom  four  are  living:  Dama 
M.,  Mason,  William  Clay  and  Bunn.  Mason  and 
William  Clay  are  engaged  in  the  hardware  business, 
at  Albany.  Having  in  April,  1885,  bought  the  hard- 
ware store  and  stock  formerly  owned  by  B.  H.  Quick, 
they  carry  a  good  stock  of  general  hardware  goods. 


|'  hylarman  Daggett,  deceased,  a  former  res- 
ident of  Lyndon,  was  bom  Aug.  17,  1812, 
in  Newport,  Orleans  Co  ,  Vt,  where  he 


^ 


lived   during   his    boyhood    and    youth.      He 
learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker  in  his  na- 
tive town.     He  came   in    1836  to   Plainfield, 
=  Will  Co.,  III.,  and  in  18^7  he  removed  to  Whiteside 

•  County,  locating  in  Lyndon  Township.     He  boarded 

*  for  a  time  with  William  Dudley,  and,  while  improv- 
Y   ing  his  land,  worked  at  intervals   at   his  trade.     In 

"  1847  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Lyndon,  where  he 
^  )  died,  July  3,  1880.  He  was  an  earnest  and  devoted 
Christian  all  his  life,  and  was  active  in  Church  work. 
Mr.  Daggett  was  united  in  marriage  three  times. 
He  first  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Mary 
Willey,  who  was  born  in  Derby,  Orleans  Co.,  Vt.  She 
died  ii  months  after  marriage,  without  issue.  Mr. 
Daggett 's  second  wife  was  Jane  D.,  widow  of  Augus- 
tus Newhall,  and  they  had  one  child,  Mary  F.  She 
msrried  Freeman  H.  Kniskern.  The  mother  died 
Feb.  14,  1855,  and  Mr.  Daggett  was  married  July 
22,  1869,  to  Lois  Philena  (Fitch)  Jeffers.  She  was 
born  in  Pike  Township,  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  and  mar- 
ried for  her  first  husband  Perry  L.  Jeffers.  Charles 
P.  Jeffers,  only  son  by  her  first  marriage,  was  born 
(cj\  Jan.  30,  1853,  in  Lyndon.  He  received  a  careful 
primary  education,  and  entered  the  University  of 
Illinois,  where  he  graduated  in  June,  1874.  In  the 
spring  of  1875  he  went  to  Boston,  Mass.,  and  be- 
came a  salesman  in  the  well  known  Shepard's  drug- 
store, where  he  operated  one  year,  meanwhile  at- 
tending the  School  of  Pharmacy  and  graduated.  He 


went  next  to  a  situation  in  a  drug-store  at  Ipswich, 
where  he  continued  until  1880.  In  that  year  he 
established  himself  in  business  at  Swampscot  and 
has  since  continued  its  successful  management.  He 
was  married  Dec.  25,  1875,  to  Elizabeth  Stalker. 
She  was  born  in  Ipswich,  Essex  Co.,  Mass.  Their 
two  children  are  named  Leroy  and  Lyndon.  The 
children  of  Mr.  Daggelt's  third  marriage  were  Helen 
and  Hervey  F. 


H  eter  Hagan,  general  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
section  14,  Tampico  Township,  was  born 
in  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.-  His  parent;;,  Pat- 
rick and  Catharine  (Anthony)  Hagan,  were 
natives  of  Ireland  and  New  York  State  re- 
spectively. His  mother  was  of  French  and 
German  ancestry ;  his  father  resided  in  Ireland  until 
he  was  about  20  years  of  age,  when  he  emigrated  to 
America.  -A  few  years  afterward  he  was  married,  in 
New  Jersey,  and  after  the  birth  of  his  fifth  child  he 
moved  to  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio,  settling  upon  a  farm. 
In  1850  he  moved  to  Greenville  Township,  Bureau 
Co.,  111.,  where  Peter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
reared  to  manhood  and  completed  his  education,  and 
where  his  parents  died, — his  father  in  1880,  aged  78 
years,  and  his  mother  in  1883,  aged  87  years.  They 
were  prominent  and  highly  respected  members  of 
the  farming  community. 

In  1864  the  subject  of  this  sketch  left  his  parents' 
home  and  came  to  Tampico  Township,  purchasing 
80  acres  of  the  section  where  he  now  resides,  which 
was  the  "  raw  "  prairie,  and  he  began  at  once  to  im- 
prove it  and  lay  the  foundations  for  a  comfortable 
home.  Thus  he  labored  for  ten  years  before  he  was 
married,  boarding  at  some  of  the  neighbors.  Mr. 
Hagan  is  successful  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  his 
his  political  principles  he  is  a  firm  Democrat. 

He  was  married  in  Greenville  Township,  Bureau 
Co.,  111.,  Feb.  4,  1874,  to  Mrs.  Rachel  Melvin,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  John  and  Anna  (Carson)  Brook.  Her 
father,  a  Methodist  minister,  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, her  mother  of  America,  and  they  were  married 
in  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Hagan  was  born  in  Clear- 
field  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  1 8,  1843.  In  1845  her  parents 
removed  to  La  Salle  Co.,  111.,  where  her  mother 
died ;  and,  her  father  being  an  itinerant  preacher, 
she  was  reared  by  strangers.  When  she  attained 


•> 

£ 


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UNlVtRSMY  ( 
URBAIW 


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UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


x^x 

I 

' 

<§; 


the  age  of  17  years  and  obtained  a  good  education 
at  Wheaton  (111.)  College,  she  went  to  New  Bedford, 
Bureau  County,  where  she  was  for  the  first  lime 
married.  She  had  by  her  first  marriage  two  children, 
viz  :  Frank,  born  March  8,  1866;  Minnie  C.,  April 
5,  1869.  By  her  present  marriage  she  has  three 
children,  namely:  William,  born  Nov.  30,  1874; 
Catharine,  April  12,  1876;  and  Emma,  May  12, 
1878.  Mrs.  Hagan  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


lida  John,  deceased.     It  is  right  that  the 
lives  of  tl%  upright  should  be  kept  in  ten- 
der remembrance  ;  and  with  no  touch  of 
adulation  upon   our  heart?  or  pens,   we   note 
down  some  of  the  occurrences  in  the  life  of  him 
who  has  recently  passed  from  the  pains  and 
cares  of  earth. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Illinois  in  ad- 
vanced life,  and  here  lived  measurably  retired  from 
the  world,  yet  never  ceased  to  feel  a  deep  interest  in 
his  fellow  beings  and  in  the  affairs  of  government; 
he  was  firm  in  his  convictions  of  right  and  fearless 
in  the  expression  of  these.  Born  in  1805,  of  course 
he  became  acquainted  with  the  hardships  of  that 
early  day  ;  but  notwithstanding  the  meager  chances 
for  instruction  in  literary  preferment,  he  always 
ranked  among  the  foremost  (wherever  he  lived)  in 
intelligence  and  solid  worth.  He  became  a  teacher 
while  yet  a  youth,  and  was  always  identified  as  one 
of  the  leaders  in  building  up  the  interests  of  the 
neighborhood  in  which  he  lived.  After  marriage  he 
continued  teaching,  and  at  one  time  established  a 
school  in  part  of  his  residence.  He  was  careful  that 
from  their  infancy  his  own  children  should  be  well 
taught,  fondly  endeavoring,  with  the  true  and  able 
assistance  of  their  mother,  to  supply  them  what  the 
rigor  of  the  times  denied  to  him. 

When  the  free-school  system  was  established  in 
Pennsylvania,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  first 
Board  of  School  Directors  in  Shamokin  Township, 
Northumberland  County  ;  and  there  are  many  who 
attest  to  the  arduous  labor  of  that  faithful  Board 
whose  duty  and  work  it  was  to  divide  the  large, 
wooded,  hilly  township  into  suitable  school  districts, 
and  to  contract  for  and  inspect  the  building  of  the 


many  .school-houses  erected  at  that  time.  Nearly 
all  of  the  heavy  literary  work  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  subject  of  this  memorial.  After  getting  these 
schools  into  successful  operation  (every  one  of  which 
he  assisted  to  start  with  suitably  qualified  teachers), 
he  spent  much  time  for  years  in  visiting  them,  and 
in  encouraging  both  teachers  and  pupils  to  the 
highest  attainments,  reminding  the  children  espe- 
cially that  they  were  then  enjoying  privileges  richer 
than  their  parents  ever  knew.  Scores  of  young  peo- 
ple listened  as  they  had  never  done  before  to  kind 
and  earnest  persuasions  to  receive  wisely  the  bless- 
ings waiting  to  crown  their  lives';  and  the  subse- 
quent prosperity  and  success  of  those  with  gradually 
enlightened  homes,  are  held  in  the  balance,  re- 
dounding to  the  peace  of  a  rightly  commissioned  ser- 
vant of  Christ. 

For  about  20  years  he  followed  the  occupation  of 
surveyor  and  conveyancer  in  Northumberland,  Col- 
umbia, Montour  and  Schuylkill  Counties,  Pa.,  car- 
rying compass,  chain  and  leveling  staff  through 
unbroken  forests  and  over  rocky  mountains,  pene- 
trating into  some  of  the  most  valuable  anthracite 
coal  fields  in  the  State.  Hisv reputation  for  correct- 
ness in  surveys  became  such  that  he  was  often 
summoned  to  go  long  distances  to  survey  disputed 
lines.  His  evidence  in  Courts  of  justice  settled 
many  disputes.  During  these  years  large,  a'nd  some 
of  them  complicated,  estates  were  placed  into  his 
hands  for  settlement,  often  making  it  incumbent 
upon  him  to  be  the  arbiter  between  man  and  man  ; 
yet  this,  of  course,  sometimes  brought  him  into  com- 
petition with  able  lawyers;  but,  helped  by  a  keen 
insight  and  an  unwavering  sense  of  justice,  he  was 
wonderfully  enabled  to  save,'to  widows  and  orphans, 
home  and  comfort  from  apparently  wrecked  pos- 
sessions, and  at  the  same  time  retain  the  respect  of 
Courts. 

Seeing  very  early  the  evils  of  intemperance,  there 
was  no  other  way  than  to  lift  voice  and  influence 
against  this  increasing  tide  of  ruin.  The  jug  of 
whisky  at  that  time  was  almost  always  found  in  the 
harvest  field,  but  he  refused  ,to  furnish  alcohol  in 
any  form  to  his  workmen.  His  neighbors  predicted 
that  he  would  get  no  assistance ;  but,  offering  a 
shilling  a  day  more  than  the  common  wages,  and  no 
whisky,  he  succeeded  in  getting  a  sufficiency  of 
sober  hands,  and  enough  more  work  done  and  in 
better  condition  to  fully  compensate  for  the  differ- 

$i»  HMW^    f~\  -***J. 

„'-  » 


IS 


X  •> 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


ence  in  wages.  On  the  Board  of  School  Directors 
alluded  to  above,  the  majority  were  opposed  to  the 
temperance  movement ;  one  of  the  members  was 
even  a  distiller ;  and  when  building  those  school- 
houres  this  man  offered  a  resolution  that  no  temper- 
ance nor  abolition  meeting  sha-uld  be  held  in  them ! 
As  the  school-house  in  those  days  was  about  the 
only  point  where  the  people  could  be  called  together, 
even  for  religious  meetings,  this,  then,  was  a  matter 
of  vital  concern  to  any  mind  interested  in  the  public 
welfare.  The  subject  of  this  memoir,  knowing  him- 
self to  be  in  the  minority,  so  amended  the  resolution 
as  also  to  exclude  singing-schools, — a  pastime  which 
nearly  all  of  the  Board  greatly  enjoyed.  He  thus 
defeated  the  resolution,  and  saved  to  philanthropy 
tho:e  free-school  houses. 

At  one  of  these  Directors'  meetings,  a  member 
said  to  Elida  John  one  day,  "  Mr.  John,  you  temper- 
ance men  make  a  great  fuss  about  a  drink  of  whisky ; 
and  yet  if  a  distiller  should  offer  you  a  cent  higher 
than  the  market  for  your  grain  you  would  sell  it  to 
him  to  convert  into  whisky ! "  Before  an  answer 
could  be  given,  the  distiller  turned  quickly  to  the 
speaker  with  these  honest  words:  "No,  sir;  Mr. 

John  will  not!  He  sold  his  corn  to  Mr. for 

more  than  anyone  else  was  getting,  and  then  asked 
where  he  should  deliver  it.  He  was  requested  to 
deliver  it  at  my  distillery.  Immediately  he  recalled 
the  bargain  at  his  own  loss,  and  refused  to  deliver 
the  grain  at  all!  "  All  through  his  life  of  78  years, 
and  often  an  owner  of  much  grain,  he  never  sold 
one  bushel  to  a  distiller. 

He  was  also  an  earnest,  conscientious  anti-slavery 
worker. 

Some  incidents  connected  with  this  part  of  his 
life  are  very  interesting,  but  too  numerous  to  be  in- 
serted here.  Through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  his 
career  from  youth  to  "  the  last  of  earth  "  he  was  un- 
wavering in  his  endeavor  to  manifest  allegiance  to 
the  Divine  Power  by  which  he  strove  to  direct  his 
own  steps  through  life,  and  by  precept  and  example 
to  lead  his  beloved  household  in  the  same  light. 
For  many  years,  no  matter  what  hurrying  or  ab- 
stru.;e  business  engrossed  his  mind,  or  what  attrac- 
tions or  exciterqents  surrounded  him,  he  laid  all 
aside  when  the  meeting-hour  came,  and,  taking  his 
family  with  him,  repaired  to  the  house  of  public 
quiet  prayer  to  spend  one  hour  twice  a  week  in  Di- 


vine worship.  This  house  he  had  aided  greatly, 
both  financially  and  otherwise,  in  building.  It  causes 
a  thrill  of  delight  now  to  recall  the  marked  defer- 
ence with  which  those  old-time  neighbors  and  ac- 
quaintances looked  up  to  him,  attesting  their  ap- 
preciation of  the  noblest  traits  of  the  human  soul, 
while  in  the  large  circle  of  his  own  household  he 
was  regarded  almost  as  a  patriarch.  Even  a  testi- 
monial from  Europe  expressed  thankfulness  for  hav- 
ing been  privileged  to  become  personally  acquainted 
with  this  honored  and  often  referred  to  relative ! 
Soon  after  settling  in  Jordan,  he  donated  a  piece  of 
ground  to  the  Society  of  Friends  here,  and,  as  at  the 
old  home  in  Pennsylvania,  he  helped  along  finan- 
cially and  otherwise  in  building  the  Friends'  meet- 
ing-house at  Penrose,  in  this  county. 

Although  an  old  man  when  he  settled  here,  his 
business  ability  was  recognized,  and  his  fine  pen- 
manship graces  the  pages  of  public  documents  in 
the  records  of  Jordan,  as  well  as  the  registries  in  so- 
ciety archives. 

The  following  extract  from  a  tribute  to  the  memory 
of  Elida  John  is  from  the  pen  of  Sidney  Averill, 
one  of  his  dearest  Western  friends : 

"The  writer,  living  in  a  remote  part  of  the  county, 
going  to  the  Mill  meeting,  saw  there  a  Friend,  the 
native  unassnmed  dignity  of  whose  presence  bore 
the  impress  of  a  judge.  The  title,  read  in  a 
thought,  remained.  A  man  of  superior  mind,  his 
counsel  had  a  directive  force  in  the  new  Yearly 
Meeting.  Knowing,  as  he  did,  that  it  is  often  best 
to  hasten  slowly,  his  hand  sometimes  pointed  to  a 
pause,  and  in  deference  to  his  caution,  others  have 
been  led  to  re-weigh  their  evidence,  and  look  again 
over  the  course  they  are  pursuing.  As  a  father  to 
many  others  than  his  own,  his  recent  departure  out 
of  this  life  is  missed  and  mourne.l  wherever  his  lot 
and  his  lines  fell.  Though  he  had  large  human 
capabilities,  the  life  he  lived,  and  the  influence  he 
had  at  home  and  among  others,  was  due  to  the 
light  of  a  Power  more  than  human." 

Sarah  H.  John,  wife  of  Mr.  John,  was  born  in 
1802,  of  English  and  Welsh  parentage,  and  was  the 
youngest  child  of  Hugh  and  Mary  Hughes.  A 
farm  upon  the  site  where  has  since  risen  the  pleas- 
ant and  wealthy  borough  of  Kennet  Square,  in 
Chester  Co.,  Pa,  was  the  first  landed  possession  of 
her  ancestors  in  the  new  world.  Her  parents 

A    s-*> 


i\ 

•    • 

v9 


> 


, 


. 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


\ 


•e> 


settled  on  the  banks  of  Shamokin  Creek,  in  North- 
umberland County,  somewhere  about  the  year  1790. 
As  an  item  of  history,  greatly  varying  from  the  cus- 
tom of  these  times,  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  was  conferred  by  the  Governor  of  the  State 
upon  her  father,  which  position  he  held  many  years, 
and  until  the  close  of  his  life. 

She  and  her  future  husband  grew  to  majority  in 
the  same  neighborhood,  and  so  closely  have  their 
lives  been  blended  that  in  writing  the  history  of  one 
we  almost  produce  that  of  the  other  also.  All  the 
efficient  public  labor  performed  by  the  one  was  only 
possible  through  the  encouragement  and  the  home 
management  of  the  other.  Her  husband  being  also 
appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace  by  the  Governor, 
brought  much  domestic  and  other  care  into  her 
hands,  yet  an  energy  and  willing  spirit  smoothed  the 
pathway  through  rugged  difficulties,  making  theirs  a 
hospitable  and  pleasant  home. 

The  career  and  character  of  Elida  John,  of  the 
foregoing  sketch,  and  of  his  estimable  wife,  are  such 
as  to  warrant  the  insertion  of  their  portraits  in  this 
ALBUM,  which  may  be  found  on  pages  just  pre- 
ceding. 


eorge  S.  Sardam,  Secretary  of  the  Lang- 
ford  &  Hall  Lumber  Company,  at  Fulton, 
was  born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  Sept.  5, 
1854,  and  is  the  son  of  Chapman  and  Pamelia 
(Joyce)  Sardam.  His  parents  also  were  na- 
tives of  that  State.  He  removed  to  Jefferson 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  his  family  in  1862.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  city  schools  of  Watertown,  and  gradu- 
ated at  the  High  School  of  that  city  in  1870.  He 
taught  school  in  Jefferson  County  two  years,  and  in 
1873  went  to  Lyons,  Iowa,  with  his  uncle,  Mr.  D. 
Joyce,  a  lumberman  of  that  city.  He  was  employed 
one  year  as  talleyman  in  his  uncle's  mill,  when  he 
removed  to  Fulton  and  engaged  as  book-keeper  and 
salesman  for  the  lumber  firm  of  Langford  &  Hall. 
On  the  incorporation  of  the  Langford  &  Hall  Lum- 
ber Company  (Jan.  26,  1878),  he  became  a  stock- 
holder, was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  and  elected  Secretary  of  the  Company. 
He  has  been  re-elected  Secretary  at  each  succeeding 
election  of  officers  to  this  date  (1885),  and  has  dis- 
charged the  responsible  duties  of  the  office  with 

ilK 


ability  and  fidelity.  The  magnitude  of  the  business 
which  passes  through  his  hands  may  be  inferred 
from  the  following :  The  Langford  &  Half  Lumber 
Company  has  a  paid  up  capital  of  $75,000,  employs 
in  the  working  season  about  130  men,  while  the  mill 
has  a  cutting  capacity  0^75,000  feet  per  day  of  ten 
hours.  The  stock  on  hand  averages  about  7,000,000 
feet,  estimated  at  a  value  of  $100,000. 

Mr.  Sardam  was  married  at  Fulton,  111.,  Oct.  25, 
1875,  to  Miss  Anna  Berry,  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Mary  Berry.  Mrs.  Sardam  was  born  in  Minnesota. 
They  have  two  children, — a  son  and  daughter, — 
Frank  J.  and  Bertha  E. 

In  politics,  Mr.  S.  is  a  Republican,  having  always 
voted  with  that  party. 


fenry  Pease,  of  Albany,  became  a  resident  of 
Whiteside  County  in  1848.  He  was  born 
April  12,  1800,  in  Somers,  Tolland  Co., 
Conn.,  where  is  father,  Giles  Pease,  was  born 
April  13,  1763.  Noah  Pease,  his  grandfather, 
was  born  in  1740,  and  his  great-grandfather, 
Robert  Pease,  was  born  in  1683.  Jerusha  Pitkin, 
mother  of  Henry  and  wife  of  Giles  Pease,  was  barn 
Jan.  27,  1766,  in  Hebron,  Conn.  Both  families  are 
of  unmixed  English  extraction.  Noah  Pease  was  a 
Captain  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  father 
of  Jerusha  Pitkin  was  Colonel  of  a  cavalry  regiment 
in  the  same  contest. 

Mr.  Pease  was  sixth  in  order  of  birth  of  n  chil- 
dren, and  he  was  reared  on  the  farm  until  he  was  16 
years  of  age.  He  went  then,  in  1816,  to  Hartford, 
Conn.,  and  entered  a  general  mercantile  establish- 
ment as  a  salesman,  and  operated  in  that  capacity 
until  1825.  In  1818  he  enlisted  in  the  Governors 
Foot  Guard,  the  oldest  military  organization  now  in 
existence  in  the  United  States,  with  which  he  was 
connected  until  1825.  In  that  year  he  went  to  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  taking  with  him  a  stock  of  dry  goods. 
He  had  a  partner  in  the  enterprise  and  they  suc- 
ceeded in  making  sale  of  their  entire  stock  ir,  three 
months.  Mr.  Pease  returned  to  Hartford,  wjiere  he 
remained  until  1827,  when  he  started  for  Missouri. 
He  went  to  Schenectady  by  stage,  thence  by  the 
Erie  Canal  to  Lockport,  and  from  there  to  Buffalo  by 
stage,  going  by  Niagara  Falls.  At  Buffalo  he  cm- 


v> 


a 

*:    9 


barked  on  a  steamboat  for  Sandusky,  whence  he 
crossed  the  State  of  Ohio  by  stage  to  Cincinnati.  He 
traveled  on  the  Ohio  River  to  Louisville  and  went 
thence  by  stage  to  St.  Louis,  which  point  he  reached 
in  1 8  days,  then  considered  a  quick  trip.  After  a 
short  stay  in  St.  Louis,  he  went  to  Richmond  Lead 
Mines,  Washington  Co.,  Mo.  On  this  trip  he  was 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  where  he  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile operations  and  as  a  lead  smelter,  in  which 
joint  business  he  was  occupied  three  years.  He  re- 
turned to  St.  Louis  and  soon  after  went  to  Potosi  in 
the  same  State,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  af- 
fairs seven  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he 
went  to  Arcadia,  in  the  Iron  Mountain  district.  He 
entered  a  claim  of  600  acres  in  the  Pilot  Knob 
country,  and  paid  the  United  States  authorities  $1.25 
per  acre.  He  formed  a  partnership  with  Livingston 
Van  Docen,  the  owner  of  Iron  Mountain.  They 
established  a  stock  company  and  issued  their  certi- 
ficates, but  the  company  never  worked  the  mines. 
The  organization  soon  came  to  grief  and  Mr.  Pease 
lost  the  whole  of  his  investment.  He  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1842  and  bought  a  farm  near  Rushville, 
Schuyler  County,  where  he  was  interested  in  agricul- 
ture until  1848.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Albany 
and  purchased  village  property.  He  engaged  in  a 
mercantile  enterprise  in  company  with  W.  Y.  Wetzel. 
Their  relations  were  in  existence  five  years,  and  at 
the  end  of  that  time,  he  bought  the  interest  of  his 
partner,  and  continued  the  business  singly  until 
1856,  when  he  sold  out.  In  1858  he  replaced  the 
fixtures  in  a  flouring  mill  at  Albany,  which  he  con- 
ducted until  June,  1860,  when  the  structure  was  de- 
stroyed by  the  tornado.  Since  that  time  he  has  not 
been  actively  engaged  in  business  to  a  great  extent, 
but  has  given  some  attention  to  farming  and  resides 
in  the  village  of  Albany. 

Mr.  Pease  was  married  Nov. -18,  1823,  to  Mary  A. 
Warburton.  She  was  born  in  Vernon,  Tolland  Co., 
Conn.,  July  9,  1803.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
England  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1793. 
Her  father  built  the  first  cotton  mill  at  Vernon, 
which  was  in  fact  the  first  cotton  mill  built  in  the 
United  States.  She  was  first  cousin  to  Sir  Robert 
Peel.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pease  num- 
bered eight.  Henry,  oldest  child,  was  born  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  where  he  died  when  nine  months  old. 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Ezekiel  Olds,  who  is  a  resident 


of  Albany.  (See  sketch  of  E/.ekiel  Olds.)  Henrietta, 
wife  of  E.  W.  Durant,  lives  in  Still  water,  Minn. 
Giles  W.  is  a  resident  of  Albany.  Mary  E  and  Ed- 
win H.  live  at  Racine.  Far.nie  A.  married  W.  H. 
Miller,  and  died  at  Albany,  Feb.  3,  1884.  Celia  M., 
wife  of  A.  W.  Gilbert,  lives  in  Racine,  Wis. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pease  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding on  the  5oth  anniversary,  Nov.  18,  1873.  The 
occasion  was  made  memorable  by  the  attendance  of 
a  large  number  of  guests,  and  the  venerable  pair  re- 
ceived many  beautiful  and  valuable  gifts.  Mrs. 
Pease  died  Feb.  20,  1877. 


eorge  W.  Potter,  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 20,  Prophetstown  Township,  where  he 
owns  200  acres  of  land,  is  a  son  of  Luman 
C.  and  Mercy  (Phillips)  Potter,  and  was  born 
in  Rutland  Co.,  Vt,  April  23,  1838.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  born  in  Rutland  County, 
as  likewise  was  his  mother.  She  died  when  George 
W.  was  only  four  years  of  age.  The  father  still  sur- 
vives her,  and  resides  in  Rutland  County.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  three  of  whom  yet 
survive.  Theressa  is  the  wife  of  Lorenzo  Seamans, 
a  farmer  residing  in  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.;  George  W. 
is  next  in  order  of  birth  and  the  subject  of  this  no- 
tice; Klvira  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Tomlinson,  and  re- 
sides near  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y.,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  railroading.  The  two  deceased  were 
Edwin  and  Therendus  and  were  the  two  eldest  of 
the  children. 

Mr.  Potter  was  reared  on  the  farm,  receiving  such 
education  as  was  atta'nable  at  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  county.  In  April,  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  B,  Second  Vt.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  private  and  served 
three  years.  He  was  promoted  to  Sergeant  March 
7,  1862,  and  First  or  Orderly  Sergeant  Dec.  23, 
1862.  He  has  a  splendid  military  record.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  following  17  battles:  Bull  Run,  Va., 
July  21,  i86r  ;  Lee's  Mills,  Va.,  April  29,  1862; 
Williamsburg,  Va.,  May  5,  1862  ;  Golding's  Farm, 
Va.,  June  27,  1862  ;  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29, 
1862;  White-Oak  Swamp,  Va.,  June  30,  1862; 
Crampton's  Pass,  Sept.  18,  1862;  Antietam,  Md., 
Sept.  17,  1862;  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  1862; 
Mary's  Heights,  Va.,  May  3,  1862;  Banks'  Ford, 
Va.,  May  4,  1863;  Franklin's  Ford,  Va.,  June  5, 


* 


I 


•  « 
§ 


1863;  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2  and  3,  1863;  Finks- 
town,  Md.,  July  10,  1863;  Rappaharmock  Station, 
Va.,  Nov.  7,  1863;  Mine  Run,  Va.,  Nov.  28,  1863; 
Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5,  1864. 

He  received  five  wounds,  the  last  one  at  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness  in  the  left  side,  which  laid  him  up 
for  about  three  months.  The  olher  wounds  were 
mere  scratches,  compared  with  the  latter,  and  did 
not  incapacitate  him  for  active  participation  in  en- 
gagements in  which  his  company  partook.  After 
receiving  his  discharge  he  returned  to  Vermont,  and 
Dec.  25,  1864,  in  Sudbury,  that  State,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Paulina  Ridlond,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Delilah  Baxter  Ridlond.  She  was 
born  in  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  Feb.  14,  1840,  and  bore  to 
her  husband  one  child,  Luman  T.,  who  died  when 
15  months  old.  Mrs.  Potter  died  April  24,  1868, 
aiid  Mr.  Potter  was  again  married,  in  Lyndon  vil- 
lage, this  county,  Jan.  30,  1877,  to  Maria  L.  Gould, 
nee  Button.  She  was  born  in  Hamilton,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Potter  came  West  in  1865  and  located  in 
Prophetsiown  Township,  where  he  worked  at  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer  on  rented  la.nd  three  years. 
He  then  purchased  160  acres  of  land  of  his  present 
farm,  and  by  subsequent  purchases  has  increased 
his  landed  interests  until  he  is  the  proprietor  of  200 
acres.-  He  has  a  good  residence  on  his  farm,  to- 
gether with  substantial  out-buildings  and  an  orchard, 
and  small  fruit  in  abundance.  He  also  has  a  maple 
grove  of  1,500  trees,  raised  from  seed  sown  in  1866 
and  re-set  in  the  spring  of  1870.  The  following 
facts  will  give  an  idea  of  the  rapidity  of  the  growth 
of  the  maple  and  walnut  trees,  and  will  show  how 
quickly  groves  may  be  grown  :  The  largest  one  of 
the  maple  trees  measures  around  the  trunk,  four  feet 
above  the  ground,  five  feet  four  inches.  A  willow 
tree  in  his  back  yard,  that  has  grown  from  a 
cutting  the  size  of  a  man's  thumb,  planted  in 
the  ground  in  the  spring  of  187  r,  now  measures 
eight  feet  two  inches  around  the  trunk,  four  feet 
above  the  ground.  He  also  has  a  black  walnut 
grove  of  300  trees,  grown  from  seed  planted  in  1878. 
The  largest  of  these  measures  seven  inches  :i round 
and  21  feet  4  inches  high.  He  makes  no  specialty 
of  any  department  of  farming,  but  raises  horses,  cat- 
tle, sheep  and  hogs.  Merino  sheep  and  Chester 
White  hogs  are  his  favorite  stock. 

Mr.  Potter  is  a  member  of  the  School  Board  and 


has  held  the  position  three  terms.     Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


Samuel  Albertson  is  a  farmer  on  section 
14,  Sterling  Township,  where  he  settled  in 
September,  1841,  on  a  portion  of  the  land 
included  in  a  claim  made  by  his  twin  brothers, 
John  J.  and  Isaac  H.  Albertson,  in  1835,  tne 
second  year  in  which  settlements  were  made 
in  the  township.  Their  father  and  mother,  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Ham)  Albertson,  were  natives  of 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  whence  they  removed  to  Mon- 
roe County,  in  the  same  State.  They  continued  to 
reside  there  during  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  who  lived  to  ma- 
ture life,  and  were  named  Frederick,  Isaac  and  John 
(twins),  David,  Daniel,  Jane,  Maria,  Phebe,  Samuel 
and  Willet. 

Mr.  Albertson  was  born  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Jan.  18,  1818.  He  was  under  the  authority  of  his 
parents  until  he  was  21  years  of  age,  and  attended 
school  until  he  was  16  years  of  age.  He  then  took 
charge  of  his  father's  farm  one  year,  after  which  he 
came  to  Whiteside  County,  whither  his  brothers  had 
come  six  years  before.  The  farm,  of  which  he  has 
since  been  the  owner,  contains  a  mineral  spring, 
which  is  visited  by  many  people  during  the  summer 
season.  It  is  known  as  the  "  Woodlawn  Mineral 
Spring,"  and  is  highly  esteemed  for  its  curative  prop- 
erties. It  is  located  about  two  miles  east  of  the  city 
of  Sterling,  and  has  become  quite  popular.  It  is  in 
a  grove,  and  accommodations  for  guests  have  been 
constructed  in  the  way  of  bath-houses  and  other 
buildings.  The  farm  of  Mr.  Albertson  contains  r35 
acres,  of  which  90  acres  are  under  tillage. 

He  was  married  Nov.  5,  1839,  at  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  to  Hannah  DeGarmo.  Her  parents,  Elias 
and  Clemma  (Powell)  DeGarmo,  were  Quakers,  and 
were  born  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  died  in 
Monroe  County.  Their  children  were  eight  in  num- 
ber, and  were  named  John,  Lydia,  Mary  Ann,  Han- 
nah, Rufus,  Peter  and  Jane.  Mrs.  Albertson  was 
born  July  6,  iSrg,  in  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  To  her  and 
her  husband  three  children  were  born:  Harriet  J., 
Arthur  and  Ella  M.,  only  one  of  whom  survives. 
Arthur  died  June  6,  1868,  when  he  was  24  years  and 


- 
x     '• 


-.    "'  <-'.... 


.    -- 


•\ 


WHITBSIDE  COUNTY. 


six  months  old;  Ella  died  Aug.  22,  1878;  she  was 
27  years  old,  and  was  the  wife  of  John  E.  Wood- 
yatt.  She  left  three  children — Arthur,  Grade  and 
Lulu  M.  Mr.  Albertson  is  a  Republican  in  political 
sentiment,  and  has  held  several  official  positions. 
The  family  were  believers  in  the  Quaker  doctrines 
preached  by  George  Fox. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Albertson,  which  appears  on  a 
preceding  page,  is  copied  from  a  likeness  recently 
taken. 


Draper  B.  Reynolds,  a  pioneer  of  Whiteside 
County  of  1837,  was  born  in  Vermont  and 
was  taken  to  Pennsylvania  by  his  parents 
in  early  childhood.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
Tioga  County,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the  year 
named  he  came  to  Illinois  for  the  first  time. 
He  made- a  claim  on  section  ir,  Lyndon  Township, 
and  returned  to  Pennsylvania.  He  came  back  to 
Lyndon  Township,  accompanied  by  his  father-in-law, 
Capt.  Harry  Smith,  and  family.  They  made  the 
route  lo  this  place  by  the  Allegheny,  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Rivers,  and  landed  at  Albany.  After  a 
residence  of  a  few  years,  he  went  to  Iowa,  where  he 
died,  March  27,  1875. 

•  His  marriage  to  Harriet  S.  Smith  took  place  in 
1828.  She  died  April  17,  1847,  and  left  eight  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  are  now  living:  Julia  is  the 
wife  of  P.  A.  Brooks  (see  sketch) ;  Anna  M.  married 
Martin  Conyne  and  lives  in  Montgomery  Co.,  Iowa; 
Harrison  is  a  resident  of  Grand  River  Valley,  Col. ; 
Warren  lives  at  Santa  Fe,  N.  M. ;  Jasper  is  a  citizen 
of  Kokomo,  Col. ;  Leonora  is  the  widow  of  Thomas 
Fennessy  and  lives  in  Iowa  Co.,  Iowa;  Charlotte 
M.  is  the  wife  of  David  Olmstead,  of  Sac  Co.,  Iowa.. 


[  athan  L.  McKenzie,  a  farmer  on  section 
30,  Coloma  Township,  is  a  son  of  D.  La 
Fayette  and  Lucia  (Brewer)  McKenzie,  of 
whom  a  personal  narration  is  given  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  The  son  was  born  Oct.  28, 
1853,  in  the  township  of  Portland  in  the  same 
county  where  he  has  passed  his  life  thus  far,  with 
the  exception  of  about  four  years,  when  he  was  in 


Colorado  engaged  in  the  cattle  business.  In  1883 
he  bought  a  farm  in  Iowa,  which  he  afterward  sold, 
having  occupied  the  property  about  18  months.  He 
is  now  the  owner  of  240  acres  in  the  township  of 
Portland,  which  is  under  a  good  degree  of  tillage. 

Mr.  McKenzie  was  united  in  marriage  at  Proph- 
etstown,  March  22,  1876,  to  Minnie,  daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  (Young)  Dudley.  Her  father 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  her  mother  was  a  native  of 
England.  Their  children, were  named  John,  Minnie, 
George  and  Frank.  Mrs.  McKenzie  was  born  in 
Michigan,  July  17,  1858.  The  chikken  that  have 
been  born  to  herself  and  husband  are  three  in  num- 
ber and  are  named  Myrtie,  Grace  and  La  Fayette  H. 

Mr.  McKenzie  is  a  Republican  in  political  senti- 
ment. He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


eorge  de  Bey,  general  merchant,  also  sen- 
ior partner  of  the  hardware  firm  of  De 
Bey  &  Van  Dallen,  at  Fulton  City.  Mr. 
de  Bey  in  his  individual  store  carries  an  ex- 
tensive stock  of  general  merchandise  and  is 
also  agent  for  ocean  steamship  lines,  and  for 
the  Germania  and  New  York  Underwriters'  Fire  In- 
surance Companies.  The  firm  of  De  Bey  &  Van 
Dallen  carry  a  well  assorted  stock  of  shelf  and  heavy 
hardware  and  agricultural  implements. 

Mr.  de  Bey  is  a  native  of  Holland  and  was  born 
July  21,  1848,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Angeline 
(de  Junge)  de  Bey.  He  emigrated  to  America  in 
May,  1868,  came  directly  to  Chicago,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  mason  and  plasterer,  at  which 
he  worked  in  that  city  for  eight  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1876  he  came  to  Fulton  and  engaged  as  contractor 
and  builder.  Among  the  buildings  which  he  erected 
may  be  mentioned  the  new  dormitory  of  Northern 
Illinois  College  and  others. 

In  April,  1877,  ^e  established  his  mercantile  house 
and  has  carried  it  on  continuously  since.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  added  hardware  and  farm  machinery 
to  his  other  business,  and  in  April,  1881,  formed  the 
existing  partnership  with  Mr.  John  Van  Dallen  in 
the  hardware  and  farm  implement  business.  Mr. 
de  Bey's  stock  in  his  general  store  averages  about 
$7,000,  while  in  the  hardware  store  the  stock  holds 
at  about  $3,500. 

He  was  married  in  Chicago  in  September,   1869, 


(!) 

A 


• 


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WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


to  Miss  Teitje  de  Graff,  daughter  of  Franke  de  Graff. 
i    Mrs.  de    Bey   was  born  in    Holland    and   came    to 
•'5*   America  in    1869.     They  have   five    children,  three 
boys  and    two    girls, — Lena,    Frank,    Jennie,    John 
\j  and  Joe. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  de  Bey  are  members  in  full  stand- 
ing of  the  American  Reformed  Church,  of  which  Mr. 
de  Bey  has  been  an  Elder  nearly  eight  years. 

Mr.  de  Bey  votes  with  the  Republican  paity,  of 
which  he  is  an  earnest  supporter. 

He  is  a  thorough  business  man  in  all  his  ways, 
and  has  succeeded  in  his  undertakings  so  well  that 
he  is  reckoned  among  the  leading  merchants  of  Ful- 
ton. 


Joseph  Snyder,  a  settler  in  Whiteside 
|^  County  in  1844,  was  born  Feb.  28,  1818, 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  is  the  son  of 
Daniel  and  Betsey  (McMahon)  Snyder.  The 
family  originated  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Snyder 
passed  the  years  of  boyhord  and  youth  in  the 
city  of  his  nativity,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  of  suitable 
age  and  size  he  engaged  on  a  steamboat  on  the  Ohio 
River,  on  which  he  was  occupied  until  his  removal  to 
Whiteside  County.  He  spent  a  summer  in  Albany 
and  rented  a  tract  of  land '  adjacent  on  which  he 
worked  through  the  season.  In  the  autumn  of  the 
year  he  bought  40  acres  of  land  on  section  13,  of 
Garden  Plain  Township,  of  which  he  took  posses 
sion.  Three  acres  were  bioken  and  a  log  house  of 
hewn  logs  had  been  built.  He  employed  his  time 
and  energies  to  so  good  pur]x>se  that  in  the  year  fol- 
lowing he  bought  40  acres  additional,  located  on  sec- 
tion 1 8,  of  Union  Grove  Township,  which  was  cov- 
ered with  timber.  By  making  subsequent  purchases 
Mr.  Snyder  has  became  the  owner  of  160  acres,  all 
of  which  is  enclosed  and  in  tillage,  except  TOO  acres 
of  timber.  The  acreage  is  located  at  four  different 
points  and  every  portion  is  supplied  with  good  farm 
dwellings,  and  is  devoted  to  raising  grain  and  stock. 
Mr.  Snyder  was  for  many  years  a  Republican. 

He  was  married  May  2,  1840,  to  Nancy,  daughter 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  Clark.  She  was  born  Feb. 
24,  1820,  in  Lewis  Co.,  Ky.  Her  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Ohio.  Joseph  C.,  Henry,  Sanford,  William, 
Mary  E.,  Alonzo,  Ann  Augusta  (Mrs.  Henry  Horner, 


of  Marengo,  Iowa),  Edward,  Hattie,  May,  John,  Ed-      ^' 
ward  and  Wads  worth.     The  latter  lives  in  Garden 
Plain  Township. 


oah  S.  ]jOux  is  a  farmer  on  section  15, 
Sterling  Township.  He  was  born  Jan.  27, 
1845,  in  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  son  of 
Mathiisand  Catherine  (Yost)  Loux.  They 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  father 
died  in  that  State,  in  April.  1874.  The  death 
of  the  mother  occurred  in  June  of  the  same  year. 
They  had  14  children,  of  whom  nine  grew  up, 
namely  :  Andrew,  Isaac,  Hannah,  Catherine,  Mary, 
Malhias,  Elizabeth,  Noah  S.  and  Israel. 

Mr.  Loux  was  a  carpenter  in  his  native  State  un- 
til 1864.  In  November  of  that  year  he  came  to 
Whiteside  County  and  was  engaged  in  the  same 
business  at  Sterling,  and  also  in  wagon-making  for 
four  years.  In  1868  he  began  farming,  and  oper- 
ated on  rented  farms  until  the  spring  of  1884,  when 
he  bought  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  comprising  114 
acres  of  land,  which  is  in  fine  agricultural  condition, 
In  politics  Mr.  Loux  is  neutral. 

He  was  married  .NoY.  19,  1869,  in  Hopkins  Town- 
ship, to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susan  Reit- 
zel.  She  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  9, 
1843,  and  her  brothers  and  sisters,  nine  in  number, 
were  born  in  the  following  order:  Martha,  Sabina, 
Susanna,  Henry,  Sarah,  Abraham,  Jacob  and  Lewis. 
She  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  To  her  and  her 
husband  four  children  have  been  born,  but  only  one 
survives,  Nevin  R.  Harrison  R.  is  deceased,  and 
two  children  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Loux  are  membeis  of  the  English  Lutheran  Church. 


^isberry  J.  Markee,  of  Newton  Township, 
was  born  in  September,  1834,  in  Harrison 
Co.,  Ohio  James  Markee,  his  father,  was 
of  Scotch  descent  and  married  Rhoda  John- 
son. They  went  with  their  family  from  Ohio  to 
Southern  Illinois,  in  1846.  The  father  bought 
a  farm  in  Crawford  County,  and  there  the  parents 
remained  until  the  close  of  their  lives. 

At  the  age  of  16  Mr.   Markee  came  to  Whiteside 


WH1TES1DE  COUNTY. 


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County,  joining  his  brother  in-law.  He  obtained  his 
first  employment  in  Newton  Township.  In  1861  he 
first  became  an  independent  landholder,  and  bought 
80  acres  of  land  on  section  12,  in  Newton  Township. 
It  was  wholly  unimproved  and  Mr.  Markee  passed 
nine  years  placing  it  in  good  condition  for  prosperous 
tillage.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  sold  the  property 
and  bought  a  tract  of  land  on  the  east  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  2,  in  the  same  township. 
Only  the  prairie  had  been  broken  ;  no  trees  had  been 
planted  or  buildings  of  advanced  style  erected.  All 
these  needs  have  been  supplied,  together  with  excel- 
lent barns  and  stables  for  the  protection  of  stock. 
Mr.  Markee  has  been  a  Republican  since  he  first  ob- 
tained the  privileges  of  citizenship.  He  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Fremont. 

He  was  married  in  1857  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
William  G.  and  Leannah  (Martin)  Nevitt,  of  whom 
an  extended  sketch  appears  in  this  work.  Mrs. 
Markee  was  born  in  Newton  Township,  Sept.  5,  1840. 
Five  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Markee  are  living, — 
C.  Alice,  Lizzie  L.,  William  Leslie,  Clifton  L.  and 
May.  Jessie  A.,  fourth  child  in  order  of  birth,  was 
born  Jan.  23,  1867,  and  died  Aug.  n,  1868. 


fardon  Allen  Brooks,  farmer,  section  30, 
Lyndon  Township,  was  born  May  20,  1806, 
in  Sturbridge,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  and 
he  is  the  second  son  of  Benjamin  and  Esther 
(Fisk)  Brooks,  the  former  a  native  of  Worcester 
Co.,  Mass.,  and  the  latter  of  Stafford,  Conn. 
His  paternal  grandfather  was  bom  in  Nova  Scotia 
and  came  thence  to  Worcester  County  soon  after  the 
close  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  When  Benjamin 
Brooks  was  married  he  bought  a  homestead  in 
Sturbridge  and  lived  thereon  until  his  death,  at  a 
greatly  advanced  age.  The  mother  also  died  there. 
Mr.  Brooks  was  reared  in  the  manner  common  in 
New  England,  working  on  the  farm  summers  and 
attending  school  wir.ters.  At  19  he  began  to  acquire 
a  knowledge  of  the  trade  of  a  brick,  stone  and  plas- 
ter mason,  goir.g  to  West  Springfield  for  the  purpose. 
After  a  short  time  he  took  a  leading  position  in  his 
business,  and  operated  as  a  builder  and  contractor, 
and  was  the  architect  on  several  factories  in  North 
Adams  and  other  parts  of  Berkshire  County,  besides 
building  residences,  business  structures  and  churches. 

>\/ft— ^IKjggX«y          .         /-N      . 


Five  years  later,  in  1832,  he  went  to  Boston,  where 
he  embarked  in  a  mercantile  enterprise,  in  which  he 
was  interested  until  1838.  In  that  year  he  came  to 
Illinois,  traveling  from  Boston  to  Albany  by  stage, 
from  there  to  Buffalo  by  canal  and  thence  on  the 
lakes  to  Chicago.  He  then  hired  a  man  to  bring 
himself,  his  wife,  children  and  household  goods  to 
Whiteside  County,  paying  $50  for  the  service.  He 
arrived  in  Lyndon  in  September  of  the  same  year. 
'He  bought  a  claim  on  section  30,  town  20,  range  5, 
for  which  he  paid  $1,300.  The  improvements  con- 
sisted of  a  log  house  and  a  few  acres  broken.  The 
family  took  possession  of  the  dwelling,  in  which  they 
lived  until  June  following,  when  Mr.  Brooks  left  his 
family  in  care  of  his  brother-in-law,  and  returned  to 
Boston.  He  obtained  a  position  as  clerk,  which  he 
held  two  years,  and  earned  the  money  to  secure  his 
claim.  In  1841  Mr.  Brooks  and  Washington  Libby 
bought  nine  threshing-machines,  which  they  shipped 
from  Winthrop,  Maine,  to  Alton,  111.,  paying  $100 
freight  on  each.  These  were  the  first  machines  for 
the  purpose  which  were  brought  into  the  State,  and 
were  a  great  advantage  to  the  farmers,  as  they 
would  thresh  200  bushels  of  grain  a  day.  They 
were  run  by  horse-power. 

In  1842  Mr.  Brooks  went  again  to  Boston  and  re- 
sumed his  position  as  a  clerk  in  the  Faneuil  Hall 
clothing  store.  He  remained  two  years,  and  on  his 
return  to  Lyndon  Township  he  operated  in  the  man- 
agement and  sale  of  threshing-machines,  also  selling 
county  rights  to  manufacture.  He  devoted  about 
three  years  to  the  business,  after  which  he  gave  his 
attention  to  the  improvement  of  his  farm.  Mean- 
while he  had  placed  his  family  in  a  substantial  frame 
house.  His  first  crops  consisted  of  grain,  which  he 
drew  to  Chicago,  1 50  miles  distant,  a  journey  there 
consuming  a  full  week  as  a  rule.  He  frequently 
brought  back  a  load  of  freight.  He  subscribed 
$2,000  to  the  building  of  a  railroad,  which  proved  a 
total  loss.  He  raised  his  first  paying  crop  in  1861, 
when  he  sold  500  bushels  of  wheat  at  two  dollars  a 
bushel,  and  his  crops  of  oats  and  corn  at  proportion- 
ately good  figures.  In  1872  he  invested  $10,000  in 
a  mill,  and  when  the  financial  crash  came  the  next 
year  he  lost  his  investment  with  several  thousands  of 
dollars  besides,  but  his  business  was  too  well  fortified 
to  be  seriously  crippled  by  a  somewhat  extensive 
loss.  Mr.  Brooks  improved  about  300  acres  of  land 
and  erected  commodious  farm  buildings,  including 

M&V^v&e) 

«7^?JrT/V A^-^  , 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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the  brick  house  he  occupies.  He  built  one  of  the 
first  barns  in  the  county. 

He  was  married  Sept.  12,  1833,  to  Olive  M.  Dean. 
She  was  born  Aug.  10,  1815,  in  North  Adams,  Mass. 
Following  is  the  record  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Brooks:  Hiram  P.  lives  at  Black  Hawk,  Gil- 
pin  Co.,  Col.,  and  is  engaged  in  mining;  William  H. 
lives  on  the  homestead;  Isabella  died  in  infancy; 
Susan  L.  is  the  widow  of  Frank  J.  Cole,  and  lives  in 
East  Saginaw,  Mich. ;  Lucian  died  in  infancy  ;  Sam- 
uel lives  at  La  Conner,  Whatcom  Co.,  W.  T.,  and  is 
an  attorney;  Rufus  resides  in  Butte  City,  Montana, 
where  he  has  been  engaged  as  a  contractor  and 
shipping  clerk  for  a  mining  company.  The  mother 
died  Aug.  4,  1857.  Mr.  Brooks  was  again  married, 
Sept.  5,  1859,  to  Julia  M.  Reynolds.  She  was  born 
Oct.  20,  1829,  in  Rutland  Township,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa. 
They  had  three  children  :  Horace  M.  is  a  clerk  in 
the  postoffice  at  Toston,  M.  T.  ;  George  E.  died  in 
infancy  ;  Esther  married  C.  P.  Sturtevant,  of  Fenton 
Township,  where  he  is  a  farmer  and  dealer  in  stock. 

Mr.  Brooks  is  a  man  who  is  justified  in  his  claims 
of  builder  and  maker  of  his  own  fortunes.  When  he 
was  12  years  old  he  was  earning  $6  per  month,  and 
during  the  winter  seasons  when  attending  school  he 
earned  his  board  by  doing  chores.  He  received 
sufficient  education  to  teach,  and  pursued  that  busi- 
ness several  seasons.  He  has  led  a  busy,  useful, 
active  life,  and  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  reward  of 
his  toil.  He  has  a  beautiful  home,  and  the  broad 
prairie  acres  which  he  owns  in  his  homestead  give 
ample  testimony  of  the  quality  of  the  judgment  and 
skill  of  their  owner. 


on.  James  M.  Pratt,  of  Fenton  Township, 
was  born  April  7,  1822,  in  Aurora,  Erie  Co., 
N.  Y.     John  C.  Pratt,  his  father,  was  born 
in  Northampton,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  April 
8,   1787,  and   his  parents  were  natives  of  the 
same  place  where   he  was  born.     The  family 
^emigrated,  in    1808,  with   ox    teams    from  the  Bay 
State,  to  Erie  Co.,  N  Y.,  where  they  were  early  set- 
tlers.    John    C.    Pratt,   on    attaining    suitable    age, 
bought  land  of  the    Holland  Company.     It  was  in 
heavy  timber,  and  he  was  engaged  in  clearing  a  farm 
the  War  of  1812  with  Great  Britain  came  on, 
he   enlisted,  remaining  in    the  military  service 


until  the  close  of  the  conflict.  He  returned  to  his 
farm,  and  soon  afterward  built  a  saw  and  flour  mill 
on  Buffalo  Creek.  He  abandoned  his  agricultural 
projects,  and  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  his  mill- 
ing interests.  Later  he  bought  a  saw  and  grist  mill, 
situated  on  the  same  stream,  at  a  distance  of  a  mile, 
and  continued  to  operate  b-jth  establishments  until 
1835,  when  he  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  made 
a  claim  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Lyndon.  He 
wentback  to  his  native  State, disposed  of  his  property 
and  made  arrangements  for  a  permanent  removal  to 
Illinois.  In  1837  he  started  for  Chicago,  by  way  of 
the  lakes,  traveling  from  there  with  teams  to  Lyndon. 
A  log  house  had  been  built  on  his  claim,  of  which 
the  household  took  possession.  The  senior  Pratt  at 
once  entered  upon  the  improvement  of  a  farm,  on 
which  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in 
December,  1843.  His  wife  survived  him  until 
March  9,  1879.  Four  of  their  13  children  are  now 
living:  Mr.  Pratt,  of  this  sketch,  is  the  oldest; 
Amanda  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Shorett,  and  lives  in 
Iowa;  Lucius  H.  lives  in  Lyndon;  Thurston  resides 
in  Iowa. 

Mr.  Pratt  was  15  years  of  age  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Whiteside  County.  He  re- 
sided with  them  until  the  death  of  his  father,  and 
continued  to  live  with  his  mother  until  his  marriage. 
Nov.  17,  1844,  he  was  married  to  Lucinda  Emery. 
She  was  born  May  10,  r828,  in  Moriah,  Essex  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Lucinda 
(Tarbell)  Emery.  In  the  year  following  his  marriage 
Mr.  Pratt  settled  on  his  farm,  and  has  been  a  resi- 
dent thereon  since. 

He  had  become  the  owner  of  80  acres  of  land  on 
section  26,  in  what  is  now  Fenton  Township.  On 
this  he  built  a  log  house,  and  began  to  operate  as  a 
farmer.  He  has  been  successful  in  his  efforts,  and 
the  results  of  his  energetic  attention  to  his  business 
show  the  value  of  his  judgment  in  directing  his  trans- 
actions. He  is  now  the  owner  of  a  magnificent  tract, 
containing  800  acres  in  excellent  condition  for  pros- 
perous farming. 

Mr.  Pratt  has  .been  correspondingly  active  in  the 
relation  of  a  good  citizen  to  the  general  welfare.  He 
was  the  first  Supervisor  of  Fenton  Township,  has 
held  the  position  several  terms,  and  has  been  Chair- 
man of  the  Board.  He  has  held  other  offices  in 
the  township,  and  in  1872  was  made  the  first  Presi- 
dent of  Whiteside  Agricultural  Society,  serving  in 


.;,.    . 


-«*? 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


that  capacity  for  seven  years,  [n  1869  he  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster  at  Pratt,  and  still  "  holds  the 
fort"  (1885).  In  1879  he  was  elected  as  one  of 
the  Representatives  of  the  nth  Senatorial  District, 
which  included  Whiteside  and  Carroll  counties,  and 
performed  service  which  reflected  the  greatest  credit 
upon  himself  and  his  constituents. 

Eight  children  are  included  in  his  family  circle  : 
Marietta  M.  is  the  wife  of  S.  S.  Chamberlain,  of 
Harrison  Co.,  Iowa;  John  C.  resides  in  the  same 
county,  as  do  Dora  V.  and  Cyrus  E;  Allen  M.  is  a 
citizen  of  Fenton  Township:  Ella  J.,  James  C.  and 
Manson  W.  also  live  in  their  native  township. 

In  the  coming  years,  when  succeeding  generations 
seek  for  mementoes  of  those  whose  activity  in  the 
progress  of  Whiteside  County  rendered  them  promi- 
nent, the  portrait  of  Mr.  Pratt,  given  on  a  preceding 
page,  will  be  heartily  appreciated. 


tester  Lusk,  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Albany,  of  1836,  and  in  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  he  became  one  of  the  12  pro- 
prietors of  the  site  of  Lower  Albany,  by  pur- 
chase from  the  United  States.  He  was  born 
in  1802,  in  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  there 
grew  to  manhood  and  learned  the  trade  of  shoe- 
maker. He  went  thence  to  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.; 
and  married  Hannah  Fitch,  who  was  born  in  that 
county.  They  went  soon  after  their  union  to  Cox- 
sackie,  in  the  State  of'  New  York,  removing  shortly 
after  to  Pittsford,  Monroe  County,  where  Mr.  Lusk 
worked  at  his  trade  between  one  and  two  years. 
He  made  another  removal  to  Holly,  Orleans  County, 
where  he  lived  eight  years,  and  kept  a  hotel.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  located 
near  Fremont,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
two  years. 

In  1836  he  set  out  from  Fremont  for  Whiteside 
County,  transporting  his  family  and  household  be- 
longings with  horse  teams.  November  29  they 
arrived  at  Stake's  Ferry,  which  was  full  of  floating 
ice.  They  waited  a  week,  and  as  soon  as  the  stream 
was  cleared  they  crossed,  and  passed  the  winter  in  a 
log  house  near  the  dwelling  of  William  D.  Dudley. 
In  ihe  spring  of  1837  the  family  took  possession  of 
a  claim  at  Mbany.  The  location  of  his  farm  was  at 

A, 


Sheep  Grove,  where  he  prosecuted  his  agricultural 
projects  with  energy.  In  1850  he  made  the  over- 
land trip  to  California,  and  spent  nearly  two  years  in 
mining  for  gold.  He  returned  by  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama  and  New  Orleans.  He  opened  a  meat 
market  at  Albany  on  his  return  there,  and  also  con- 
tinued the  management  of  his  farm  until  his  death 
in  February, 'i 855.  His  widow  is  still  living  with 
a  granddaughter,  Mrs;  William  Herald,  of  Sloan, 
Woodbury  Co.,  Iowa.  Two  children  were  born  to 
them,  Charles  F.  and  Hiram  P.  The  latter  died 
when  10  years  old.  (See  skeich  of  C.  F.  Lusk.) 


ames  H.  Harrison  is  a  farmer  on  section 
34,  GeneseeTownship,  and  a  native  citizen 
of  the  same  Township,  where  he  was  born 
Nov.  23,  1842.  Mark  Harrison,  his  father, 
was  born  May  6,  1804,  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
where  he  belonged  to  the  laboring  class.  He 
spent  the  years  of  his  life  previous  to  the  age  of  21 
in  his  native  country,  where  he  obtained  the  rudi- 
ments of  his  education.  On  becoming  the  master  of 
his  own  time  and  efforts,  he  came  to  America,  and, 
for  a  time,  he  located  in  Canada.  He  spent  some 
years  in  the  vocation  of  a  sailor,  after  which  he  came 
to  Chicago.  The  place  then  consisted  of  a  dozen  log 
structures,  and  he  secured  a  claim  which  is  now  in- 
cluded in  one  of  the  principal  parts  of  the  city,  and 
which  was  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  river. 
He  was  in  the  employ  of  Captain  Cook,  for  whom 
the  county  where  Chicago  is  located  was  named, 
working  for  him  some  years.  He  received  land  for 
his  pay,  which  was  in  village  lots,  and  they  were  then 
very  cheap.  He  held  title  to  160  acres  of  land  in 
all,  but  he  suffered  great  annoyance  from  the  In- 
dians, who  were  there  in  great  numbers,  idle,  shift- 
less, and  altogether  mischievous.  At  one  time  they 
burned  his  cabin  and  all  his  household  goods,  with 
$250  in  cash.  He  was  so  disgusted  with  the  condi- 
tion of  things  and  the  general  outlook,  that  he  traded 
his  property  at  a  great  sacrifice  to  obtain  release  from 
what  then  seemed  hopeless  anarchy,  receiving  in  ex- 
exchange  a  few  village  lots  in  Fulton,  Whiteside 
County,  accompanied  by  glowing  accounts  of  the 
certainties  of  that  place  from  its  location  on  the  river 
and  natural  advantages.  He  had  business  relations  , 

•^.\f/^,  Kj.-'iJKVi 

blsf?! 

i<iZi-4 


K 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


f 

• 


«••  * 


with  Joseph  Mush,  and  together  they  came  to  White- 
side  County.  Arriving  at  Fulton,  they  found  that  the 
entire  value  of  the  village  lots  aforesaid  was  all  con- 
centrated in  the  gorgeous  coloring  that  had  been  a 
concomitant  to  the  exchange  referred  to.  Fulton 
was  a  city  on  paper,  with  prospects  as  hazy  as  the 
river  mists  which  hung  above  its  vacancy.  .  Mr. 
Harrison  at  once  and  forever  abandoned  his  property 
there  and  all  hopes  concerning  it.  He  encountered 
Hezekiah  Brink,  of  Sterling,  and,  in  compliance  with 
his  request,  went  to  Empire  and  assisted  that  gentle- 
man in  the  erection  of  one  of  the  first  grist-mills  built 
in  the  county.  He  remained  there  three  years. 
Meanwhile  he  secured  a  claim  in  what  is  now  Gen- 
esee Township,  where  he  was  one  of  the  first  land- 
holders. He  paid  Mr.  Brink  $50  for  his  title,  and 
when  the  land  came  into  market  he  purchased  it  of 
the  United  States  Government  at  $1.25  per  acre. 
In  1836  he  began  the  work  of  improving  the  land. 
He  was  married  in  1838,  in  Genesee,  III.,  to  Mary 
Taylor.  She  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and  came 
thence  with  a  colony  that  located  in  Carroll  County 
and  lived  there  until  she  was  married.  Mark  Har- 
rison died  Nov.  15,  1877,  in  Genesee  Township,  and 
was  73  years  of  age.  His  wife,  who  still  survives,  is 
82  years  old. 

Mr.  Harrison  is  the  second  oldest  of  five  children, 
and  he  continued  under  parental  authority  until  he 
attained  his  majority.  Feb.  9,  1864,  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  G,  561)1  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  The  command  was 
assigned  to  the  corps  of  General  Thomas,  and  the 
only  action  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged  was 
that  which  resulted  in  the  surrender  of  General 
Johnston.  Mr.  Harrison  obtained  honorable  dis- 
charge at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  in  September,  1865.  He 
returned  home  and  located  a  claim  of  80  acres  of 
land,  which  he  has  since  improved  and  placed  in  ex- 
cellent agricultural  condition.  He  has  one  of  the 
finest  and  most  valuable  farms  in  the  township,  and 
an  elegant  residence  on  a  beautiful  location.  He  is 
a  skillful  and  thrifty  farmer,  and  has  increased  his 
real  estate  to  183  acres. 

His  marriage  to  Julia  Fitzgerald  took  place  Sept. 
30,  1865,  at  Sterling.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Patrick 
and  Mary  (Barry)  Fitzgerald.  Her  parents  were 
born  and  married  in  Ireland,  and  celebrated  their 
union  by  coming  immediately  thereafter  to  the  United 
States.  After  a  residence  of  some  years  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  they  came  to  Du  Page  Co.,  111.,  where 


Mrs.  Harrison  was  bom,  Jan.  23,  1850.  Her  parents 
had  n  children,  and  she  is  the  ninth  in  order  of 
birth.  The  family  came  to  Whiteside  County  when 
she  was  still  an  infant,  and  she  was  reared  on  her 
father's  farm  in  Genesee  Township.  Her  mother 
died  when  she  was  eight  years  old.  She  is  herself 
the  mother  of  four  children.  William  H.  was  bom 
Sept.  4,  1867  ;  Joshua  L.  was  born  Oct.  2,  1869. 
Francis  H.  arid  an  infant  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Harrison  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views 
and  relations. 


-— 861-  -» 


ndrew  Lockhart,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Garden  Plain  Township,  was  born  in  Green 
Township,  Adams  County,  Ohio,  June  21, 
1819.  He  is  the  son  of  Robert  E.  and  Sarah 
(Hemphill)  Lockhart.  His  father  was  born 
Oct.  18,  1793,  in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.  He  was  a 
soldier  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  in  the  command 
of  Gen.  Hull,  stationed  at  Detroit.  His  mother  was 
born  Sept.  21,  1795,  near  the  celebrated  battlefield 
of  the  Brandywine,  Pa.  The  great-grandfathers  of 
Mr.  Lockhart  settled  in  Adams  County  about  the 
year  1797,  where  the  respective  families  of  the  Lock- 
harts  and  Hemphills  were  residents  for  a  long  suc- 
cession of  years. 

Mr.  Lockhart  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools.  His 
father  was  also  interested  in  the  business  of  a  lumber 
merchant,  and  on  arriving  at  independent  manhood' 
the  son  entered  the  father's  employ.  In  1844  the 
senior  Lockhart  presented  his  son  with  $200,  above 
his  wages,  and  he  devoted  his  accumulated  means 
to  the  purchase  of  land  in  Garden  Plain  Township, 
whither  he  came  for  the  purpose.  He  first  bought 
40  acres  on  section  24,  and  soon  after  secured  an- 
other tract  on  section  14.  He  then  returned  to  his 
home  and  engaged  to  work  for  his  father  for  $too 
yearly,  and  his  board  and  clothes.  He  sent  money 
to  pay  his  land  taxes,  but  the  letters  miscarried  and 
40  acres  were  sold  for  their  payment.  On  his  return 
in  1854  he  redeemed  his  claim. 

He  came  back  for  a  final  settlement  in  the  year 
named,  and  built  a  frame  house,  doing  the  first 
breaking  on  the  place  in  that  year.  He  was  married 
March  27,  1856,  to  Nancy  Randall.  She  was  born 
Sept.  16,  1834,  in  Jefferson  Township,  Adams  Co., 


Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Hannah 
(Newman)  Randall. 

Mr.  Lockhart  still  owns  the  property  on  which  he 
first  settled  and  has  placed  it  in  excellent  farming 
condition ;  it  is  enlarged  by  a  later  purchase  of  40 
acres  adjoining.  In  1881  he  bought  the  farm  he 
now  occupies  on  section  14,  which  is  also  under  till- 
age and  supplied  with  necessary  farm  fixtures.  The 
entire  estate  of  Mr.  Lockhart  in  Garden  Plain  Town- 
ship, comprises  460  acres  in  valuable  agricultural 
condition.  America  F.,  Melissa,  Elisha,  Sarah,  An- 
geline  and  Robert  Lee  are  the  names  of  the  children 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lockhart. 


j  illiam  Nevitt,  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
two  earliest  settlers  in  what  is  now  known 
as  Upper  Albany.  In  the  fall  of  1836 
he  came  with  W.  C.  Osborne  to  the  banks 
of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  they  pur- 
chased the  claim  of  the  land  speculators  who 
infested  the  West,  which  is  now  included  within  the 
town  and  village  of  Albany,  and  which  he  secured 
by  purchase  from  the  United  States  Government 
when  the  land  sales  were  made  in  October,  1839. 
Until  his  death  in  1848  he  was  identified  with  the 
general  and  agricultural  development  of  Albany. 

Mr.  Nevitt  was  born  in  1779,  in  Brownsville,  Fay- 
ette  Co.,  Pa.,  and  he  came  of  English  ancestry. 
The  country  was  then  in  its  Colonial  period,  and 
only  primitive  methods  of  living  and  transacting 
business  prevailed.  Mr.  Nevitt's  earliest  occupation 
was  a  teamster  in  his  native  State,  between  Phila- 
delphia and  Pittsburg.  He  was  one  of  the  drivers 
of  the  wagons  on  the  celebrated  Conestoga  road 
that  constituted  communication  between  the  Atlantic 
seaboard  and  the  central  water  route  which  termi- 
nated in  the  Mississippi  River.  The  Conestoga 
road  was  about  400  miles  in  extent,  and  as  it 
traversed  a  broken  and  mountainous  region,  the 
wagons  were  constructed  with  great  strength.  Mr. 
Nevitt  was  accustomed  to  relate  that  on  one  occasion, 
when  his  wagon  came  in  violent  contact  with  the 
corner  of  a  brick  building,-  the  bricks  flew  out  of  the 
structure,  but  the  wagon  was  uninjured.  His  par- 
ents located  at  Wheeling  about  1807,  and  about  r8io 
he  went  to  Breckenridge  Co.,  Ky.  He  was  there 


married  to  Mary  Edlin,  a  native  of  Port  Tobacco,  j/£ 
Md.,  where  she  was  born  in   1781.     In   i8r8  they   (, 
came  to  White  Co.,  111.,  buying  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  »-..'• 
of  Carmi,  where  Mr.   Nevitt  was  extensively  occu- 
pied  in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  until  1834,  when  \Gj 
he  came  to  Knoxville,  Knox  County,   and  became 
the  proprietor  of  a  farm,  on  which  he  operated  until 
his  removal  to  Whites ide  County  in  1837. 

While  the  State  organization  was  in  a  formative 
condition,  Mr.  Nevitt  was  appointed  Justice  of  the 
Peace  by  the  General  Assembly.  He  was  also 
made  one  of  the  Commissioners  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  Wabash  River.  During  his  residence 
in  White  County  he  was  prominent  for  his  abilities 
in  executive  avemies,  and  the  Whig  party  selected 
him  as  a  candidate  to  represent  their  interests  in  the 
State  Legislature,  but  he  suffered  the  common  fate 
of  the  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  minority  in  his  district. 
On  coming  to  Whiteside  County,  he  was  elected 
School  Commissioner,  and  held  the  office  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  White  County, 
whither  he  had  gone  to  transact  business. 

To  him  and  his  wife  n  children  were  born  :  John, 
James,  Maria,  Eliza,  Nancy,  Clement,  Wm.  G., 
Allen,  Susan,  Edward  H.  and  Wilson.  Four  are 
new  living.  The  mother  died  in  December,  1860. 


Jharles  P.  Lusk,  merchant  at  Albany,  was 
born  July  25,  1825,  in  Richmond,  Berk- 
shire Co.,  Mass.,  and  was  n  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Illinois,  with  his  parents,  of 
whom  a  detailed  sketch  is  given  elsewhere. 
At  the  age  of  16  years  he  began  to  give  his 
attention  to  the  acquisitioirof  the  trade  of  carpenter, 
and  he  made  that  his  business  until  1876.  He  has 
been  a  constant  resident  of  Albany,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  year,  which  he  spent  in  Boston  in  the 
occupation  of  a  stair-builder.  In  1876  he  embarked 
in  the  mercantile  enterprise  to  which  he  has  since 
devoted  his  time  and  energies.  His  business  is 
located  in  a  building  which  he  erected  some  years 
before,  and  had  previously  leased. 

Mr.  Lusk  has  been  married  twice.  His  first  wife's 
name  was  Phcebe  Humphreys.  She  was  born  in 
Bradford,  Pa.,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Allen  and 
Elizabeth  Humphreys,  pioneers  of  Carroll  County. 


• 
I 

>  * 

$ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


657 


> 


• 


The  ancestors  of  the  family  were  natives  of  Connec- 
ticut. Two  children  are  now  living.  The  mother 
died  in  January,  1852.  Mr.  Lusk  was  married  in 
1855,  to  Henrietta,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary 
(Miller)  Park.  She  was  born  in  Indiana.  Of  the 
second  marriage  six  children  were  born  :  Isaac  P., 
Henry  C.,  C.  Frank,  Jr.,  Nettie  A.,  Roy  A.  and  Josie 
H.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lusk  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Lusk  is  a  Republican 
in  political  principle,  and  he  belongs  to  Lodge  No. 
566,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 


inus  C.  Reynolds,  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 23,  Prophetstown  Township,  and  the 
owner  of  520  acres  of  farming  land  on  the 
section,  and  12  acres  in  Portland  Township, 
consisting  of  a  grove,  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel  G. 
and  Phoebe  B.  (Brace)  Reynolds,  and  was 
born  in  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  18,  1830.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  was  born  in 
Hancock,  Berkshire  Co.,  that  State,  March  r4,  1794. 
His  mother  was  also  born  in  the  same  State  and 
died  April  18,  1876,  aged  76  years,  11  months  and 
3  days.  They  had  five  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living,  namely  :  Phineas  B.  is  a  farmer  and  resides 
in  Nebraska;  Orpha  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Gage,  a 
farmer  residing  in  Prophetstown  Township  ;  Amanda 
is  the  widow  of  Edson  Smith,  and  resides  in  Proph- 
etstown ;  Linus  C.  is  next  in  order  of  birth ;  Clark  G. 
is  a  farmer  and  resides  in  Prophetstown  Township. 
The  grandparents  of  Linus  C.  on  his  father's  side 
were  Griffin,  born  April  14,  1772,  and  Martha,  born 
Feb.  10,  1775. 

The  elder  Reynolds  was  Orderly  Sergeant  during 
the  War  of  i8r2,  and  after  the  war,  in  1816,  settled 
in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  1835  he  came  with  his 
family  to  Detroit  and  drove  from  there  to  this  county, 
and  became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  on  Rock 
River.  He  located  in  Prophetstown  Township, 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  present  village  of 
Prophetstown,  on  what  is  now  the  Quigley  faim. 
During  those  primitive  days  he  was  compelled  to 
go  to  Knoxville,  a  distance  of  70  miles,  for  provisions, 
following  an  Indian  trail  through  an  unsettled  coun- 
try. For  many  years  he  was  a  strong  temperance 
man  and  a  consistent  Christian.  He  was  Justice  of 


the  Peace  for  a  number  of  years,  and  was  also 
elected  Judge  of  Probate,  which  position  he  held  for 
eight  years.  He  was  a  prominent  Mason  as  well  as 
a  member  of  the  Order  of  Sons  of  Temperance.  He 
died  Jan.  21,  1866. 

Mr.  Reynolds  of  this  sketch  was  reared  principally 
in  this  county  on  a  farm,  performing  the  labors  com- 
mon to  farmer's  sons  of  the  time  and  locality  in 
which  lie  lived,  and  receiving  the  advantages  afforded 
by  the  common  schools.  His  father  sold  out  the 
original  tract  which  he  owned  and  purchased  640 
acres  on  sections  T5  and  22,  and  at  the  date  of  his 
death,  Linus  C.  and  his  brother,  Clark  G.,  bought 
the  interests  the  other  heirs  had  in  the  property. 
Mr.  Reynolds  still  owns  his  320  acres  and  also  the 
homestead  of  200  acres  where  he  resides,  making  a 
total  of  520  acres  of  land.  He  also  owns  the  house 
and  two  lots  in  Sterling,  where  his  father  formerly 
lived,  and  a  house  and  one-half  acre  of  land  in  Mor- 
rison. He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Sons  of 
Temperance,  and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years. 
When  the  Grange  was  in  active  operation,  he  was  a 
member  of  it. 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sarah  M.  Conner,  Dec.  22,  1858.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  H.  and  Catherine  Conner,  and  was  born 
in  St.  Louis  Co.,  Mo.,  March  12,  1836.  They  have 
four  children,  all  born  in  Prophetstown  Township: 
Fred  A.,  born  Nov.  18,  1859,  is  a  manager  of  the 
Gothenburg  Hank,  at  Gothenburg,  Dawson  Co.,  Neb. ; 
Belle  was  born  April  10,  i86r  ;  Earl  H.  was  lx>rn 
March  24,  1862;  J.  Burr  was  born  July  24,  1865. 
Two  children  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Reynolds  has  grown  up  as  a  son  of  Whiteside 
County  and  became  a  prominent  factor  in  its  growth 
and  progress,  and  it  is  fitting  that  he  should  be 
among  those  chosen  to  represent  the  leading  men  in 
the  galaxy  of  portraits  given  in  this  volume. 


?-|B** 

•  '    -./I    ohn  P.   Badgley,  of  the   firm  of  Stilson   iV 
||jj[|-  Badgley,  general    merchants   at  Tampico, 

>    was  born  Dec.  6,  i83r,  in  the  township  of  • 

Gallipolis,  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio,  where  his  parents,  j 

Anthony  and  Sallie   (King)  Badgley,  becpme  t 

residents  before  their   marriage.     The  ances-  v 

tors  of  both  lines  of  descent   were  natives  of  New  " 

r.' 
f\    r~*.  •^Jjxa.nr'  !>  -  ^.•Vv/VSs    KflS 


3j£V@>5«l^ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


England.  Mr.  Badgley  passed  the  years  of  his 
minority  in  his  native  State.  In  1852  he  came  to 
Kendall  Co.,  111.,  whither  his  father  came  soon  after- 
ward, and  is  now  resident  there,  aged  78.  The 
mother  died  in  Ohio  in  1845.  In  Kendall  County, 
the  father  and  son  engaged  in  farming,  and  operated 
jointly  some  years.  In  18157  the  latter  located  on 
a  farm  in  Tampico  Township,  and  was  its  occu- 
pant until  1883.  In  that  year  he  went  to  Brown 
Co.,  Dak.,  whence  he  returned  eight  months  later 
and  formed  his  present  business  association.  He 
is  the  owner  of  320  acres  of  land  in  Dakota.  In 
political  faith  and  relations  Mr.  Badgley  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  he  has  been  many 
years  officially  connected  with  the  society.  He  has 
also  been  identified  with  the  local  affairs  of  Tampico 
village. 

Mr.  Badgley  was  married  in  January,  1854,  to 
Sarah  A.  Glassburn.  She  was  born  in  August,  1837, 
in  the  township  of  Gallipolis,  Ohio,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  farmer.  Following  are  the  names  of  the 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Badgley  :  Mary  J.,  John, 
Ida,  "  Jed"  and  Minnie  are  married  ;  Hettie  E.  and 
Perry  are  not  living;  Hallie  resides  with  her  parents. 


[fames  A.  Sweet,  a  resident  on  section  14, 
is  one  of  the  earliest  of  the  permanent  set- 
tlers of  the  township  of  Garden  Plain, 
having  located  within  its  borders  in  September, 
1839.  Mr.  Sweet  was  born  March  11,  1811, 
in  the  town  of  Fayette,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.  He 
is  the  oldest  son  of  Lemuel  and  Elizabeth  (Acker- 
man)  Sweet.  His  grandfather  and  father  were  na- 
tives of  Rhode  Island,  and  were  among  the  pioneers 
of  the  Empire  State.  They  both  died  in  Seneca 
County.  The  Ackerman  family,  from  whom  Mr. 
Sweet  is  descended  in  the  maternal  line,  were  from 
New  Jersey,  and  were  of  Holland  descent. 

Mr.  Sweet  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  He 
was  carefully  educated,  and  on  his  father's  death,  in 
1837 — although  only  16  years  of  age — he  readily 
obtained  a  position  as  a  teacher.  He  spent  nearly 
ten  years  in  that  occupation  before  coming  to  Illi- 
nois. He  traveled  from  his  home  to  Erie,  Pa.,  by 
canal  and  steamboat,  and  thence  by  stage  to  Pitts- 


burg,  whence  he  journeyed  by  steamboat  on  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers  to  St.  Louis.  He  was 
was  attacked  by  illness  at  that  place,  and  nearly  a 
month  elapsed  before  he  recovered.  He  went  from 
there  to  Quincy,  and  remained  until  September,  when 
he  proceeded  up  the  river  and  landed  at  Albany, 
where  he  met  his  uncle,  Stephen  Sweet,  who  had 
secured  claims  in  the  township  now  known  as  Gar- 
den Plain.  From  him  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
lying  on  sections  14  and  24,  which  he  secured  at  the 
land  sale  at  Galena,  Oct.  21,  1839.  Later  in  the 
same  autumn  he  entered  80  acres  on  section  4  of  the 
same  township. 

Mr.  Sweet  taught  school  in  Albany  the  winter  en- 
suing, and  in  the  spring  following  he  went  back  to 
his  former  home  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  there 
resumed  teaching.  He  continued  in  his  native  State 
until  the  spring  of  1842,  when  he  returned  to  his 
claims  of  land  in  Whiteside  County.  In  the  winter 
of  1842-3  he  taught  his  last  term  of  school  at 
Albany.  He  was  married  at  Lyndon,  in  December, 
1845,  to  Miss  Judith  Green.  The  estimable  young 
pair  began  their  housekeeping  in  a  log  cabin,  on  the" 
southwest  quarter  of  section  24,  where  they  lived 
two  years,  removing  thence  to  the  homestead  on 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  14.  A  small  frame 
house  sufficed  for  their  needs,  and  it  is  now  in- 
cluded'in  the  commodious  dwelling  which  has  been 
constructed  by  later  additions.  The  place  is  in 
valuable  condition.  The  excellent  wife  and  mother 
died  in  April,  1877.  The  family  included  nine  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  reached  mature  life :  Tames 

•"  V 

L.  was  born  May  14,  1847;  he  enlisted  when  17 
years  of  age,  and  served  through  the  war:  he  mar- 
ried Ellen  Emmons,  and  went  to  Kansas;  after  a 
residence  there  of  two  years  he  returned  with  his 
family  to  Garden  Plain,  where  he  was  a  resident 
until  his  death,  May  22,  1885;  Hiram  E.  married 
Mary  George;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  L.  W.  Slocumb, 
and  they  reside  in  O'Brien  Co.,  Iowa;  Maggie  is  the 
wife  of  Freeman  Hanna,  of  Walla  Walla,  Oregon; 
Edward  S.  live  in  Garden  Plain,  as  do  Emma  and 
Ernest;  Esther  and  Willie  are  deceased. 

The  abilities  of  Mr.  Sweet  were  early  recognized 
and  made  available  in  the  local  government.  In 
August,  1844,  he  was  elected  Sheriff,  and  by  virtue 
of  his  office  was  Assessor  of  the  county.  He  held 
the  office  two  years.  In  1845  he  was  appointed 
Census  Enumerator  for  the  county  of  Whiteside. 


te) 

i 


He  has  been  Supervisor  and  Assessor  and  was  Post- 
master at  Garden  Plains  for  many  years.  He  has 
been  School  Director  several  terms,  and  in  all  his 
official  life  has  pursued  an  undeviating  course  of 
integrity  and  uprightness.  He  is  considered  a 
representative  of  the  best  elements  in  social  and 
public  life  in  the  county.  He  was  a  Whig  in  early 
life,  but  has  been  an  uncompromising  Republican 
since  the  formation  of  the  party. 


?lpheus  Mathews,  a  substantial  farmer  on 
section   11,  Garden  Plain   Township,  was 
born  Jan.  14,  1812,  in  the  town  of  Hector, 
Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.     His  parents,  Stephen 
and  Patience  (Wightman)  Mathews,  were  both 
natives  of  the  Empire  State,  where  they  were 
fanners. 

Mr.  Mathews  is  their  third  son,  and  he  was  given 
the  advantage  of  a  practical  education,  which  he 
made  available  in  teaching.  He  began  his  first  ef- 
forts in  that  vocation  when  he  was  21.  In  the  fall 
of  1835,  on  account  of  failing  health,  he  went  to 
New  Orleans,  where  he  passed  the  winter,  returning 
to  the  place  of  his  birth  in  the  spring.  In  the  fall 
of  1837,  he  came  to  VVhiteside  County.  He -was  a 
single  man,  and  traveled  according  to  his  circum- 
stances and  the  facilities  which  the  period  afforded. 
He  journeyed  to  Chicago  on  the  lakes,  and  walked 
from  ti.at  city  to  VVhiteside  County.  He  bought 
a  'timber  claim,  and  also  entered  one  on  his  own 
responsibility  on  the  prairie  located  on  section  13, 
township  21,  range  3,  as  Garden  Plain  Township 
was  then  designated.  He  made  some  improvements 
on  his  property,  which  he  sold  in  1844.  He  made 
further  purchases  on  sections  4  and  5  in  the  same 
township,  where  he  made  considerable  improvement, 
and  built  a  log  cabin.  In  1846  he  sold  his  prairie 
farm,  but  retained  the  timber  for  a  time.  He  fixed 
his  residence  in  Ustick  Township,  where  he  lived 
some  years.  In  1850  he  bought  the  farm  he  now  oc- 
cupies, situated  on  sections  2  and  1 1. 

Mr.  Matliews  was  married  Nov.  10,  1839,  to  Aby- 
lene  Bethea.  She  was  born  Dec.  20,  1819,  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  died  Oct.  20,  1844.  Mary,  the  first- 
born child  of  this  union,  was  the  first  white  child 
born  in  the  township.  Her  birth  occurred  Aug.  20, 


1840.  She  married  Samuel  Montgomery,  and  died 
in  1872.  William,  born  March  3,  1842,  died  in 
February,  1879,  in  Missouri,  where  he  was  a  farmer. 
He  entered  the  military  service  during  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  8th  111.  Cav. 
three  years.  Carrie,  born  May  27,  1843,  manied 
Daniel  George,  and  died  in  March,  1877,  in  Kansas. 
Another  child  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Mathews  was  a 
second  time  married  Oct.  ri,  1846,  to  Lois  Ingham, 
widow  of  Thomas  Patrick.  They  have  had  three 
children  :  Martha  is  the  wife  of  G.  B.  Griswold,  and 
they  reside  in  Spink  Co.,  D.  T.  ;  Ida  is  the  wife  of 
W.  J.  Malcom,  of  Garden  Plain :  Charles  is  de- 
ceased. The  mother  died  May  23,  1863.  Mr. 
Mathews  married  for  his  third  wife  Sarah  Porter. 
She  was  born  March  31,  1815,  in  Pennsylvania. 

Although  Mr.  Mathews  has  suffered  many  years 
from  precarious  health,  he  has  been  enabled,  solely 
through  good  management,  to  accumulate  a  fine 
property,  and  is  rated  among  the  valuable  citizenship 
of  the  county.  He  has  secured  through  reading  and 
observation  a  well  disciplined  and  well  stored  mind, 
and  is  esteemed  among  his  associates  by  his  social, 
genial  nature. 


illiam  Granville  Nevitt,  a  farmer  on  sec- 
tion 6,  Newton  Township,  was  born 
*  March  22, 1814,  in  Breckenridge  Co.,  Ky., 
x>  and  is  the  fourth  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Edlin)  Nevitt.  His  parents  came  to  White 
Co.,  111.,  when  he  was  five  years  old,  and  he 
there  grew  to  man's  estate.  He  was  18  when  the 
second  invasion  of  Black  Hawk  took  place,  and  he 
volunteered  in  what  was  designated  the  Spy  Battalion 
of  the  Second  Brigade,  in  command  of  Colonel 
McHenry.  He  was  equipped  by  his  father  with  a 
horse  and  gun  and  was  a  participant  in  the  battle  of 
Bad  Ax.  After  the  capture  of  the  troublesome 
chief,  Mr.  Nevitt  set  out  on  his  return.  He  desired 
to  make  his  way  to  his  brother's  in  Knox  County  and 
he  started  alone  on  his  pony.  He  found  his  gun 
burdensome  and  he  threw  it  away.  The  first  night 
he  found  himself  at  the  confluence  of  two  creeks, 
and  he  picketed  his  horse  and  slept  on  the  ground. 
At  day  dawn  he  again  set  forth  and  toward  nightfall 
struck  a  trail  which  led  to  a  cabin  in  a  corn  field,  out 

S^ -$g 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


with  no  human  being  near.  He  pressed  on  until  he 
came  to  another  cabin  without  an  occupant,  and  he 
again  rode  on,  following  the  trail  which  led  to  a  block 
house,  where  he  found  the  proprietors  of  the  empty 
houses.  This  was  near  Henderson  Grove  in  Knox 
County.  He  reached  his  brother  the  next  day  and 
remained  with  him  two  weeks,  after  which  he  went 
to  Lewistown  to  see  his  brother-in-law.  He  reached 
his  home  in  September.  He  spent  the  next  two 
years  as  an  assistant  in  a  blacksmith  shop,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Knox  County.  In  1836  he 
went  to  Oquawka  and  there  engaged  to  help  build  a 
saw-mill.  He  joined  his  parents  in  Albany  in  1837. 

In  June  he  started  in  company  with  the  Slocumbs 
to  make  claims.  They  went  in  a  southeasterly 
course  and  located  in  what  is  now  Newton  Town- 
ship, making  a  claim  on  the  west  half  of  section  6, 
Stephen  B.  Slocumb  locating  the  east  half  of  the 
same.  The  other  Slocumbs,  four  in  number,  made 
claims  east  of  section  6  in  the  same  township. 
Their  land  lay  in  a  straight  line  and  the  thorough- 
fare on  which  it  was  situated  was  called  Slocumb 
Street.  Mr.  Nevitt  cut  logs  and  hewed  timber  foi  a 
dwelling  and  sent  to  Maquoketa,  Iowa,  for  sawed 
lumber.  His  dwelling  was  16  x  24  feet.  He  after- 
ward increased  its  dimensions  and  occupied  it  until 
1855,  when  he  built  the  brick  residence  now  occu- 
pied by  himself  and  family.  Mr.  Nevitt  had  the  use 
of  three  yoke  of  oxen  during  the  first  year  of  his 
residence  in  Newton  Township,  and  he  was  busy  all 
summer  breaking  prairie  for  his  neighbors,  receiving 
$5  per  acre  fc-r  his  services.  He  also  went  to  Beaver 
Island  to  draw  logs  for  a  steam  mill  at  Albany.  He 
drew  one  60  feet  long  that  would  "  square  "  14  inches, 
'which  had  been  sought  in  vain  by  David  Mitchell 
and  a  man  named  Bergen,  who  also  had  an  interest 
in  the  mill. 

Mr.  Nevitt  returned  to  White  Co.,  111.,  in  the  fall 
of  1837  and  spent  the  winter.  March  5,  1838,  he 
was  married  to  Leannah,  daughter  of  John  and 
Rebecca  (Merely)  Martin.  The  parents  of  his  wife 
were  natives  of  North  Carolina,  and  were  pioneers 
of  White  County.  April  sth  the  bridegroom  set  out 
with  his  bride  to  make  their  way  to  their  future 
home.  Both  were  on  horseback,  Mrs.  Nevitt  riding 
one  given  her  by  her  father.  They  were  14  days 
making  the  trip.  They  stayed  a  few  days  with  the 
parents  of  Mr.  Nevitt,  until  their  house  was  com- 


pleted. They  owned  two  chairs,  which  was  presented 
to  them  by  the  husband's  parents.  Seven  of  nine 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nevitt  are  still  living. 
Mary  married  D.  J.  Markee,  of  Newton  Township; 
Martha  is  the  wife  of  H.  H.  Bliss,  of  Webster  Co., 
Iowa;  Perry  resides  in  Newton  Township;  Olney 
is  a  resident  of  Minneapolis,  Minn ;  Nannie  is  the 
wife  of  C.  C.  Cleudening.  of  the  same  place  ;  Hettie 
married  Charles  Osborne,  of  Minneapolis;  Minnie 
resides  at  home. 


ames  Watkins  Boss,  farmer  on  section  30, 
Ustick  Township,  was  born  May  25,  1838, 
in  Clarendon,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  and  is  the 
oldest  son  of  Walter  and  Eliza  (Webb)  Ross. 
His  father  was  born  July  14,  1800,  in  Grafton, 
Vt.,  and  was  married  in  Shrewsbury,  Vt., 
whither  his  parents  had  removed  early  in  the  igth 
century.  His  mother  was  born  March  16,  1805,  in 
Hardwick,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  and  removed  with 
her  father's  family  to  Vermont.  Their  children, 
nine  in  number,  were  born  in  the  following  order : 
Catharine,  Melvina,  Loantha,  Luceba,  James  W., 
John  W.,  Aldis  D.,  George  W.  and  Elbridge.  The 
two  oldest  daughters  are  living,  and  Mr.  Ross  has 
three  brothers  who  still  survive.  His  youngest 
brother  is  deceased.  His  father  died  Sept.  28,  1871. 
The  demise  of  his  mother  occurred  July  7,  1874. 

Mr.  Ross  received  a  common-school  education 'in 
his  native  county  and  was  thoroughly  trained  in  a 
knowledge  of  agriculture  on  his  father's  farm.  His 
marriage  to  Harriet  Barney  took  place  Jan.  2,  1867, 
and  they  have  two  daughters.  Frances  L.  was  born 
in  Clarendon,  Vt.,  Jan.  25,  1870;  Gertrude  E.  was 
born  in  Ustick  Township  Nov.  18,  1874.  Mrs.  Ross 
was  born  Aug.  14,  1840,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Jef- 
frey A.  and  Harriet  (Ewing)  Barney.  Mr.  Barney 
was  born  June  17,  1801,  in  Shrewsbury,  Vt.,  and 
was  married  there  in  1823.  He  died  Oct.  26,  1880, 
in  Schoolcraft,  Mich.,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  sons. 
His  wife  was  born  Match  18,  1806,  in  Rutland,  Vt., 
and  died  Nov.  12,  1879,  in  Shrewsbury.  Their  chil- 
dren, ten  in  number,  were  named  Allen,  S.  Rolla, 
Edward,  Frank,  Rush,  John,  Mary,  Duar.e,  Harriet, 
and  Carnelia.  They  are  all  living. 


s 


- 


•  . 


;••>  •: 


•31  -    .- 


WHITESJUE  COUJV2Y. 


Mr.  Ross  was  a  resident  of  Clarendon  four  years 
after  his  marriage,  when,  in  1871,  he  settled  in  Us- 
tick  Township,  and  purchased  76  acres  of  land. 
He  lias  added  by  latter  purchase  until  he  is  now  the 
proprietor  of  193  acres,  with  140  acres  under  tillage. 
He  is  engaged  in  mixed  husbandry — grain  and  stock 
raising. 

In  political  belief  and  relations  he  is  an  uncom- 
promising Republican. 


j'ustus  Eew,  resident  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, is  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Rew  &  Thompson,  real-estate  and  loan 
agents  at  Grundy  Center,  lowy.  He  was  born 
May  3,  181 1,  in  the  township  of  Orwell,  Rut- 
land Co.,  Vt.  He  is  the  son  of  Henry  and 
Anna  (Benson)  Rew,  and  when  he  was  eight  years  of 
age  his  parents  removed  to  the  township  of  Sullivan, 
in  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  where  the  father  and  mother  both 
died.  Their  family  included  two  sons.  Benjamin, 
the  younger,  was  a  farmer  in  Sullivan  Township  and 
died  there  in  1883.  The  father  was  the  second  man 
who  mined  coal  in  the  now  extensive  fields  of  Bloss- 
burg,  Pa.,  which  he  did  in  1818. 

Mr.  Rew  of  this  sketch  passed  his  boyhood  and 
later  youth  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1833  he  came 
West  to  Portage,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  three 
years.  In  1836  he  proceeded  thence  to  Wisconsin, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  near  the  city  of  Mil- 
waukee. In  1839  he  decided  on  a  return  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  remained  until  t845,  and  was 
variously  employed  while  there  as  a  carpenter,  black- 
smith and  farmer. 

In  1845  Mr  Rew  determined  to  establish  his 
home  permanently  in  the  then  far  West,  and  he 
came  with  that  intent  to  Whiteside  County.  He 
bought  200  acres  of  land  in  the  township  of  Lyndon, 
of  which  he  took  possession  and  entered  and  proved 
his  claim  when  it  came  into  market.  He  remained 
its  occupant  until  1877  and  had  converted  it  into  a 
fine  and  valuable  farm,  having  excellent  buildings 
and  all  necessary  farm  equipments.  The  death  of 
his  wife  in  1877  set  aside  the  necessity  and  inclina- 
tion to  maintain  a  home  in  his  changed  circum- 


stances,  and  lie  sold  the  place  that  had  been  for 
over  30  years  the  object  of  his  efforts,  and  on  which 
he  had  expended  the  best  energies  of  his  manhood's 
prime.  He  has  since  been  an  inmate  of  the  families 
of  friends  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township. 

In  1881  Mr.  Rew  formed  a  partnership  with  Sam- 
uel Wilkinson,  of  Morrison,  and  L.  G.  Johnson  and 
they  established  a  banking  institution  at  Ordway, 
Brown  Co.,  D.  T.,  which  they  continued  to  operate 
until  the  spring  of  1884.  In  February,  1883,  Mr. 
Rew  entered  into  his  present  relations  with  M.  J. 
Thompson,  of  Grundy  Center,  Iowa,  and  they  are 
engaged  in  an  extensive  traffic  in  real  estate  and  are 
operating  with  success  as  loan  agents.  He  was  one 
of  the  corporation  in  the  construction  of  the  Rock- 
ford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  and  also 
one  of  its  directors.  He  was  also  a  director  of  the 
Rockford  &  Rock  Island  Railroad.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Morrison.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  views  and  acted  as  Supervisor 
of  Lyndon  Township  seven  terms,  officiating  one 
year  as  Chairman  of  the  Board. 

He  was  married  May  23,  1841,  in  Sullivan  Town- 
ship, Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  to  Phebe  Reynolds.  She  was 
born  there  April  27,  1814,  and  died  at  her  home  in 
Whiteside  County  Aug.  17,  1877. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Rew,  which  appears  on  page 
662,  is  a  reprint  from  a  photograph  taken  in  1885 
(current  year). 

Mr.  Rew  is  such  a  man  in  physical  development 
and  mental  traits  as  the  historical  annals  of  the 
frontiers  and  the  imaginations  of  the  novelists  have 
placed  on  peunanent  record  as  one  type  of  Ameiican 
nationality.  His  height  is  six  feet  and  four  inches; 
his  frame  is  firmly  and  compactly  built;  he  has  the 
brawn  and  sinew  of  the  ideal  pioneer,  fitted  to  con- 
tend successfully  with  the  conditions  of  pioneer 
existence;  he  possesses  a  keen  and  discriminating 
mind  and  intellectual  ability,  and  tastes  that  entitle 
him  to  a  fair  rank  in  the  world  of  culture.  The 
rugged  luxuriance  of  Burns  and  other  poets  afford 
to  Mr.  Rew  a  great  source  of  enjoyment,  and  he  has 
at  control  a  stock  of  quotations,  with  which,  on  oc- 
casion, he  gives  his  friends  a  delightful  entertain- 
ment. His  own  pathetic  resume  of  his  circumstances 
is  the  best  possible  representative:  "I  am  74  years 
old,  without-  father  or  mother,  sister  or  brother,  uncle 
or  aunt,  son  or  daughter,  and  the  last  male  repre- 


sentative  of  the  fifth  generation."  He  has  been  an 
active,  enterprising  man  ;  his  declaration  is  as  good 
as  an  oath,  and  he  has  spent  his  life  in  rectitude 
and  uprightness.  His  record  is  stainless. 


'  enry  S.  Woods  is  a  farmer  and  stock -grower 
|f  of  Coloma  Township  and  is  a  resident  on 
section  32.  His  parents,  Junius  and  Dia- 
damia  (Cook)  Woods,  were  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut. His  grandfather,  Samuel  Woods,  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  was  in  active  ser- 
vice during  the  seven  years  of  that  conflict.  He 
was  the  son  cTCol.  Nicholas  Woods,  an  officer  of  the 
English  army  in  the  struggle  known  to  history  as  the 
French  and  English  War  and  lost  his  life  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Sackett's  Harbor.  Junius  Woods  was  a  fife 
major  for  a  short  time  in  the  War  of  1812.  Orson 
C.  Woods,  the  third  son  of  the  latter,  was  in  the 
military  service  of  the  United  States  during  three 
years  of  the  Civil  War,  escaping  without  .injury. 
The  parents  settled  after  their  marriage  in  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  died.  Their  children  were 
named  Nancy  M.,  Samuel  T.,  Clarissa,  Henry  S., 
Orson  C.,  Helen  F.,  Junius  and  Junius  E.  Junius 
died  when  three  years  old. 

Mr  Woods  was  born  Feb.  15,  r829,  in  Oneida 
Co ,  N.  Y.  His  first  business  venture  was  as  a 
liveryman,  when  he  was  19  years  of  age,  and  he  es- 
tablished his  interests  in  the  town  of  Camden,  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  Y. ;  continued  his  operations  there  until 
1862,  when  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Whiteside 
County.  He  farmed  the  first  year  on  a  rented  farm 
in  the  township  of  Montmorency,  residing  mean- 
while in  the  city  of  Sterling.  He  then  rented  a  farm 
in  Coloma  Township,  which  he  managed  five  years. 
He  then  purchased  160  acres  on  which  he  has  since 
conducted  his  agricultural  operations,  and  is  devot- 
ing much  effort  and  attention  to  the  improvement  of 
his  stock,  especially  in  horses.  Mr.  Woods  is  a 
Republican  and  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

He.  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sophia  F.  McCune, 
Sept.  22,  1853,  in  Camden,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Lillie  A.,  now  the  wife  of  B.  F. 
Woodford,  of  Rock  Falls.  Mrs.  Woods  was  born 
Oct.  6,  1829,  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Stephen  and  Polly  (Davenport)  McCune. 


Her  parents  were  natives  of  Vermont  and  removed 
thence  to  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  whence  they  made 
another  removal  a  few  years  later,  to  Akron,  Ohio. 
There  the  father  died,  and  the  mother  returned  to 
Oneida  County  to  spend  her  remaining  years.  She 
died  at  Delphos,  Ohio,  whither  she  had  gone  for  a 
visit.  Their  children  were  n  in  number  and  were 
named  Polly,  Lydia,  Harlow,  Eliza,  William,  Charles 
H.,  Francis  S.,  Jerusha,  Sophia,  Orilla  and  Catha- 
rine A.  Mrs.  Woods  is  a  communicant  in  the 
Episcopal  Church. 


acob  F.  Leonard,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Notary  Public  and  insurance  agent  at 
Tampico,  was  born  April  10,  1838,  in 
Greene  Co.,  Pa.  John  Leonard,  his  father, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  State,  and  a  farmer. 
He  died  when  his  son  was  six  months  old. 
The  latter  was  brought  up  by  his  mother,  Hannah 
(Reinhart)  Leonard,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
and  was  of  German  lineage.  She  married  again  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  r85r,  settling  in  Bureau  County. 
She  is  still  living  in  that  county,  and  is  married  to 
her  third  husband,  William  Adams,  a  farmer  in  Fair- 
field  Township.  Mr.  Leonard  was  a  resident  of 
Greene  County  until  he  was  14  years  of  age,  when  in 
1852  he  came  to  Bureau  County.  He  remained  there 
a  few  years  and  went  to  Kansas,  settling  in  an  un- 
organized part  of  the  State,  which  is  now  Chase 
County.  In  the  summer  of  1860  he  went  to  Pike's 
Peak,  and  after  a  brief  stay  came  back  to  Kansas 
and  soon  after  to  Illinois.  He  resided  for  a  time  with 
his  inoiher,  in  Bureau  County,  attending  svhool. 

He  was  married  Sept.  18,  1863,  in  Bureau  County, 
to  Martha  A.  Hayes.  She  was  born  Feb.  18,  1847, 
in  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  whence  her  parents  removed  to 
Henry  County,  and  after  some  years  to  Bureau 
County.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  her  and 
her  husband,  and  they  are  all  deceased, — Leroy  H., 
Archa  B.,  and  Millroy. 

Feb.  8,  1865,  Mr.  Leonard  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  1481!! 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Stubbs. 
The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee under  Col.  H.  H.  Wilsie.  Mr.  Leonard  was 
in  no  active  engagements,  and  was  discharged  Sept. 
5,  r865,  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

He  returned  to   Bureau  County  and  became  inter- 


V§) 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


I 


t 


* 


ested  in  farming,  which  he  followed  there  until  1875. 
In  that  year  he  settled  at  Tampico  and  has  been  in- 
terested to  some  extent  in  the  business  of  an  insur- 
ance agent.  In  1877,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  has  been  an  incumbent  of  the  office  eight 
years.  He  owns  280  acres  of  land  in  Bureau  County, 
and  considerable  property  in  the  village  of  Tampico. 
He  is  a  zealous  and  uncompromising  Republican, 
and  has  served  as  Village  Trustee.  He  is  Quarter- 
master in  the  local  post  of  the  G.  A.  R.  at  Tampico, 
^  and  belongs  to  the  Blue  Lodge,  Masonic  Order. 


Francis,  one  of  the  progressive  farmers 
of  Whiteside  County  and  the  owner  of  240 
acres  of  land  located  on  sections  14  and  IT 
of  Prophetstown  Township,  is  a  native  of 
Lincolnshire,  Eng.,  in  which  country  he  was 
born  Dec.  22,  1847.  His  parents  were  John 
£  and  Susanna  Francis,  natives  of  the  same  country. 
:  Their  family  comprised  ten  children,  nine  of  whom 
i>  survive:  Charles  follows  the  occupation  of  a  farmer 
I  in  England;  John  follows  the  same  vocation  in  the 
^y  same  country,  and  Susan  is  a  widow,  residing  like- 
wise in  England ;  Job  is  a  farmer  residing  in  Ida 
Co.,  Iowa ;  Jane,  a  twin  sister  to  Job,  is  married  and 
resides  in  Moorestown,  N.  J. ;  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Edward  Lancaster,  a  farmer  residing  in  Prophets- 
town  Township;  William  is  also  a  farmer,  and 
Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Clark,  also  a  farmer 
of  Prophetstown  Township;  Isaac,  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  next  in  order  of  birth.  The  deceased  was 
i  Anna,  who  died  when  12  years  of  age.  His  mother 
died  when  he  was  16  years  of  age,  and  in  1864,  in 
company  with  his  father,  he  came  to  Moorestown, 
Burlington  Co.,  N.  J.,  from  across  the  water.  In 
the  latter  State  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  the 
spring  of  1869,  when  he  and  his  father  came  to 
Prophetstown,  this  county,  and  in  the  spring  of  1871 
rented  land  from  George  P.  Richmond  and  J.  H. 
Mosher,  and  engaged  in  the  vocation  of  farming. 
Seven  years  later  he  bought  his  present  farm  of  240 
acres.  His  father  resided  with  him  until  the  date  of 
his  death,  April  25,  1883,  aged  80  years,  2  months 
and  25  days.  His  mother  died  July  2,  1863,  aged 
57  years,  3  months  and  14  days. 

Mr.  Francis  has  a  fine  farm,  under  a  good  state  of 

'giV-gr-g  >*•-,.  ^^gna.^ r^  \ 

^yvv^rf** 


cultivation,  with  good  residence  and  outbuildings, 
and  makes  a  specialty  of  stock  raising.  He  has  30 
head  of  high-grade  Short-horns,  and  usually  has 
from  50  to  70  head  of  cattle.  He  has  20  head  of 
horses,  and  his  specialty  in  the  latter  line  is  confined 
to  the  Clydesdale  breed,  of  which  he  has  nine  head  ; 
he  also  has  usually  from  75  to  100  head  of  hogs  on 
hand. 

Mr.  Francis  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in 
Moorestown,  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J.,  March  11,  1869, 

with  Miss  Thomson,  a  daughter  of  Pemberion 

and  Margaret  Thomson.  She  was  born  in  Moores- 
town, Oct.  9,  1848.  The  issue  of  their  union  com- 
prises five  children,  all  born  in  this  county.  Their 
record  is  as  follows:  Laura  T.,  bor^May  i,  1870; 
Jennie,  June  7,  1872;  George  Henry,  May  19,  1875  ; 
Willie  T.,  Jan.  19,  1879;  John  P.,  April  18,  1883. 

Socially,  Mr.  Francis  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
Masonry,  the  A.  O.  U.  AV.  and  the  Order  of  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America. 


'hompson  M.  Wylie,  member  of  the  mer- 
cantile firm  of  McMillan  &  Wylie,  at 
Tampico,  was  born  June  29,  1837,  in  Fay- 
ette  Co.,  Pa.  Joseph  L.  Wylie,  his  father,  was 
a  hardware  merchant  and  was  married  in 
Fayette  County  to  Jane  McKean,  a  native  of 
the  same  county  and  State,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
The  parents  of  Mr.  Wylie  reside  on  a  f;irm  in  Tam- 
pico Township. 

He  was  educated  primarily  in  the  district  schools 
of  his  native  county,  and  completed  his  studies  at 
Madison  College  when  19.  He  had  also  taught 
nine  terms  of  school.  In  1857  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Illinois,  and  the  family  located  in  Tiskilwa, 
Bureau  County,  where  Mr.  Wylie  was  a  resident  un- 
til he  entered  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States  during  the  Civil  War.  He  enlisted  Aug.  15, 
1862,  from  Bureau  County,  in  the  93d  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
enrolling  in  Co.  E,  Captain  C.  Wilkinson.  The 
regiment  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Putnam,  of 
Freeport,  111.,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  Following  is  a  list  of  engagements  in 
which  Mr.  Wylie  was  a  participant :  Jackson,  Miss., 
May  14,  1863;  Champion  Hill,  May  16;  Vicks- 
burg,  May  22.  At  the  latter  he  sustained  a  gunshot 
wound  in  the  calf  of  his  leg.  On  recovery  he  was 


• 

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=3 

ty 


transferred  to  the  151!!  Army  Corps  under  General 
Ix)gan,  and  was  afterwards  in  action  at  Mission 
Ridge,  Nov.  16,  1863,  and  at  Altoona,  Oct.  5  of  the 
same  year.  The  regiment  was  attached  to  the  com- 
mand of  General  Sherman  and  from  that  on  was 
under  his  orders  during  the  march  through  Georgia 
to  the  sea,  and  the  Carol  inas  and  thence  to  the 
final  scenes  at  Washington.  Mr.  Wylie  received  his 
discharge  July  5,  1865. 

He  returned  to  Bureau  County  and  was  for  a 
short  time  interested  in  the  lumber  business.  He 
came  to  Tampico  in  1871  and  formed  the  business 
relations  in  which  he  has  since  been  engaged.  The 
yearly  aggregate  of  the  transactions  of  the  firm  make 
an  extended  and  prosperous  exhibit. 

Mr.  Wylie  is  a  Democrat  in  political  affiliation. 
He  has  served  his  township  in  the  capacities  of 
Supervisor  and  Clerk. 

He  was  first  married  in  Neenah,  Wis.,  to  Helen 
Kellogg.  She  was  born  and  educated  in  that  place 
and  was  the  daughter  of  a  Wisconsin  farmer.  She 
died  in  Bureau  Co., ,111  Mr.  Wylie  was  married  a 
second  time,  in  Bureau  County,  Nov.  4,  1871,  to 
Minnie  Barnard.  She  was  born  July  29,  1849,  in 
the  county  where  she  was  married,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Josiah  and  Joanna  (Carter)  Barnard.  Her 
parents  were  of  New  England  origin  and  her  father 
was  a  business  man  of  Bureau  County.  Blanche, 
born  July  12,  1872;  Ralph,  born  Aug.  5,  1878,  and 
1  racy,  born  May  6,  1883,  are  the  names  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wylie.  The  parents  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Wylie 
has  been  connected  with  its  official  Board  since  the 
organization  of  the  society  at  Tampico.  He  is  also 
Sunday-school  Superintendent. 


rederick    Hageman,    farmer,  section    21, 
Hopkins  Township,  has  been  an   agricul- 
turist  in    Whiteside   County   since    1858. 
In    1875   he  bought   200   acres  of  partly  im- 
proved land  in  the  township  where  he  has  since 
prosecuted  his  farming  projects.  It  is  nearly  all 
under  tillage. 

He  was  born  May  18,  1818,  in  Germany,  also  the 
native  place  of  his  parents,  David  and  Sophia  Hage- 
man. He  had  two  brothers,  Gotfried  and  William, 


botli  his  seniors.  He  was  40  years  old  when  he  left 
his  native  country,  coming  immediately  on  landing  to 
Whiteside  County.where  he  bought  a  farm  in  Jordan 
Township,  on  which  he  lived  until,  as  stated,  he  re- 
moved to  Hopkins  Township. 

He  was  married  in  Germany  to  Charlotte  Moss, 
by  whom  he  had  1 1  children,  named  as  follows : 
August  F.  W.,  John  F.  W.,  Augusta  C.,  Herman  A., 
Christina,  Frederick,  Maria,  Frank,  John,  Charles 
and  Rosa.  The  motherdied  May  21,  1872,  in  Jordan 
Township.  Mr.  Hageman  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage Oct.  13,  1873,  with  Christina  Strehl.  She  was 
born  Nov.  17,  1835,  in  Germany.  They  are  members 
of  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  In  political  sen- 
timent Mr.  Hageman  is  a  Democratic. 


'homas  Shuler  Beach,  Sheriff  of  Whiteside 
County,  resident  at  Morrison,  was  born 
at  Battle  Creek,  Mich  ,  May  8,  1847,  and 
is  the  son  of  Asahel  and  Martha  Ann  (Cady) 
Beach.  His  father  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
I  Mary  Beach,  who  were  natives  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained  was  the 
youngest  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  four  children 
— three  sons  and  a  daughter.  The  latter  was  named 
Polly.  Thaddeus,  Thomas,  John  and  Asahel  were  all 
disciples  of  Esculapius  and  became  eminent  in  their 
practice  as  physicians  and  surgeons.  Asahel  Beach 
was  born  Dec.  25,  1799,  at  Cambridge,  Washington 
Co.,  N.  Y.  He  went  in  early  manhood  to  Western 
New  York,  where  he  was  married,  Oct.  24,  1826,  in 
Mendon,  Monroe  County.  His  wife  was  born  there 
Oct.  24,  1809.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Cholett  and 
Martha  (Vandeveer)  Cady.  Dr.  Beach  removed  his 
family  to  Michigan  in  October,  1834.  His  house- 
hold included  his  wife  and  infant  daughter — Martha 
A.  The  later  was  seized  with  fatal  illness  on  the 
journey,  and  died  and  was  buried  at  Grass  Lake, 
Mich.,  where  her  parents  stopped  t6  secure  needed 
assistance.  Three  children  were  born  after  Dr. 
Beach  and  his  wife  settled  at  Battle  Creek — Mary 
Adelpha,  Cholett  Cady  and  Thomas  S.  The  daugh- 
ter married  Frank  Bennitt  and  died  at  Battle  Creek 
Nov.  25,  1880.  C.  C.  Beach  is  general  collection 


•v 

/S 


UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


WHITESIDE  COUJVTY. 


> 


((  ) 


(!) 


o 


<< 
I 


agent  for  the  manufacturing  firm  of  Nichols,  Shepard 
&  Co.,  of  Battle  Creek. 

The  mother  died  in  March,  1878.  Dr.  Beach  died 
Dec.  29,  1879.  He  was  in  the  prime  of  his  manhood 
in  one  of  the  most  important  eras  in  the  history  of 
his  country,  and  he  was  ever  keenly  alive  to  the  ob- 
ligations of  his  citizens-hip.  He  was  a  Whig  at  the 
beginning  of  his  political  career;  but  became  an 
Abolitionist  of  the  most  radical  type  and  conducted 
his  relations  to  his  generation  from  the  standpoint  of 
an  inveterate  antagonism  to  the  traffic  in  humanity. 
He  became  a  Republican  in  1856,  and  served  the 
interest  of  his  party  without  swerving.  He  was  ac- 
tive in  the  management  of  the  transportation  system 
known  as  the  Underground  Railroad;  and,  on  the 
advent  of  civil  war,  he  exerted  all  his  influence  in  be- 
half of  an  integral  union.  Although  he  had  relin- 
quished his  practice  from  advancing  age,  he  tendered 
his  services  to  his  adopted  State  in  the  capacity 
of  surgeon,  but  his  infirmities  precluded  the  pos- 
sibility of  his  entering  the  military  service. 

Mr.  Beach  was  educated  primarily  in  the  High 
School  at  Battle  Creek  and  took  a  course  of  business 
instruction  at  Eastman's  Commercial  College,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1866.  He  obtained  a  posi- 
tion with  George  McKinney  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  and 
officiated  as  clerk  and  book-keeper  about  18  months. 
He  then  entered  the  employ  of  S.  H.  McCrea  &  Co., 
upwards  of  five  years.  Within  a  year  after  the  fire 
of  October,  1871,  Mr.  Beach  engaged  in  traffic  in 
grain,  in  which  he  operated  at  first  at  Onslow,  Iowa, 
whence  he  transferred  his  business  relations  to  the 
then  rising  and  plucky  little  village  of  Tampico,  and 
prosecuted  his  operations  in  the  same  line  of  business 
there  until  he  was  first  elected  to  the  official  posi- 
tion of  which  he  is  still  the  incumbent,  in  November, 
1880.  His  transactions  at  Tampico  were  proceeding 
prosperously  when  the  tornado  of  June  6,  1874,  de- 
stroyed an  elevator  and  its  contents,  which  inflicted 
a  loss  that  interfered  materially  with  the  profits, 
though  the  substantial  method  in  which  he  conducted 
his  business  relations  prevented  disastrous  conse- 
quences. 

Mr.  Beach  is  a  Republican  of  decided  stamp,  and 
has  always  sustained  the  general  and  local  issues  of 
the  party.  While  a  resident  of  Tampico  he  was 
made  Town  Clerk  by  several  successive  re-elections, 
and  vacated  the  office  on  account  of  his  election  as 


Sheriff  of  Whiteside  County.  He  was  re-elected  in 
1882  for  the  term  of  four  years.  In  the  administra- 
tion of  the  duties  pertaining  to  his  position,  the  course 
of  Mr.  Beach  has  been  such  as  to  justify  the  wis- 
dom of  his  appointment,  and  his  terms  have  been 
marked  by  judicious  use  of  the  powers  vested  in  him 
by  virtue  of  his  office. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Dec.  25,  1872,  to  S. 
Janie,  daughter  of  David  and  Martha  A.  (Townsend) 
Miller,  of  Chicago.  She  was  born  in  Leroy,  Mich., 
July  8,  1846.  Mary  Adnah,  only  surviving  child  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beach,  was  born  Sept.  27,  1873. 
Asahel  was  born  Nov.  8,  1874,  and  died  Dec.  18, 
1880. 


j;  ufus  M.  Bullock,  general  farmer  and  long 
orre  of  the  leading  and  prominent  citizens 
of  Whiteside,  County  and  residing  upon 
sections  29  and  32,  Tampico  Township,  was 
born  in  Bristol  Co.,  Mass.,  Jan.  26,  1816,  and 
when  a  year  old  his  parents  removed  to  On- 
tario Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  days,  honored  and  respected  people. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  the  farm  in  Ontario 
Count,  and  attended  the  public  schools,  obtaining  a 
good  common-school  education.  At  the  age  of  20 
he  left  his  parental  home  and  began  teaching  school, 
first  in  Ontario  County,  then  in  Massachusetts  and 
then  in  Michigan.  In  1851  he  came  farther  West 
and  located  in  Rockton,  Winnebago  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  built  the  first  cheese-factory  in  the  county,  being 
among  the  first  to  inaugurate  this  business  in  North- 
ern Illinois.  After  running  the  factory  for  three 
years  he  sold  it  and  came  to  Tampico,  this  county, 
desiring  to  change  his  business.  He  settled  upon 
1 60  acres  of  land  which  he  had  previously  purchased, 
and  which  he  still  occupies.  He  is  now  the  pro- 
prietor of  360  acres  altogether,  which  is  mostly  im- 
proved. He  has  a  finely  equipped  farm  and  a  well 
furnished  farmer's  home,  and  in  the  declining  years 
of  his  life  enjoys  the  well  earned  fruits  of  an  ener- 
getic and  successful  career. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Bullock  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  he  has  been  Township  Clerk.  As  to  re- 
ligion, both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are  consistent  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mrs.  Bullock's  father  and 
three  of  her  brothers  were  Baptist  ministers. 


*&» 


: 


; 

S=S 


•    • 


. 


v       . 


WH1TKMDE  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Bullock  was  first  married  in  Bristol  Co.,  Mass., 
March  4,  1844,  to  Miss  Phebe  H.  Gulliver,  who  was 
born  in  that  county,  Jan.  r7,  1820,  and  died  at  her 
home  in  Richmond,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  13, 
1845.  He  was  again  married,  in  Livingston  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Sept.  1 6,  1846,  to  Miss  Olive  W.  Purinton,  who 
was  born  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  21,  1819.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  Purinton,  a  Baptist 
clergyman.  By  this  marriage  eight  children  have 
been  born,  four  of  whom  have  died.  Those  living 
are  Mary  M.,  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Potter;  Eudora 
E.,  residing  at  home  ;  Ida  M.,  now  the  wife  of  Frank 
B.  Thomas  (see  sketch);  and  Mrs.  Carrie  A.  Mor- 
gan. The  deceased  are  Phebe  J.,  Edith  E.  and  two 
infants. 

As  a  gentleman  eminently  worthy  to  be  classed 
among  the  leading  and  representative  men  of  the 
county,  we  present  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Bullock  among 
)  those  given  in  this  work:  It  certainly  enhances  the 
value  cf  the  ALBUM  to  those  of  his  many  friends 
who  possess  it. 


j^dward  Ward,  resident  at  Lyndon,  was  born 
in  i8r6,  in  Nottinghamshire,  Eng.  He 
was  there  reared  in  the  vocation  in  which 
his  ancestors  had  been  bred  for  many  years, 
that  of  farming.  He  was  married  in  1838,  to 
Albina  Dorr.  She  was  a  native  of  Lincoln- 
shire, and  was  born  in  1812.  In  1849  they  sailed 
for  the  United  States  on  the  "  Montezuma,"  and  the 
passage  from  Liverpool  to  New  York  occupied  four 
weeks.  On  their  arrival  at  the  port  of  the  latter, 
they  went  by  steamboat  to  Philadelphia,  thence  by 
canal  to  Pittsburg,  from  there  down  the  Ohio  River 
and  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  Albany.  They  came 
to  Lyndon  by  stage,  and  Mr.  Ward  at  once  entered 
upon  the  business  of  selecting  a  location  for  a  home. 
He  entered  a  claim  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 2,  township  20,  range  5,  bought  a  frame  house, 
and  moved  it  to  the  place  for  the  accommodation  of 
his  family,  and,  without  farther  delay,  began  the 
work  of  improvement.  In  the  spring  of  1860  he  be- 
gan to  make  an  addition  to  his  dwelling,  but  before 
it  was  completed  the  tornado  of  June  3,  of  that  year, 
destroyed  the  whole  structure,  and  left  his  family 
homeless.  The  members  of  the  household  were  all 
•  •  * 

•  •  'sjxf'        -^y 


injured,  and  Mrs.  Ward  has  never  entirely  recovered. 
They  found  shelter  under  the  hospitable  roof  of 
Harry  Smith,  until  Mr.  Ward  could  rebuild  his 
home. 

In  1867  Mr.  Ward  rented  his  farm,  and  has  since 
lived  in  the  village  of  Lyndon.  He  owned  his  resi- 
dence there  previously.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ward  have 
three  children.  William  lives  in  Lyndon;  Emily  J.  is 
the  wife  of  P.  C.  Riley,  of  Lyndon;  John  E.  is  the 
youngest. 


lisha  Lockheart,  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists of  Garden  Plain  Township,  was 
born  May  21,  1821,  in  Greene  Township, 
Adams  Co.,  Ohio.  He  is  the  second  son  of 
Robert  E.  and  Sarah  (Hemphill)  Lockheart. 
The  first  business  in  which  he  was  engaged 
was  as  a  help  manager  of  a  wood-yard,  at  the  head 
of  Brush  Creek  Island  in  the  Ohio  River,  for  the 
purpose  of  supplying  steamboats  with  fuel.  He  was 
then  but  12  years  of  age,  and  he  continued  to  help 
conduct  the  affairs  of  the  wood  station  until  1852, 
when  he  married,  and  ran  a  rented  farm  until  1856. 
In  the  fall  of  1845  he  came  to  Whiteside  County 
and  entered  231  acres  of  land,  200  of  which  was 
was  prairie,  situated  on  section  u,  of  township  21, 
range  3.  He  made  the  remainder  of  his  claim  on 
section  8,  consisting  of  30  acres  of  timber.  After  he 
reached  the  age  of  21  years  he  entered  into  an  en- 
gagement with  his  father  for  $100  yearly  salary,  and 
his  board  and  clothes.  He  came  West  in  1845  with 
three  years'  salary,  and  secured  his  land.  He  went 
back  to  Adams  County,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
pursuit  of  agriculture  and  the  wood  business,  until 
1856.  He  then  made  a  permanent  removal  to 
Whiteside  County,  and  located  on  section  27  of 
Garden  Plain  Township,  where  he  improved  a  farm. 
In  1858  he  took  possession  of  the  land  he  had  form- 
erly located  on  section  n,  and  which  was  still  in  a 
wholly  wild  state.  It  is  at  present  writing  in  a  state 
of  advanced  cultivation,  and  he  has  increased  his 
possessions  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  valuable 
estate,  comprising  872  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is 
under  tillage,  with  the  exception  of  5  i  acres  of  tim- 
ber. He  also  owns  160  acres  of  land  in  Poweshiek 
County,  Iowa,  and  120  acres  in  Morris  County,  Kan. 

.A    r* •^jMuy'  aS^^f^i 

'\      - 


( 


Mr.  Lockheart  has  rented  his  land,  and  is  living  in 
retirement. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Nov.  16,  1852,  to 
Rebecca  Rinard.  She  was  born  Dec.  27,  1825,  in 
Washington  Co.,  Ohio,  and  died  Feb.  20,  1885,  and 
was  interred  in  the  Cottonwood  Cemetery,  Ustick 
Township.  While  the  death  of  Mrs.  Lockheart  in- 
flicted an  irreparable  loss,  she  accomplished  much 
more  than  the  usual  lot  in  the  influence  she  exerted 
in  her  home  and  in  social  circles.  She  was  all  that 
the  terms  wife,  friend  and  neighbor  imply. 


harles  B.  Rood,  whose  name  is  associated 
with  the  history  of  Whiteside  County  in 
the  year  1836,  when  he  located  in  Albany, 
was  born  July  20,  1813,  in  Granville,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is  the  son  of  Robert 
R.  and  Elizabeth  (Holden)  Rood.  His  par- 
ents were  both  natives  of  Connecticut  and  went, 
about  the  jear  1800,  to  Clinton  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
they  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  at  Mooers. 
They  left  Clinton  County  in  1812,  on  account  of  the 
embarrassments  caused  by  the  war,  and  passed  the 
next  two  years  in  Washington  County,  returning  at 
the  end  of  that  time  to  Mooers.  His  fatner  owned 
timber  land  in  Clinton  County,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  and  cleared  several  farms;  he 
was  a  resident  there  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Rood  returned  to  Washington  County  when 
nine  years  of  age,  and  spent  three  years  in  the  family 
of  his  uncle,  after  which  he  again  became  an  inmate 
of  the  paternal  household,  passing  the  time  princi- 
pally in  attendance  at  school.  At  19  he  began  to 
teach  school,  and  operated  alternately  as  teacher 
winters,  and  a  farmer  summers,  for  some  years.  In 
1836  he  came  to  Illinois  to  seek  a  suitable  location 
for  the  efforts  he  desired  to  make  in  the  way  of  se- 
curing a  home  and  fortune.  He  came  by  the  lakes 
to  Detroit  and  thence  by  stage  to  St.  Joseph,  Mich. 
He  operated  there  three  months  as  a  surveyor,  and 
early  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  took  lake  pass- 
age for  Chicago,  coming  from  that  then  small  city 
to  Ottawa  by  stage.  In  company  with  nine  others, 
with  a  span  of  horses  and  a  wagon,  he  made  his  way 
to  Albany,  where  he  remained  during  the  winter. 
In  the  spring  of  1837  he  made  a  claim,  situated  on 


-    •" 


section  22  in  township  21,  range  3,  now  Garden 
Plain.  In  the  winter  of  1837-8  he  taught  the  first 
school  in  Albany,  in  a  frame  house  he  built  at  that 
place.  He  was  made  Deputy  Sheriff  and  also  Deputy 
County  Surveyor  of  Whiteside  County,  in  1837,  by 
appointment  from  the  officials  of  Ogle  County,  to 
which  Whiteside  County  was  attached  for  municipal 
purposes;  and  in  1839  was  elected  County  Surveyor, 
being  the  first  incumbent  of  the  office  on  the  comple- 
tion of  the  county  organization.  At  the  land  sale  at 
Galena  in  1839,  he  was  appointed  to  bid  in  for  the 
several  purchasers  the  land  that  was  sold  in  the 
townships  of  Albany  and  Garden  Plain.  In  the  fall 
of  1840  he  resigned,  as  he  was  about  to  return  to 
the  State  of  New  York.  On  his  return  about  four 
years  later,  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Surveyor,  and 
has  held  that  position  most  of  the  time  since.  The 
result  of  his  operations  as  a  surveyor  may  be  traced 
throughout  the  county.  He  surveyed  and  platted 
Chatham  and  Harrisburg  (now  Sterling),  Lyndon 
and  Albany,  and  located  the  principal  thoroughfares. 
He  has  also  performed  an  enormous  amount  of  labor 
in  private  interests,  surveying  land  for  all  purposes. 
He  has  held  some  of  the  township  offices,  notably 
Township  Treasurer,  Commissioner  of  Roads  and 
Supervisor  several  terms,  and  gives  his  best  efforts 
to  the  public  welfare,  both  as  a  citizen  and  as  an 
official.  On  the  establishment  of  a  postoffice  in 
Garden  Plain,  he  was  elected  as  being  well  qualified 
to  attend  to  its  relations.  He  has  been  a  declared 
temperance  advocate  all  his  life,  and  assisted  in  the 
organization  of  the  first  temperance  society  in  the 
county,  located  at  Albany.  Mr.  Rood  was  the  first 
Master  of  the  County  Grange,  and  also  the  first 
Master  of  the  subordinate  grange  in  Garden  Plain. 
For  the  last  five  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Northern  Illinois  College  at 
Fulton.  He  was  originally  a  Whig,  but  became  an 
adherent  of  the  Republican  party  in  1856. 

Mr.  Rood  returned  to  Clinton  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1840, 
and  in  the  ensuing  winter  taught  school  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Mooers.  He  was  married  Oct.  27,  1842,  to 
Sarah  S.  Churchill.  She  was  born  Nov.  n,  1815,  in 
Champlain,  Clinton  County.  After  marriage,  Mr. 
Rood  located  in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  40  miles 
from  Montreal.  He  bought  a  farm,  where  he  erected 
a  saw-mill  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lum- 
ber. He  bought  standing  timber  for  the  supply  of 
his  mill.  In  1844  he  returned  to  Whiteside  County 

*& *^ 


vg> 


ci) 


-     ..     - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


'.  N4':i?\J:S«5$ 
'tr*StfVv&1  V-.Vj&' 


S 


and  settled  on  his  land  on  section  22  in  Garden 
Plain  Township.  He  at  once  set  about  the  erection 
of  a  frame  house  and  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of 
his  farm.  His  estate  is  in  fine  and  profitable  con- 
dition, and  ranks  more  than  fairly  with  farms  of  the 
township.  Mr.  Rood  hts  taught  several  terms  of 
school  since  his  return  to  Whiteside  County. 

Three  of  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rood 
are  now  living :  Myra  A.  is  the  oldest ;  Nellie  mar- 
ried James  Nimon  and  they  live  in  Dennison,  Tex. ; 
Julia  E.  is  the  youngest..  The  parents  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


iles  A.  Stilson,  senior  member  of  the 
mercantile  firm  of  Stilson  &  Badgley,  at 
Tampico,  was  born  Feb.  24,  1827,  in  Ben- 
nington  Co.,  Vt.  Russell  Stilson,  his  father, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  State  and  was  a  me- 
chanic. He  died  on  the  farm  where  he  had 
lived  ever  since  his  marriage,  which  took  place  when 
he  was  24  years  old.  His  death,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  60  years  of  age,  was  caused  .by  a  to- 
bacco sore  under  the  tongue,  presumably  the  same 
disease  as  that  from  which  General  Grant  is  suffer- 
ing. He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  physical  strength 
and  had  a  finely  disciplined  intellect.  The  family 
had  its  origin  in  several  Scotchmen,  brothers,  who 
came  to  America  prior  to  the  Revolution,  and  two  of 
whom  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Colonists.  Amanda 
Landon,  who  became  the  wife  of  Russell  Stilson,  and 
the  mother  of  Giles  A.,  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  in 
her  veins  flowed  the  blood  of  Irish,  English  and 
Welsh  progenitors.  She  lives  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Lois  Lampson,  at  Manchester,  Vt.,  and  she  is 
past  80  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Stilson  was  educated  in  the  excellent  public 
and  private  schools  of  Bennington  County,  and  also 
was  under  the  direction  of  a  private  tutor  named 
Wadleigh,  an  English  gentleman  of  culture  and 
refinement.  In  1844  he  came  to  Illinois,  where  he 
located  in  Portland,  Whiteside  County. 

He  was  married  Jan.  16,  1849,  to  Mary  A.  Cram- 
phin,  who  was  born  at  Weedsport,  New  York,  in 
September,  1829,  and  came  in  1844  to  Michigan  with 
her  parents.  But  one  of  three  children  of  whom  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stilson  became  the  parents  is  living 


Emma,  the  wife  of  "Jed"  Badgley,  a  farmer  in 
Brown  Co.,  Dak.;  Russell  B.  and  Evaline  died  while 
young. 

Mr.  Stilson  engaged  in  farming  until  September, 
1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  "  Yates  Battalion  of 
Sharp-shooters."  The  command  was  attached  to  the 
Western  Army  Corps,  serving  first  under  General 
Pope  and  subsequently  under  General  Rosenkrans. 
Mr.  Stilson  was  in  the  service  nearly  a  year  and  was 
honorably  discharged  for  disability. 

In  1875  Mr.  Stilson  came  to  Tampico,  and  en- 
gaged in  traffic  in  grain  with  T.  S.  Beach,  in  which 
branch  of  business  he  was  interested  two  years.  He 
then  engaged  in  mercantile  transactions,  in  which  he 
had  been  previously  interested,  associated  with  other 
parties.  The  firm  of  Stilson  &  Badgley  are  doing  an 
extensive  business. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stilson  are  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  now  a  Village 
Trustee.  He  has  served  several  years  as  Supervisor, 
a  long  term  of  years  as  School  Treasurer,  and  six 
years  as  Treasurer  of  Tampico  Township.  He  was 
formerly  a  Republican,  but  has  adopted  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Prohibitionists. 


arvey  L.   Osborne,  deceased,   formerly    a 
resident  of  Lyndon   Township,  was   born 
March    17,   1831,  in  Centerville,  Allegany 
Co.,  N.  Y.     He  was  the  fourth  child  of  his  par- 
ents, Charles  and  Sarah   (King)   Osborne,   the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Vermont;  the 
latter  was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 

At  1 6,  Mr.  Osborne  turned  his  attention  to  ac- 
quiring a  knowledge  of  harness-making,  going  for 
that  purpose  to  Randolph,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y. 
After  serving  an  apprenticeship,  he  operated  as  a 
journeyman  in  his  native  State  until  1855,  when,  in 
April,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County.  He  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Portland  one  summer,  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  opened  a  shop  in  his  own  behalf  at 
Erie,  where  he  conducted  a  prosperous  business  un- 
til 1863.  He  rented  a  farm  in  Portland  Township, 
which  he  managed  one  year.  In  1864  he  exchanged 
his  property  in  Erie  for  land  on  section  31,  of 
township  20,  range  5,  then,  which  is  now  Lyndon 
Township.  He  put  the  place  in  first-class  condition 
for  agricultural  operations,  built  suitable  structures 


•  • 


i 
•" 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


&§&& 


..     • 


-  ...  .- 


v. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


for  farm  use,  and  set  out  trees.     Mr.  Osborne  died 
March  8,  1885. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  May  18,  1856,10  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Daniel  P.  and  Emeline  (Hollister) 
Brewer,  a  pioneer  of  Portland,  where  Mrs.  Osborne 
was  born.  Mr.  Osborne  is  survived  by  six-  children 
— Adelbert,  Lois  E.,  Etta  L  ,  Harper  E.,  Elva  L. 
and  Laura  E. 

dward  Lancaster,  farmer,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 22,  Propheistown  Township,  and  the 
proprietor  of  350  acres  located  thereon, 
and  one  of  the  progressive  and  representative 
citizeiis  of  this  county,  is  a  son  of  Charles  and 
Sarah  (Curtis)  Lancaster,  and  was  born  in 
Ropsley,  England,  June  22,  1831.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  the  same  country,  as  likewise  was  his 
mother.  She  died  March  10,  1856,  and  the  father  at 
the  residence  of  his  son  Charles,  in  Prophetstown 
Township,  Nov.  10,  1869.  The  issue  of  the  parents' 
union  was  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living. 
Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of  John  Dickson,  a  farmer  resid- 
ing in  Prophetstown  Township;  Charles  is  a  farmer 
in  the  same  township ;  Sarah  was  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Musson,  and  died  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in 


• 

I 

!® 


Edward,  the  youngest,  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
acquired  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  country.  He  and  his  brother  Charles  emi- 
grated to  this  country  in  1856,  and  came  directly  to 
the  tow.iship  of  Prophetstown,  this  county,  where 
they  engaged  in  work  by  the  month.  On  his  arrival 
Mr.  Lancaster  found  himself  not  only  out  of  means 
but  in  debt  $40.  He  went  to  work  by  the  month  one 
season,  and  then  in  company  with  his  brother  rented 
the  "  Paddock  "  farm,  consisting  of  50  acres.  Two 
years  later  he  rented  60  acres  of  George  P.  Rich- 
mond, which  he  cultivated  until  1865.  In  1864  he 
bought  80  acres  of  his  present  farm  and  has  added 
to  it  by  subsequent  purchases  until  he  is  the  posses- 
sor of  a  fine  farm,  embracing  350  acres  of  land.  The 
farm  is  well  improved  and  stocked,  and  Mr.  Lan- 
caster is  devoting  his  attention  to  the  raising  of  stock. 
He  has  usually  from  50  to  75  head  of  cattle,  and 
raises  annually  about  100  head  of  hogs,  and  also  has 
from  19  to  1 6  head  of  horses. 


Religiously,  Mr.  L  is  a  member  of  the  Lyndon 
Congregational  Church. 

Mr.  Lancaster  was  united  in  marriage  in  the  city 
of  Bourn,  Lincolnshire,  England,  April  9,  1856,  to 
Miss  Mary  Francis,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
Francis.  She  was  born  in  Bourn,  and  accompanied 
him  when  he  emigrated  to  this  country,  in  1856  as 
slated.  They  have  had  \  i  children,  ten  of  whom 
yet  survive  :  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Lorenzo  French,  a 
farmer  on  a  portion  of  the  old  homestead  ;  Edwin 
resides  at  home;  Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Gage; 
Hannah,  Herbert,  Hettie,  John,  Agnes,  Lewis  and 
Gilbert.  Hetlie,  the  fifth  born,  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Lancaster's  life  and  career  in  this  county  have 
been  such  as  to  warrant  the  insertion  of  his  portrait 
in  ihis  ALBUM,  and  it  is  accordingly  given,  on  a  page 
opposite  the  beginning  of  the  foregoing  sketch. 


prace  Powers,  a  farmer  residing  on  section 
17,  Erie  Township,  and  the  owner  of  85 
~j^~'  acres  located  theteon,  is  a  son  of  John  and 
4J  Roselma  (Munn)  Powers,  and  was  born  near 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  Nov.  24,  1839.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  New  York,  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and  died  when  the  subject  of  this  biograghical  notice 
was  but  one  year  of  age.  His  mother  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  same  State,  and,  after  the  death  of  her 
husband,  married  Matthias  Dunlap,  who  was  a  cooper 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  who  is  also  de- 
ceased. She  resides  in  Nebraska. 

Mr.  Powers  had  one  brother  and  three  sisters,  all 
of  whom  are  deceased.  Soon  after  his  father's  death, 
the  mother  moved  to  Chicago,  where  Mr.  Powers,  of 
this  sketch,  resided  with  her  and  his  step-father  un- 
til he  was  13  years  of  age.  The  family  then  moved 
to  Peoria,  and  he  accompanied  them,  where  they  re- 
mained, about  1 8  months,  and  then,  in  1853,  they 
came  to  Fenton  Township,  this  county,  and  pur- 
chased land  located  partly  in  Fenton  and  partly  in 
Erie  Township,  and  on  which  the  family  resided 
for  a  number  of  years. 

Mr.  Powers  was  united  in  marriage  in  Fenton 
Township,  Dec.  n,  1866,  to  Miss  Mercy  A.  Peck, 
daughter  of  William  and  Rhoda  (Brooks)  Peck.  She 
was  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Pa.,  April  14,  1840.  Two 
children  have  been  born  of  their  union — Otis  Alonzo, 
2 '-^^ —4*' 


•t  to 


*  » 


• 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


Jan.  9,  1868,  and  Luella,  Oct.  23,  1869.  Soon  after 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Powers  bought  40  acres  of  his 
present  faim,  and  has  increased  his  acreage  by  sub- 
sequent purchases,  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  85 
acres  of  good  farming  land,  ar.d  has  a  nice  residence, 
good  out  buildings,  orchard,  et;. 

Feb.  23,  1865,  Mr.  Powers  enlisted  in  the  War  for 
the  Union,  joining  Co.  G,  15 6th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  re- 
ceived his  discharge  at  the  end  of  the  term  of  enlist- 
ment, Sept.  20,  1865.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Powers 
came  to  Fenton  Township,  when  she  was  about  14 
years  of  age,  and  both  died  in  the  county,  the  father 
in  Fenton  and  the  mother  in  Eiie  Township. 


Chester  S.  Sly,  a  farmer,  sec.  15,  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant Tp.,  is  a  son  of  Ira  and  Jerusha  B. 
(Adams)  Sly,  natives  of  Berkshire  and  Wor- 
cester Counties,  Mass.,  respectively.  They 
were  married  in  \Villiamstown,  Berkshire  Co., 
Mass.,  and  settled  in  North  Adams,  that  State, 
where  they  lived  till  their  death.  The  father  died 
June  22,  1880,  and  the  mother  Jan.  25,  1878.  Their 
family  comprised  eight  children,  namely  :  James  N., 
Mary  M  ,  Chester  S.,  Susan  A.,  Martha  W.,  George 
R.,  Charles  E.,  Addison  M. 

Mr.  Sly,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  born  in  North  Adams,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass., 
March  7,  1841.  His  education  was  achieved  in  the 
common  school  of  his  native  county,  and  he  assisted 
in  the  labors  of  the  farm,  until  about  the  age  of  19 
years.  He  remained  in  his  native  county  and  on 
the  old  homestead  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
25  years,  when  he  came  to  this  county,  in  the  spring 
of  1867,  and  located  on  40  acres  of  land,  which  he 
had  purchased  previously,  the  same  being  located  on 
section  15,  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  and  on  which  he 
has  resided  ever  since.  He  is  now  the  own^er  of  80 
acres  of  good  farming  land,  and  eight  acies  not  till- 
able. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  North  Adams,  Berk- 
shire Co.,  Mass,  Sept.  27,  1866,  to  Sarah  O., 
daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  E.  (Prentice)  Ives,  na- 
tives of  Berkshire  and  Hampshire  Counties,  Mass. 
They  settled  in  North  Adams,  where  the  mother 
died  in  March,  1848.  Their  family  consisted  of 
three  children,  Sarah  O.,  Lucy  M.,  and  Frances  A. 


Sarah  O.  was  born  in  North  Adams,  March  13,  1839 
She  and  her  husband  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, Carroll  E.  and  Cherrie  M. 

Mr.  Sly  has  been  School  Director,  and  is  also  one 
of  the  Directors  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Mutual  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  Masonry,  and  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


< 


V§) 


,enry  P.  Williams,  physician,  Sterling,  was 
born  in  Ro;:kford,  111.,  Sept.  i,  1859,  his 
parents  being  Lewis  and  Anna  (Mesler) 
Williams,  natives  of  the  city  of  New  York.  His 
father,  who  was  a  hardware  merchant  there, 
sold  out  and  came  to  Rockford,  III.  He  enlisted 
in  the  74th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  as  First  Lieutenant,  was 
appointed  Regimental  Quartermaster,  and  died  in 
the  service  of  his  country  in  November,  1862,  at 
Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dr.  Williams,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  remained 
at  his  parental  home  until  of  age,  aiid  since  that 
time  his  mother  has  resided  with  him.  He  attended 
College  at  Beloit,  Wis.,  graduating  in  1882.  He 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of 
Dr.  Utley,  of  Sterling,  attended  a  course  of  lectures 
at  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  and  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  1884,  since  which  time  he  has  devoted 
his  time  to  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession. 

Dr.  Williams  is  a  staunch  Prohibitionist,  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  a  citizen  of  very 
high  standing. 


ev.  Zachariah  Darwin  Paddock, deceased, 
formerly  of  Albany,  was  born  Feb.  3,  1819, 
in  the  town  of  Warren,  Herkimer  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Amanda 
(Harrison)  Paddock.  The  Paddock  family  is 
traditionally  of  Welsh  origin.  The  progeni- 
tors of  the  branches  in  America  came  from  England 
to  Plymouth,  Mass.,  in  1630,  and  all  the  represent- 
atives of  the  name  in  the  United  States  trace  their 
origin  to  the  two  brothers  who  were  among  the  earli- 
est comers  ty  New  England.  A  volume  now  in  the 


CJ) 


•      • 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


•  -' 


possession  of  the  family  of  Mr.  Paddock  gives  these 
particulars,  which  are  authentic.  The  book  is  enti- 
tled the  "  Biography  of  Rev.  B.  G.  Paddock,  by 
Z.  Paddock." 

Little  has  been  preserved  concerning  the  branch 
of  the  Harrison  family  to  which  Mrs.  Paddock  be- 
longed ;  but  it  is  known  that  the  family  of  the  Presi- 
dent was  wealthy  and  distinguished.  Her  grand- 
father's generation  was  cotemporary  with  Washing- 
ton, and  was  in  the  same  social  scale.  Benjamin 
Harrison,  her  father's  uncle,  was  a  candidate  with 
John  Hancock  for  the  position  of  Speaker  in  the 
celebrated  Congress  of  1775. 

The  author  of  the  work  and  its  subject  were 
brothers,  and  were  uncles  of  Mr.  Paddock  of  this 
account.  They  were  lx)th  ministers  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  They  were  circuit  preach- 
ers in  New  York  and  in  the  northern  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  the  elder  labored  more  than 
60  years.  The  younger  was  in  active  ministerial 
life  for  more  than  half  a  century.  The  number  of 
Paddocks  in  this  country  is  legion,  and  a  large  per- 
centage have  been  and  still  are  clergymen,  a  fact 
which  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing  every  suc- 
cessive generation  into  prominence. 

During  his  early  youth  Mr.  Paddock  determined 
on  his  prospective  career,  and  resolved  to  secure 
the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education.  At  17  his 
mind  was  sufficiently  stored  to  begin  teaching,  and 
in  the  course  of  the  next  two  years  he  had  secured 
the  means  of  defraying  his  expenses  at  the  seminary 
in  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.,  where  he  took  a  preparatory 
course  of  study,  extending  through  the  terms  of  two 
years.  He  matriculated  at  Hamilton  College,  in 
Clinton,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  graduated 
at  the  age  of  27,  with  the  honors  of  his  class.  He 
had  previously  been  licensed  to  preach,  and  he 
officiated  one  year  during,  his  collegiate  course  at 
Palmyra,  N.  Y.  His  first  charge  after  leaving  col- 
lege was  at  Homer,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
officiated  two  years,  after  which  he  passed  a  year 
at  Chittenango,  in  the  same  State.  His  successive 
appointments  were  at  Cardiff,  where  he  preached 
two  years;  Onondaga  Valley,  one  year;  Slatersville, 
one  year;  Port  Byron,  two  years;  and  Fleming,  one 
year. 

In  August,  1856  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  supplied 
an  appointment  in  Genesee  Township  one  year.  In 


1857  he  joined  the  Rock  River  Conference,  and  was 
stationed  at  Sterling,  where  he  preached  two  years. 
Subsequently  he  preached  one  year  at  Milledge- 
ville,  Carroll  County,  and  at  Palo,  Ogle  County,  one 
year. 

During  the  first  year  of  his  residence  in  Whiteside 
County,  he  had  purchased  land  in  Hopkins  Town- 
ship, and  on  leaving  Palo  he  took  possession  of  his 
property,  which  he  had  hitherto  managed  with  the 
aid  of  hired  assistants  and  renters.  He  conducted 
his  agricultural  labors  one  year,  renewing  health  and 
strength ;  and,  on  resuming  his  ministerial  labors,  he 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Churches  in  Jordan  and 
Genesee  Townships,  where  he  operated  two  years. 
His  next  charge  was  at  Prophetstown,  where  he  con- 
tinued two  years,  and  he  passed  a  similar  period  of 
time  at  Evanston,  Cook  County,  engaged  in  business 
of  a  secular  character.  He  went  to  Nebraska,  where 
he  secured  a  homestead  claim  in  Johnson  County, 
and  joined  the  Nebraska  Conference.  He  preached 
one  year  in  Tecumseh,  and  in  1869  returned  to 
Illinois.  In  1870  he  rejoined  the  Rock  River  Con- 
ference, and  preached  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Albany  two  years.  He  was  subsequently 
attached  to  the  Light-House  Circuit  in  Ogle  County, 
two  years,  going  thence  to  Albany,  where  he  fixed 
his  residence,  and  officiated  three  years  at  Erie.  He 
then  withdrew  from  the  Methodist  Conference,  and 
engaged  in  fruit-growing.  In  1879  he  was  appointed 
Postmaster  at  Albany,  and,  in  company  with  his  son, 
became  interested  in  the  sale  of  groceries  and  pro- 
visions, in  which  business  he  was  actively  engaged 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  13,  1883. 

Mr.  Paddock  was  joined  in  marriage  in  July, 
1846,  to  Caroline  M.  Thompson.  She  was  born 
March  16,  1821,  in  Hamilton,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Their  children,  five  in  number,  were  named  Charles 
B.,  Mary  L.,  Ellen  A.,  John  T.  and  Carrie  A.  L. 
The  oldest  son  was  born  July  20,  1847,  in  Homer, 
Cortland  County,  N.  Y.,  and  was  but  nine  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  came  to  Whiteside  County. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and 
at  the  age  of  16  years  was  placed  in  charge  of  a 
flock  of  sheep  which  his  father  owned.  He  went  to 
Nebraska  with  the  family,  and  returned  with  them  to 
Albany,  continuing  one  of  the  members  of  the  pater- 
nal household  until  1869.  In  that  year  he  engaged 
in  the  culture  of  small  fruits.  In  1881  he  was  made 


s*& 


••  * 


Assistant  Postmaster,  and  succeeded  to  the  position 
of  his  father  at  the  dealh  of  the  latter.  He  was 
married  Jan.  i,  1873,  to  Irene  M.,  youngest  daughter 
of  Lyman  and  Susan  (Latham)  Bennett.  .  Their  chil- 
dren are  Alice  J.,  and  Clarence  L.  B.  T. 

Mrs.  Paddock,  the  mother,  survives  her  husband, 
and  the  youngest  daughter  resides  with  her,  as  does 
her  son,  John  T.,  who  is  the  head  of  the  family,  and 
is  a  merchant  at  Albany  ;  Mary  L.  married  Solon  L. 
Marlowe,  and  lives  at  Galena,  Kan.;  he  is  a  mail 
agent;  Ellen  A.  is  the  wife  of  Chester  S.  Slocumb. 

Full  biographies  of  the  Slocumb  and  Bennett  fami- 
lies may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


esley  V.  Timmerman,  proprietor  of  the 
St.  Nicholas  Hotel  and  Restaurant  at 
Erie,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Rachel  (Fuller) 
Timmerman,  and  was  born  in  Cattaraugus 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  12,  1840.  His  father  is  a 
a  native  of  that  State,  is  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
ion  and  resides  one-half  mile  north  of  Spring  Hill, 
this  county.  The  mother  of  Wesley  is  also  a  native 
of  New  York,  and  is  living  with  her  husband  as 
above  stated.  Their  children  were  nine  in  number, 
as  follows:  Cordelia,  wife  of  Hiram  Gilmore,  a 
farmer  in  Medicine  Co.,  Cal.  ;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Levi 
Fuller,  a  resident  of  Eureka  Springs,  Ark.  ;  John  D., 
deceased;  Edwin,  a  butcher  in  Prophetstown,  this 
county  ;  Alice,  wife  of  George  Clifford,  at  work  in 
the  pineries  of  Minnesota  ;  Annie,  wife  of  Clements 
Merrill,  a  farmer  in  Iowa  ;  George,  a  wholesale  and 
retail  hardware  merchant  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.; 
Frank,  a  farmer  near  Spring  Hill,  this  county  :  and 
Wesley. 

Mr.  Timmerman  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  on  at- 
taining adult  age  he  followed  lumbering  during  the 
winter  seasons. 

He  was  married  in  Salamanca,  Cattaraugus  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  20,  1864,  to  Miss  Mary  P.,  daughter  of 
James  K.  (a  lumberman  residing  in  New  York)  and 
Elmira  (Kilhourn)  Webb.  Her  mother  is  deceased. 
Mrs.  T.  was  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Pa.,  July  r4,  1845. 
They  have  had  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. The  record  is  as  follows  :  Allie,  born  March 
1  8,  1865;  Webb  D.,  born  May  22,  1866,  died  Dec. 
2,  same  year;  Alden,  born  July  25,  1867,  died  Dec. 


17,  same  year;  Frank  R.,  born   April  2,  1872;  and 
Fred,  born  Feb.  18,  1877. 

Mr.  Timmerman  came  West  to  :i  point  near  Spring 
Hill,  this  county,  in  1868,  where  he  farmed  one  year, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  railroading  for  several 
years.  In  1876  he  came  to  Erie  and  opened  a  res- 
tanrnnt,  which  he  conducted  a  short  time,  and  then 
took  possession  of  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel,  which  he 
ran  for  a  time.  He  afterward  opened  a  saloon, 
which  business  he  followed  until  the  spring  of  1883. 
In  April,  1884,  Mr.  Timmerman  rented  the  St.  Nich- 
olas Hotel,  and  has  continued  to  conduct  the  same 
as  a  first-class  house.  He  can  accommodate  from  15 
to  20  guests,  and  keeps  adjoining  a  restaurant  and 
ice-cream  parlor,  and  also  a  saloon,  and  is  doing  a 
good  and  increasing  business.  The  traveling  public 
will  find  the  St.  Nicholas  one  of  the  pleasantest 
places  in  the  county. 


ohn  D.  Fenton,  contractor  and  bridge 
builder,  residing  at  Erie,  this  county,  is  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Durell)  Fen- 
ton, and  was  born  Nov.  10,  1832,  neai  Ml. 
Holly,  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  and  was  born  in  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J., 
Sept  21,  1794;  he  died  in  Fenton  Township,  this 
county,  Sept.  28,  1874,  aged  80  years  and  7  days. 
His  mother  was  a  native  cf  the  same  State  and 
county,  born  Oct.  16,  1803,  and  died  in  the  same 
township  as  her  husband,  Jan.  15,  1879.  They  were 
married  in  Burlington  Co.,  New  Jersey,  April  n, 
1826,  and  there  resided  on  a  farm,  and  where  five  of 
their  children  were  Ixjrn.  Oct.  6,  1835,  they  came 
to  this  county,  and  four  more  children  were  born  to 
them.  Of  their  nine  children,  eight  are  still  living. 
Ell  wood  W.  is  head  steward  on  the  steamer  Willam- 
ette, chief  Oregon  Transportation  Co.;  Joseph  R.  is 
a  carpenter  and  bridge -builder  for  the  Central  Pacific 
Railroad  Company  in  Oakland,  Cai.;  Elizabeth  is  de- 
ceased; John  D.,  subject  of  this  notice,  is  the  next  in 
order  of  birth ;  Robert  S.  is  a  farmer  and  resides  in 
Erie;  Alfred  W.  is  engaged  in  putting  in  drive  wells, 
and  resides  in  Erie;  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Elson 
Medhurst,  of  Erie;  Sylvester  H.  is  a  carpenter  and 
joiner  and  lives  in  Fenton ;  and  Henry  C.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Erie.  The  parents  came  by  water  to  Chi- 


', 


- 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  Of 


• 


m 
11 


COUNTY. 


® 

C3 
1 

(!) 


cago,  at  which  place  they  purchased  two  yoke  of 
oxen  and  a  wagon,  and  drove  with  their  effects  to 
Erie  Township,  this  county,  and  located  on  section 
4.  They  built  a  log  house  after  their  arrival,  Oct. 
,  1835,  and  resided  there  a  few  months.  In  1836, 
they  removed  to  Fenton  Township,  and  located  on 
section  33,  and  erected  a  log  house,  being  the  first 
settlers  to  locate  in  the  township.  They  lived  in  the 
old  log  house  till  1850,  when  they  built  a  cement 
house.  On  arrival  in  the  county,  the  father  entered 
200  acres  of  land,  and  at  the  date  of  his  death 
he  was  the  proprietor  of  215  acres,  which  is  at  pres- 
ent owned  by  his  four  sons,  John  D.,  Alfred  W., 
Sylvester  H.  and  Joseph  R.,  who  bought  out  the 
other  heirs.  The  father  was  a  successful  farmer, 
and  possessed  that  energy  and  determination  which 
in  a  new  and  undeveloped  country  is  certain  to 
achieve  the  aim  desired.  He  came  here  with  al- 
most nothing,  and  by  indomitable  energy  and  pluck 
reared  a  large  family  and  left  his  estate  unincumbered. 
When  but  a  boy  he  was  bound  out,  and  had  a  hard 
life  to  lead.  He  first  started  to  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  but 
was  induced  to  come  here,  by  Ephraim  A.  Hubbard. 
When  the  Township  of  Fenton  was  first  organized 
in  1852,  it  was  named  Eden  Township,  but  was  soon 
afterward  changed  to  that  of  Fenton,  in  honor  of  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  who  was  the  first 
settler  there. 

Mr.  Fenton,  of  this  notice,  was  reared  on  the  old 
homstead,  receiving  the  advantages  of  the  common 
schools,  and  where  he  remained  until  he  attained  the 
age  of  majority.  He  then  rafted  on  the  Mississippi 
River  for  a  short  time  and  afterward  returned  and 
rented  the  old  homestead,  which  he  cultivated  for 
a  few  years.  In  1863,  he  came  to  Erie  and  taught 
school  in  township  19,  range  3,  one  winter,  after 
which  he  opened  a  wagon-shop,  manufactured  wagons 
and  sleds  and  did  a  general  repairing  business, 
which  he  continued  until  about  1879,  when  he  sold 
his  shop,  and  has  since  followed  farming  and  build- 
ing of  bridges.  He  has  40  acres  of  land,  located  on 
section  28,  Fenton  Township,  which  he  farms;  has 
been  Assessor,  altogether,  nine  years,  Constable 
seven  years,  School  Director  several  years,  Collec- 
tor one  year,  Justice  of  the  Peace  from  1873  to  1877 
and  was  again  elected  in  the  spring  of  1885.  He  is 
also  a  Notary  Public,  which  position  he  has  held  for 
the  past  1 6  years. 

Mr.  Fenton  was  united  in  marriage  in  Erie  village, 


March  14,  1859,  to  Miss  Marcia  Wonser,  daughter  of 
Milden  G.  and  Ruth  M.  Wonser.  She  was  born  in 
Ellisville,  111.,  March  7,  1840.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  now  living.  The  living  are: 
Celona  I.,  born  July  20,  1862;  and  Ruth  E.,  April 
19,  1866;  Myra  B.,  the  first-born,  died  in  infancy. 
The  two  daughters  are  both  teachers  in  the  public 
schools. 

Mr.  Fenton  was  Deputy  Sheriff  from  1870  to  1872, 
under  Ed.  A.  Worrell. 


-5- 


Ferris,  deceased,  was  for  many  years  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  agriculture  in  this 
county,  on  section  13,  Tampico  Township. 
He  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,Ind.,  March  18, 
1822.  He  was  reared  upon  the  farm,  attend- 
ing to  the  duties  that  fell  to  the  lot  of  farm- 
ers' boys,  and  going  to  school  during  the  winter 
months.  In  this  way  he  developed  an  excellent 
manhood,  and  obtained  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation. 

After  his  marriage,  which  event  occurred  Dec.  28, 
1848,  Mr.  Ferris  continued  to  reside  on  a  farm  in  his 
native  county  until  1873.  Thinking  to  better  his 
condition,  or  at  least  have  a  wider  field  to  labor  in, 
he  came  further  West,  selecting  Tampico  Township, 
Whiteside  County,  as  a  place  for  his  home.  Here  he 
settled  on  a  large  farm,  containing  680  acres  of  land, 
his  residence  being  located  on  section  13.  He  im- 
proved the  entire  acreage,  and  developed  it  to 
that  degree  that  it  took  rank  among  the  valuable 
farms  of  Whiteside  County,  which,  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  contains  as  finely  improved  an  agricultural  dis- 
trict as  there  is  in  the  great  Prairie  State.  Mr. 
Ferris  continued  to  reside  upon  this  farm,  enjoying 
the  fruits  of  his  hard  and  honest  lalwr,  until  May 
18,  1877,  when  he  was  relieved  from  further  toil  by 
death.  At  that  time  he  was  55  years  and  two 
months  old. 

Mr.  F.  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha 
J.  Currey,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Ind.,  on  the  date  above 
mentioned.  Mrs.  Ferris  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
Aug.  9,  1829.  Her  father  was  a  farmer,  and  she 
lived  upon  the  home  farm  with  her  parents  until  her 
marriage.  She  is  the  mother  of  nine  children,  two 
of  whom  are  deceased.  The  following  is  the  record 


• 


' 


WHIT  ESI DK  COUNTY. 


- 


of  those  living:  Edwin  is  married,  and  lives  in  Can- 
ton, Dak.;  Ralph,  married,  and  residing  in  Mont- 
morency  Township;  John  S.,  married,  and  lives  in 
Hahnaman  Township;  Albert,  Lucy  and  Mary  are 
also  married  and  reside  in  this  county ;  Nobls  is 
living  at  home  with  his  mother.  Mrs.  Ferris  pos- 
sesses rare  business  ability,  and  has  managed  the 
affairs  of  her  late  husband  with  great  credit.  Both 
she  and  her  husband  were  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  Mr.  Ferris  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics. 

Considering  the  brief  period  that  Mr.  Ferris  re- 
sided in  Whiteside  County  he  was  widely  and  favor- 
ably known.  On  coming  he  entered  into  sympathy 
with  every  movement  to  develop  and  improve  both 
the  material  wealth  and  social  and  moral  standing  of 
the  community.  He  was  esteemed  as  a  friend  and 
neighbor,  and  loved  ns  a  husband,  and  in  recognition 
of  his  services  and  position  as  a  citizen  of  the 
county,  we  take  pleasure  in  presenting  a  portrait  in 
this  ALBUM,  which  appears  in  connection  with  this 
sketch. 


eorge  A.  Potter,  a  farmer  of  Fenton 
Township,  is  a  native  of  Whiteside  County, 
as  he  was  born  May  3,  1849,  in  Lyndon 
Township.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  Martin  M. 
and  Salena  (Perry)  Potter.  His  father  came 
to  Whiteside  County  in  the  summer  of  1837. 
He  was  born  Oct.  28,  1812,  in  Richfield,  Otsego  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  was  the  son  of  George  and  Alsarah  Pot- 
ter. He  lived  in  his  native  county  principally  until 
1855,  when  he  went  to  Aurora,  Erie  Co,,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  was  employed  in  a  flour  mill.  While  there  he 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Diantha,  daughter  of  John 
C.  and  Hannah  (Olds)  Pratt,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried Nov.  28,  1836.  In  August,  1837,  he  accom- 
panied the  parents  of  his  wife  to  Whiteside  County 
(see  sketch  of  Hon.  J.  M.  Pratt).  Martin  M.  Potter 
resided  near  Prophetstown,  in  Lyndon  Township,  for 
four  years,  when  he  bought  a  farm  in  the  township  of 
Union  Grove,  upon  which  he  made  his  home  for  an- 
other four  years.  He  then  sold  the  place  and  was 
an  occupant  of  the  J.  C.  Pratt  farm  until  1851,  when 
he  bought  a  farm  on  section  25,  township  20,  range 


4,  which  is  now  the  township  of  Fenton.  He  bought 
additional  land  on  sections  23  and  24,  until  he  was 
the  proprietor  of  395  acres.  He  resided  on  his  es- 
tate until  his  death,  Nov.  10,  1884.  He  was  mar- 
ried July  22,  1847,  to  Salena  Perry.  She  was  born 
Jan.  22,  1831,  in  Amity,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Calvary  P.  and  Lydia  (Robins)  Perry, 
natives  respectively  of  Vermont  and  Massachusetts. 
The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Potter,  who  died  Nov.  2,  1846, 
was  the  mother  of  four  children  :  Eliza  J.,  born  Oct. 
17,  1837,  and  married  D.  P.  Perry,  who  lost  his  life 
in  the  military  service  of  the  United  States,  and  who 
left  two  children.  She  afterwards  married  George 
McKnight,  and  died  June  6,  1870;  Dewitt  Clinton 
lives  in  Shelby  Co.,  Iowa;  Charles  W.  is  a  resident 
of  Brown  Co.,  Neb.  He  served  four  years  in  the 
army  and  is  now  a  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zen where  he  lives;  James  Madison  was  born  March 
6,  1843,  and  died  Oct.  12,  1846,  in  less  than  a 
month  before  his  mother's  death. 

There  were  eight  children  by  the  second  marriage. 
George  A.  is  the  occupant  of  the  homestead ;  Flor- 
ence L.  married  Nelson  W.  Stone,  and  they  live  in 
Adair  County,  Iowa;  Henry  Clay  lives  in  Harlan, 
Shelby  Co.,  Iowa;  Emery  D.  was  born  Feb.  17,  1856; 
he  married  Lettie,  daughter  of  Fred  Hille,  and  died 
Jan.  10,  1884,  in  Harlan,  Iowa;  Sarah  S.  is  the  wife 
of  Caleb  B.  Smith,  and  lives  in  Fletcher,  Sac  Co., 
Iowa.  Frank  Martin,  born  Sept.  5,  1860,  died  Jan. 
16,  1884,  six  days  after  his  brother;  John  F.  lives 
with  his  mother;  Mary,  born  Nov.  27,  1868,  died 
Dec.  26,  following.  — 

Martin  M.  Potter  was  one  of  the  ablest,  most  pub- 
lic-spirited of  the  early  citizens  of  the  county.  His 
entire  career  was  one  undeviating  record  of  useful- 
ness and  integrity.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace 
nearly  all  the  time  he  lived  in  Fenton  Township,  and 
was  active  in  every  project  for  the  promotion  of  the 
general  welfare  of  the  public.  He  is  remembered  for 
his  worth  and  excellent  character. 

Mr.  Potter,  of  this  sketch,  is  a  worthy  son  of  a 
worthy  sire.  He  grew  to  the  estate  of  manhood  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  acted  as  an  assistant  on  the 
homestead  and  attended  school.  He  was  married 
March  4,  1874,  to  Emma  C.,  daughter  of  Humphrey 
and  Susanna  P.  (Whitlock)  Thompson.  She  was 
born  in  Ohio.  They  settled  on  a  portion  of  the  Pot- 
ter homestead,  which  is  now  their  property.  The  fol- 


! 


WHITESIDE  COUN7  Y. 


lowing  is  a  record  of  their  children  :  Ethie  was  born 
Jan.  25,  1875,  and  died  March  27,  1875  ;  Lena  M., 
born  March  4,  1876,  died  March  15,  1881  ;  Georgia 
L.  and  Mabel  O.  are  living;  Earl  T.  was  born  Nov. 
14,  1881,  and  died  Sept.  30,  1883. 


!( ames  Collins,  gardener,    nurseryman    and 
•?•  farmer,  residing  in  Erie,  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Charlotte  (Rawles)  Collins,  and 
was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  19,  1823.     His 
father  was  a  stone-cutter.     His  mother  died 
when   James  was  seven  years  of  age,  and  a 
maiden  aunt,  Hannah  Rawles,  took  him  to  Romeo, 
Macomb  Co.,   Mich.,   a  few  years' later,   where  he 
learned  the  blacksmith's   trade.      He  then  went    to 
Florence,   Oneida  Co.,  N.   Y.,  where    he    was    em- 
ployed on  dairy  farms  several  years.     He  then  went 
to  New  York  City,  where  he  was  employed  by  the 
Union  Ferry  Company  at  the  South  Ferry,  between 
Brooklyn  and   New  York,  and   remained  with   them 
from  1849  to  1853.     After  leaving  their  employ,  he 
came  to  Erie,  this  county,  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
80   acres,  and   in    company  with  Samuel    D     Carr 
bought  several   hundred  acres  of  land.     He  subse- 
quently sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Carr,  in  1859.     Mr. 
)    Carr  died  in   June,  1861,  and   Mr.  Collins   married 
his  widow,  Elizabeth   (Ennis)  Carr,  Aug    3r,  1864. 
Slie  was  born  in  Ohio,  Nov.  17,  1822,  and  had  by  her 
first  marriage  four  children,  namely:   Rebecca,  de- 
ceased, was   the  wife  of  George  Wilcox,  one  of  the 
prison  keepers  in  the  Joliet  Penitentiary ;  Louisa  is 
the  wife  of  James  Worrell,  a  carpenter,  residing  in 
Erie  ;  Mary,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Van  Rensel- 
laer  Rowe,  a  farmer  in  Erie  Township;  William  E. 
is  a  clerk  in  R.  L.  Burchell's  store  at  Erie. 

Mr.  Collins  has  one  child  by  his  marriage  to 
Mrs.  Carr,  Sherman,  born  July  18,  1865.  He  still 
owns  170  acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Erie,  about 
40  acres  of  which  lie  inside  the  corporate  limits  of 
that  villlage.  In  1869  he  engaged  in  the  nursery 
business,  and  has  sold  large  numbers  of  evergreens 
and  other  kinds  of  nursery  stock  in  this  section,  and 
raises  numbers  of  sweet  potatoes,  cabbage,  tomatoes 
"'  and  other  plants.  He  also  has  a  contract  to  build 
one  and  three-fourths  miles  of  the  main  ditch  of  the 
Whiteside  and  Rock  Island  drainage  system,  He 


has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  two  terms, 
Township  Clerk  two  terms,  Assessor  several  years, 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Village  Board  several 
years,  and  President  of  the  same  one  year. 

Mrs.  Carr's  first  husband,  Samuel  D.  Carr,  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Erie  Township,  and  married 
his  wife  in  Rock  Island  County  in  1843,  and  brought 
her  to  this  county.  He  has  resided  in  the  county 
several  years  previous  to  his  marriage.  He  built 
part  of  the  hotel  known  as  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel,  in 
1851,  and  kept  it  until  the  fall  of  1856,  when  he 
he  rented  it  for  a  period  and  then  sold  it.  Previous 
to  that  he  had  kept  a  hotel  in  a  log  house  close  by 
where  he  erected  the  St.  Nicholas. 


-~ • sSi— *- 


renry  Litzrodt,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  section  7,  Genesee  Township,  was 
born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  Sept.  4,  1829.  His 
father,  a  farmer,  lived  and  died  in  the  same 
country,  at  the  age  of  85  years.  His  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Catharine  Trenzel,  is  also  a 
native  of  Saxony,  and  still  living  there,  aged  84 
years,  having  been  born  Aug.  24,  i8or. 

Mr.  Litzrodt,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
the  fourth-born  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  re- 
ceived an  education,  and  at  the  age  of  15  years  he 
began  as  an  apprentice  to  learn  the  trade  of  lock- 
smith, under  the  supervision  of  Wilhelm  Demmer, 
in  Eisenach,  with  the  aid  of  $50  received  from  his 
father.  He  completed  his  course  in  two  and  a  half 
years,  and  for  the  eight  years  ensuing  he  followed  his 
trade  on  his  own  account.  When  26  years  of  age 
he  came  alone  to  America,  settling  at  Sterling,  this 
county,  near  which  place  he  began  to  work  for  Mr. 
Sox,  on  the  farm,  continuing  in  his  service  a  num- 
ber of  years.  In  the  meantime  he  purchased  80 
acres  of  slightly  improved  timber  land  in  Genesee 
Grove,  this  county.  He  finally  went  there  and  com- 
menced to  improve  the  place,  "  baching  "  it  the  first 
year. 

He  was  then  married,  May  12,  1868,  in  the  city  of 
Chicago,  to  Miss  Sophia  E.  Wilcken,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Sophia  (Swart)  Wilcken.  She  was  born 
in  Mecklenburg,  Germany,  Feb.  17,  1834.  Her 
parents,  natives  of  that  country,  raised  a  family  of 
four  children,  and  are  both  now  dead.  She  was 


13  years  of  age  when  her  father  died,  and  then  she 
had  to  labor  as  a  domestic  in  various  families  to  sup- 
port her  aged  mother.  She  was  34  years  old  when 
her  mother  died,  and  she  then  emigrated  with  one 
of  her  brothers  to  America,  settling  in  Sterlingi 
with  a  sister  who  had  preceded  her  to  that  place. 

Mr.  L.  has  since  increased  the  dimensions  of  his 
farm  to  170,  acres,  iro  of  which  is  in  cultivation. 
He  has  recently  erected  a  large,  tasteful  residence, 
farm  buildings,  etc.,  and  has  made  his  place  a  desir- 
able one.  He  raises  a  considerable  number  of  do- 
mestic animals,  and  carries  on  his  agricultural  inter- 
ests in  good  style.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  In  i>olitics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  he  has  held  the  office  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner. 


illiam  J.   Gladhill,  Justice  of  the   Peace, 

jeweler  and  gunsmith,  residing  at  Erie, 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Baughan) 
Gladhill,  and  was  born  in  Union  Co., 
Ohio,  Feb.  2,  1830.  His  father  was  a 
shoemaker  and  farmer,  and  died  in  Fulton,  this 
county,  at  which  place  the  demise  of  his  mother  also 
occurred.  Their  children  were  13  in  number,  eight 
of  whom  still  survive. 

Mr.  Gladhill  learned  the  trades  of  cooper  and  gun- 
smith in  enrly  manhood,  and  followed  the  same  until 
he  came  West.  In  1856  he  came  to  Erie  Township, 
and  was  occupied  in  running  the  Henwood  Ferry  un- 
til 1872.  One  year  later,  in  1873,  he  was  elected 
Constable  and  held  the  position  for  eight  years.  Ever 
since  coming  to  the  county,  he  has  followed,  as 
other  business  would  permit,  the  gunsmith  and 
jewelry  business.  In  the  spring  of  1873,  he  opened 
a  shop  in  Erie,  and  worked  at  general  repairing, 
which  he  has  continued  until  the  present  time;  he 
also  takes  orders  for  all  kinds  of  jewelry,  watches, 
clocks,  etc.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
Masonry,  belonging  to  the  Eastern  Star  Lodge,  and 
religiously  he  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church.  He 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1881,  and  was 
re-elected  Police  Magistrate  in  1885. 

Mr.  Gladhill  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Union  Co  , 
Ohio,  Township  of  Liberty,  March  30,  1853,  with 
Miss  Rosanna  B.  Echelberger,  who  was  born  in  Ash- 


land Co .,  Ohio,  June  28,   1831.     They  are  the   par- 
ents of  five  children,  namely.    Everet,  who  is  a  tele- 
graph  operator   in    Oakland,  Neb.;  Alonzo  W.,  who  £i& 
is  engaged  in  carriage,  wagon,  sign  and  landscape    1 
painting,  and  frescoing,  at  Erie  village;  George  W., .  g 
who  is  a  painter,  residing  in  LaVergne,  Minn.;  Theo- 
dore W.,  who  is  a  ticket  agent  in   Erie,  and  also  a 
painter   by  occupation;  and  Eugene  W.,  who  is    a 
clerk  in  a  drug  store  in  Erie. 


ohn  E.  Scott,  retired  farmer,  reside  at 
Como,  has  lived  in  Hopkins  Township 
since  his  boyhood,  having  jme  to  White- 
side  County  in  1839  with  his  i  arents.  Jesse 
Scott,  his  father,  was  fitted  >y  nature  and 
habit  for  a  pioneer.  Enei  ,Jtic,  persistent, 
sagacious  and  intrepid,  he  found  himself  cramped 
for  opportunity  and  he  decided  to  transfer  his  rela- 
tions to  Illinois,  flowery  tales  of  whose  prairies  and 
agricultural  promise  had  filled  the  East.  In  March, 
1839,  he  set  out  on  a  boat  which  was  propelled  by 
horse  power,  and  on  which  he  traveled  to  his  point 
of  destination  on  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Rock 
Rivers.  The  unique  craft  was  of  100  tons'  burden, 
and  on  it  he  constructed  a  shelter  for  his  family  and 
household  goods.  He  landed  June  i,  1839,  at 
Como,  where  he  fixed  his  location  and  resided 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of 
most  genial  character,  and  through,  the  40  years  of 
his  life  in  Hopkins  Township  he  was  held  in  general 
esteem.  No  other  instance  is  on  record  of  a  boat 
being  propelled  against  the  strong  current  of  the 
Mississippi  River  by  horse  power,  and  it  was  an  ob- 
ject of  great  interest  when  plying  on  the  rivers  on 
the  trading  expeditions,  of  which  its  owner  made 
several.  Mr.  Scott  died  March  13,  i8-jg. 

His  marriage  to  Annah  D.  Sherman  took  place  Jan. 
i,  1815,  and  they  had  13  children.  Mrs.  Scott  was 
born  in  Ohio  and  was  kin  to  the  family  from  which 
the  distinguished  General  and  Senator  Sherman  de- 
scended. Jesse  Scott  was  born  July  24,  1790,  in 
Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  12  years  of  age  when  his 
father  went  to  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio,  and  he  lived  there 
until  his  removal  to  Illinois,  as  stated.  He  was 
ne  rly  89  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
His  son,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  personal 


r 

. 


I 


**!• 


i 

• 

• 


^    V"V.MU«0>MM.:/"V    ^ 
WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


- 


tion,  was  born  May  26,  1828,  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  is  the  eighth  child  of  his  parents.  The  entire 
number  lived  to  mature  life  and  were  born  in  the 
following  order:  Asa,  Jane  D.,  Josiah  S.,  David, 
Hiram  B.,  Adrial,  Joel  S.,  John  E.,  Mary  E  ,  Maria 
A.,  Caroline  A.,  Annis  E.  and  Emmeline. 

Mr.  Scott  received  a  common-school  education 
and  led  an  active  life  in  Hopkins  Township  until 
1882,  when  he  rented  his  farm  and  removed  to 
Como.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  197  acres  of  land  on 
section  15. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  J.  Shereer  occurred  Nov.  4, 
1852,  in  Hopkins  Township.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
John  E.  and  Mary  M.  (Cochrane)  Shereer,  and  her 
parents  were  born  in  Scotland.  They  emigrated  in 
early  life  to  Canada,  where  they  were  married.  They 
came  thence  to  Will  Co.,  111.,  where  they  resided  un- 
til they  died.  Mrs.  Scott  is  their  only  child,  and  she 
was  born  in  Kingston,  Out.,  Oct.  26,  1832.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  are  five  in  number, — 
Annis  C.,  Annah  A.  and  Ann  E.  (twins),  Amy  A. 
and  Oscar  H. 

In  political  opinion  and  acts,  Mr.  Scott  affiliates 
with  the  Republican  party. 


;  athan  M.  Hurlbert,  deceased,  formerly  a 
farmer  of  Lyndon  Township,  located  on 
section  3,  was  born  Aug.  17,  1823,  in  the 
town  of  Glover,  Orleans  Co.,  Vt.  His 
parents,  Reuel  and  Prudence  (Norton)  Hurlbert, 
were  farmers  in  the  Green  Mountain  State, 
where  their  children  were  reared  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools. 

July  9,  1850,  Mr.  Hurlbert  was  married  to  Ro- 
sanna  G.  Gibson,  and  they  remained  in  Vermont  six 
years.  In  1856  they  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and 
Mr.  Hurlbert  bought  land  in  Lyndon  Township, 
where  he  settled  and  engaged  in  the  labor  of  culti- 
vating his  farm.  His  wife  died  May  12,  1858.  Mr. 
Hurlbert  was  again  married  Nov.  3,  1859,  to  Jane  E. 
Pratt.  She  was  born  Nov.  17,  1835,  in  Milton,  Chit- 
tenden  Co.,  Vt.  Mr.  Hurlbert  died  Jan.  26,  1881. 
He  had  lived  a  life  of  usefulness  and  success. 
Frank  N.,  his  oldest  son,  lives  in  Nebraska  ;  George 
W.  is  a  resident  of  Dakota  ;  and  Fred  J.  lives  in 
Lyndon.  The  second  marriage  resulted  in  six  chil- 


dren.     Lyman  died  in  infancy.     Etta  was  born  April 


26,   1865,  and  died  April  22,  1885.     Norton  is  the 
oldest.     Warner,  Ernest  and  Eddie  are  the  youngest.    «*» 
Mr.  Hurlbert  was  the  father  of  eight  sons   and  one 
daughter.  ^ 


ames  H.  Baird,  farmer,  residing  on  section 
|-  30,  Prophetstown  Township,  and  the  pro- 
prietor of  340  acres  located  thereon,  is  a 
son  of  James  and  Mary  (Wilson)  Baird,  and 
was  born  in  Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  7,  1834. 
His  father  was  of  Scotch-Irish  lineage,  and  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother,  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  a  native  of  Washington,  same  State. 
His  father  died  when  Mr.  Baird  was  five  years  old, 
and  he  resided  with  his  mother  and  sisters  until  he 
had  attained  the  age  of  thirty  years.  At  the  death 
of  the  father  the  family  were  left  in  straitened  cir- 
cumstances, and  James  H.  was  compelled  to  labor 
for  their  maintenance,  receiving  only  the  limited 
education  afforded  by  the  common  schools  of  the 
county  in  which  he  resided.  His  mother  was  a 
sister  of  Colonel  Wilson,  of  Sterling,  this  county,  who 
is  deceased. 

Mr.  Baird  was  united  in  marriage  in  Hopkins 
Township,  this  county,  at  the  residence  of  his  broth- 
er, May  24,  1864,  to  Martha  Brown.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Ellen  Brown,  and  was  born 
Dec.  12,  1834.  Mr.  Baird  returned  with  his  bride 
to  Ohio,  where  he  had  previously  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  the  heirs  of  the  old  homestead.  In  the  fall 
of  1864  he  sold  his  farm  and  came  to  this  county, 
and  bought  the  place  on  which  he  at  present  re- 
sides. He  moved  his  family  here  in  March,  1865, 
and  has  made  this  his  residence  ever  since.  He 
has  made  a  number  of  improvements  on  his  place, 
erected  a  nice  residence  and  one  of  the  finest  barns 
in  this  part  of  the  county.  He  has  some  exceedingly 
fine  horses  and  cattle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baird  have  five  children,  born  in 
Prophetstown  Township,  as  follows  :  Ida  L.,  April 
30,  1867;  Zella,  April  14,  1869;  Mary  E.,  Jan.  13, 
1871;  Jessie,  July  2,  1875,  and  Emma,  June  10, 
1877. 

Mr.  Baird  is  Drain  Commissioner  of  his  district, 


-  ••   - 


has  spent  considerable  time  in  the  exercise  of  his 
office,  and  takes  great  interest  in  the  work.  He  was 
an  officer  of  the  School  Board  1  2  years. 

The  subject  of  the  foregoing  sketch  is  also  the 
subject  of  a  portrait  on  a  preceding  page,  where  the 
publishers  of  this  volume  are  proud  to  place  it,  in 
consideration  of  his  position  as  a  representative 
citizen  of  Whiteside  County. 


Andrew  McFadden,  farmer  sec.  15,  Ustick 
Tp.,  is  the  son  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth 
(Quig)  McFadden  :  parents  of  Scotch 
origin  and  Irish  birth,  belonging  to  the  his- 
toric families  who  went  from  Scotland  to  Ire- 
land in  1619  to  escape  the  persecutions  of 
James.  Mr.  McFadden  was  born  June  28,  1817,  in 
Coun.ty  Derry,  Ireland.  He  was  22  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  he  remained 
in  the  Eastern  States  until  about  1853,  when  he  lo- 
cated in  Ustick  Township.  He  owns  80  acres  of 
land. 

He  was  married  in  New  York,  Dec.  n,  1843,  to 
Margaret  Collins.  She  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  whence 
she  emigrated  when  quite  young.  They  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  five  children,  two  of  whom  — 
James  and  Margaret  —  are  deceased.  They  were 
born  in  the  following  order  :  Jane,  James,  Elizabeth, 
Edwin  and  Margaret.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McFadden  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  McFad- 
den is  a  Republican  in  political  preference. 


eorge  Murray,  deceased,  formerly  a  farmer 
on  section  35,  Montmorency  Township, 
was  born  Jan.  17,  1815,  in  Bangor,  Maine. 
His  parents  went,  about  the  year  i8r8,  to  the 
State  of  Kentucky,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  was  married.  After  that  event 
transpired  he  settled  in  Campbell  County,  same 
State,  where  he  lived  ten  years,  removing  at  the 
end  of  that  time  to  Franklin  Co.,  Ind.  He  was  a 
resident  there  seven  years,  and  was  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  the  spring  of  1856,  he  came 
with  his  wife  and  seven  children  to  Whiteside 
County,  where  he  purchased  480  acres  of  land  in 


Montmorency  Township.  He  afterward  gave  100 
acres  to  his  son  William,  who  took  possession  of  it 
when  he  was  married.  He  put  the  remaining  380 
acres  of  his  farm  in  excellent  agricultural  condition, 
erecting  fine  buildings.  He  was  the  occupant  of 
the  place  until  his  death,  Sept.  6,  i88i,at  which 
time  his  sons  and  daughters  were  all  married  and 
living  elsewhere,  excepting  Douglas  and  John,  the 
two  youngest  sons,  who  still  own  the  homestead. 

Mr.  Murray  was  married  Nov.  7,  1837,  in  Camp- 
bell Co.,  Ky.,  to  Elizabeth  B.  Richardson,  and  they 
had  ten  children,  namely :  Lorenzo  D.,  born  Aug. 
8.  1838;  Sarah  Ann,  born  Deo.  i,  1840,  died  July 
5,  1858  ;  William  H.,  born  July  i,  1843  ;  Edward, 
Jan.  21,  1846;  Thomas,  Nov.  27,  1848;  Coburn, 
Aug.  18,  1851,  died  June  3,  1868;  Andrew,  born 
April  27,  1854,  died  Oct.  5  following;  Ezekiel,  Oct. 
21,  1855;  Douglas,  Nov.  25,  1859;  and  John,  April 
30,  1862. 

Mrs.  Murray  was  born  July  2,  1820,  in  the  county 
where  she  was  married.  Her  parents,  Hugh  and 
Lucy  (Parker)  Richardson,  were  natives  of  Kentucky, 
and  had  a  family  of  seven  children :  James  H., 
Sarah,  Elizabeth  B.,  Louisa,  Susan,  Lorenzo  D.  and 
Mary  J.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  to  which  her  husband  also  belonged. 


i^tephen  Sherwood,  farmer,  section  35,  Gen- 
esee  Township,  is  prominently  identified 
with  the  agricultural  interests  of  White- 
side  County.  He  was  born  Aug.  7,  1801,  in 
Peekskill,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  rep- 
resents prominent  and  honorable  families  in 
both  lines  of  descent,  his  father,  Caleb  Sherwood, 
and  his  mother,  who  was  Phebe  Oakley,  having  be- 
longed to  families  who  came  to  this  country  prior  to 
the  organization  ol  the  Government,  and  their  ances- 
tors were  personally  interested  in  the  stirring  events 
that  resulted  in  the  independence  of  the  Colonies. 
They  were  also  represented  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
the  later  generation  sustained  the  repute  of  their 
ancestral  valor  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Van 
Wert  and  Paulding,  two  of  the  captors  of  Major 
Andre,  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  were 
cousins  of  Caleb  Sherwood.  Two  uncles  of  his  wife 


v|) 


( 


-.'       •  > 


s> 

I 

*:   3» 


& 

V 

) 


were  participants  in  the  second  war  with  Great 
Britain. 

There  were  six  children  in  the  family  to  which  Mr. 
Sherwood  belonged,  and  he  was  seven  years  of  age 
when  his  father  died.  A  few  years  after  that  event 
he  went  to  th-i  city  of  New  York,  where  he  went  to 
school  until  he  was  16  years  of  age.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  Hudson  River  service,  in  the  capacity 
of  a  cabin-boy,  where  he  was  occupied  some  years. 
He  became  later  a  sailor  on  the  "  Mary  Augustus," 
a  merchant  vessel  in  the  West  India  trade,  Captain 
Miller,  and  he  was  on  the  ocean  about  18  months. 
He  then  resumed  his  operations  on  the  North  River, 
where  he  was  engaged  until  he  came  of  age.  In 
1822  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  wholesale  grocery  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  where  he  was  occupied  some  years. 
He  was  a  Whig  of  enthusiastic  proclivities,  and  did 
excellent  service  in  the  Presidential  election  of  1840 
when,  by  his  own  exertions, he  secured  the  i7th  ward 
in  the  city,  which  was  notoriously  Democratic,  for  his 
party.  In  1841  the  value  of  his  efforts  received  due 
recognition,  and  he  was  appointed  a  clerk  in  the 
postoffice  of  that  city,  and  he  continued  in  the  posi- 
tion through  the  administrations  of  Harrison,  Tyler 
and  Polk. 

In  1852  he  came  West.  He  settled  in  Whiteside 
County,  locating  160  acres  of  land  on  section  35  of 
Genesee  Township,  of  which  he  took  possession  in 
1853.  It  has  since  been  his  permanent  home. 
Everything  surrounding  him  was  in  the  most  primi- 
tive condition.  The  county  was  still,  much  of  it, 
unsettled,  and  the  city -bred  man,  who  abandoned  the 
most  advanced  metropolis  on  this  continent  to  strug- 
gle with  an  unbroken  prairie  farm,  experienced  all 
the  novelties  of  the  situation,  which,  treated  after 
the  homely  old  fashion,  would  appear  as  home- 
sickness. But  Mr.  Sherwood  conquered  his  discon- 
tent and  identified  himself  with  the  element  that  was 
putting  forth  every  effort  to  further  the  progress  of 
Whiteside  County.  On  his  farm  no  improvements 
had  been  made,  and  he  drew  the  lumber  for  his 
small  house  many  miles.  His  estate  now  contains 
245  acres,  and  is  all  under  cultivation. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Sherwood,  to  Caroline 
Chase,  occurred  in  the  city  of  New  York.  She  was 
born  in  Boston,  June  30,  1812,  and  went  at  the  age 
of  1 8  years  to  the  city  of  New  York.  She  died  in 
Genesee  Township,  July  4,  1854.  Of  five  children 

S^K: a-A^fl  3 : 


of  whom  she  became  the  mother  only  one  is  living, 
Caroline  A.  She  is  a  widow,  and  lives  at  Dixon,  111. 
The  names  of  their  deceased  were  Eliza  E.,. Stephen 
M.,  Maria  L.  and  William  H.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Massachusetts,  and  her  father  was  inter- 
ested in  the  woolen  industry  of  that  State.  Mr. 
Sherwood  was  again  married  May  31,  1855,  at  Ster- 
ling, by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stebbins  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  to  Marena  C.  Harrison,  daughter  of  Mark 
and  Mary  (Taylor)  Harrison,  of  whom  a  sketch  is 
given  in  connection  with  that  of  her  brother,  James 
H.  Harrison.  She  was  born  in  Putnam  County,  111., 
and  was  but  five  years  of  age  when  her  parents  set- 
tled in  Whiteside  County,  becoming  pioneers  and 
representatives  of  the  period  of  first  things  in  Gen- 
esee Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sherwood  have  had 
10  children  :  Fanny  E.  married  Fayette  Berbeck  ;  he 
was  born  in  Wisconsin,  and  died  Oct.  2,  1823,  in 
Cambridge,  Cowley  Co.,  Kan.,  leaving  two  children 
F.  Guy  and  Clarence ;  Emma  R.  married  William 
Bush,  and  lives  in  Barton  Co.,  Kan ;  Gilbert  is  de- 
ceased ;  Phebe  married  Edward  Knox ;  Elnora, 
Benjamin  F.,  Charles  J.,  Clara  B.,  Asa  K.  and  Ar- 
thur C.  still  reside  at  home. 

Mr.  Sherwood  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  still  an 
adherent  to  the  principles  which  controlled  his  ac- 
tions when  he  attained  his  political  freedom.  He 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Henry  Clay. 


ewis  D.  Wynn,  hardware  merchant,  Third 
Street,  Sterling,  was  born  Sept.  8,  1849,  in 
Knox  Co.,  Ohio.  His  parents  were  Dr. 
Ulysses  and  Sarah  A.  (Cox)  Wynn,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Virginia  and  Ohio.  At  the  age  of 
eight  years,  young  Lewis  went  to  live  with  his 
uncle,  William  Cox,  in  Indiana,  and  remained  two 
years;  then  for  a  time  he  was  employed  in  the 
grocery  of  Dan  Wirick,  in  West  Unity,  Ohio;  then  two 
years  in  the  dry-goods  house  of  Morrison  &  Elliott ; 
next  he  was  clerk  for  a  year  in  his  uncle's  hotel  at 
Stryker,  Ohio ;  then  he  was  traveling  agent  for  Dr. 
N.  S.  Dodge,  of  Chicago,  until  his  health  failed;  then 
he  entered  the  preparatory  department  of  the  Doc- 
tor's business  at  Mishawaka,  Ind.,  and  for  some 
months  was  employed  in  putting  up  medicine ;  then 
for  a  time  ran  the  spoke  machines  in  the  Millbourne 
Wagon  Works. 


• 

t 

*\ 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


In  1864  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  48th  Regt.  Ind.  Vet. 
Vol.  Inf.,  was  placed  in  Gen.  Sherman's  command 
and  was  under  fire  several  times ;  marching  from 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  to  Savannah,  Ga.,  thence  to  Ra- 
leigh, N.  C.,  whence  he  came  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and 
to  Indianapolis,  where  he  was  honorably  discharged. 
Returning  from  the  field  of  carnage,  he  attended 
school  at  West  Unity,  Ohio,  his  native  home,  then  a 
year  at  Olivet  College,  Eaton  Co.,  Mich.,  and  then  as 
an  apprentice  he  devoted  three  years  to  the  acquisi- 
tion of  a  knowledge  of  the  tinner's  trade  at  Hudson, 
Mich.,  continuing  as  a  journeyman  to  work  for  the 
same  firm  for  a  time,  and  in  1870  went  to  Hillsdale, 
Mich.,  where  he  followed  his  trade  two  years. 
Thence  he  came  to  Sterling  and  worked  in  the  tin- 
shop  of  R.  B.  Witmer  for  a  year,  then  in  Chicago 
until  the  great  fire  of  1871,  then  in  Toledo,  Ohio, 
then  in  Chicago  again,  and  finally  back  to  Sterling, 
where  he  was  employed  by  Diller  &  Hither  and 
afterward  by  Lawrence  &  Belts,  until  1876,  when  he 
started  in  business  for  himself,  at  460  Third  Street 
In  1880  he  sold  out  and  purchased  a  half  interest 
with  the  Solar  Stove  Works,  of  JolieJ,  111.,  in  a  west- 
ern branch  al  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  was  engaged 
for  two  years  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  of  stoves. 
Returning  again  to  Sterling,  he  resumed  ihe  stove 
business  at  the  old  site,  460,  Third  Street.  In  1883 
he  moved  his  goods  into  the  corner  block  on 
Third  and  Mulberry  Streels,  where  he  has  since  con- 
ducted his  trade,  wilh  increasing  prosperily. 

Mr.  Wynn  was  married  in  7873  to  Miss  Lotta  A. 
Pixley,  of  Hudson,  Mich.,  and  Ihey  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Ila  A.,  born  May  4,  1879. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Wynn  advocates  Ihe 
Democralic  plalform.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Orders 
of  United  Workmen  and  Select  Knights. 


>ark  B.  Averill,  at  present  residing  in 
Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Rhoda  Averill,  and  was  born  in 
Swanton,  Vt.,  Dec.  22,  1811.  He  resided 
in  the  latler  Slate  until  1852,  when  he  came 
West,  and  for  two  years  resided  in  Lee  Co., 
this  Stale.  In  1854,  he  purchased  a  farm  from  Fred 
Dwighl,  in  Prophelslown  Township,  this  county, 
consisting  of  600  acres,  and  upon  which  he  resided 


for  a  number  of  years.     The  farm  is   now  owned  by 
E.  S.  Ellithorpe. 

Soon  after  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Averill  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Ada  C.  Durin,  of  Newfanei 
Windhan  Co.,  Vt.,  with  whom  he  is  yet  living. 


A.  C.  Smith,  physician    and 
Whiteside  Co.,  111. 


surgeon,   Tampico, 


ilton  H.  Seger,  Supervisor  of  Erie  Town- 
ship, and  a  farmer  residing  on  section  3, 
where  he  rents  197  acres  of  land,  is  a  son 
of  Allen  and  Achsa  (Howard)  Seger,  and 
was  born  in  Oxford  Co.,  Me.,  Feb.  5,  1838. 
His  father  was  a  nalive  of  the  same  county  as 
his  son,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His 
molher  was  a  nalive  of  New  Hampshire,  and  both 
parents  are  deceased.  Their  family  comprised  three 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Milton  H.  and 
Dana  B.,  the  latter  of  whom  is  a  physician,  residing 
in  Morrison. 

Mr.  Seger  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  by  the  common  schools,  and  en- 
gaged in  performing  such  labor  as  was  common  for 
farmer's  sons,  until  he  attained  the  age  of  manhood. 
In  the  spring  of  1854,  his  father's  family  came  West 
and  located  in  Wethersfield  Township,  Henry  Co., 
111.,  and  in  ihe  fall  of  1854  ihey  came  to  this  county 
and  located  in  Erie  Township,  one  mile  north  of  the 
village  of  Erie,  where  his  father  purchased  a  farm  of 
130  acres,  and  on  which  he  resided  for  three  years. 
His  father  then  moved  into  the  village  of  Erie  and 
purchased  a  small  place,  which  is  now  inside  the  cor- 
poralion  of  that  village.  He  died  there,  Nov.  7,  1872, 
as  likewise  the  mother,  Oct.  2,  1872. 

In  1860  Mr.  Seger  of  this  nolice,  lured  by  the 
glowing  accounls  of  Ihe  discovery  of  gold,  went  to 
Pike's  Peak,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  one 
season,  and  returned  to  Erie  Township  and  engaged 
in  farming  and  hunting  during  the  game  season.  He 
is  a  lover  of  the  sport  and  met  with  considerable 
success  in  hunting,  his  game  consisting  of  prairie 
chickens,  snipe,  plovers,  etc.,  which  he  shipped  to 
the  Chicago  and  Si.  Louis  markets.  In  Angus', 
1871,  he  entered  R.  L.  Burchell's  store  in  Erie,  and 


.:-:••  C. 


^ ' . 


acted  in  the  capacity  of  clerk  for  that  gentleman  for 
over  14  years.  He  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
head  clerk,  and  when  the  store  was  divided  into  de- 
partments, he  took  the  dry-goods  department.  In 
March,  1885,  on  account  of  poor  health,  he  retired  to 
his  farm,  on  which  he  at  present  resides.  He  makes 
a  specialty  of  cattle  and  hogs,  and  keeps  a  small 
dairy. 

In  1873  Mr.  Seger  was  Supervisor  and  also  held 
the  position  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  eight  years, 
from  1873,  and  also  other  minor  offices,  and  has  been 
re-elected  to  the  former  position  the  present  year 


He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Erie,  April  16,  1861, 
to  Miss  Nancy  J.  Duncan,  daughter  of  Alexander 
and  Lucinda  (Lee)  Duncan.  She  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania. They  are  the  parents  of  12  children,  all 
born  in  this  county  :  Cora  V.  is  the  wife  of  Seth 
Eddy,  a  farmer  of  Erie  Township  ;  Mary  E.;  Russell  ; 
Hattie  H.  is.  clerking  in  the  dry-goods  department  of 
R.  L.  Burchell,  of  Erie;  Ella,  Wallace,  M.  Clayton, 
Myrtie,  Frank,  Ernest,  Dana  and  Ethel.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Seger  is  yet  living  and  resides  in  Erie  Town- 
ship, where  he  follows  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 


K~  ~1|£  liver  Talbott  is  one  of  the  enterprising 
Jj,  farmers  of  Jordan  Township,  and  is  lo- 
cated on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
i.  The  name  of  his  father,  James  Talbott, 
appears  among  those  of  the  earliest  pioneers 
)  of  the  county,  and  he  came  to  Jordan  Town- 
ship in  the  same  year  (1835)  in  which  S.  M.  Coe  and 
James  M.  Wilson  pitched  their  tents  within  its  limits. 
James  Talbott  was  born  Aug.  7,  1801,  in  Westmore- 
land Co.,  Pa.  He  was  a  man  with  a  natural  genius 
for  mechanical  art,  and  in  his  native  State  he  oper- 
ated as  a  builder  and  a  millwright.  He  married 
Sarah  Woods,  May  29,  1828,  and  in  1833,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  children,  John  W.  and  Mary 
Jane,  he  started  for  the  West.  The  family  effects 
were  loaded  on  a  flat-boat  on  the  Youghiogheny 
River,  a  tributary  of  the  Monongahela,  and  the 
party  were  conveyed  to  Pittsburg,  whence  they  went 
by  steamer  down  the  Ohio  River.  Cold  weather 
came  on,  and  a  halt  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  became 


necessary,  on  account  of  the  river  becoming  unnavi- 
gable  from  ice.  The  family  remained  in  that  city 
until  navigation  opened,  when  they  proceeded  by  the 
Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers  to  Peoria.  The 
journey  to  Jordan  Township  was  made  overland  in 
a  wagon  drawn  by  three  yokes  of  oxen.  The  little 
party  had  increased  in  number  during  the  tarry  at 
Louisville,  where  Oliver  was  born,  Dec.  18,  1833. 
They  reached  Peoria  in  the  spring  of  1834,  where 
the  father  built  a  mill,  and  operated  as  a  carpenter 
until  the  spring  of  1835,  when  the  family  came,  as  ^ 
staled,  to  Whiteside  County.  The  point  of  their 
first  location  in  Jordan  Township  was  at  Buffalo  t 
Creek.  Jordan  Township  had  not  received  its  name 
and  Whiteside  County  was  still  a  part  of  Jo  Daviess 
County.  The  elder  Talbott  found  immediate  requi- 
sition for  his  services  and  abilities  in  the  erection  of 
a  structure  known  as  Wilson's  Mill.  It  was  built  of 
logs,  and  was  the  only  mill  in  a  radius  of  50  miles. 
The  ancient  building  has  given  place  to  a  frame 
mill,  which  is  still  designated  as  formerly,  and  occu- 
pies the  same  site.  James  Tabott  was  the  first 
Supervisor  of  the  township,  and  held  the  office 
several  subsequent  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  of 
the  type  of  that  period,  and  was  active  in  the  inter- 
ests of  his  party.  He  engaged  in  farming  success- 
fully in  Jordan  Township  until  his  removal  to  Ster- 
ling, where  he  died  in  1879.  The  death  of  his  wife 
transpired  in  1882,  when  she  was  76  years  of  age. 
She  was  born  in  1806.  She  was  the  mother  of  10 
children,  and  all  reached  adult  age,  except  two,  who 
died  in  childhood. 

Mr.  Oliver  Talbott  is  practically  identified  with 
Jordan  Township,  where  he  came  in  infancy.  He 
owns  132  acres  of  land,  which  was  originally  a  part 
of  the  homestead,  and  40  acres  located  near  it. 
The  property  is  all  improved.  He  is  a  Democrat, 
and  has  held  several  local  offices. 

The  elder  Talbott  and  his  estimable  wife  were 
leading  members  ol  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
for  almost  50  years,  and  their  house  was  ever  the 
home  of  the  traveling  preacher.  Within  its  hospi- 
table doors  they  always  found  a  warm  welcome. 
Mr.  Talbott  was  not  only  a  leading  man  within  •5i» 
the  pales  of  his  Church  circle,  nor  alone  within 
the  borders  of  his  township,  but  was  widely  known 
throughout  the  county,  and  took  a  prominent  place 
among  its  leading  and  representative  citizens.  Be- 


VT 


(21 


4 


ing  a  man  of  this  character— a  worthy  pioneer,  an ' 
enterprising  citizen,  a  kind  and  benevolent  neigh- 
bor, a  devoted  Christian  and  a  model  parent — it  is 
certainly  fitting  that  his  features  should  be  preserved 
to  his  friends  and  to  the  public.  We  therefore  give 
them  in  connection  with  this  sketch.  The  portrait 
is  engraved  from  a  photograph  taken  many  years 
before  his  death. 


illiam  M.  Patrick,  editor  and  publisher  of 
the  London  Advocate,  was  born  May  20, 

,          1832,  in   Knox  Township,  Knox  Co.,  111. 

''     He  is  the  son  of  Enoch  and   Polly  (Martin) 
Patrick,  natives  respectively  of  Kentucky  and 

Virginia.  They  settled  in  Knox  County  in  1831, 
where  they  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  and 
where  they  lived  until  the  close  of  their  lives.  The 
father  died  at  Knoxville,  in  January,  1865.  The 
mother's  demise  took  place  in  May,  1872. 

At  15,  Mr.  Patrick  began  his  acquaintance  with 
the  art  of  the  printer  in  the  office  of  the  Knoxville 
Journal,  where  he  operated  until  the  first  year  of  the 
Civil  War.  He  enlisted  July  4,  1861,  in  Co.  B,  37th 
Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  After  two  years  of  military  ser- 
vice he  received  a  commission  as  Second  Lieutenant 
and  was  transferred  to  the  97th  Regt.  U.  S.  Colored 
Troops,  where  he  served  one  year  as  Acting  Adjutant. 
In  1864  he  resigned,  and,  in  November  of  the  same 
year,  returned  to  Knoxville.  In  March,  1865,  he 
re-enlisted  in  Co.  B,  4th  Regt.  U.  S.  Veteran  Corps, 
and  served  a  year  in  the  capacity  of  Sergeant.  He 
was  discharged  March  i,  1866.  He  was  a  partic- 
ipant in  a  number  of  important  actions  of  the  war, 
among  which  were  Pea  Ridge,  Prairie  Grove  and 
Vicksburg. 

His  first  decided  move  in  a  business  direction, 
after  the  war,  was  the  purchase  of  the  Leader,  then 
published  at  Orford  (now  Montour),  TamaCo.,  Iowa, 
which  he  accomplished  in  1868.  He  remained  there 
two  years,  when  he  started  another  paper  at  Center 
Point,  in  Linn  Co.,  Iowa.  He  soon  sold  this  and 
then  returned  to  Illinois,  and  located  at  Mendota, 
La  Salle  County,  where  he  bought  land  and  engaged 
in  fruit-growing.  In  1882  he  published  the  Index, 
in  the  interests  of  the  Greenback  party,  one  year.  In 
1883  he  came  to  Lyndon  and  established  the  office 
of  the  Advocate,  which  he  has  since  conducted. 


He  was  married  Sept.  5,  1870,  to  Louisa  M.  Max- 
well (see  sketch  of  A.  I.  Maxwell).  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Patrick  have  one  child,  Mary  by  name. 


lexander  L.  Glass,  merchant  at  Sterling,  is 
a  native  of  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  the  date  of 
'his  birth  being  Jan.  n,  1822.  His  parents, 
John  and  Miss  (Lewis)  Glass,  were  also  na- 
tives of  the  Empire  State.  He  was  reared  as 
a  farmer's  son  until  the  age  of  12,  when  he 
learned  the  industry  of  blacksmithing,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  nine  years ;  then  for  five  years  he  dealt  in 
horses  and  cattle.  In  1852  he  went  to  California  for 
the  improvement  of  his  health,  and  for  the  seven 
years  he  was  there  he  was  engaged  in  the  fruit  and 
confectionery  trade.  Selling  out,  he  returned  to  the 
State  of  New  York,  purchased  a  farm  and  occupied 
it  until  1883,  when  he  came  to  Morrison,  this  county, 
and  engaged  in  cheese-making  for  two  years.  This 
year  (1885),  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in  that  busi- 
ness and  moved  to  Sterling,  opening  out  in  the  gro- 
cery trade  on  Third  Street,  in  which  he  is  doing  well. 
His  prospects  are  good,  and  his  executive  ability  will 
doubtless  enable  him  to  succeed. 

In  his  political  views  he  might  be  said  to  be 
neutral.  Both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  He  was  married  April  8,  1858,  to 
Ann  E.  May,  also  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York. 
They  have  five  children,  named  Fred.  L.,  Frank  C., 
Nellie  C.,  Bertha  B.  and  Jennie  M. 


\  illiam  W.  Brown,  retired  lumberman, 
Rock  Falls,  was  born  in  Troy  Grove,  La 
Salle  Co.,  111.,  April  16,  1839.  His  par- 
ents, Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Keyser)  Brown, 
were  natives  of  Germantown,  Pa.,  and 
moved  to  Illinois  in  1835,  settling  at  Troy 
Grove.  From  there  the  family  moved  to  Mendota, 
and  thence  to  Rock  Falls.  His  father  died  at  Troy' 
Grove,  Aug.  27,  1842,  and  his  mother  at  Rock  Falls, 
March  24,  1881.  Her  father  came  from  Holland, 
from  the  banks  of  the  River  Rhine,  and  settled  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  a  medical  professor. 


^A^nran^ 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


Gen  George  Washington  was  often  a  guest  at  his 
house. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  outline  remained 
an  inmate  of  his  parental  home  until  he  was  28  years 
of  age,  attending  to  the  farm  and  receiving  an  edu- 
cation at  the  public  schools.  In  the  spring  of  1868 
he  came  to  Rock  Falls,  when  there  were  but  three 
houses  there,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  in 
which  he  was  very  successful.  In  1883  he  sold  his 
interest  in  the  business,  but  not  in  the  ground. 

He  was  married  March  2,  1868,  to  Susan  M. 
Wheeler,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  they  have 
had  four  children,  one  of  whom  is  deceased  :  Cora 
M.  who  was  born  Dec.  8,  1868;  Lura  E.,  July  21, 
1870;  and  Frank  E.,  May  6,  1875.  Cora  M.  was  the 
first  child  born  in  Rock  Falls. 

Mr.  Brown  is  a  leading  citizen,  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican and  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen. 

'  • 

acob  Wetzel,  of  Genesee  Township,  is  a 
farmer  of  Whiteside  County  of  29  years' 
standing,  having  removed  here  in  1855. 
He  accompanied  his  parents,  John  and  Mar- 
garet (Reese)  Wetzel,  from  Stark  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  born,  Sept.  12,  1814.  His  father 
was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  the  grand- 
son of  John  Wetzel,  who  came  from  Germany  to 
America  and  located  in  Pennsylvania  near  the  line  of 
Maryland.  He  was  a  miller  and  erected  flouring 
mills,  where  he  manufactured  bread-stuffs  for  the 
Colonial  army  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  A 
male  member  of  the  preceding  generation  had  mar- 
ried one  of  the  Indian  women  belonging  to  one  of  the 
tribes  of  New  England, and  the  celebrated  half-breed 
chief,  Wetzel,  was  a  member  of  the  same  family. 
John  Wetzel  (isl)  died  in  Pennsylvania,  at  a  greatly 
advanced  age.  His  sons  were  born,  lived  and  died, 
in  the  same  State,  except  one  who  died  in  Michigan. 
On  coming  to  Whiteside  County,  John  Wetzel  (2d) 
located  on  a  farm  in  Genesee  Township,  where  he 
died  in  1861,  aged  about  70  years.  Margaret  Reese, 
his  wife,  was  born  in  Maryland  and  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  Reese.  He  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and,  late  in  life,  went  to  Pennsylvania.  The  family 
pf  which  he  was  a  member,  was  extensive  in  num- 


bers, possessions  and  influence.  A  considerable 
number  of  them  settled  early  in  the  present  century 
in  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  Canton,  the  county  seat,  had 
then  three  buildings.  The  grand-parents  of  John 
Wetzel's  wife  died  in  Stark  County,  as  did  her 
father,  Jacob  Wetzel.  Her  mother  died  in  March, 
1882,  in  Genesee  Township,  aged  92  years. 

Jacob  Wetzel  is  one  of  the  older  members  of  a 
family  of  12  children,  eight  sons  and  four  daughters. 
He  was  educated  with  care  in  both  English  and  Ger- 
man, the  language  of  his  ancestors  being  carefully 
preserved  in  the  descending  generations.  When  he 
was  23  years  of  age  he  began  to  teach  in  both  lan- 
guages in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio,  and  he  pursued 
that  vocation  three  years.  He  was  married  Dec.  4, 
1842,  in  Tuscarawas  County,  to  Susanna,  daughter 
of  Henry  Bidler.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  was  a  farmer  in  that  State.  He  settled 
in  Monongahela  County,  on  the  river  of  that  name, 
and  there  the  daughter  was  born  Sept.  27,  1815. 
Subsequent  to  her  birth  her  parents  removed  to 
Holmes  Co.,  Ohio,  where  her  mother  died  when  she 
was  but  four  years  old.  Holmes  County  was  in  its 
primal  wilderness  condition,  and  the  little  pioneer 
home  which  sheltered  the  family  was  in  the  dense 
forest.  The  father  married  again,  and  the  daughter 
was  a  member  of  the  family  until  her  marriage.  Her 
father  died  in  1852,  two  years  after  her  removal  to 
Illinois.  Following  are  the  names  of  nine  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wetzel:  Henry,  Sarah  A., 
Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Mary,  Catherine,  Frank,  Jacob, 
Caroline.  Mary  and  Jacob  are  unmarried.  Caro- 
line was  married  and  died  soon  after.  Another  child 
died  a  short  time  after  birth,  unnamed. 

From  the  date  of  his  marriage  to  his  removal  to 
Illinois,  Mr.  Wetzel  was  a  farmer  in  Ohio.  Since  his 
location  in  Genesee  Township  he  has  handled  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  real  estate  and  has  improved 
the  great  proportion  of  that  which  he  has  owned  at 
different  times.  He  is  prominent  as  a  farmer  and 
stockman.  In  social,  religious  and  political  connec- 
tions the  family  are  among  the  most  valuable  mem- 
bers of  Genesee  society.  Mr.  Wetzel  and  his  wife 
are  foremost  in  Christian  work,  and  are  passing  the 
afternoon  of  life  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  conscious- 
ness of  efforts  made  in  unselfishness  for- the  best  in- 
terest of  mankind.  As  they  have  understood  their 
duty,  they  have  done  it.  Mr.  Wetzel  is  an  active, 
zealous  and  uncompromising  Republican. 


N> 
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-  ..  - 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


rancis  E.  Burridge,  dealer  in  drugs, 
stationery,  jewelry,  paints,  oils,  notions, 
etc.,  at  Erie,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Emma 
(Young)  Burridge,  and  was  born  in  Van  Buren 
Co.,  Mich.,  July  29,  1858.  His  father  is  a 
physician,  and  is  at  present  following  his  pro- 
fession in  Erie.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  died  in  Erie,  March  31,  1879.  The  issue 
of  their  union  comprised  seven  children,  of  whom 
five  are  living:  Eugene  H.,  Francis  E.,  Mary  Q., 
Byron  \V.  and  Rose  B.  The  family  removed  to 
Geneseo,  Henry  Co.,  111.,  when  Francis  E.  was  but 
five  years  of  age.  In  1862  they  made  another  re- 
move, to  Portland  Township,  this  county,  and  the 
following  year,  in  1863,  to  Erie  village,  where  they 
have  resided  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year  in  Kansas. 

Mr.  Burridge,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, carries  a  stock  approximating  $3,300,  and  is  do- 
ing a  good  and  constantly  increasing  business;  and, 
in  addition  to  conducting  the  business  mentioned, 
he  is  also  engaged  in  loaning  money  on  a  small 
scale. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Erie,  Nov.  25, 1880, 
to  Miss  Carrie  M.  Kenwood,  daughter  of  Daniel  B. 
and  Lydia  E.  (Coburn)  Henwood.  She  was  born  in 
Erie  Oct.  20,  1863,  and  has  borne  to  her  husband 
two  children:  Emma  E.,  born  Jan.  7,  1882;  and 
Lily  M.,  born  Dec.  21,  1883. 


Alfred  Smith,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Smith  &  Bro.,  hardware  merchants  at 
Tampico,  was  born  May  30,  1847,  in  Devon- 
shire, England.  His  father  came  with  his 
family  to  America  in  1851,  and  settled  in  the 
Wyoming  Valley  in  LuzerneCo.,Pa.  After  a  fewyears 
another  removal  was  effected,  to  Kankakee  City,  111., 
where  the  mother  died,  July  4,  1882,  aged  62.  The 
father  is  married  again  and  is  still  a  resident  of  that 
place. 

Mr.  Smith  was  brought  up  principally  in  Kanka- 
kee, and  was  there  educated.  He  also  learned  the 
business  of  a  tinner  before  he  was  20  years  of  age, 


serving  an  apprenticeship  of  two  years  with  Kerr 
Bros,  of  that  place.  After  spending  one  year  as  a 
"jour"  he  entered  into  an  association  with  James 
Porch,  and  they  established  their  business  at  Che- 
banse,  eight  miles  from  Kankakee.  Their  partner- 
ship was  in  existence  three  years. 

Meanwhile  Mr.  Smith  was  married  Oct.  n,  1870, 
at  Kaneville,  Kane  Co.,  111.,  to  Sadie  Lewis.  Mrs. 
Smith  was  born  in  Elsie,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.,  Oct. 
8,  1855.  Her  father  was  a  Baptist  minister,  and  re- 
moved when  she  was  14  years  of  age  to  Illinois,  and 
after  several  changes  settled  in  Kaneville.  They 
now  reside  in  Rock  Island  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  have  two  children:  Ina,  born  July  16,  1871, 
and  Earle,  born  Jan.  2,  1879. 

Mr.  Smith  became  a  citizen  of  Tampico  in  1872, 
when  he  established  his  business  at  that  place.  He 
has  built  up  a  prosperous  and  extensive  trade,  which 
is  still  increasing  in  popularity.  He  is  the  owner  of 
12  village  lots.  In  1884  Mr.  Smith  admitted  his 
brother  to  a  partnership  with  him,  and  the  firm  style 
became  as  stated. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  Republican  in  political  principle 
and  connection.  He  has  served  as  member  of  the 
Village  Board,  and  also  as  School  Director.  He  is 
a  Deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  also  a 
Trustee  of  the  Society.  Mrs.  Smith  is  a  member  of 
the  same  communion. 


riffiri  W.  Wilson,  farmer,  section  i,  New- 
ton Township,  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Chau- 
tauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  27,  1827.  He 
is  the  eldest  son  of  Ashley  and  Lorinda 
(Graves)  Wilson,  who  were  natives  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  They  located  in  Chau- 
tauqua  County  about  the  year  1825,  where  the  fa- 
ther secured  a  claim  of  timber  and  improved  a 
farm.  In  1841,  they  went  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Lake 
County,  where  they  resided  about  five  years,  after 
which  another  removal  was  effected,  to  La  Porte  Co., 
Ind.,  where  the  parents  died. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  an  inmate  of  the  parental  house- 
hold until  his  marriage  in  1854,  to  Phoebe  Layman. 
She  was  born  in  La  Porte  County,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Joshua  and  Eliza  (Travis)  Layman. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  the  Empire  State. 
In  1856  Mr.  Wilson  came  to  Newton  Township. 


©5ega<f«- 


p 


-X  0- 


•  v  X-  • 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


He  settled  on  "  Slocum  Street,"  where  he  purchased 
a  farm,  and  carried  on  agricultural  operations  until 
1860.  In  that  year  he  bought  160  acres  on  section 
i.  About  80  acres  had  been  broken  and  a  small 
house  had  been  built.  Mr.  Wilson  has  improved 
the  entire  acreage,  and  erected  excellent  farm  build- 
ings. He  has  since  made  a  purchase  of  the  south- 
east quarter,  and  is  the  owner  of  the  entire  eastern 
half  of  the  section.  On  the  latter  he  has  built  the 
necessary  structures,  including  a  dwelling,  where  he 
is  now  living.  The  place  is  in  fine  condition,  and  its 
value  and  appearance  are  considerably  enhanced  by 
the  shrubs  and  ornamental  trees  which  the  owner 
has  planted.  He  raises  grain  and  stock,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  mixed  husbandry.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  which 
is  located  in  Garden  Plains  Township.  The  record 
of  their  children  is  as  follows :  Ord  A.  married  Anna 
C.  Hanson,  and  they  have  three  children  :  Seth  A., 
Daniel  A.  and  Clara  V.  A  sketch  of  the  life  of 
Mr.  Hanson  may  be  found  on  another  page.  Frank 
E.  married  Mattie  Crump;  they  have  one  child, 
Joseph  L.  Herbert  W.  is  the  name  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilson's  youngest  child. 


-*»*- 


euben  Mather  Thompson,  one  of  the 
most  extensive  and  successful  farmers  in 
the  township  of  Fenton,  as  he  is  in  White- 
side  County,  was  born  in  the  township  of 
Salem,  Meigs  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  27,  1825.  His 
paternal  grandsire  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  was  a  soldier  in  the  Colonial  military  service 
during  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  After  the  dec- 
laration of  peace  he  emigrated  to  the  (then)  frontier, 
which  was  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  became  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Steuben  County,  purchasing  timber 
land  of  the  Holland  Company,  included  within  the 
celebrated  Holland  Purchase.  He  improved  a 
farm  and  was  its  occupant  for  many  years.  In  his 
old  age  he  went  to  Ohio  and  resided  with  his  son 
Reuben  some  two  years,  returning  to  New  York, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Reuben 
Thompson,  his  son,  and  father  of  Mr.  Thompson  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  re- 
moved to  Ohio  about  1815.  He  was  a  resident 
of  Meigs  County  (where  he  was  married  to  Philinda 


Kent,  Oct.  20,  1816)  until  1839,  when,  accom- 
panied by  his  sons,  Elisha  K.  and  Reuben  M.,  he 
proved  his  descent  and  inheritance  as  a  pioneer  by 
striking  westward  to  found  a  home.  He  came  to 
Whiteside  County,  and  proceeded,  after  a  stay  of  a 
few  weeks,  to  Iowa,  where  he  made  a  claim  on  Mill 
Creek  in  Cedar  County.  He  built  a  log  domicile, 
and  began  the  improvements  on  his  properly.  He 
returned  to  Illinois,  where  he  expected  to  meet  his 
brother  Harvey,  who  was  to  take  supplies  to  Iowa. 
He  was  disappointed  at  finding  that  his  brother  had 
gone  to  Chicago  with  his  teams  to  engage  in  hauling 
flour  from  Chicago  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  Wis.  This 
compelled  him  to  abandon  his  trip  to  Ohio  for  his 
family,  and  he  returned  to  Iowa  to  look  after  his  son, 
who  had  been  left  in  charge  of  a  drove  of  hogs, 
which  they  took  with  them  on  their  first  trip  to  Iowa. 
In  the  spring  of  1841  he  returned  to  Ohio,  got  his 
family,  and  brought  them  to  Whiteside  Co.,  111.  He 
secured  a  claim  on  section  35  of  what  was  then 
township  20,  range  4.  now  Fenton.  He  prosecuted 
the  improvement  of  his  property  with  vigor,  and 
among  other  things  set  out  250  fruit  trees.  He  died 
in  1850.  His  first  wife  died  in  1827,  and  had  been 
the  mother  of  five  children.  Three  of  them  are  now 
living,  as  far  as  known.  Elisha  K.  lives  in  Charles, 
Mix  Co.,  D.  T. ;  Samuel  A.  and  Reuben  M.  are  the 
other  survivors;  James  I.,  fourth  son,  settled  in 
Whiteside  County  in  1841.  In  1850  he  went  to  Cal- 
ifornia, and  has  not  since  been  heard  from.  The 
father  was  a  second  time  married,  to  the  widow  of 
Fain  Robinson,  Esther  McMillan  before  her  first 
marriage.  From  the  second  matrimonial  alliance  the 
children  who  survive  are:  Lucinda,  wife  of  Leonard 
Barker,  of  Erie;  Sarah,  widow  of  Clinton  Pratt, 
lives  in  McPherson  Co.,  D.  T. ;  (Mrs.  Barker  and 
Mrs.  Pratt  are  twins);  Fain  H.  lives  in  Fenton 
Township  ;  Joseph  is  a  resident  of  Shelby  Co.,  Iowa ; 
Eliza,  now  the  wife  of  Geo.  Wood,  resides  in  Los 
Angeles,  Cal. ;  Virginia,  wife  of  B.  F.  Hubbard,  re- 
sides at  Eureka  Springs,  Ark. ;  Geo.  VV.  lives  in  Dun- 
lap,  Iowa  ;  Mary  A.,  deceased  ;  Hellen,  now  the  wife 
of  Lafayette  Pace,  lives  in  Calhoun  Co.,  Iowa.  The 
mother  is  now  deceased. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  14  years  of  age  when  his 
father  took  him  to  Iowa,  where  he  was  assistant  in 
improving  the  property  which  his  father  secured.  In 
the  winter  of  1839-40  he  was  left  alone  on  the  Iowa 
property  to  care  for  the  stock  during  his  father's  ab- 


, 


• 


i 


Sr 

n 


sence  and  to  look  after  the  family  welfare.  He  was 
three  miles  from  other  habitations,  with  nothing  to 
eat  but  corn.  He  hulled  the  grain  to  make  it  pala- 
table. 

In  1 841  he  came  to  the  county  of  Whiteside  and 
put  in  a  crop  with  Charles  Clark  on  section  35,  Fen- 
ton,  to  raise  feed  for  stock  for  the  winter  of  1841-2, 
whither  the  remaining  members  of  the  family  came 
in  December.  He  was  connected  with  the  parental 
household  until  he  came  of  age,  when  he  entered 
into  a  contract  with  J.  M.  Pratt,  one  of  the  first  of 
the  permanent  settlers  in  the  township,  by  which  he 
was  to  have  40  acres  of  land  in  exchange  for  his 
labor  in  splitting  rails.  In  the  spring  of  1842  he 
went  for  a  brief  time  to  Black  Hawk  Co.,  Iowa.  In 
addition  to  the  claim  alluded  to,  he  earned  money 
by  working  in  the  neighborhood,  wherewith  he  bought 
additional  land. 

Dec.  25,  1849,  Mr.  Thompson  was  married  to 
Matilda  S.  Dodge.  Her  father,  John  B.  Dodge,  was 
a  prominent  factor  in  the  work  of  developing  White- 
side  County,  where  he  was  a  settler  of  1837,  locating 
in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township.  He  was  a  man  of  de- 
cided character,  and  although  he  died  in  the  still 
early  days  of  the  county,  in  1843,  at  the  early  age  of 
35,  he  is  still  remembered  with  earnest  consideration. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  His  wife 
was  Lydia  B.  Smith  before  marriage,  and  they  had 
several  children. 

Mr.  Thompson  located  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides  immediately  after  his  marriage,  and  with 
his  bride  commenced  housekeeping  in  the  same  log 
dwelling  first  occupied  by  his  father's  family.  Later 
his  family  removed  to  a  new  frame  house  located  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  35. 

Mr.  Thompson  has  been  one  of  the  heaviest  land 
holders  in  Whiteside  County,  and  owned  at  one 
period  about  2,000  acres  of  improved  land  in  Fenton 
Township.  He  now  has  1,300  acres.  He  is  largely 
interested  in  raising  fine  stock.  His  dairy  herd  in- 
cludes 38  cows,  and  he  conducts  a  creamery  on  his 
own  responsibility,  the  products  of  which  are  so  fine 
as  to  be  in  demand  in  the  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  market. 

Mr.  Thompson  has  been  prominent  in  the  general 
affairs  of  his  township,  in  which  he  has  officiated  as 
Constable  and  Collector.  He  was  the  first  incum- 
bent of  the  latter  office  in  Fenton  Township.  He 
has  been  Supervisor  several  terms,  and  held  that 
|>ositio:i  during  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War. 


To  him  and  his  wife  ten  children  were  born,  of 
whom  there  are  eight  living:  Philinda  is  the  wife  of 
Lewis  Ewing;  John  L.,  Albert  L.,  Clara  (Mrs. 
Marven  Fadden),  Vora,  Leona,  M.  Ray  and  Henry 
Clay  were  born  in  the  order  named.  James  A.  and 
Frank  E.  are  deceased.  The  mother  died  April  20, 
1878.  Mr.  Thompson  was  again  married,  to 
Amanda,  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  (Butler) 
McMillan,  and  widow  of  H.  P.  White,  of  New 
Hampshire.- 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Thompson,  appearing  on  a 
preceding  page,  will  be  welcomed  by  the  patrons  of 
THE  WHITESIDE  COUNTY  ALBUM  with  as  much 
satisfaction  as  the  publishers  experience  in  its  addi- 
tion to  the  unexceptionable  collection  presented  in 
this  work. 


25 


homas  James,  one  of  the  progressive  and 
energetic  farmers  of  Whiteside  County, 
resident  in  Erie  Township,  and  the  pro- 
prietor of  158  acres  of  land,  located  on  section 
2,  and  160  acres  on  section  n  adjoining,  in 
the  township,  was  born  in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  July 
His  father,  George  James,  was  a  native 
of  Bristol,  England,  in  which  country  he  was  born 
Oct.  9,  1809.  He  was  a  merchant  in  Trenton,  N. 
J.,  and  died  at  that  place  June  i,  187  1.  The  mother 
of  Mr.  James  of  this  biographical  notice  was  like- 
wise a  native  of  England,  where  she  was  born  Nov. 
10,  1817,  and  died  in  Morrison,  this  county,  May  14, 
1881.  The  issue  of  their  union  was  nine  children, 
only  four  of  whom  survived.  Thomas,  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  is  the  eldest  ;.  Emma,  next  in  order  of 
birth,  is  the  wife  of  I.  W.  Corry,  Deputy  Sheriff  of 
Morris  Co.,  N.  J.  ;  Robert  is  a  merchant  in  Erie  ; 
Elizabeth  J.  is  the  wife  of  Emanuel  Risenbigler,  a 
farmer  in  Fenton  Township.  The  grandfather  of 
Mr.  James  came  to  this  county  from  New  Jersey  in 
1836,  and  located  in  Fenton  Township,  where  he 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  in  which  township 
he  died. 

Thomas  James,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
came  with  his  father,  in  1853,  to  this  county,  to  visit 
his  grandfather,  who  was  then  residing  here.  His 
father  returned  to  New  Jersey,  and  Thomas  remained 
in  the  county.  He  engaged  in  buying  young  stock 


WHITEST DE  COUNTY. 


•  • 


and  raising  cattle,  and  followed  that  vocation  for 
several  years.  His  father  had  purchased  a  farm  of 
240  acres  in  the  county,  and  at  the  date  of  his  death 
was  the  proprietor  of  280  acres. 

Aug.  8,  1862,  Mr.  James  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the 
Union,  joining  Co.  I,  75th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  a  private, 
and  served  until  April,  1863,  when  he  was  discharged 
on  account  of  disabiliiy.  On  receiving  his  discharge 
he  returned  to  Fenton  Township,  and  engaged  in 
cultivating  the  old  homestead,  which  occupation  he 
followed  until  the  spring  of  1882,  when  he  purchased 
318  acres  of  land,  where  he  at  present  resides,  and 
which  he  still  owns.  He  has  a  fine  residence,  good 
barn  and  orchard,  and  his  place  is  well  fenced  and 
under  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation.  He  makes 
a  specialty  of  Short-horn  cattle,  and  has  one  full- 
blood  and  the  other  high  grades,  in  all  about  100 
head;  he  also  raises  a  few  colts  each  year. 

Mr.  James  was  united  in  marriage  in  Fenton 
Township,  Jan.  i,  1859,  to  Miss  Henrietta  M.  Wood. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  James  and  Isabella  Wood, 
and  was  born  in  New  York,  Dec.  21,  1840,  and  bore 
her  husband  seven  children,  four  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  The  living  are :  George  W.,  born  Dec.  5 
1860;  Robert  L.,  born  Nov.  8,  1865;  Richard  T.' 
born  Sept.  14,  1867;  the  deceased  were  Henry  t 
Isabelle,  Frank  and  Edith.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
James  are  both  living,  and  reside  in  Fenton  Town- 
ship, where  her  father  follows  the  occupation  of 
a  farmer. 


illiam  H.  Thompson,  farmer,  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Portland  village,  was  born  in  Ire- 
/_  land,  his  parents  being  Robert  and  Lydia 
!>  (Graham)  Thompson.  He  was  a  small  boy 
when  his  parents  emigrated  to  this  country, 
settling  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  They  came  thence 
to  Chicago,  and  thence,  in  the  fall  of  1836,  to  Port- 
land Township,  this  county,  locating  upon  a  quarter- 
section  of  land ;  and  when  it  came  into  market  he 
purchased  200  acres,  and  subsequently  added  to  it 
by  further  purchases  until  he  obtained  a  total  of  400 
acres.  He  died  April  6,  1883.  Mrs.  T.  died  in 
August,  1872.  They  had  nine  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  now  living,  viz. :  Mary,  Richard,  William 
H.,  Elizabeth,  Robert,  Hiram  and  John. 

rffr *&*— 


After  his  father's  death,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
received  from  the  property  a  house,  two  lots  and  a 
barn  in  Prophetstown;  he  has  also  owned  some 
farms  in  this  county.  When  22  years  of  age  he  left 
home  and  rented  land,  and  purchased  145  acres 
near  the  village  of  Erie,  where  he  resided  four  years. 
In  addition  to  his  agricultural  pursuits,  he  also  deals 
to  some  extent  in  live  stock. 

He  was  married,  in  Iowa  to  Miss  Lora  A.  Fay, 
daughter  of  Moses  and  Betsey  Fay.  They  have 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  namely  : 
Ida,  who  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Kreps,  a  farmer  in 
Minnesota;  Willie,  Ellsworth,  Katie  and  Effie.  The 
deceased  were  William  W.,  Lizzie  B.  and  Effie  M 


tanley  M.  Fuller,  farmer  and  stock-raiser, 
residing   on    section   29,   Portland   Town- 
ship and  one  of  the  energetic  as  well  as 
progressive    farmers   and  self-made    men    of 
Whiteside  County,  is    a  son   of  Edmund    H. 
and   Mary  M.  (Turner)  Fuller,  and  was  born 
!  in  Portland  Township,  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
i  northwest     of    where    he  at  present   resides,   Oct. 
'20,  1852.     His   father    was  a  native  of  New  York, 
;  and  his  mother  of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  this 
|  county    in    1836,  in  company  with   his    father  and 
;  brothers.     His  father  located  in  Portland  Township, 
where  he  took  a  claim,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  resided  one-half  mile  east  of  Spring  Hill,  where 
he   died    March   4,    1856.       His    mother    died    in 
Chicago,   at   the    residence   of  her  daughter,  Jane 
Wilcox,  Aug.  7,  1880. 

They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  five  of 
whom  survived.  James  L.  is  a  merchant  at  Spring 
Hill ;  George  W.,  a  manufacturer  of  brick  in  Seward, 
Neb.;  Edmund  P.  is  engaged  in  the  livery  business, 
in  David  City,  Neb. ;  Jane  is  the  wife  of  John  H. 
Armstrong,  a  farmer  in  Butler  Co.,  Neb. 

Mr.  Fuller  is  the  youngest  of  his  father's  children, 
and  was  reared  on  the  farm,  receiving  the  advan- 
tages afforded  by  the  common  schools,  and  has 
resided  in  the  township  ever  since.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  in  Portland  Township,  Dec.  10,  1872, -to 
Hannah  Rowe,  nee  Avery.  She  owns  the  farm,  con- 
sisting of  135  acres.  In  1879  Mr.  Fuller  purchased 


/ 


iVHITESIDE  COUNfy. 


another  farm,  consisting  of  130  acres,  about  one- 
quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  his  present  residence.  He 
also  owns  15  acres  of  timber.  He  has  some  good 
cattle,  graded  Short-horn,  and  keeps  usually  from  60 
to  70  head;  also  from  15  to  20  head  of  horses,  and 
raises  from  75  to  80  head  of  hogs  annually.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry,  belonging  to 
Bo'.en  Lodge,  No.  412,  of  Spring  Hill. 

Mrs.  Fuller  had  two  children  by  her  former  mar- 
riage: William  A.,  born  June  26,  1865,  and  Lewis 
E.,  born  Oct.  6,  1866;  and  by  her  present  marriage 
there  have  been  four  children  :  Harry  P.,  born  Sept. 
18,  1873;  George  W.,  born  Nov.  24,  1875;  Clarence 
M.,  born  Dec.  3,  1880,  and  Gracie,  born  May  23, 
1884. 

Mr.  Fuller  has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  six  years,  to  which  position  he  was  re- 
elected  in  the  spring  of  1885.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Fuller,  the  Averys,  are  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
this  county.  Her  father  still  survives,  and  resides 
in  Portland  Township,  on  his  farm,  and  her  mother 
is  deceased. 


•19* 


ev.  John  Daly,  Priest,  lately  in  charge  of 
the  Catholic  Churches  at  Sterling  and  other 
places    in  this  county,   came  to  Sterling, 
June  5,  1863,  at  which  time  the  circuit  com- 
prising his  congregations  extended  for  many 
miles  around,  to  all  of  which  he  administered 
for  13  years. 

Father  Daly  was  born  a  short  distance  from  the  city 
of  Dublin,  Ireland,  May  9,  1822  or  '24,  his  parents 
being  John  and  Catherine  (McCabe)  Daly,  who  were 
natives  of  Ireland.  He  was  sent  to  live  with  an  aunt 
in  his  childhood,  as  she  had  no  children.  He  made  it 
his  home  with  her  until  he  emigrated  to  America. 
At  the  age  of  12  years  he  learned  the  wheelwright 
trade,  which  he  followed  during  his  residence  in 
Ireland.  At  the  age  of  20  years,  after  coming  to 
New  York  city,  he  commenced  to  work  at  the  car- 
penter's trade,  which  he  followed  for  six  years.  At 
this  time  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  Fagan,  who 
lived,  but  a  year  afterward.  Then,  under  the  advice 
of  Father  John  Kelley,  of  Jersey  City,  he  commenced 
attendance  at  college,  which  he  continued  for  eight 
years.  After  the  completion  of  his  studies,  he  was 


ordained  Priest  by  Bishop  Duggan,  of  Chicago,  May 
24,  1863,  to  take  charge  of  the  missions  at  Sterling, 
Fulton  and  the  neighboring  towns.  For  a  more  com- 
plete account  of  his  parishes,  see  a  subsequent  por- 
tion of  this  work.  His  residence  is  on  Spruce  Street, 
in  the  village  of  Sterling.  Father  Daly  is  a  highly 
respected  citize.i,  esteemed  by  the  Protestant  popu- 
lation as  well  as  by  his  own  people. 


cott  Crouch,  senior  member  of  the  mer- 
cantile firm  of  Crouch  &  Ackerman,  at 
Coleta,  was  born  Jan.  5,  1842,  at  Saratoga 
Springs,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Samuel 
and  Sarah  (Baker)  Crouch,  his  parents,  were 
born  in  Saratoga  County,  and  were  of  New 
England  parentage.  They  lived  in  that  county  some 
years  after  their  marriage,  and  removed  thence  to 
Wysox  Township,  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  where  they  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  1848.  Carroll  County  was  in  a 
comparatively  unbroken  condition,  having  but  few 
permanent  settlers. 

Mr.  Crouch  has  in  his  veins  the  blood  of  three 
nationalities,  Scotch,  Irish  and  Dutch,  from  whom 
his  parents  were  descended.  He  is  the  oldest  of 
seven  children,  of  whom  there  are  four  survivors 
besides  himself.  His  parents  are  yet  living  on  the 
farm  where  they  located  nearly  40  years  ago.  The 
earlier  ancestors  of  both  were  noted  for  tenacity  of 
life,  which  is  a  marked  characteristic  in  both  lines  of 
descent,  several  individuals  having  lived  nearly  a 
century.  Mr.  Crouch  has  seen  and  known  seven 
grandparents  and  great-grandparents.  He  lived  at 
home  until  he  was  22  years  of  age.  His  first  inde- 
pendent step  was  his  marriage  to  Margaret  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  George  R.  and  Mary  W.  (Green)  Proctor.  The 
latter  were  married  in  Lawrence  County,  where  they 
resided  some  years,  removing  thence  to  Martin 
County,  in  the  same  State.  Mrs.  Crouch  was  born 
Nov.  7,  i84t,  in  Martin  County,  where  she  lived  and 
attended  school  until  she  was  14  yeai;s  of  age.  In 
1856  her  father  transferred  his  family  and  business 
to  Genesee  Grove.  He  died  the  next  year  and  the 
mother  resides  in  Genesee  Township  with  her  son. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crouch  have  had  four  children,  one 
being  deceased.  Rachel  was  born  Jan.  22,  1866  ; 
David  E.  was  born  Feb.  18,  1873;  Mabel  was  born 


r   "•• 

$\  m 


UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


io  July  3°>  1882.     Mr.  and   Mrs.  Crouch  settled  on 
)  farm  containing  100  acres  of  valuable  land,  all  under 
improvement,  in   Carroll  County,  and  which  is  still 
owned    by   Mr.  Crouch.     In  October,    1884,  he  re- 

(3;  moved  to  Coleta  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  his 
present  businesi  enterprise.  The  firm  at  that  date 
operated  under  the  style  of  Cobb,  Howe  &  Crouch, 
and  in  1885  it  was  constituted  as  at  present.  They 
are  transacting  a  satisfactory  business  and  are 
steadily  advancing  in  popularity.  Mr.  Crouch  is  an 
independent  Republican. 


(!) 


icholas  Lutyens,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  section  28,  Tampico  Township,  was 
sf^  born  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  25,  1827. 
*^  His  father,  Francis  Lutyens,  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  a  farmer,  and  died  in  Luzerne 
County  in  1827,  before  Nicholas  was  born.  The 
mother,  nee  Elizabeth  Fowler,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, of  German  descent,  and  had  a  second 
husband.  Under  the  guidance  of  mother  and  step- 
father young  Nicholas  was  reared ;  and,  earning  his 
own  livelihood  a  portion  of  the  time  independently, 
he  remained  under  the  parental  roof-tree  until  he 
was  23  years  of  age.  In  1836  the  family  moved  to 
the  West,  and  soon  afterward  settled  in  what  is  now 
Kendall  County. 

It  was  while  he  was  a  resident  of  that  county, 
Sept.  6,  1853,  that  Mr.  L.  married  Miss  Ellen  Rowe, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  State,  Nov.  23,  1830,  and 
came  West  with  her  parents  when  she  was  20  years 
of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lutyens  have  had  nine  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  deceased.  The  survivors 
are:  Charles,  who  is  married,  and  resides  in  Morri- 
son ;  Libbie,  now  the  wife  of  L.  K.  Brainard  ;  George, 
married,  and  residing  in  the  village  of  Tampico;  Wil- 
liam, who  is  now  a  widower ;  Ella  and  Levi,  who  are 
unmarried,  and  remain  at  the  parental  home;  the 
names  of  thedece.ised  were  Cora,Cliffie  and  Freddie. 

In  1854  Mr.  Lutyens  moved  from  Kendall  Co., 
111.,  to  Fairfield  Township,  Bureau  Co.,  III.,  settling 
upon  an  improved  farm,  which  he  cultivated  on 
shares  for  a  season,  and  the  next  year  he  came  and 
located  upon  an  improved  tract  of  land  in  Tampico 
Township.  His  first  purchase  was  of  80  acres,  and 
afterward  he  bought  80  acres  more  on  section  27. 


This  has  ever  since  been  his  home;  but  he  was  four 
years  in  the  army  in  defense  of  the  Government. 
He  enlisted  Oct.  zt,  1 86 1,  under  the  first  call,  in 
Co.  B,  of  the  561)1  Regt.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  the  com- 
mand of  W.  F.  Lynch,  of  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, under  Gens.  Sherman  and  Grant.  He  was 
afterward  transferred  to  the  57th  and  58th,  in  the 
last  of  which  he  had  all  his  military  experience.  He 
was  at  all  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  was 
engaged,  as  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  etc  ,  be- 
sides many  skirmishes,  his  last  engagement  being  at 
the  battle  of  Nashville.  At  the  battle  of  Corinth 
he  was  slightly  wounded  by  a  gunshot  in  the  left 
shoulder.  At  the  battle  of  Shiloh  nearly  all  his 
regiment  was  captured,  but  he  himself  escaped.  He 
first  enlisted  as  private;  but  Oct.  12,  1863,  he  was 
commissioned  First  Orderly  Sergeant,  which  appoint- 
ment he  held  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  Feb.  7,  1865,  at  Chicago. 

Since  the  war  he  has  devoted  his  attention  to  his 
estate,  which  now  comprises,  besides  the  tracts  men- 
tioned, 1 60  acres  of  the  homestead,  and  40  acres  on 
section  23,  which  is  in  meadow. 

In  political  principles  Mr.  Lutyens  is  a  strong 
Republican.  He  was  the  first  Road  Commissioner 
of  his  township,  holding  the  office  15  years,  and  he 
has  served  as  Constable  about  two  years.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Mr.  Lutyens'  position  in  the  county  is  such  as  to 
justify  the  insertion  of  his  portrait  in  this  ALBUM,  in 
proximity  to  the  above  sketch* 


•  on.  William  James  McCoy,  Judge  of  the 
County  Court  of  Whiteside  County,  was 
born  in  Fulton,  July  13,  1842.  He  is  the 
oldest  son  of  Hon.  James  McCoy,  ex-Judge  of 
the  same  Court,  who  is  one  of  the  pioneer  at- 
torneys of  the  county,  and  is  still  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Fulton.  The  records  of 
the  father  and  son  form  a  pertinent  feature  of  the 
collated  annals  of  Whiteside  County,  from  the  fact 
that  the  former  is  one  of  its  few  remaining  pioneers, 
and  that  the  latter  was  born  and  has  passed  his  life, 
thus  far,  within  its  borders. 

The  progenitors  of  the  McCoys  were  descendants 
of  the  Scotch-Irish,  a  race  distinguished  for  a  greater 


number  of  prominent  characteristics  than  any  other, 
and  to  whose  fiber  and  strength  some  of  the  best 
types  of  the  amalgamated  nationality  of  the  United 
States  are  wholly  due.  The  traits  which  marked  the 
founders  of  the  race,  suffer  no  dilution  in  being  trans- 
mitted to  succeeding  generations.  It  is  governed  by 
the  same  laws  of  family  decay;  but  its  energy, 
thrift,  courage,  chivalry  and  purity  go  down  to  pos- 
terity in  their  primal  vigor.  In  its  representatives  the 
"  quality  of  manhood  is  unstrained."  While  they  are 
ambitious,  their  success  is  not  so  much  a  matter  of 
solicitude  as  the  means  by  which  it  is  reached.  The 
i  records  of  Whiteside  County  will  bear  to  the  genera- 
tions to  come  ample  evidence  of  the  influence,  value 
and  prestige  of  those  who  trace  their  lineage  to  the 
Scotch-Irish. 

Whiteside  County  was  in  its  incipiency  as  a  mu- 
nicipality when  Judge  McCoy  was  born  at  Fulton,  at 
a  period  dating  more  than  a  decade  prior  to  that 
when  the  now  attractive  little  city  took  on  the  dignity 
of  organization.  He  obtained  the  foundation  of  his 
elementary  education  at  the  public  schools ;  and 
later  became  a  student  at  the  Illinois  Soldiers'  Col- 
lege, then  the  Western  Union  College  and  the  Mili- 
tary Academy.  The  curriculum  of  study  was  based 
on  that  of  leading  educational  institutions  of  estab- 
lished repute ;  and  Judge  McCoy  acquired  a  thorough 
acquaintance  with  higher  English  and  completed  a 
full  college  course  in  Latin,  besides  obtaining  a  prac- 
tical understanding  of  other  branches  of  classical 
study.  He  was  an  arduous  student,  and  through 
unremitting  application  fell  into  ill  health,  which 
necessitated  radical  change.  In  the  spring  of  1863, 
lie  availed  himself  of  an  opportunity  to  travel  across 
the  plains  with  John  Baker,  the  first  settler  at  Fulton, 
who  was  engaged  in  the  business  of  a  "  freighter  "  to 
Denver,  Col.,  and  he  set  out  from  Fulton  for  the  pur- 
pose of  "  roughing  it "  in  order  to  re-establish  his 
health.  At  Council  Bluffs  he  was  promoted  to  the 
post  of  "  driver  "  and  accomplished  the  double  pur- 
pose of  enticing  four  yoke  of  oxen  to  Denver,  and  re- 
gaining health  and  strength.  He  supplemented  the 
trip  by  .a  short  stay  in  the  mountains,  where  he  was 
employed  in  a  quartz  mill.  He  returned  to  Fulton 
at  the  close  of  the  same  summer. 

In  the  course  of  his  association  with  his  father  in 
previous  years,  he  had  determined  upon  entering  the 
legal  profession.  He  had  drifted  into  familiarity  with 


office  relations  and  had  gathered  much  miscellaneous 
acquaintance  with  common  and  statutory  law.  On 
his  return  from  Colorado,  with  health  restored  and 
ambition  freshened  to  activity,  he  entered  upon  the 
systematic  study  of  law  in  his  father's  office  at  Ful- 
ton and  prosecuted  his  studies  with  vigor  until  the 
ensuing  winter,  when  he  entered  the  Law  School  at 
Chicago  and  was  graduated  in  July,  1865.  In  Sep- 
tember following  he  was  admitted  to  the  full  privi- 
leges of  the  Bar  of  Illinois.  Later  he  obtained  those 
of  the  Federal  Courts. 

The  qualifications  of  Judge  McCoy  as  a  la wyer  are 
'of  a  high  order.  The  natural  bent  of  his  mental 
| organism  has  led  him  to  a  thorough  mastery  of  the 
I  principles  of  jurisprudence,  and  he  is  the  possessor 
of  a  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  technique  of 
|  the  profession.  While  he  is  fitted  to  perform  the 
•  duties  of  any  branch  of  legal  business,  his  tempera- 
jment  has  dictated  his  preference  for  that  of  chancery 
;  law,  which  affords  opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  his 
natural  proclivity  to  reduce  conditions  to  systematic 
I  form.  The  bulk  of  his  practice  comprises  cases  that 
i  involve  the  settlement  of  important  interests  upon 
j broad  and  equitable  grounds.  His  clientage  includes 
i  classes  who  are  removed  from  common  litigation  by 
elevation  of  character,  and  whose  business  in  the 
courts  requires  the  services  of  an  attorney  who  pos- 
sesses a  discriminating  and  exhaustive  acquaintance 
with  authorities. 

In  the  branch  of  the  profession  he  has  selected  for 
a  field  of  operation,  he  has  won  prominence  and  dis- 
tinction. He  is  also  an  advocate  of  recognized 
ability.  His  powers  are  completely  subservient  to 
his  judgment,  and  he  does  effective  work  before  a 
jury  from  his  perfect  preparation  and  thorough  un- 
derstanding of  the  case.  He  constructs  his  argu- 
ment symmetrically,  building  it  step  by  step,  and 
avails  himself  of  the  force  of  incisive,  significant 
phraseology,  which  is  entirely  devoid  of  rhetorical 
trickery,  indulged  for  the  purpose  of  bewildering  and 
captivating  the  judgment  of  men  who  are  uncon- 
scious of  the  cunning  which  is  the  expedient  of  the 
leading  charlatans  of  the  period. 

The  relations  of  Judge  McCoy  to  his  profession 
are  such  that  an  analysis  may  at  some  future  date 
answer  the  query  of  some  one  having  a  personal  in- 
terest in  his  character.  His  ability,  industry,  per- 
sistency, energy  and  integrity  have  received  just 

' _&V5vX 


acknowledgment  in  his  selection  for  the  responsible 
position  of  which  he  is  the  incumbent.  His  associa- 
tion with  his  father  as  son,  student  and  business 
partner,  developed  the  best  trait  he  possessed — a 
reverent  appreciation  of  the  inflexible  piobity  of  his 
sire;  and  to  his  daily  contact  with  a  life  of  unswerving 
devotion  to  principle,  does  he  owe  more  than  to  any 
other  cause  whatever  merits  he  may  possess.  He 
was  led  to  the  recognition  of  the  sublimity  of  equity 
as  the  grand  underlying  principle  of  all  codes,  by  the 
fact  that  the  bulk  of  law  on  which  society  is  founded 
and  perpetuated,  is  unwritten ;  and  he  has  molded 
his  career  in  conformity  with  his  convictions.  The 
existence  of  temptations  in  his  profession,  in  his  view, 
furnishes  no  palliation  for  a  corrupt  manhood,  and 
he  regards  an  attorney  who  finds  himself  conscious 
of  the  seductions  which  prove  pitfalls  of  moral  ruin 
to  so  many,  a  poor  interpreter  of  the  science  of  law. 
Her.ce,  he  has  found  few  obstacles  to  an  undeviating 
method  in  his  practice,  and  he  has  adhered  unswerv- 
ingly to  his  deteimination  to  preserve  his  relations  as 
an  exponent  of  law  in  the  dignity  and  self-respect  in- 
[  cumbent  upon  him  as  a  man,  and  the  son  of  a  man 

j$J    whose  excellence  of  character  sheds  peculiar  luster 
[    on  the  records  of  Whiteside  County. 

Immediately  upon  the  completion  of  his  course  of 
preparation  and  his  admission  to  the  Bar,  the  firm  of 

(<  )  J.  McCoy  &  Son  was  established,  and  its  members 
conducted  their  business  under  that  style  until  a 
younger  son  and  brother,  A.  R.  McCoy,  completed 
his  studies  for  the  same  profession,  and  was  admitted 
to  a  partnership,  the  firm  style  becoming  McCoy  & 
Sons,  which  continued  operative  until  the  autumn  of 
1878,  when  W.  J.  McCoy  removed  to  Morrison. 
October  [4,  that  year,  he  established  his  office  in 
that  city  and  has  built  up  a  popular  and  successful 
business.  He  is  an  indefatigable  worker;  and  al- 
though he  has  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office  in  a 
manner  every  way  characteristic,  his  private  busi- 
ness has  suffered  no  diminution,  but  has  rather  in- 
creased through  the  wider  scope  of  his  connections. 
He  was  elected  County  Judge  in  November,  1882, 
scoring  a  success  over  the  candidate  of  the  opposi- 
tion, Hon.  William  Lane,-by  about  2,000  votes.  The 
fact  that  he  ran  ahead  of  his  ticket  by  about  1,700 
votes,  renders  the  fact  of  an  unpartisan  election  pe- 
culiarly significant.  During  his  term  of  office,  still 
unfulfilled  in  1885,  the  business  of  the  County  Court 

3$, ^g^ 


has  very  materially  increased,  which  is  due  in  part  to 
the  methods  pursued  by  Judge  McCoy,  and  in  part 
to  changes  in  legislation,  which  occasion  diversion 
from  the  Circuit  Court. 

Judge  McCoy  was  married  Sept.  13,  1869,  in  Ful- 
ton, to  Marie  E.,  daughter  of  Charles  W.  and  Caro- 
line M.  Aylesworth.  They  have  three  children  :  Les- 
ter C.,  born  June  23,  1870;  William  M.,  born  June 
14,  1876;  Helen  C.,  born  Feb.  24,  1885.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Coy was  born  May  4,  1845,  'ln  Salem,  Ohio. 


emuel  M.  Hunt  is  an  enterprising  and  sub- 
stantial farmer  of  Newton  Township,  and 
is  located  on  section  3,  where  he  bought  a 
claim  in  1862.  He  is  now  the  proprietor  of 
320  acres  of  land  in  first-class  agricultural  con- 
dition, with  good  farm  buildings,  shade  and 
fruit  trees. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  born  Oct.  2,  1823,  in  Loraine 
Township,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son  of 
Lemuel  and  Mary  (Brown)  Hunt.  The  former  ,vas  a 
Vermonter  by  birth,  and  the  latter  was  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  The  son  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and  at  18  entered  upon  an  appren- 
ticeship in  a  carriage  shop  at  Watertown.  He  de- 
voted three  years  to  the  acquisition  of  a  complete 
understanding  of  the  business.  Later  he  went  to 
Springfield,  Mass.,  where  he  was  made  foreman  in  a 
carriage  car  and  machine  shop.  He  went  next  to 
Worcester,  where  he  was  employed  by  the  Washburn 
&  Moen  Manufacturing  Company,  and  afterward  to 
Whitingville,  building  cotton  machinery  in  the  inter- 
ests of  Paul  Whiting  &  Sons. 

In  1849  he  went  to  California,  proceeding  by  ocean 
steamer  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  River  in 
Texas,  following  the  course  of  the  river  to  Browns- 
ville, in  that  State.  The  remainder  of  the  journey 
was  made  overland,  the  entire  distance  requiring 
about  six  months'  travel.  He  was  engaged  three 
years  in  mining,  and  in  1852  came  to  Illinois.  He 
located  near  the  Meredocia  River  in  Rock  Island 
County,  entering  a  claim  of  160  acres  of  land,  and 
engaging  in  agricultural  pursuits.  The  remembrance 
of  the  land  of  gold  had  always  made  it  look  pleasant 
to  him  as  a  place  for  a  home,  and  in  1860  he  went 
there  again,  making  the  journey  via  New  York  and 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  He  visited  California  and. 


• 


to) 


*s& 


WH1TES1DE  COUNTY. 


*  * 


\t 

<I> 


(® 


Oregon,  prospecting  at  various  points  for  a  satis- 
factory location,  without  accomplishing  the  desired 
results.  After  nearly  two  years  of  vain  effort  to  locate 
a  home,  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  bought  a  tract  of 
unimproved  land,  where  he  has  since  operated,  and 
whereon  he  made  the  usual  preparations  for  taking 
possession.  He  built  a  small  frame  house  and 
entered  vigorously  on  the  work  of  improving  his 
property.  He  has  doubled  his  acreage,  built  a  good 
class  of  frame  structures,  and  has  increased  the 
beauty  and  value  of  the  place  by  setting  out  numer- 
ous fruit,  shade  and  ornamental  trees. 

Mr.  Hunt  has  been  a  Republican  from  the  organ- 
ization of  the  party,  and  was  at  the  convention  which 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  is  tolerant  and 
liberal  in  his  religious  views. 

He  was  married  in  1852,  to  Caroline  A.  Oilman,  a 
native  of  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  have  had  nine 
children,  but  seven  of  whom  survive, — John  M., 
Chester  L.,  Mary  P.,  Homer,  Frederick  S.,  Levi  E. 
and  Hattie  L. 


eter  H.  Wilt,  one  of  the  progressive  farmers 
of  this  county,  residing  in  the  village  of 
Erie,  and  owning  400  acres  of  land  in  Port- 
land Township,  was  born  in  what  is  now  Blair 
Co.,  Pa ,  April  i,  1819.  His  father,  Peter  Wilt, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  State,  and  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  His  mother  was  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  bore  to  her  husband  one  child, 
Peter  H.,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice.  He 
was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received  the  advantages 
afforded  by  the  common  schools,  and  on  attaining 
majority,  turned  his  attention  in  the  direction  of  that 
vocation,  agriculture,  which  he  had  previously  fol- 
lowed. In  March,  1866,  he  came  to  Portland  Town- 
ship, this  county,  and  purchased  250  acres  of  land, 
located  on  sections  27  and  28.  He  resided  there  till 
March,  1880,  and  added  to  his  original  purchase 
until  he  is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  400  acres  of 
land.  He  was  the  possessor  of  three  farms,  in  his 
native  State,  comprising  nearly  400  acres,  previous 
to  his  removal  to  this  county,  but  disposed  of  the 
same  with  the  expectation  of  increasing  his  acreage 
in  the  West. 

He  has  a  fine  farm,  and  raised  usually  from  40  to 


50  head  of  hogs  ;  also  kept  a  small  dairy  and  made  a 
number  of  improvements,  such  as  the  erection  of  a 
residence,  barn,  etc.  In  March,  1880,  he  purchased 
seven  lots  on  which  were  located  a  fine  residencCj 
barn,  etc.,  in  the  village  of  Erie,  and  moved  thither 
with  his  family.  He  is  at  present  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  which  office  he  held  four  years,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1885  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position; 
he  was  also  a  member  of  the  Village  Board,  and  of 
the  Order  of  Masonry.  Religiously,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  Wilt  has  been  united  in  marriage  twice.  His 
first  marriage  occurred  in  Blair  Co.,  Pa.,  and  the  lady 
of  his  choice  was  Miss  Mary  Young.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Balser  and  Catherine  (Birket)  Young, 
and  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Oct.  3,  1821.  She 
bore  him  16  children,  n  of  whom  are  living:  Sarah 
is  the  wife  of  Christian  Beeler,  a  resident  of  Newton 
Township;  Jacob  resides  in  Altoona,  Pa.;  Mary  A. 
is  a  resident  of  Spring  Hill,  this  county  ;  Adam  is  a 
farmer  of  Fenton  Township  ;  Margaret  is  the  wife  of 
E.  W.  Clapper,  Postmaster  at  Spring  Hill ;  Rebecca 
J.  is  the  wife  of  Jos.  Kelley,  a  resident  of  Iowa; 
Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Barber  Curtis,  a  resident  of 
Clinton,  Iowa ;  Martha  J.  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Gra- 
ham, residing  in  Portland  Township;  Lydia  A.  is  the 
wife  of  John  Clapper,  a  resident  of  Spring  Hill;  Wil- 
liam H.  and  Ella  reside  at  home. 

Mrs.  Wilt  died  in  Erie  village,  March  21,  1883, 
and  Mr.  Wilt  was  again  married  in  Kearney,  Neb., 
July  21,  1884,  to  Margaret  Featherstine,  a  native  of 
Canada,  in  which  country  she  was  born  Aug.  10, 
1849. 


;enry  Marcy,  deceased,  formerly  a  farmer 
residing  on  section  15,  Erie  Township,  and 
and  owning  160  acres  of  land  thereon,  was 
a  son  of  Edward  and  Olive  (Eldridge)  Marcy, 
and  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Windham  Co., 
Conn.,  Dec.  27,  1817.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  and  received  the  advantages  afforded  by  the 
common  school,  and  developed  into  manhood.  Soon 
after  attaining  the  age  of  majority  he  went  South, 
and  was  engaged  as  Superintendent  of  a  cotton  mill 
for  some  15  years. 

Leaving  the  South,  Mr.  Marcy  came  to  Lockport, 
Will  County,  this  State,  where  he  was.  united  in  mar- 


U*  "  'T"*r 
-    '"i(,  J 

UNIVERSITY  <jf  .LLINOIS 


X 


riage  to  Miss  Lucy  Spicer,  June  22  1852.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Abigail  (Scudder)  Spicer, 
and  was  born  in  Dundee,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  28,  1833.  The 
issue  of  their  union  was  n  children,  seven  of  whom 
survived.  The  living  are :  Eva  J.,  wife  of  Jesse 
Harriott,  a  farmer  residing  in  Sherman  Co.,  Neb., 
born  Aug.  22,  1853,  in  Will  County,  this  State;  Ellen, 
born  March  14,  1857,15  the  wife  of  Fillmore  Sly,  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  residing  in  Will  County  ;  Wil- 
liam L.,  born  April  23,  1859,  is  a  farmer  residing  in 
Sherman  Co.,  Neb.;  Charles  H.,  born  May  27,  1861, 
is  at  present  attending  college  at  Fulton,  this  State! 
Reuben  S.,  born  Aug.  14,  1864;  Edward,  Sept.  16, 
1868;  Hattie  A.,  Jan.  31,  1869. 

The  family  came  to  this  county  in  1853,  and  lo- 
cated in  Erie  Township,  where  the  father  purchased 
a  farm  of  160  acres  of  prairie  land  and  15  acres  of 
timber.  They  subsequently  lost  80  acres  of  their 
original  purchase,  but  later  purchased  another  80, 
so  that  Mrs.  Marcy  is  now  the  possessor  of  1 60  acres. 
Mr.  Marcy  was  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry, 
which  order  he  joined  in  Joliet  about  1845.  He  died 
on  the  old  homestead,  Oct.  24,  1884. 


M.  Gerdes,  merchant  at  Sterling,  was 
born  in  Wuppels,  Oldenburg,  Germany, 
April  25,  1845,  received  the  usual  public- 
school  education,  and  at  15  years  of  age  left 
home,  entering  the  mercantile  establishment 
of  B.  Eden,  Oldorf,  where  he  acted  as  sales- 
man from  April  27,  1859,  to  May  27,  1864,  when  he 
left  this  firm  and  went  in  the  employ  of  H.  W.  Hen- 
rich,  Heppens,  from  April  i,  1864,  till  Nov.  r,  1864, 
and  with  John  G.  Peters,  Mariensiel,  from  Nov.  i , 
1864,  to  April  i,  r866,  and  J.  C.  Kleiss,  in  Jever, 
from  April  2,  1866,  to  April  2,  1869.  Hence  he 
only  lost  four  days  during  his  ten  years'  employment 
in  Germany. 

Then  he  took  a  rest  until  he  sailed  from  Bremen, 
on  the  24th  day  of  April,  1869,  landing  in  New 
York  on  May  7,  and  at  Sterling  May  12,  and 
on  June  n,  1869,  he  continued  his  vocation,  for 
R.  B.  Witmer,  for  six  years.  June  14,  1875,  he 
commenced  his  business  for  himself,  at  Nos.  rrg 
and  121  Mulberry  Street,  and  has  since  then  en- 
larged his  sphere  of  operations  from  time  to  time, 


until  he  has  become  one  of  the  principal  business 
men  of  Sterling.  He  has  all  his  life  been  an  indus- 
trious man.  Since  coming  to  Sterling  he  has  lost 
only  23  days'  time.  He  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  3, 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  also  to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  He  votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 

Mr.  Gerdes  was  married  July  5,  1871,10  Miss 
Martha  Herman,  a  native  of  Illinois,  who  was  born 
July  27,  1850.  The  two  children  of  Mr.  Gerdes  are 
Andrew  J.,  born  Aug.  6,  1874,  and  Fanny,  Nov.  16, 
1878. 


rthur  McLane,  dealer  in  grain,  lumber, 
coal  and  wood,  with  office  and  elevator  on 
the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.,  near  the  depot  at  Erie, 
is  a  son  of  Jesse  and  Emily  (Neuman)  Mc- 
Lane,  and  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ind.,  near 
Richmond,  May  30,  1827.  His  father  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  raised  in  Virginia.  He  was  a 
farmer  during  the  latter  portion  of  his  life,  and 
formerly  a  dealer  in  horses.  His  mother  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  both  parents  are  now  deceased. 
The  issue  of  their  union  was  ten  children,  of  whom 
six  survive,  namely:  Rebecca,  the  wife  of  William 
Sellers;  John,  a  farmer  near  La  Porte,  Ind. ;  Mary, 
the  wife  of  John  Belden ;  Bird,  a  merchant  at  La- 
Porte,  Ind. ;  Jesse  N.,  a  physician  in  Florida;  and 
Arthur. 

Arthur  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Indiana,  and  at- 
tended the  common  schools  until  20  years  of  age. 
He  then  taught  school  several  winters  and  worked 
in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk.  About  this  time  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  dur- 
ing summers,  and  pursued  his  trade  and  teaching 
conjointly  until  he  came  West. 

Mr.  McLane  was  united  in  marriage  April  19, 
1851,  in  La  Porte,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Emeline  Barney. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Ruth  Barney, 
and  was  born  in  New  York,  Oct.  28,  1830.  They 
have  one  child,  Charlie  H.,  who  is  at  present  engaged 
in  buying  and  shipping  stock  and  hay  at  Erie. 

Mr.  McLane  came  to  this  county  in  1854,  and 
purchased  a  farm  of  200  acres  in  Fenton  Township. 
One  year  later  he  sold  it,  and  purchased  100  acres 
in  Newton  Township,  which  he  cultivated  and  on 
which  he  resided  until  1859.  He  then  sold  and  re- 


\ 


® 


712 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


purchased  his  200  acres  in  Fenton  Township,  on 
which  he  moved,  and  engaged  in  stock-raising  and 
farming.  He  has  since  added,  by  purchase,  to  his 
landed  interest,  and  now  owns  303  acres,  all  adjoin- 
ing. He  also  owns  in  partnership  with  James  Hub- 
bard  about  200  acres. 

In  1870  Mr. 'McLane  came  to  Erie,  and  engaged 
in  buying  and  shipping  grain  and  live  stock,  and 
handling  coal  and  building  material.  He  erected 
his  elevator  in  1877,  and  it  has  a  capacity  of  12,000 
bushels.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  seven  lots  in  Erie. 
Religiously  Mr.  McLane  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order,  belonging  to  Blue  Lodge  No.  667  at  Erie,  of 
which  he  was  a  charter  member,  and  is  the  present 
Master.  He  had  held  the  latter  office  three  years 
previously.  He  was  Supervisor  of  Fenton  Town- 
ship three  years,  Assessor  three  years,  and  was  one 
of  the  principal  movers  and  workers  in  the  extensive 
drainage  system  of  Fenton  and  Newton  Townships. 
He  was  Drain  Commissioner  four  years,  three  in 
Union  District,  and  one  in  Whiteside  and  Rock 
Island. 

Mr.  McLane  still  keeps  his  farm  well  supplied  with 
fine  stock.  He  has  usually  75  head  of  high  grades 
and  thoroughbred  Short-horn,  100  head  of  Shrop- 
shire Down  sheep,  and  about  25 -head  of  horses. 

Mrs.  McLane  died  on  the  farm  in  Fenton  Town- 
ship, Jan.  22,  1883,  leaving  her  husband  and  son, 
and  a  host  of  friends  to  mourn  her  loss. 

Since  Mr.  McLane's  advent  into  Whiteside  County 
he  has  been  quite  an  important  factor  in  developing 
its  resources.  He  is  an  enterprising,  public-spirited 
citizen,  and  is  justly  classed  among  the  leading  and 
representative  men  of  the  county.  We  present  his 
portrait  in  this  volume  in  connection  with  this  sketch. 
It  is  engraved  from  a  photograph  recently  taken. 


saac  S.  Hoover,  farmer,  section  14,  Sterling 
Township,  was  born  Jan.  i,  1845,  in  Frank- 
lin Co.,  Pa.  He  was  six  years  old  when 
his  parents,  John  and  Martha  (Kreider)  Hoover, 
removed  from  that  State  to  Whiteside  County, 
where  they  settled  in  1851.  The  latter  died 
in  Sterling  Township,  in  October,  1869.  The  father 
died  Feb.  i,  1884.  Their  eight  children  were  born  in 


the  following  order :  Samuel,  Elizabeth,  Frank, 
Mary,  Ann,  Isaac  S.,  Martha  and  Benjamin. 

Since  arriving  at  manhood,  Mr.  Hoover  has  been 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  1 1 6  acres  of  land  in  the  township  of  Ster- 
ling, which  is  practically  all  under  culture.  In  po- 
litical persuasion  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has 
served  a  number  of  years  as  School  Director. 

His  marriage  to  Mary  Martin  occurred  Nov.  2, 
1870.  She  was  born  Nov.  8,  1841,  in  Erie  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  her  only  child,  Mamie  M.  Hoover,  was  born 
Feb.  27,  1876.  Libbie  E.  and  William  H.  are  the 
names  of  two  children  who  have  been  adopted  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoover.  The  latter  is  the  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Cox)  Martin.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  where  the  mother  died  March  21, 
1869.  The  father  removed  after  that  event  to  Lee 
Co.,  111.,  and  is  now  residing  there.  Their  children 
were  five  in  number  and  were  born  in  the  following 
order:  John  C.,  Elizabeth,  Jacob  C.,  Mary  and 
Samuel.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoover  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church. 


ames  C.  Hubbart,  owning  600  acres  of 
land,  located  on  sections  4  and  15,  Erie 
Township,  is  the  son  of  Elisha  and  Irena 
(Coburn)  Hubbart.  He  is  one  of  the  progress- 
ive and  enterprising  farmers  of  Whiteside 
County,  and  his  birth  dates  back  to  the  1 2th 
day  of  October,  1822,  at  which  time,  in  Broome  Co., 
N.  Y.,  he  was  born.  His  father  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  his  birth  occurring  in  Morris  County,  that 
State,  and  at  an  early  age  he  moved  to  the  State  of 
New  York,  where  he  resided  until  his  marriage.  In 
1838  he  came  to  this  county,  arriving  in  February, 
that  year,  and  located  in  Union  Grove  Township. 
The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  notice  was  a  native 
of  the  State  of  New  York;  both  parents  died  in  this 
State.  The  family  of  the  parents  of  Mr.  Hubbart 
comprised  eight  children,  six  of  whom  survive  f 
William  resides  in  the  village  of  Erie ;  James  C.  is 
next  in  order  of  birth ;  Simpson  S.  is  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation and  resides  in  Erie;  he  owns  the  old  home- 
stead of  230  acres,  located  in  Union  Grove  Township ; 
Cynthia  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Reuben  Baker,  a  minis- 


•• 


•  v 


• 


. 


' 
\ 


ter  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church,  and  is  located  at 
Princeton,  this  State;  Mary  died  at  the  age  of  16 
years;  Benjamin  resides  in  Erie;  Elisha  is  engaged 
in  mine  speculating  in  Washington  Territory  ;  Irena 
was  the  wife  of  Area  Broadwell,  and  they  resided  in 
Minnesota  until  the  date  of  their  deaths.  In  the 
spring  of  1837  the  family  started  by  team  from  New 
York,  and  went  to  Michigan ;  arriving  at  Mottville, 
they  ran  short  of  funds  and  were  compelled  to  re- 
main at  that  point  during  the  summer;  the  following 
February  they  again  started  for  this  county,  and  ar- 
rived here  about  the  25th  of  that  month.  The  par- 
ents of  Mrs.  Hubbart,  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  had  already  preceded  her  to  this  county, 
having  arrived  here  in  July,  1837,  and  had  made  a 
clearing  for  Mr.  Hubbart's  father,  of  160  acres  of 
land,  located-on  sections  31  and  32,  Union  Grove 
Township.  The  father  erected  a  log  cabin  and  put 
in  a  crop  for  another  man,  and  in  August  of  that 
year  they  moved  into  their  own  cabin.  In  May  of 
the  following  year,  1839,  the  wife  and  mother,  who 
had  come  West  hoping  to  establish  a  home  for  her 
children,  was  struck  down  by  the  hand  of  Death,  the 
event  occurring  the  1 2th  day  of  that  month.  The 
father  survived  her  until  March  8,  1841,  when  he 
died  near  the  city  of  Galena,  this  State,  while  absent 
on  business. 

At  the  date  of  the  death  of  their  parents,  the  chil- 
dren were  all  minors,  and  Benjamin  Coburn  was  ap- 
pointed their  administrator.  On  attaining  the  age 
of  19  years,  Mr.  Hubbart  went  to  the  Wisconsin 
pineries,  where  he  remained  for  one  year;  returning, 
he  found  another  party  on  the  claim  made  by  his 
father,  and  in  1845  he  and  his  brother  Simpson  pur- 
chased the  claim,  then  consisting  of  200  acres.  Mr. 
Hubbart  and  his  brother  resided  on  the  place  and 
cultivated  the  same,  their  sister  Irena  keeping  house 
for  them.  Jan.  i,  1852,  his  brother  was  married 
and  brought  his  wife  to  the  claim. 

Mr.  Hubbart  was  united  in  marriage  in  Erie 
Township,  on  the  farm  on  which  he  at  present  re- 
sides, Oct.  14,  1855,  to  Miss  Maria  Putney,  daughter 
of  Arthur  and  Lucinda  Putney.  She  was  born  in 
Massachusetts,  Oct.  10,  1834.  Their  union  has 
been  blest  with  three  children,  all  born  on  the  farm, 
namely:  Mary,  Feb.  16,  1857,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Eugene  Burridge,  a  druggist  and  physician  at  Parkers- 
ville,  Morris  Co.,  Kan.;  Luella,  bom  June  21,  1862, 


^— '   V"V!HHX!XHMry 
WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


is  the  wife  of  William  James,  a  farmer  residing  on  a 
portion  of  Mr.  Hubbart's  farm  ;  James  P.,  born  Feb. 
n,  1865,  resides  on  the  farm. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Hubbart  sold  out  his  interest 
in  the  farm  (which  he  owned  in  partnership  with  his 
brother)  to  the  latter,  and  purchased  the  farm  on 
which  he  at  present  resides,  and  which  previously 
belonged  to  his  wife's  parents.  He  first  purchased 
160  acres,  and  has  subsequently  added  to  the  same 
until  at  present  he  is  the  proprietor  of  600  acres. 
He  has  a  fine  and  well  improved  farm,  with  three 
residences,  four  barns  and  other  out-buildings  lo- 
cated thereon,  together  with  an  orchard,  and  the 
whole  is  well  built.  He  usually  keeps  about  100 
head  of  cattle,  graded  Short-horns,  and  has  a  large 
dairy  of  from  30  to  40  cows.  He  also  keeps  from 
25  to  30  head  of  horses,  and  from  60  to  100  head  of 
hogs  each  year.  He  has  rented  300  acres  of  his  fine 
farm  and  one-half  of  his  cows. 

Socially,  Mr.  Hubbart  is  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  Masonry,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
Sons  of  Temperance.  In  addition  to  his  acreage,  as 
stated,  he,  in  partnership  with  Arthur  McLane,  owns 
200  acres  of  timber  and  pasture  land  in  Erie  Town- 
ship. 


^fl^mos  Daveler,  of  the  firm  of  Daveler  Bros., 
wagon  and  carriage  manufacturers,  Third 
Street,  Sterling,  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  Oct.  9,  1847.  His  father,  Jacob  Dave- 
ler, a  native  of  the  same  State,  was  a  farmer 
and  came  West  in  1871,  settling  in  Sterling;  and 
his  mother,  nee  Catherine  Yentzer,  was  also  a  Penn- 
syl  vanian. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  began  to  work  for  him- 
self away  from  home  at  the  tender  age  of  12  years, 
laboring  upon  a  farm  until  he  was  17  years  old.  He 
then  enlisted  for  the  Government,  under  the  i  co-day 
call.  Serving  out  his  time,  he  re-enlisted  in  the 
I95th  Regt.  Pa.  Vol.  Inf.,  for  one  year,  and  also 
served  during  this  period,  except  six  days,  when  the 
Regiment  was  discharged  and  he  returned  home. 

After  working  for  a  time  on  a  farm,  he  came,  in 
the  spring  of  1868,  to  Sterling,  commencing  to  work 
as  a  carpenter.  Working  at  this  trade  a  year,  he 
served  three  months  as  an  apprentice  at  wagon- 


making.  Next  he  continued  in  the  latter  calling  for 
John  M.  Gait  for  a  period  of  two  years.  He  then 
started  out  in  the  same  business  for  himself  on  Sec- 
ond Street,  Sterling,  where  the  Waverly  House  now 
stands.  In  1876-7  George  Newton  was  his  partner 
fora  year.  In  1878  he  erected  a  shop  on  Third 
Street,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  the  business 
with  satisfactory  success.  He  is  an  energetic,  in- 
dustrious worker,  and  an  exemplary  citizen.  He  is 
Republican  in  his  political  creed,  and  in  regard  to 
religion  he,  as  well  as  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 

He  was  married  Aug.  19,  1869,  to  Miss  Anna  S., 
daughter  of  Joseph  Bowman,  of  Strasburg,  Pa. 


zckiel  Olds,  formerly  an  agriculturist  of 
Hopkins  Township,  now  living  in  retire- 
ment at  Como,  was  born  July  9,  1817,  in 
Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  a  resident  in 
his  native  county  until  his  removal  to  White- 
side  County,  in  1856.  He  was  accompanied 
by  his  wife  and  five  children,  and  his  father,  Ezekiel 
Olds.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and, 
after  his  marriage  to  Betsey  (Pitney)  Olds,  settled  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and 
died  in  Ohio  in  1831.  The  father  died  at  Como. 
Their  children  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Phebe,  Ezekiel,  Sarah  A.,  Louisa,  John,  Ruth,  Cyn- 
thia and  Betsey. 

Mr.  Olds  settled  in  the  locality  in  Hopkins  Town- 
ship designated  the  "  Como  Purchase,"  and  has  al- 
ways maintained  his  residence  there.  In  political 
preference  he  fraternizes  with  the  Republican  partyi 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 

His  marriage  to  Roxana  Wilcox  took  place  March 
15,  1840,  in  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio.  She  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Lyman  and  Hannah  (Lillibridge)  Wilcox.  They 
were  natives  of  Rhode  Island,  and  settled  at  Como  in 
the  spring  of  1846.  The  father  died  in  1859.  The 
demise  of  the  mother  took  place  at  Rochelle,  111.,  in 
1870. 

Their  children  were  four  in  number,  and  named 
Harriet,  Roxana,  Caroline  and  Delos.  'Mrs.  Olds 
was  born  Dec.  2,  1824,  in  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio.  Fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  the  nine  children  who  have 


been  born  to  her  and  her  husband — William  C., 
Roxana  E.,  Lyman  D.,  Harriet  A.,  Frankie  P., 
Fanny  E.,  Ada,  Hannah  L.  and  Charlie  W. 


ndrew  J.  Wheelock,  one  of  the  energetic 
as  well  as  progressive  farmers  of  Whiteside 
County,  residing  on  section  14,  Erie  Town- 
ship, and  the  owner  of  323^  acres  of  land, 
was  born  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y  ,  June  i,  1827. 
His  father,  Rew  Wheelock,  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  in  which  State  he  was  born  in  1794. 
His  mother  was  a  native  of  Vermont.  The  father 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  also  a  manufacturer 
of  potash.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children. 

A.  J.  Wheelock  was  the  seventh  child  of  his 
father's  family,  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  received 
the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common  schools. 
When  five  years  of  age,  his  father's  family  moved  to 
near  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  where  his  father  purchased 
a  farm,  and  cultivated  it  for  a  period,  and  then 
moved  to  Bridgewater  Township,  Washtenaw  Coun- 
ty. Andrew  left  home  when  a  boy  of  1 2  or  13  years, 
and  went  to  Ypsilanti,  where  he  engaged  in  working 
in  a  livery  stable,  which  occupation  he  followed  for 
about  two  years  ;  then,  when  about  20  years  of  age, 
he  opened  a  livery  stable  in  Grand  Rapids,  and  con- 
ducted the  same  for  his  own  individual  benefit,  for 
about  six  years.  In  1853  he  came  to  Rockford, 
Winnebago  Co.,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  as  a 
runner  for  a  stage  company,  in  which  business  he 
worked  for  a  time,  then  went  to  Kane  County,  and 
afterwards  worked  on  a  railroad  at  Rochelle,  and  La 
Salle. 

About  1855,  Mr.  Wheelock  came  to  Sterling,  this 
county,  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  He 
was  married  at  that  place,  Aug.  14,  1855,  to  Miss 
Bridget  Evans,  a  native  of  Ireland,  in  which  country 
she  was  born  Dec.  27,  1826.  They  are  the  parents 
of  five  children,  two  of  whom  are  living.  The  record 
is  as  follows :  William  A.,  born  July  31,  1856,  died 
when  six  years  old;  Mary  E.,  born  Nov.  2t,  1858,  is 
the  wife  of  Eugene  Chamberlain,  a  resident  of  New- 
ton Township,  and  is  a  teacher ;  George  H.,  born 
Oct.  28,  1860,  and  teaches  school  during  the  winter 
season ;  he  is  a  graduate  of  the  Fulton  College,  and 
Mary  E.,  of  the  Davenport  Academy.  Rosanna,  born 
/— s 


.. 


--    ..     :- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Dec.  23,  1862,  died  aged  seven   years;    Charles  J., 
born  in  1864,  died  in  1869. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Wheelock  was  engaged  in  rail- 
roading one  year,  and  afterward  kept  boarders  for 
about  five  years.  About  1865,  he  came  to  Erie 
Township  and  purchased  128  acres  of  the  farm  he  at 
present  owns.  Three  years  later,  he  left  and  again 
engaged  in  keeping  boarders  on  the  cars,  building 
the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad. 
He  then  returned  to  the  farm,  and  has  resided  upon 
and  cultivated  the  same  ever  since.  He  has  erected 
a  fine  residence,  good  barns,  planted  an  orchard,  and 
fenced  his  land  and  has  from  50  to  60  head  of  cattle, 
and  from  30  to  40  head  of  hogs,  and  is  meeting  with 
success  in  his  agricultural  and  stock  pursuits. 


Bryant,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  on 
section  36,  Portland  Township,  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  Bryant,  and  was 
born  in  Wayne  Township,  Knox  Co.,  Ohio, 
Sept.  14,  1821.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey  and  his  mother  of  New  York.  On 
attaining  the  age  of  manhood,  Mr.  Bryant  came 
West  and  located  in  Ogle  Co.,  111.  June  28,  1844, 
he  came  to  this  county,  and  two  years  later,  in  1846, 
he  entered  104  acres  of  the  land  he  at  present  owns 
in  Portland  Township.  On  first  coming  to  the 
county  his  entire  moneyed  possessions  footed  up  the 
"  enormous  "  amount  of  j$i  .50  !  His  energetic  deter- 
mination and  faith  in  the  future  developments  of  the 
county,  for  he  had  faith  from  the  first  time  that  he 
came,  induced  him  to  "  stick,"  and  he  "  stuck."  He 
went  to  work  by  the  day,  farming  and  following  the 
carpenter  and  joiner's  trade,  which  he  had  learned  in 
the  East,  and  waited  patiently  for  developments  and 
opportunity.  They  came,  and  his  good  judgment 
prompted  him  to  enter  his  land  as  stated,  and  still 
better  judgment  induced  him  to  hold  on  to  it  He 
has  done  so  to  the  present  time  and  has  increased 
his  acreage,  by  subsequent  purchase,  until  he  is  at 
present  the  owner  of  590  acres.  He  has  a  fine  resi- 
dence on  his  farm,  which  stands  as  a  monument  of 
his  own  handiwork.  Even  the  doors  and  windows 
were  made  with  his  own  hands. 

Mr.  Bryant  usually  keeps  about  100  head  of  cat- 
tle, a  number  of  which  are  graded  Short-horns,   15 


or  r  6  head  of  horses,  and  from  100  to  160  head  of 
hogs,  and  his  success  is  attributable  to  his  push  and 
energy,  joined  with  the  active  co-operation  of  his 
good  helpmate. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Portland  Township, 
this  county,  Oct.  17,  1848,  to  Miss  Emily  M.  Ben- 
son. She  is  a  daughter  of  Christian  and  Maria  Ben- 
son, and  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  March  29,  1829. 
Mr.  Benson,  Mrs.  Bryant's  father,  was  born  in 
Sweden,  May  i,  1805,  but  early  in  life,  in  1820 
came  to  America  and  became  one  of  the  first  pio- 
neers in  Whiteside  County.  He  located  in  Portland 
Township,  where  he  lived,  an  honored  and  respected 
cit'zen,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  6,  1885. 
In  early  life  Mr.  Benson  was  a  sailor  and  had  sailed 
three  times  around  the  world  before  he  settled  down 
to  the  quiet,  peaceful  life  of  a  farmer.  He  was  a 
well-informed  man,  and  in  his  long  and  eventful  life 
of  four  score  years  accomplished  much  good. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bryant  have  had  four  children: 
William  C.,  born  Oct.  n,  1850,  is  a  dealer  in  stock 
at  Erie;  George  E.,  born  April  12,  1853,  is  a  farmer; 
Joseph  F.,  born  Sept.  i,  1856,  and  Maria  R.,  born 
Feb.  5,  1 8^6.  Miss  Maria  possesses  considerable 
natural  ability  as  a  sketcher,  painter  and  musician. 

Mr.  Bryant  is  a  self-made  man  and  deserves  no 
little  credit  for  the  success  he  has  thus  far  made  of 
life.  He  possesses  many  rare  traits  of  character, 
which  have  made  him  an  enterprising  citizen,  one  who 
is  devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  community  in 
which  he  resides,  and  won  for  him  the  esteem  and 
respect  of  all  who  know  him.  His  portrait,  made 
from  a  photograph  recently  taken,  is  given  in  this 
volume,  included  in  the  galaxy  of  those  given  of 
representative  people  of  the  county. 


ames  R.  Bell,  dealer  in  clothing,  furnishing 
goods,   boots   and   shoes,    hats    and  caps, 
Third  Street,  Sterling,  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire,   June  8,    1825,  his  parents   being 
Jonathan  and  Lydia  (Dow)  Bell,  natives  also 
of  the  old  Granite  State  and  residents  upon  a 
farm. 

Of  ten  children  in  their  family,  James  R.  was  the 
eighth.  He  remained  at  home  until  18  years  of  age, 
receiving  a  common-school  education.  After  leaving 

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home  he  obtained  a  praciical  knowledge  of  the  boot 
and  shoe  trade,  serving  three  years.  He  then  went 
to  Rushford,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  worked  at  his 
trade  by  the  piece,  for  an  uncle,  two  years.  Buying 
him  out  at  this  time,  he  carried  on  the  business  for 
five  years,  often  employing  three  assistants.  Then, 
for  the  sake  of  out-door  and  more  pleasant  and 
healthful  employment,  he  bought  a  small  farm  and 
followed  dairying  for  two  years.  This  he  sold,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1854  came  to  Whiteside  County  and 
purchased  a  farm  of  240  acres  near  Erie,  where  he 
followed  agriculture  for  two  •,  ears,  and  also  kept  a 
dairy  of  26  cows.  That  place  he  sold  and  moved  in 
the  spring  of  1856  to  Sterling,  where  he  at  first  en- 
tered the  boot  and  shoe  trade  on  Third  Street;  in 
1875  he  added  clothing,  hats,  caps  and  furnishing 
goods  to  his  trade.  He  is  a  "square  "  business  man, 
and  therefore  is  prosperous.  He  is  also  a  stock- 
holder and  President  of  the  Sterling  National  Bank, 
is  an  Alderman,  and  in  politics  a  Republican. 

He  was  married  July  19,  1847,  to  Miss  Soloma 
Gordon,  daughter  of  William  Gordon,  of  Rushford, 
N.  Y.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  have  two  sons,  namely  : 
•William  J.,  who  married  Mary  Cochran,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  has  two  children, — Russell  and 
Verna;  and  Samuel  G.  is  the  name  of  the  other  son. 

^ 4^ *~ 


udwin  A.  Worrell,  of  the  firm  of  Baker  & 
Worrell,  buyers  and  shippers  of  stock,  at 
Morrison,  was  born  Nov.  12,  1843,  near 
Chesterfield,  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio.  His  par- 
ents, Isaiah  C.  and  Elmira  (Kirk)  Worrell,  were 
both  natives  of  Ohio,  and  both  belonged  to  the 
Society  of  Friends  or  Quakers.  In  1851  they  re- 
moved thence  to  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  where  they  engaged 
in  farming.  In  1853  they  made  another  removal,  to 
Hubbard's  Grove,  in  Jordan  Township,  Whiteside 
County,  where  the  father  purchased  80  acres  of  land 
and  where  the  family  lived  about  three  years.  They 
went  thence  successively  to  the  townships  of  Sterling 
and  Montmorency  and  Hume,  and  made  a  final  lo- 
cation in  Rock  Falls,  where  the  senior  Worrell  died, 
and  where  the  mother  still  lives. 

Mr.  Worrell  was  reared  on  the  various  farms  on 
which  the  family  were  resident ;  and  before  the  ter- 
mination of  the  obligations  of  his  minority,  his  native 


country  was  in  the  throes  of  civil  war.  Shortly  after 
he  had  passed  his  2oth  birthday,  in  November,  1863, 
he  entered  the  Union  Army,  enlisting  as  a  private  in 
Co.  C,  8th  R.egt.  111.  Cavalry  and  continued  in  the 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his  final 
discharge  in  July,  1865.  The  command  was  sent  to 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  Mr.  Worrell  was  un- 
der rebel  fire  through  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness, 
at  Menoxa  Junction,  Upperville,  Fredericks  City, 
Tonleytown  and  elsewhere,  besides  being  en  gaged  in 
a  number  of  skirmishes.  On  being  mustered  out  of 
the  military  service  of  his  country,  he  returned  to 
Whiteside  County  and  passed  some  time  in  traveling 
through  the  West  for  the  purposes  of  prospecting, 
locating  finally  in  Whiteside  County. 

In  December,  1866,  he  was  appointed  Deputy 
Sheriff  of  Whiteside  County  by  L.  A.  Lincoln,  then 
Sheriff,  and  after  operating  in  that  capacity  two  years, 
in  the  fall  of  1868,  he  was  nominated  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  for  Sheriff.  He  made  a  successful  cam- 
paign and  was  successively  renominated  five  times, 
serving  in  the  office  six  terms,  or  12  years.  In  1880, 
succeeding  his  last  official  term,  he  was  again  re- 
nominated  in  the  convention  by  acclamation,  but  de- 
clined to  permit  the  use  of  his  name  a  seventh  time. 
Soon  after  vacating  his  office  of  Sheriff,  he  became 
interested  in  traffic  in  Western  land,  and,  in  the 
spring  of  1881,  he  removed  to  Unionville  in  Union 
Grove  Township,  where  he  purchased  a  residence 
and  remained  until  July,  1884,  when  he  became  a 
resident  of  Morrison  once  more.  During  his  resi- 
dence at  Unionville  he  continued  his  operations  in 
real  estate,  going  in  1882  to  Dakota,  where  he  entered 
320  acres  of  land.  On  removal  to  Morrison  he  ex- 
changed his  property  at  Perry,  Iowa,  for  240  acres  of 
land  in  Union  Grove  Township,  situated  on  section 
21,  of  which  he  is  still  the  owner.  The  place  is  fine 
and  valuable,  as  is  the  estate  he  still  holds  in  Dakota. 
He  is  the  owner  of  two  dwellings  and  three  lots 
therewith  connected,  at  Morrison.  In  November, 
1884,  he  formed  his  present  business  association  with 
B.  G.  Baker,  and  they  have  since  operated  success- 
fully in  stock.  Mr.  Worrell  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  at  Morrison  and  of  Alpheus  Clark 
Post,  No.  i  r  8,  G.  A.  R.  He  has  officiated  two  years 
as  City  Councilman,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Worrell  to  Lucretia  M.  Lin- 
coln took  place  on  Sept.  7,  1869.     She  was  born  in 


Sx 

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0    * 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Stephenson  Co.,  111.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Lester 
and  Julana  Lincoln.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Worrell  were  born  as  follows:  Clifford  L.,  Harry  H., 
Annie,  Belle  and  Florence. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  Worrell  was  a  sister  of  General 
Edward  N.  Kirk,  who  received  his  death  wound  in 
the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.  Two  of  his 
brothers,  James  and  Albert  Worrell,  were  members 
of  Co.  A,  34th  Regt.  111.  Inf.,  and  the  latter  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain.  They 
both  live  in  Whiteside  County. 


[f  oseph  Weaver,  one  of  the  energetic  and 
sf-  progressive  farmers  as  well  as  self-made 
men  of  Whiteside  County,  residing  in 
Erie  village,  and  the  proprietor  of  240  acres 
of  land,  located  on  sections  7,  8,  17  and 
18,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Rey- 
nolds) Weaver,  and  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Sept.  8,  1807.  His  father  was  born  in  Newport, 
R.  I.,  was  of  New  England  extraction,  and  was  a 
farmer  and  mechanic.  His  mother  was  born  in 
Exeter,  R.  I.,  and  was  of  Quaker  descent.  The  is- 
sue of  their  union  was  eight  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living. 

Mr.  Weaver,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  the  seventh  child  of  his  parent's  family,  and  was 
reared  on  a  farm  in  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  until 
the  family  moved  to  Allegany  Co.,  same  State,  when 
he  engaged  in  farming.  In  1856  he  came  with  his 
family  to  Erie,  this  county,  and  purchased  340  acres 
of  land,  240  of  which  constitutes  his  present  farm, 
having  sold  100  acres  of  the  same.  His  farm  lies 
contiguous  to  the  village  rf  Erie,  27  ^  acres  lying 
within  the*  corporate  limits  of  that  village.  He  is 
engaged  in  general  farming,  and  has  made  numer- 
ous improvements  upon  his  place,  having  erected  a 
fine  residence  good  buildings,  etc.  He  rents  his 
land,  except  some  pasture  land  and  20  acres  which 
he  cultivates  with  the  assistance  of  one  hand.  Mr. 
Weaver  has  held  the  position  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  eight  years. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  29,  1834,  to  Miss  Melissa,  daughter  of  Nahum 
and  Rachel  Benedict.  She  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  8,  1808,  and  has  borne  to 


her  husband  eight  children,  six  of  whom  survive  : 
Homer  and  Herman  (twins) ;  Rachel  is  the  wife  of 
N.  E.  Lyman,  President  of  the  People's  Bank  in 
Rockford,  111. ;  Julia  is  the  wife  of  Mortimer  Wonser, 
attorney  and  Postmaster  at  Tama  City,  Iowa;  Emily 
resides  at  home;  and  J.  D.  is  the  youngest  living: 
William  and  Mary  are  deceased. 


ohn  Charter,  President  and  Treasurer  of 
the  Williams  &  Orton  Manufacturing  Co., 
of  Sterling,  was  born  in  Germany,  March 
1 8,  '1838,  and  came  to  America  with  his  pa- 
rents in  1844,  who  settled  in  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  Charter,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
is  a  self-educated  and  self-made  man.  Leaving  his 
parental  home  at  the  age  of  13,  he  first  learned  the 
cigar-maker's  trade,  which  he  followed  in  the  interest 
of  his  employers  until  he  was  19  years  of  age,  and 
from  that  time  until  1879  he  carried  on  the  business 
on  his  own  account ;  he  then  sold  out.  Previously, 
in  1875,  he  had  been  chosen  to  his  present  position, 
and  since  1878  he  has  had  the  sole  management  of 
the  gas  company.  In  1882  he  invented  a  gas  en- 
gine, which  works  successfully  and  is  being  intro- 
duced. He  is  a  deep  thinker,  independent  in  his 
judgments  and  reliable  in  his  undertakings.  The 
manufacturing  company  make  four  sizes  of  engines 
— four,  seven,  ten  and  fifteen  horse  power. 

Mr.  Charter  was  married  in  this  county,  March 
25,  1857,  to  Rachel  E.  Adams,  a  native  of  Illinois, 
and  they  have  two  children:  James,  who  was  born 
July  25,  1866,  and  John,  whose  birth  occurred  June 
20,  1875. 


ohn  M.  Hamilton,  farmer,  on  section  20, 
Lyndon  Township,  is  the  oldest  son  of 
Adam  R.  Hamilton,  a  pioneer  of  Lyndon, 
in  1834,  of  whom  a  full  personal  account  is 
given  with  the  sketch  of  George  R.  Hamil- 
ton, on  another  page.  John  M.  Hamilton  was 
born  May  n,  1814,  in  Northampton,  Hampshire 
Co.,  Mass.  About  1822  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Clarendon,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  resided  witl} 


t.  • 


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I 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


them  until  their  removal  to  Whiteside  County.  On 
arrival  here  Mr.  Hamilton  pre-empted  80  acres  of 
land  on  section  20  of  township  20,  range  5.  He 
married  Prudence  Wright,  and  directly  after  that 
event  took  possession  of  his  property,  upon  which 
he  has  since  resided,  and  made  extensive  improve- 
ments. He  is  the  owner  of  236  acres  of  land  in 
advanced  cultivation.  His  wife  died  in  August, 
1854.  He  was  married  to  Mrs.  Anna  B.  (Thomp- 
son) Woodward,  June  18,  1856.  She  was  born  in 
Adams  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  the  widow  of  Eli  Wood- 
ward. John,  Levi,  Caroline  A.  and  Elvira  are  the 
children  of  the  first  wife ;  the  latter  is  the  wife  of 
Philip  Stone,  of  Lyndon,  and  Caroline  A.  is  the  wife 
of  Holly  Smith,  of  Morrison.  George  W.,  the  first- 
born of  the  second  marriage,  died  in  infancy ; 
Charles  A.  and  Frederick  E.  survive. 


S.  Seger,  manufacturer  of  the  "  Erie 
Windmills,"  residing  at  Erie,  is  a  son  of 
Edmund  and  Betsey  (Powers)  Seger,  and 
was  born  in  Oxford  Co.,  Me.,  March  22,  '833. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  the  same  State  in 
which  his  son  was  born,  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  is  deceased.  His  mother  is  also  a  native 
of  Maine,  and  at  present  resides  in  Erie.  Soon 
after  attaining  the  age  of  majority,  Mr.  Seger  accom- 
panied his  mother,  in  1855.,  to  Grand  Detour,  111., 
near  the  town  of  Dixon,  this  State;  in  the  spring  of 
1853,  moved  to  Erie.  The  family  at  that  time  com- 
prised a  brother,  Hamlin  A ,  now  deceased,  and  a 
sister,  Caroline  A.,  now  the  widow  of  Martin  Mon- 
roe, and  residing  in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa.  He  re- 
mained near  Dixon  until  the  spring  after  his  arrival 
there,  when  he  came  to  Erie  village,  and  was  em- 
ployed on  a  farm  near  that  place.  He  also  learned 
the  trade  of  wagon-maker  in  Erie,  with  Marcus  San- 
ford.  About  1875  he  started  the  manufacture  of 
windmills,  and  afterward  admitted  Stephen  Tobey, 
who  remained  with  him  about  three  years,  since 
which  time  Mr.  Seger  has  conducted  the  business 
alone.  He  manufactures  mills,  and  does  general 
repairing,  makes  water  tanks,  etc. ;  he  is  somewhat 
pf  an  inventive  genius,  and  has  procured  several 


patents  on  windmills,  and  other  articles  of  manufac- 
ture. 

Mr.  Seger  was  united  in  marriage  in  Dixon,  111., 
June  4,  1873,  by  Harvey  Morgan,  J.  P.,  to  Miss 
Cordelia  Foskit,  a  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Jane  E. 
Foskit,  who  reside  in  Erie.  She  was  born  in  Ran- 
dolph, Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y. 


eorge  G.  Keefer,  Deputy  Sheriff  of  White- 
side  County  and  a  resident  of  Sterling, 
was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  April  i, 
1842,  his  parents  being  John  and  Ann  M. 
(Grove)  Keefer,  natives  also  of  the  same 
county.  His  father  was  a  merchant  and 
farmer. 

Mr.  Keefer,  of  this  sketch,  is  the  sixth  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  12  children,  and  remained  at 
home  until  1862,  receiving  a  common-school  educa- 
tion. On  leaving  his  parental  home  he  enlisted, 
Aug.  i,  1862.  in  the  war  for  the  Union,  namely,  in 
Co.  D,  I26th  Regt.  Pa. Vol.  Inf.,  which  was  attached 
to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  They  went  from  Har- 
risburg  into  Virginia  and  participated  in  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  then  the  battles  of  Antietam, 
Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  etc.  Mr.  Keefer's 
office  in  the  army  during  the  entire  time  of  his 
enlistment,  nine  months,  was  that  of  messenger  for 
Gen.  A.  A.  Humphrey. 

He  was  honorably  discharged,  returned  home  and 
in  March,  1864,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  set- 
tling near  Empire,  on  the  farm.  After  a  residence 
there  of  1 1  years,  he  rented  the  place,  and  in  Sep- 
tember, 1878,  moved  to  Sterling,  where  he  is  now  a 
resident.  While  on  the  farm  he  was  Secretary  of 
the  County  Grange  for  several  years,  was  one  of  the 
Commissioners  for  eight  years,  and  held  other  town- 
ship offices.  He  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff  of 
Whiteside  County  in  1880,  and  still  holds  his  posi- 
tion, his  term  not  expiring  until  the  fall  of  1886. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  United 
Workmen,  and  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic;  and 
both  himself  and  wife,  as  also  two  daughters,  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  also 
one  of  the  Directors  of  the  County  Fair ;  is  a  mem- 


• 


V§> 


' : 


OF  ILLINOIS 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


2   • 

• 
(Q; 


ber  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  Second  Ward 
School  of  Sterling. 

Dec.  13,  r866,  Mr.  Keefer  married  Miss  Phebe 
A.  Harvey,  of  Empire,  this  county.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Joel  and  Rachel  Harvey,  natives  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  who  came  West  in  1836. 
Mr.  Harvey  was  an  energetic,  persevering  man,  over- 
coming formidable  obstacles  in  the  opening  of  many 
farms,  improvement  of  roads,  building  of  mills, 
stores  and  factories,  and  doing  more  for  the  good  of 
the  county,  probably,  than  any  other  man. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keefer  have  three  children:  Clara 
R.,  Genevieve  and  Samuel  H. 


-•• 


aniucl  A.  Thompson,  one  of  the  ener- 
getic and  prosperous  farmers,  and  respec- 
ted citizens  of  Whiteside  County,  residing 
on  section  26,  Fenton  Township,  and  the 
owner  of  770  acres  of  land  in  the  county,  was 
born  in  Meigs  Co.,  Ohio,  July  29,  1823.  His 
father,  Reuben  Thompson,  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  is  deceased,  as  is  likewise  his  mother,  Phil- 
anda  Thompson.  Their  family  comprised  four  chil- 
dren. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  alternated  his  labors  thereon  by  attending  at  the 
common  schools  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  18 
years.  On  arriving  at  the  age  named,  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  in  his  native  county,  and  fol- 
lowed the  same  until  1856.  During  the  year  named, 
he  came  to  this  county,  and  located  on  160  acres  of 
land,  situated  in  Fenton  Township,  and  which  he 
had  purchased  six  years  previous,  in  1850.  He  kept 
"  bach  "  on  his  farm,  and  entered  vigorously  and  en- 
ergetically upon  the  task  of  its  improvement  and 
cultivation,  and  by  economy  and  hard  labor  added 
to  its  original  purchase  until  he  is  now  the  proprie- 
tor of  770  acres,  and  in  partnership  with  his  brother, 
R.  M.  Thompson,  owns  a  quarter  section  of  land  in 
Sac  Co.,  Iowa;  and  in  addition  has  two  dwellings 
and  five  lots  in  Lyndon  village.  He  has  on  his 
farm  a  fine  residence,  good  barns,  orchard,  and  the 
entire  acreage  well  fenced.  He  makes  a  specialty 
of  fine  horses  and  cattle.  He  rents  the  homestead 
farm  to  his  son  George,  and  they  have  upon  the 
place  about  209  head  of  cattle,  15  head  of  full 

.      r-v'^jr' 


blood  and  the  others  high  grades,  the  major  portion 
of  the  stock  being  owned  by  Mr.  Thompson.  He 
also  has  a  fine  stallion,  Sir  Garnet,  registered  in  the 
Scottish  Stud  Book,  No.  2,409;  American,  No.  961, 
and  weighs  1,650  pounds;  he  is  a  large,  black 
Clydesdale,  and  stands  16  hands  high,  and  is  the 
joint  property  of  father  and  son ;  they  usually  have 
about  35  head  of  horses,  and  raise  annually  about 
100  head  of  hogs  and  150  head  of  sheep. 

Mr.  Thompson  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  in 
Erie  Township,  April  28,  1858,  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Bull,  widow  of  Elijah  Bull,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont in  1825,  and  died  March  31,  1856.  Mrs. 
Thompson  was  born  in  Vermont,  March  22,  1828, 
and  has  borne  to  Mr.  Thompson  two  children,  Jen- 
nie, born  Dec.  19,  1858,  is  the  wife  of  Jas.  W.  Carr, 
an  attorney  in  Missouri,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Myrtle  and  A.  Mabel.  Reuben  A.,  born  Feb.  22, 
1870,  resides  at  home.  Mrs.  Thompson  has  one  son 
by  her  former  marriage,  George  E.,  born  April  5, 
1856,  and  who  has  been  adopted  by  Mr.  Thompson. 
He  married  Nellie  Eddy,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Willis  E.,  born  Sept.  20,  1882,  and  Edith  J., 
born  June  2,  1885. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  classed  among  the  most  exten- 
sive land  owners  of  the  county.  He  has  been  emi- 
nently successful  as  an  agriculturist,  ever  taking  the 
first  rank  as  a  progressive  and  enterprising  farmer. 
He  is  widely  known  throughout  the  county,  and  a 
man  in  every  way  worthy  to  be  classed  among  its 
prominent  and  leading  men.  We  present  his  portrait 
to  our  patrons  as  a  gentleman  who  has  won  by  his 
own  exertion  and  ability  a  worthy  place  in  the  an- 
nals of  Whiteside  County. 


obert  J.  Thompson,  farmer,  section  25 1 
Erie  Townsip,  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  this  part  of  the  county.  He  was 
born  aboard  the  ship  Sheboygan,  on  Lake 
Michigan,  Aug.  19,  1836,  while  the  family 
were  en  route  to  Chicago.  His  parents,  Rob- 
ert and  Lydia  (Graham)  Thompson,  were  natives  of 
Ireland.  His  father  came  to  the  county  in  1835, 
and  returned  East  after  his  family.  On  their  way 
West,  they  remained  for  a  time  in  Chicago,  and  in 


"~    •-     -" 


(§; 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


September,  1836,  the  family  arrived  by  OK  teams  in 
Portland  Township,  Whiteside  County. 

Mr.  Thompson  enjoyed  very  meager  educational 
advantages,  as  in  pioneer  times  the  attention  of  the 
people  rather  turned  to  the  development  of  the  coun- 
try, making  for  themselves  a  home,  and  preparing  to 
live  comfortably.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Port- 
land Township,  until  1853,  when  his  parents  moved 
to  Prophetstown,  where  his  father  bought  a  hotel, 
which  he  continued  to  run  until  1856,  at  which  time 
he  sold  it  to  B.  F.  Robinson.  During  this  period, 
Robert  J.  kept  the  books  of  the  hotel,  and  was  gen- 
eral assistant  in  the  management  of  the  house.  His 
father  returned  to  the  farm,  where  he  spent  the  rest 
of  his  days.  His  mother  also  died  on  the  fam.  in 
1872.  Eight  of  the  family  of  nine  children,  born  to 
his  parents,  are  still  living.  They  also  reared  an 
adopted  daughter. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophets- 
'town,  May  i,  1857,  to  Sylvenia,  daughter  of  William 
and  Sarah  Fairhurst,  the  former  of  whom  is  deceased 
and  the  latter  resides  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Mrs. 
Thompson  was  born  May  7,  1842.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thompson  four  children  have  been  born :  Belle  M., 
born  in  Prophetstown,  now  deceased;  Berry  J.,  born 
in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  also  deceased ;  Kirk  S.,  born  in 
Morrison ;  and  Sadie  Belle  M.,  born  in  Portland 
Township. 

In  1 86 1,  when  the  dark  and  lowering  clouds  of 
war  overspread  this  country,  Mr.  Thompson,  in 
company  with  his  brother  John  R.,  enlisted,  Dec.  16, 
in  Co.  K,  3ist  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  a  private.  Our  sub- 
ject served  through  the  entire  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  as  Second  Lieutenant.  He  participated  in 
22  engagements,  including  skirmishes.  He  was  in 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  under  General  Buell, 
and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  also  parti- 
cipated in  engagements  at  Murfreesboro,  Stone 
River,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  Missionary  Ridge,  Savan- 
nah, and  went  with  Sherman  on  his  famous  march 
to  the  sen,  and  was  at  the  engagement  at  Raleigh. 
He  became  a  veteran  at  Moccason  Point,  Tenn.,  in 
1864.  On  account,  of  meritorious  services  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant,  and  during  the 
last  three  years  was  in  command  of  the  company. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Annapolis,  March 
15,  1865. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  when  his  services  were  no 


longer  needed  to  defend  the  honor  of  the  old  flag 
and  preserve  the  integrity  of  the  Union,  he  returned 
to  his  family  at  Indianapolis.  In  that  city  he  was  en- 
gaged for  three  years  in  the  insurance  business.  He 
then  assisted  in  organizing  and  building  up  the 
Southern  Fire  Insurance  Co.,  of  Nashville,  Tenn.  In 
1869  he  came  to  Morrison,  this  county,  where  he  had 
bought  property  and  engaged  in  the  patent-right 
business,  in  company  with  David  Seely,  and  also  con- 
ducted an  insurance  agency.  He  remained  at  Mor- 
rison until  1872,  when  he  sold  out  and  bought  483 
acres  of  land  where  he  now  resides.  To  this  he  has 
since  added  until  he  has  now  a  farm  of  515  acres, 
upon  which  he  has  built  a  nice,  comfortable  resi- 
dence, good  barns,  has  it  well  fenced,  fine  orchard, 
etc.  He  usually  keeps  from  100  to  130  head  of  cat- 
tle, and  about  25  milch  cows. 


.rank  Cochran,  manufacturer  of  cigars  and 
dealer  in  tobacco  and  newspapers,  at  Ster- 
ling, was  born  in  Strasburg,  Pa.,  March  3 
1847,  his  parents  being  Amos  E.  and  Barbara 
Cochran,  natives  respectively  of  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  re- 
mained at  his  parental  home  until  he  was  15  years  of 
age,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  i  22d  Regt.  Pa.  Vol.  Inf., 
for  nine  months.  Within  a  week  he  was  in  Virginia, 
and  during  the  second  week  he  was  engaged  in  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run  ;  afterward  he  was  in  the 
engagements  at  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  and 
the  regiment  then  went  to  Washington  to  bury  the 
deceased  Brigadier-General  Whipple,  as  it  was  his 
wish  that  their  regiment  should  perform  that  mourn- 
ful task.  They  were  then  discharged,  as  their  time 
had  expired.  Then,  with  some  others  of  the  regi- 
ment, he  joined  the  5oth  Militia  at  the  time  of  the 
rebel  raid  at  Gettysburg,  enlisting  for  three  months ; 
after  serving  their  time  they  were  honorably  mus- 
tered out. 

Then,  in  1863,  he  came  to  Sterling  and  worked  in 
the  Gazette  office  for  two  weeks,  and  re-enlisted,  as 
Sergeant  in  Co.  A,  140111  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  for 
100  days;  went  to  Tennessee  and  Missouri,  served 
his  time  and  was  discharged.  Returning  to  Sterling, 
he  was  employed  in  the  Gazette  office  for  three  years; 
then  went  to  the  Williams  &  Orton  machine-shops 


^ 


-       '        - 


learned    the   machinist's    trade,   at    which    he 
worked  about  ten  years.     Two  years  of  this  time  he 
,  worked  for  the  Keystone  Manufacturing  Company. 
When  the  depression   in   the  iron   trade. came   on, 
/£>  work  was  slack,  and  he  bought  out  the  tobacco  and 
cigar  store  of  Mr.  S.  Hubbard,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  in  his  present  employment,  on  Third  Street. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat;  he  is  also 
a  Freemason  and  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  of 
the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Mr.  Cochran  was  married  Sept.  24,  1876,  to  Miss 
g  Flora  K.  Petrie,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  they  have 
?  three  children, — Ollie  M.,  Clara  and  William  P. 


uncan  Mackay,  member  of  the  private 
banking  house  of  Smith  &  Mackay  at 
Morrison,  is  one  of  the  leading  financiers 
of  Northwestern  Illinois.  He  is  President  of 
the  First  National  Bank  at  Mt.  Carroll,  111.,  and 
is  a  stockholder  in  a  bank  at  Savanna,  Carroll 
County. 

Mr.  Mackay  was  born  in  1812,  in  Sutherlandshire, 
Scotland,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Ann  (Mc- 
Donald) Mackay.  His  ancestors  for  five  successive 
generations  were  tenants  on  the  Sutherland  estates, 
and  were  well-to-do,  substantial  husbandmen,  ac- 
quiring property  and  characterized  by  the  traits  of 
prudence  and  caution  which,  it  is  generally  accorded, 
belong  essentially  to  the  Scotch  people.  They  were 
in  all  generations  stalwart  and  robust;  and,  as  a 
rule,  tenacious  of  life. 

In  1831  the  parents  fulfilled  a  long  cherished 
plan  to  bring  their  family  to  the  New  World,  to  se- 
cure for  their  sons  the  broader  privileges  of  a  land 
less  crowded  with  squalid  humanity  and  free  from 
the  evils  that  utterly  precluded  advancement  of  any 
other  than  the  privileged  classes.  Their  claims 
were  sold,  and  the  parents  with  four  children  came 
to  Nova  Scotia,  leaving  William,  Jane  and  Duncan 
to  close  and  settle  all  business  matters.  In  1843 
the  parents  came  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Oakville, 
where  they  passed  the  remaining  years  of  their  lives. 

Mr.  Mackay  was  educated  in  Scotland.  His 
father  established  a  private  school  for  his  younger 
children  adjacent  to  his  dwelling,  where  instruction 
of  a  substantial  character  was  meted  out  to  the  quick, 


& 

•» 


I 


bright  understandings  of  the  sturdy  young  Highland- 
ers, who,  on  becoming  sufficiently  advanced,  were 
sent  to  the  parochial  school  on  the  Sutherland  es- 
tates, where  the  curriculum  of  study  was  of  the 
thorough,  comprehensive  character  of  the  schools  of 
the  Continent,  in  which  students  were  prepared  to 
enter  the  universities,  including  classical  and  mod- 
ern languages  and  the  higher  English  branches.  Mr. 
Mackay  made  good  use  of  his  time  in  the  institution 
which  involved  four  miles  of  travel  daily. 

He  was  21  years  of  age  when,  in  1833,  he  came 
with  his  brother  and  sister  to  rejoin  his  father's  fam- 
ily in  Nova  Scotia.  He  had  acquired  a  thoroughly 
practical  knowledge  of  carriage-making  in  his  native 
land,  but  the  locality  of  Nova  Scotia  where  his  par- 
ents settled  was  in  its  primitive  state,  and  there  was 
no  demand  for  the  class  of  work  with  which  he  was 
acquainted.  He  and  his  brother  William  were  oc- 
cupied two  years  in  the  province  as  mechanics;  and 
in  1835  went  to  Washington  Co.,  Maine,  and  estab- 
lished themselves  in  the  business  of  carriage-making. 

They  operated  with  success  five  years,  then  came 
to  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  investing  their  money  in  land,  in- 
cluding seven  squatter  claims,  in  township  24, 
range  5,  now  Salem.  The  claims  included  several 
thousand  acres,  and  when  the  land  came  into  mar- 
ket the  brothers  Mackay  secured  their  title  19  as 
much  as  possible,  the  remainder  lapsing  to  other 
purchasers.  They  at  once  entered  with  character- 
istic energy  into  the  work  of  improvement,  and 
placed  a  large  proportion  under  tillage,  which  they 
stocked.  When  farm  machinery  came  into  vogue 
Mr.  Duncan  Mackay  operated  extensively  in  its  gen- 
eral sale,  and  continued  his  operations  as  a  farmer, 
stock-grower  and  general  agent  for  agricultural  im- 
plements for  more  than  a  half  score  of  years. 

When  the  Hydraulic  Manufacturing  Company  of 
Mt.  Carroll  started,  Mr.  Mackay  took  stock  in  it ; 
but  two  well  known,  prominent  citizens  of  Mt.  Car- 
roll had  the  controlling  interest,  and  their  manage- 
ment did  not  suit  him.  As  they  had  the  majority 
of  the  stock,  he  could  only  reason  with  them  against 
such  measures  as  he  thought  imprudent,  or  was 
contrary  to  his  principles, — such  as  adding  a  bank- 
ing house  to  their  legitimate  business,  and  allowing 
ten  per  cent,  on  deposits,  and  manufacturing  high 
wines.  The  latter  he  opposed  on  principle,  having 
long  ago  determined  to  have  nothing  to  do  with 


X 


alcohol  in  any  form,  except  as  an  enemy;  but,  not- 
withstanding his  protests,  these,  with  other  ill-ad- 
vised measures,  were  adopted;  and,  seeing  that 
that  neither  his  advice  nor  his  feelings  were  re- 
garded, he  tried  to  dispose  of  his  stock;  but  ere  he 
succeeded  in  this,  one  of  the  heaviest  stockholders 
called  to  inform  him  the  company  was  hopelessly 
insolvent!  and  as  a  friend  he  would  advise  him  to 
dispose  of  his  property  in  such  a  manner  that  his 
wife  would  get  it  back.  He  explained  the  plan  they 
both  adopted,  regretting  the  necessity  of  the  act,  but 
duty  to  their  families  overcame  all  scruples,  etc. 
Mr.  Mackay  anticipated  a  failure  in  a  few  years,  but 
did  not  dream  of  its  coming  so  suddenly;  and  as 
the  year  (1857)  was  the  worst  he  ever  experienced 
for  business,  the  news  fell  on  him  like  a  thunderbolt, 
knowing  that  property  would  not  bring  a  tithe  of  its 
value.  He  had  considerable  property,  but  no  money ; 
nor  could  any  be  borrowed  ;  but  his  manhood  spurned 
the  thought  of  following  the  friendly  advice,  and  he 
told  him  that  he  could  not  bring  his  mind  to  do  so 
without  being  degraded  in  his  own  judgment,  but 
would  prefer  to  dispose  of  the  company's  property 
for  the  benefit  of  the  creditors,  and  pay  the  balance 
out  of  the  private  property  of  the  stockholders. 

But  the  other  party  would  not  agree  to  this,  and 
Mr.  Mackay,  after  examining  the  assignment,  pointed 
out  to  them  how  he  could  break  it  up,  should  they 
refuse.  They  laughed  at  this,  knowing  the  eminent 
legal  talent  employed  in  getting  up  the  papers.  For 
weeks  he  pleaded  with  them,  but  in  vain.  The 
creditors,  learning  that  they  could  collect  the  com- 
pany's debt  of  Mr.  Mackay,  took  measures  to  do  so. 
This  was  the  darkest  hour  in  his  life.  "  Hungry 
Ruin  had  him  in  the  wind!"  With  a  sad  heart  he 
started  to  Chicago  and  employed  the  best  legal  tal- 
ent he  could.  After  the  first  process  was  served,  his 
partners,  after  a  long  consultation  with  their  lawyers, 
agreed  in  substance  with  Mr.  Mackay 's  proposition, 
and  the  suit  was  dropped. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Mackay,  associated  with  H.  A. 
Mills,  James  Mark,  John  Kridler,  Daniel  Hurley 
and  George  Miller,  established  the  First  National 
Bank  at  Mt.  Carroll,  of  which  he  is  the  chief  official. 
He  was  its  first  Vice-President  and  came  to  his 
present  position  on  the  death  of  the  President,  Mr. 
Mark.  At  the  end  of  the  first  year,  Mr.  Mark  at- 
tempted to  cross  Carroll  Creek  in  the  night-time  dur- 
ing a  freshet,  and  lost  his  life. 


Mr.  Mackay  continued  a  resident  of  Carroll  County 
until  1882.  March  23  of  that  year,  his  family  cele- 
brated the  birthday  of  a  daughter  some  miles  away, 
and  the  h^ead  of  the  family  remained  at  home  to 
"  take  care  of  things."  The  arrival  of  visitors  neces- 
sitated the  preparation  of  dinner,  and  after  that 
event,  while  Mr.  Mackay  was  displaying  European 
curiosities  he  had  obtained  during  a  visit  to  the  con- 
tinent, a  neighbor  appeared  with  the  intelligence 
that  the  upper  part  of  the  house  was  in  flames.  No 
help  could  be  obtained,  and  the  structure,  with  its 
valuable  contents,  some  of  which  could  never  be  re- 
placed, were  destroyed.  Only  a  favorite  piano  was 
saved.  Mr.  Mackay  removed  to  Morrison,  where  he 
is  a  prominent  and  useful  citizen. 

His  marriage  to  Jessie  Mackay  took  place  June  9, 
1840,  in  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.,  and  they  have  had  12 
children,  born  in  the  following  order :  Anna,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Robert  Moore,  a  farmer  in  Carroll  Co., 
111.  They  have  three  sons  and  four  daughters, — 
Robert,  Charles,  Duncan,  Jennie,  Nettie,  Alice  and 
Henrietta.  Jennie,  eldest  child,  is  married.  Don- 
ald J.,  who  became  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army  and 
lost  his  life  while  in  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States.  Barbara,  who  married  Alexander 
Gilmore,  of  Beith,  Scotland.  Jennie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  Andrew  Van  Patten,  of  Mt.  Carroll,  111. 
Lena,  who  married  Robert  L.  Jack,  a  farmer  in 
Fairhaven,  Carroll  County.  Catherine,  the  wife  of 
George  D.  Ford,  who  owns  a  large  cattle  ranch  in 
New  Mexico.  Helen  is  the  wife  of  Wright  Hawse, 
a  farmer  in  Carroll  County.  Charles  is  deceased. 
Henrietta  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Nettie  mar- 
ried F.  L  Sharpe,  a  lumber  dealer  at  Jacksonville, 
111.  Duncan  manages  the  old  homestead.  Ada  L. 
was  married  June  9,  1885,  on  the  anniversary  of  the 
wedding-day  of  her  father  and  mother  45  years  be- 
fore, and  resides  with  her  husband,  Dr.  J.  L.  Gray, 
at  David  C,ity,  Neb.  Mrs.  Mackay  was  born  in 
1821  in  Scotland,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Donald 
and  Barbara  Mackay. 

In  the  adjustment  of  earthly  affairs  which  time 
accomplishes  in  every  man's  history,  the  name  of 
Mr.  Mackay  will  appear  in  a  connection  which  will 
illustrate  his  respect  for  education,  and  his  sense  of 
obligation  to  aid  in  its  dissemination.  In  1884  he 
became  interested  in  a  scheme  devised  and  put  in 
practical  operation  by  John  A.  McAfee  some  years 
ago.  Mr.  McAfee  was  President  of  a  college  in 

— — """^       ggj^A/gt^A/Vg) 


A 

i 


^ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Kansas  when  17  young  men  applied  for  the  advan- 
tages of  the  institution,  to  be  paid  for  after  complet- 
ing the  course  of  study.  The  college  faculty  refused 
to  consider  the  proposition,  and  Mr.  McAfee  de- 
termined to  test  the  faith  which  had  produced  such 
results  in  England  under  the  leadership  of  George 
Mueller.  He  resigned  his  presidency  in  order  to  de- 
vise some  means  of  helping  the  applicants  to  ac- 
complish their  desires.  Col.  Park,  of  Parkville,  Mo., 
tendered  an  old  tannery  of  which  he  was  the  pro- 
prietor, and  the  17  young  men  cleansed  the  building 
and  put  it  in  order  for  occupation.  Mr.  McAfee  de- 
voted all  his  means  to  the  furtherance  of  the  project 
and  established  the  curriculum  of  study,  supporting 
and  educating  the  students.  Col.  Park  made  a 
further  contribution  of  ten  acres  of  land,  which  the 
students  tilled,  and  the  scheme  began  to  take  tangi- 
ble, systematic  shape.  The  Park  College  Record 
was  established,  which  advertised  the  plan,  and  re- 
inforcements of  students  and  supplies  began  to  pour 
in.  The  old  tannery  was  burned,  and  Col.  Park 
and  others  contributed  to  the  erection  of  another 
building  for  temporary  use,  Mr.  Copley,  the  Phila- 
delphia philanthropist,  sending  money,  and  the  new 
building  was  named  "  Copley  Hall."  As  the  scheme 
became  known,  ladies  applied,  and  the  applicants 
became  too  numerous  for  the  accommodations. 
Chance  brought  the  project  to  the  knowledge  of  Mr. 
Mackay,  and  from  the  first  enlisted  his  sympathetic 
interest  and  engaged  his  substantial  support.  A 
conference  with  Mr.  McAfee  resulted  in  his  placing 
$25,000  at  the  disposal  of  the  trustees  for  the  erec- 
tion of  suitable  buildings,  which  are  in  process  of 
erection.  The  entire  work  of  construction  is  done 
by  the  students,  who  each  labor  daily  from  three  to 
four  hours.  The  domestic  and  all  necessary  work 
is  accomplished  by  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  con- 
nected with  the  institution.  The  central  idea  is  to 
secure  family  education,  the  interests  being  made 
common  through  the  general  contribution  of  effort  to 
one  grand  purpose.  There  are  over  300  students  in 
attendance.  They  are  taken  on  six  months'  trial, 
and  most  of  them  prove  their  capacity  and  willing- 
ness to  work  as  well  as  study,  and  be  religiously  dis- 
posed, though  creed  is  not  a  desideratum.  The 
increased  numbers  have  necessitated  their  arrange- 
ment into  two  families,  each  with  its  managing  head. 
The  sons  of  Mr.  McAfee,  who  is  past  the  meridian 
of  life,  give  every  promise  of  capacity  and  fitness  to 


succeed  their  father  in  his  work.  The  college  is  lo- 
cated 14  miles  from  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  on  the 
completion  of  the  new  building  will  be  named 
"  Mackay  College." 


illiam  P.  Taber,  farmer,  section  26,  Port 
land  Township,  was  born  in  Erie  Co.,  N 
Y.,  Sept.  17,  1823.  His  father.  William 
Taber,  was  also  a  farmer,  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  served  in  the  War  of 
1812,  being  a  Captain  in  the  same.  His  mother, 
nee  Isabel  Pratt,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts. 
Both  his  parents  are  now  deceased,  and  of  their  five 
children  three  are  now  living  :  William  P.,  the  eld- 
est;  Andrew  J.,  a  farmer  in  Genoa,  Nebraska;  and 
Valentine,  a  farmer  in  Pottawatomie  Co.,  Iowa.  The 
two  deceased  were  Lydia  M.  Hinchman  and  Nancy 
Paynter. 

Mr.  William  P.,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  is  of  Quaker  descent  and  has  lived  up  to  two 
of  the  leading  traits  of  that  sect,  namely:  he  has 
never  used  intoxicating  liquors  of  any  kind,  or  turned 
a  hungry  man  from  his  door  without  satisfying  his 
hunger.  On  one  occasion  he  was  standing  in  his 
door-yard,  in  company  with  a  neighbor,  when  a 
stranger  approached  bearing  on  his  countenance  and 
in  his  dress  the  marks  of  poverty,  and  asked  for 
something  in  eat.  The  neighbor  asked  the  stranger 
how  he  came  in  such  a  condition;  whereupon,  Mr. 
Taber  reprimanded  him,  saying  "  it  is  none  of  our 
business ;  he  is  hungry  and  we  should  give  him  to 
eat ;"  and  he  did. 

His  father  moved  West  in  1828,  locating  in  Knox- 
ville,  111.,  where  they  resided  until  1837;  they  re- 
moved thence  to  Phenix  Township,  Henry  Co.,  this 
State,  where  he  and  his  father  together  owned  700 
acres  of  land,  raised  large  numbers  of  cattle,  and  also 
bought  and  drove  the  same  species  of  property  for  12 
years,  driving  them  to  -Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  Ra- 
cine, before  the  days  of  railroads.  Mr.  T.  has  handled 
a  large  amount  of  live  stock  in  his  time. 

In  1853  Mr.  Taber  came  to  Portland  Township, 
this  county,  and  purchased  200  acres  of  his  home 
farm,  consisting  of  400  acres.  He  now  makes  a 
specialty  of  Holstein  cattle,  having  over  60  head  of 
high  grades,  including  one  thoroughbred  from  Dr. 
Pratt,  of  Elgin,  111.  He  usually  has  125  to  150  head 


, 


8 


cattle.  He  also  owns  18  head  of  fine  Noiman- 
Percheron  horses, — some  of  the  best  in  this  section 
»<|J»  of  the  State.  Mr.  Taber  also  deals  very  largely  in 
hogs,  fattening  and  shipping  from  two  to  four  car- 
loads annually.  Besides,  he  has  a  respectable  apiary. 
In  1884  he  shipped  i^5oo  pounds  of  white-clover 
honey  to  Chicago,  at  the  same  time  reserving  several 
hundred  pounds  for  home  use. 

Socially,  Mr.  Taber  is  a  Freemason,  and  he  is  per- 
haps more  acquainted  in  the  county  than  any  other 
man. 

He  was  married  in  Portland  Township,  Whiteside 
County,  Sept.  17,  1844,  to  Miss  Hester  C.,  daughter 
of  Smith  and  Fanny  (Booth)  Hurd,  and  a  native  of 
the  State  of  Vermont.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taber  are  the 
parents  of  four  children,  namely  :  Rothilda,  widow 
of  R.  B.  Kelly,  and  residing  with  her  parents ;  Ocelia, 
the  wife  of  Barney  McGrady,  a  farmer  of  Tampico, 
this  county  ;  Jane  E  ,  wife  of  J.  Q  Hill,  a  farmer  of 
Prophetstown  Township;  and  Heman  L.,  residing  on 
the  homestead. 

Mr.  Taber  was  reared  on  the  farm ;  and,  on  account 
of  the  newness  of  the  country  in  which  he  resided, 
and  consequently  the  lack  of  common  schotjls,  as 
well  as  the  necessity  which  required  him  to  labor  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  family,  his  education  was 
limited.  He  has,  nevertheless,  improved  his  time  in 
obtaining  practical  information,  and  is  remarkably 
well  informed  on  subjects  in  general.  Mr.  Taber 
may  be  truly  said  to  be  a  self-made  man,  financially 
as  well  as  in  an  educational  point  of  view.  As  a 
gentleman  respected  by  all  who  know  him,  and  one 
worthy  to  be  remembered  by  the  generations  to  come, 
(  we  give  his  likeness  in  this  work,  that  those  who 
survive  him  may  recognize  the  countenance  of  one  of 
i  Whiteside  County's  respected  and  lamented  citizens. 


,  illiam  McDearman,  deceased,  formerly  a 
resident  of  Sterling,  was  born  in  Scipio, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,   Jan.    24,   1807,   and 
when  17  years  of  age  he  learned  the  trade 
of  stone  mason  and  plasterer,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  several  years,  in  the  city  of  Buffalo. 
In    1845    he  moved   to  Chicago,  111.,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  follow  his  trade  for  eight  years. 

He  then  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  purchased 

— -@7* 


So  acres  of  land  on  section  7,  township  20,  range  5. 
He  was  successful  in  farming,  and  added  to  his 
landed  estate  until  he  had  an  aggregate  of  about 
500  acres. 

He  was  married  Dec.  3r,  1834,  to  Harriet  Rey- 
nolds, and  they  had  four  children :  Mary,  wife  of 
G.  W.  Higley,  and  living  in  Oregon  ;  Charlotte,  wife 
of  R.  H.  Scofield ;  Clara,  wife  of  L.  G.  Reynolds 
and  residing  in  Oregon;  and  William,  who  lives  in 
California.  Charlotte  died  April  2,  1885,  leaving 
four  children.  Mr.  McDearman,  for  his  second 
wife,  married  Miss  Louisa,  daughter  of  Horatio  and 
Sarah  (Swan)  Wells,  and  by  this  marriage  also  there 
were  four  children,  namely  :  Harriet,  wife  of  R.  J 
Besse  and  residing  in  Lyndon  ;  Arthur,  in  California 
Louisa  and  Edith  are  residents  of  Sterling. 

Mr.  McDearman  died  Sept.  12,  1881,  highly  re- 
spected as  a  citizen  and  neighbor.  As  a  father,  too, 
he  took  great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  children, 
giving  them  all  a  fair  education. 

Mrs.  McDearman  is  a  resident  of  Sterling,  an 
estimable  lady,  and  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 


'ames  A.  Nowlen,  M.  D.,  physician  and  sur- 
geon ("  Allopathist  ")  at  Morrison,  was  born 
April  6,  1853,  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio.  He  is 
the  son  of  Arthur  and  Asenath  (Proctor)  Now- 
len. His  father  is  a  physician  and  resides  at 
Des  Moines,  Iowa.  The  children  of  his  par- 
ents, five  in  number,  are  all  living.  Harvey  is  a 
harness-maker  in  Marengo,  Iowa.  Charles  W.  is  an 
insurance  agent  at  Morrison.  Anna  is  the  wife  of 
John  Roach,  an  employee  in  the  postoffice  at  Chicago. 
Robert  resides  at  Morrison. 

Dr.  Nowlen  is  the  youngest  child.  He  was  but 
five  months  old  when  his  parents  removed  from  Ohio 
to  Unionville,  Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  where  his  father 
established  his  medical  practice.  In  1860  the  family 
came  to  Morrison,  where  Dr.  Nowlen,  then  a  lad  of 
seven  years,  attended  school  until  he  was  17  years  of 
age.  During  the  next  year  he  entered  upon  a  course 
of  systematic  reading  for  his  profession  under  the  in- 
struction of  his  father.  He  completed  his  studies  at 
Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1875.  He  also  graduated,  in  1883, 


S> 

1 

*'  * 
IS 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


at  the  University  Medical  College  of  New  York.  He 
was  associated  with  his  father  in  practice  until  1879, 
since  which  date  he  has  conducted  his  business  alone 
and  with  satisfactory  results.  Dr.  Nowlen  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  of  the  Medical 
Association  of  Whiteside  County. 

His  marriage  to  Eva  E.  Kidd  took  place  at  Mor- 
rison, Jan.  1 6,  1879.  His  wife  died  Aug.  27,  1880. 
She  was  born  Feb.  22,  1855,  in  Galesburg,  111.,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  M.  and  Laura  A.  Kidd. 
Dr.  Nowlen  has  officiated  one  year  as  County 
Coroner. 


eorge  M.  Robinson,  Secretary  of  the  Will- 
iams &  Orton  Manufacturing  Company,  of 
Sterling,  was  born  at  Zanesville,  O. ,  June 
7, 1854.    His  father,  Robert  P.  Robinson,  died 
in   187  r,  and  his  mother,  nee  Margaret  Cul- 
bertson,  died  in  i88r.     They  came  to  Dixon, 
111.,  in  1856,  and  to  Sterling  in  1861. 

Mr.  R.  received  a  common-school  education,  and 
at  the  age  of  17  years  he  accepted  a  position  in 
Patterson's  bank  al  Sterling,  remaining  there  until 
1873,  when  he  became  book-keeper  for  his  present 
employers;  he  was  appointed  Secretary  in  1877.  He 
is  an  exemplary  man,  worthy  of  official  trusts.  His 
residence  is  on  Third  Street. 

He  was  married  Nov.  24,  1880,  to  Miss  Mary  B. 
McCloy,  and  they  have  one  son,  born  Dec.  13,  1882, 
and  named  William  A.  Mr.  Robinson  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  views,  and  as  to  his  religious 
relations  he  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Sterling.  He  has  played  the  organ  and  lead  with 
his  voice  the  congregational  singing  in  said  Church 
or  the  last  nine  years. 


LOlomon  P.  Giddings,  jeweler,  with  the  firm 
of  Clark,   Giddings  &  Co.,   Sterling,  was 
born   in   Poultney,  Vt.,   Nov.   2,  1837,  his 
parents  being  Daniel  N.  and  Beulah  (Brown) 
Giddings,  natives  also  of  the  Green   Mountain 
State.     He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  22 
years  of  age,  assisting  on  the  farm  and  attending  the 
common  school.     Then    he   was   with   Clark  Bros. 

§&&&• 


three  years,  learning  the  jeweler's  trade.  Next,  he 
purchased  the  interest  of  Norman  Clark,  one  of  the 
proprietors,  engaging  in  business  with  H.  G.  Clark. 
After  a  few  years  Mr.  Clark  sold  his  interest,  and  the 
firm  became  Giddings  &  Adams.  At  the  end  of  two 
years,  Mr.  G.  sold  his  interest  in  the  establishment, 
and  in  1872  opened  a  jewelry  house  in  West  Rut- 
land, Vt.,  which  he  continued  to  conduct  for  two 
years.  He  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Sterling,  form- 
ing a  partnership  with  Norman  Clark,  in  the  jewelry 
trade,  under  the  style  of  Clark,  Giddings  &  Co.,  on 
Third  Street,  where  he  is  at  present  carrying  on  a 
successful  business. 

In  his  political  sympathies  Mr.  G.  is  a  Republican. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church  of  Sterling,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the 
A.  O.  .U.  W.  and  of  the  Masonic  Order.  He  is  a 
Christian  gentleman  and  a  worthy  citizen. 

Mr.  Giddings  was  married  in  1867,  to  Miss  Emaroy 
Capen,  a  native  of  Fair  Haven,  Vt.,  and  a  daughter 
of  Jonathan  and  Emaroy  (Blanchard)  Capen.  By 
this  union  there  have  been  two  children,  named 
Beulah  E.  and  Capen  N. 


icholas  McGrath  is  a  farmer  on  section  13, 
Albany  Township,  where  he  owns  1 20  acres 
of  land  under  advanced  cultivation.  He 
was  born  March  20,  1838,  at  Narrow  Place, 
IG  30  miles  from  the  city  of  St.  John,  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  Brunswick.  In  1849  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Albany,  and  he  lived  there  and  in 
Garden  Plain  Township  until  1858,  when  he  went  to 
Wausau,  Wis.  He  spent  a  short  time  rafting  on  the 
river  making  a  trip  to  St.  Louis,  whence  he  went  to 
Leavenworth,  Kan.,  where  he  entered  the  employ- 
ment of  a  Government  contractor,  and  drove  a  train 
comprising  six  yoke  of  oxen  to  Salt  Lake  City,  con- 
veying supplies  for  the  soldiers.  Four  months  were 
consumed  in  the  journey.  Mr.  McGrath  went  thence 
to  California,  where  he  engaged  in  freighting  from 
Sacramento  to  Georgetown  with  six  yoke  of  oxen. 
The  distance  comprised  in  the  route  was  60  miles, 
and  he  was  interested  in  that  vocation  one  year. 
With  the  exception  of  the  harvest  seasons,  he  spent 
the  next  two  years  in  a  livery  stable  in  Sacramento. 
He  went  thence  to  Silver  Mountain  and  from  there 

-jfe?->*ft? 

«Ti=^3'\Ai4 


? 


»    • 

) 

/' 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


'A  * 

j 

ir 

(§; 


to  Canon  City,  Nev.,  when  he  proceeded  to  Virginia 
City.  He  passed  six  months  there,  driving  a  mule 
train  consisting  of  eight  of  those  interesting  animals, 
after  which  he  operated  as  an  assistant  in  a  quartz 
mill,  and  was  occupied  in  that  capacity  until  1865. 
In  that  year  he  came  Home  and  bought  a  claim  of 
land  on  which  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  McGrath  was  married  in  1868,  to  Nancy  A. 
Brightman.  They  have  two  children — William  J. 
and  Maud  E. 


F.  Derbyshire,  residing  in  the  village  of 
Erie,  and  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  located  on  section  6,  Erie  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April 
18,  1835.  His  father,  George  H.  Derby- 
shire, was  a  native  of  England  and  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Connec- 
ticut. Their  family  comprised  six  children,  four  of 
whom  survive:  Caroline  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  W. 
Gulick,  of  New  York;  Christopher  has  a  cattle 
ranch  in  Colorado;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  J.  Smith, 
Clyde,  Wayne  Co.,  N.Y.;  W.  F.,  the  youngest  son 
of  his  father's  family,  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and 
received  such  advantages  as  was  obtainable  at  the 
common  schools. 

Mr.  Derbyshire  was  united  in  marriage,  near 
Cooperstown,  Otsego  Co,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  23,  1860,  to 
Miss  Emma  Davison,  daughter  of  Clark  and  Abigail 
Davison.  She  was  born  in  Otsego  County,  July  27, 
1835,  and  has  borne  to  her  husband  four  children, 
viz. :  Kate,  born  in  Hopkins  Township,  this  county, 
Sept.  13,  1866,  and  at  present  a  music  teacher  at 
Carson,  Pottawatomie  Co.,  Iowa;  Will  S.,  born  Oct. 
30,  1870.  Two  children  are  deceased,  Robert  C. 
and  Alice  L. 

In  the  spring  of  1866,  Mr.  Derbyshire  came  to 
Hopkins  Township,  this  county,  where  he  purchased 
60  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  resided  for  some  two 
or  three  years,  then  came  to  Erie  Township  and 
rented  land  for  a  time.  He  then  bought  160  acres 
of  land,  located  as  described,  and  on  which  he  re- 
sided until  1882,  when  he  moved  to  the  village  of 
Erie.  He  still  owns  his  farm,  and  has  the  same 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Derbyshire  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 


men  of  America,  and  also  of  the  village  Board  of 
Erie.  In  1882  he  built  a  nice  residence  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  has  four  lots  connected  with  the  same. 
His  parents,  as  well  as  the  parents  of  his  wife,  are  all 
deceased. 

— 

"ohn  P.  Bull,  farmer,  section  2,  Genesee 
Township,  was  born  Nov.  11,  1833,  in 
Wysox  Township,  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.  Eb- 
enezer  Bull  (2d),  his  father,  was  born  in 
Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  of  English  and 
German  extraction.  John  Bull,  father  of  the 
latter,  and  son  of  Ebenezer  Bull  (ist),  removed 
with  his  family  to  Bradford  County,  going  on  foot 
and  transporting  their  effects  on  pack-horses.  Eb- 
enezer Bull  (ist)  was,  in  all  probability,  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  in  the  American  colonies.  Ebenezer 
Bull  (2d)  married  Wealthy  Wheeler,  who  was  born 
in  Vermont.  She  died  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1842, 
when  she  was  41  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Bull  came  in  1858  to  Wysox  Township,  Car- 
roll Co.,  111.,  whither  his  father  came  with  part  of 
the  family.  He  was  nine  years  old  when  his  mother 
died,  and  he  is  the  only  son. 

He  was  married  in  Genesee  Township,  Dec.  20, , 
1860,  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Hills)  Scoville.  Her  parents  were  born  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  in  youth  went  to  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  married  in  Erie  County.  Subsequent  to 
their  marriage  they  settled  in  Henry  Co.,  111.,  re- 
maining there  but  a  short  time,  and  going  to  the 
township  of  Wysox,  as  stated.  Mrs.  Bull  was  born 
there  Dec.  7,  1841.  When  she  was  10  years  of  age 
her  parents  came  to  Genesee  Township.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bull  and  two  are 
deceased, — Willie  L.  and  an  infant.  Millie  was  born 
Nov.  18,  1861,  and  married  David  Ruth,  of  Milledge- 
ville,  Carroll  Co.,  111.  Myrtie  was  born  Feb.  i,  1869. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bull  took  pos- 
session of  40  acres  of  land  in  Wysox  Township,  be- 
longing to  his  father,  which  they  occupied  two  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  they  removed  to  section  2, 
Genesee  Township,  where  Mr.  Bull  purchased  80 
acres  of  land.  To  this  he  has  added  a  later  pur- 
chase of  40  acres  and  has  converted  the  farm  into  a 
profitable  and  valuable  piece  of  property.  The  farm. 


V<5) 


•  • 


"Vi 


UNIVERSITY  'J 
UKBANA 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


buildings  are  of  good  character  and  the  residence  is 
in  every  way  suitable  to  the  premises.  •  1'he  place  is 
finely  stocked. 

Mr.  Bull  is  a  Republican  of  positive  metal,  and 
sustains  by  his  influence  and  actions  the  issues  of 
the  party. 


oble  F.  Eddy,  retired  farmer  and  dealer  in 
stock,  residing  in  Erie,  this  county,  is  a 
son  of  Augustus  and  Polly  (McKinster) 
Eddy,  and  was  born  in  Du  Page  Co.,  111., 
March  2,  1838.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Vermont,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  is 
deceased.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Connecticut 
and  is  likewise  deceased.  Their  family  comprised 
eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Lorenzo 
D.  is  a  farmer  and  resides  in  Albany  Township,  this 
county;  York  is  a  fanner  residing  in  the  village  of 
Erie ;  and  Noble  F.,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  is  the 
other  surviving  child.  The  father  of  Mr.  Eddy  came 
to  Du  Page  County  in  1836,  where  he  located  on  a 
farm.  In  1853  he  came  to  Erie  Township  and  pur- 
chased 120  acres  of  land,  located  on  section  2,  where 
he  resided  until  the  date  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
Nov.  3,  1879  ;  his  mother  also  died  on  the  farm,  Sept. 
i,  1879. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Eddy,  subject  of  this  notice,  pur- 
chased the  farm  of  120  acres,  known  as  the  old 
homestead,  and  by  subsequent  purchases  has  added 
to  it  until  at  the  present  time  he  is  the  owner  of  286 
acres,  which  he  rents.  He  resided  on  his  farm  until 
the  spring  of  1881,  made  a  number  of  improvements 
thereon,  erected  a  residence,  set  out  an  orchard,  and 
otherwise  improved  his  place,  and  then  moved  to  the 
village  of  Erie.  He  owns  his  residence  in  the  vil- 
lage, his  two  lots,  a  good  barn  and  four  acres  of  land. 
Since  1881,  he  has  occupied  his  time  mostly  in  buy- 
ing and  shipping  cattle.  Religiously,  he  and  his 
wife  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr.  Eddy  was  united  in  marriage  in  Erie  Town- 
ship, this  county,  Sept.  5,  1870,  to  Miss  Isabel  Cess- 
ford,  born  in  Lockport,  this  State,  Nov.  5,  1837.  One 
child,  Minnie,  was  born  of  their  union  July  17,  1874. 
Mrs.  Eddy  died  on  the  farm,  Sept.  i,  1879,  and  Mr_ 
Eddy  was  again  married  in  Erie,  Oct.  18,  1882,  to 
Miss  Fidelia  Cunningham,  daughter  of  Andrew  and 


Sabrina  Cunningham.  She  was  born  in  Taylor,  Ogle 
Co.,  111.,  Sept.  18,  1849.  Of  the  latter  union  two 
children  have  been  born  :  Ida  D.,  Sept.  6,  1883,  and 
Albert  N.,  Aug.  20,  1884. 

Mr.  Eddy  has  held  the  office  of  Village  Trustee 
four  years,  which  position  he  holds  at  present,  and  is 
Chairman  of  the  Board.  In  September,  1861,  when 
the  firing  on  Sumter  had  aroused  the  people  of  the 
North  to  a  realization  of  the  fa<  t  that  the  perpetuity 
of  our  Union  depended  upon  brave  hearts  and  strong 
arms,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  private, 
and  served  four  years,  until  September,  1865.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  the  engagements  in  which  he 
participated:  West  Glaze,  Mo.,  Oct.  14,1861;  Linn 
Creek,  Mo.,  Oct.  16,  1861;  Chickasaw  Bayou,  Miss., 
Dec.  27.  28  and  29,  1861  ;  Arkansas  Post,  Ark.,  Jan. 
10  and  rr,  1863;  Deer  Creek,  Miss.,  April  i,  1863; 
Black  Bayou,  Miss.,  April  ro,  1863;  Jackson,  Miss., 
May  14,  1863;  siege  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  18 
to  July  4,  1863;  siege  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  July  10  to 
16,  1863;  Brandon,  Miss.,  July  19,  1863;  Tombs, 
Ala.,  Oct.  23,  1863;  Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  Oct.  27,  1863; 
Lookout  Mountain,  Tenn.,  Nov.  24  and  25,  1863; 
Mission  Ridge,  Tenn.,  Nov.  25,  1863;  RinggoldGap, 
Nov.  27,  1863;  Madison,  Tenn.,  March  n,  1864 
Resaca,  Ga.,  Nov.  10,  1864;  Macon,  Ga.,  Nov.  27, 
1864;  siege  of  Savannah,  Dec.  10  to  20,  1864  ;  Cy- 
press Swamp,  Feb.  6,  1865  ;  Columbia,  S.  C.,  Feb.  17. 
1865;  Bentonville,  N.  C.,  Feb.  20  to  21,  1865;  Ra- 
leigh, N.  C.,  April  3,  1865  ;  surrender  of  Joseph  E. 
Johnston's  army,  April  u,  1865;  and  received  his 
final  discharge  Aug.  12,  1865. 

Among  the  portraits  of  leading  and  representative 
men  appearing  in  this  work,  is  that  of  Mr.  Eddy.  He 
is  largely  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  county,  is 
a  native  of  the  Prairie  State,  and  for  over  thirty 
years  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county. 


•f 


4  * 

' 

i 


harles  Ward,  farmer,  resident  on  section 
i,  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  was  born  June 
17,  1823,  in  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.     Nahum  M. 
and  Diadamia  (Diver)  Ward,  his  father  and 
mother,  were  born  in  Massachusetts  and  had 
four  children,  named  John  H.,  Charles,  George 
W.  and  Nelson. 

Mr.  Ward  was  a  resident  of  his  native  county  more 


/£) 


WH1TESIDR  COUNTY. 


than  40  years,  removing  thence  in  the  spring  of  1864 
to  Whiteside  County.  He  bought  the  farm  on  which 
he  has  since  prosecuted  the  purposes  of  his  life,  com- 
prising 197  acres  of  land,  situated  in  Mt.  Pleasant 
Township;  and  has  added  thereto  by  later  purchase 
until  he  is  at  present  the  proprietor  of  287  acres  of 
land,  nearly  all  of  it  being  under  excellent  tillage. 
Mr.  Ward  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican  party. 

He  was  first  united  in  marriage  in  Niagara  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Nov.  20,  1850,  to  Mary  Tompkins.  Their  only 
child  died  in  infancy,  and  the  death  of  the  young 
wife  and  mother  soon  ensued.  She  died  Aug.  2, 
1852.  The  husband  remained  single  until  May  291 
1860,  when  he  was  again  married,  in  Onondaga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  to  Amanda  Mitchell.  Their  family  comprises 
four  children,— Hattie  B.,  George  W.,  Edward  R. 
and  Amanda  M.  Mrs.  Ward  was  born  Oct.  23,  1836, 
in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  Her  parents,  Edward  R.  and 
Harriet  (Winegar)  Mitchell,  were  natives  of  the  Em- 
pire State  and  had  three  children,  named  Amanda, 
Charles  W.  and  Lydia  M. 


javid  Summers  is  a  farmer  on  section  4, 
Union   Grove  Township.     He  was  born  in 
Scotland,  in  March,  1830,  and  is  the  son 
of  William  and  Christine  Summers,  who  were 
also  natives  of  the  same  country,  and  were  the 
parents  of  six  children, — Catherine,  David,  An- 
drew, Alexander,  George  and  William. 

Mr.  Summers  was  about  18  years  of  age  when  he 
left  the  "  land  of  heather "  for  the  New  World.  On 
arrival  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  he  went  to  Henry 
Co.,  111.,  and  was  there  resident  till  1859.  In  the 
spring  of  that  year  he  went  to  Iowa,  where  -he  spent 
the  summer  ensuing,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  he  came  to  Whiteside  County.  He  first  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  on  80  acres  of  land  in 
Union  Grove  Township,  which  he  purchased  and  on 
which  he  operated  four  years.  In  1863,  in  company 
with  his  brother,  he  bought  233  acres  situated  in  the 
same  township,  and  he  is  now  the  proprietor  of  227 
acres  of  the  property,  which  is  located  on  section  4. 
Mr.  Summers  is  a  believer  in  and  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Charlotte  Gibbs, 
Oct.  24,  1859,  in  Whiteside  County.  Their  children 


are  named  Jessie  A.,  Thurston,  Eugenia,  Ernest  and 
Merton.  Jesjie  married  Wallace  M.  Daniels  and 
lives  on  section  5,  Union  Grove  Township.  Mrs. 
Summers  was  born  Oct.  25,  1832,  in  Essex  Co., 

N.  Y. 


Lbraham  G.  Zook,  farmer,  resident  on  sec- 
tion 10,  Clyde  Township,  was  born  Sept. 
25,  1854,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.  The  full 
biographical  record  of  his  parents,  Abraham 
and  Ann  Zook,  may  be  found  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  He  was  two  years  of  age  when 
his  father  transferred  his  family  and  interests  to 
Whiteside  County,  and  he  continued  under  the  par- 
ental authority  until  he  was  21  years  of  age.  He 
had  acquired  a  fair  common-school  education,  and, 
on  obtaining  his  majority,  he  went  to  Lyndon,  and 
for  some  time  attended  the  seminary  at  that  place. 
He  then  returned  to  his  former  employment  on  his 
father's  farm,  where  he  remained  but  a  short  time, 
going  to  Morrison  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  a  sales- 
man in  the  mercantile  house  of  Charles  Spears  & 
Son.  About  a  year  later  he  engaged  in  teaching  and 
was  chiefly  occupied  with  that  pursuit  until  his 
marriage. 

He  was  joined  in  matrimony  with  Rosa  A.  Bowers, 
Aug.  5,  1879.  Mrs.  Zook  is  the  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Mary  (Falkner)  Bowers.  Her  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Blair  Co.,  Pa.,  and  she  was  born  Oct.  1 1 , 
1853,  in  Woodbury,  in  the  same  county.  She  is  the 
oldest  of  five  children  born  to  her  parents  and  was 
but  six  months  old  when  they  removed  from  Penn- 
sylvania to  Stark  County,  Ohio.  Her  mother  died 
when  she  was  not  yet  eight  years  old,  and  before  she 
was  ten  years  of  age  she  was  made  wholly  an  orphan 
by  the  death  of  her  father.  The  decease  of  her 
mother  occurred  Dec.  22,  1862  ;  that  of  her  father 
took  place  April  20,  1865.  She  became  a  member 
of  the  family  of  Dr.  William  O.  Baker,  of  Louisville, 
Ohio,  where  she  remained  four  years  attending 
school.  She  afterwards  lived  among  her  relatives, 
and  when  she  was  22  years  of  age  came  to  Illi- 
nois, finding  a  home  among  friends  in  Ogle  County. 
Of  three  children  born  to  herself  and  husband  two 
are  deceased.  Anna  M.  and  Milton  F.,  twins,  were 

: ^*is»; 


born  April  18,  1882,  and  the  latter  died  while  yet  an 
infant.     Mary  died  when  she  was  five  months  old. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zook  settled  after  their  marriage  on 
a  farm  in  Ogle  County.  The  place  contained  155 
acres  and  they  were  its  occupants  until  July,  1883, 
when  they  purchased  40  acres  of  land  on  section  10, 
Clyde  Township,  and  took  possession  of  it.  Mr. 
Zook  is  still  the  owner  of  the  farm  in  Ogle  County, 
and  both  places  are  well  improved,  and  have  excel- 
lent farm  buildings.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
River  Brethren  Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  be- 
longs. He  is  a  Republican  in  political  faith  and  has 
always  been  interested  in  educational  progress,  hav- 
ing held  the  various  school  offices. 


I  illiam  Kearns,  a  farmer  on  section  35, 
Garden  Plain  Township,  was  born  March 
n,  1818,  in  Mifflintown,  Juniata  Co., 
Pa.  He  is  the  only  son  of  his  parents, 
Jacob  and  Mary  (Woods)  Kearns,  both  cf 
whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  son 
was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  reared  to  an  under- 
standing of  the  business  of  agriculture.  At  16  he 
engaged  with  a  cabinet-maker  to  learn  the  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  in  Mifflin  until  1839.  In  that 
year  he  went  to  Dresden,  Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  employed  at  his  trade  until  1841. 
He  then  went  back  to  Mifflin  and  again  operated 
there  as  a  cabinet-maker  until  his  removal  to  Illinois, 
which  event  transpired  in  the  fall  of  1846.  He 
.made  his  way  hither  by  canal  to  Pittsburg,  and  came 
thence  to  Peoria  by  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illi- 
nois Rivers.  He  opened  a  shop  there  and  conducted 
a  line  of  furniture  business.  In  1863  he  can*  to 
Whiteside  County.  He  bought  160  acres  of  unim- 
proved land  on  section  35,  Garden  Plain  Township, 
for  which  he  paid  at  the  rate  of  $11.25  Per  acre. 
He  has  put  his  property  in  valuable  agricultural 
condition. 

Mr.  Kearns  has  been  twice  married.  Elizabeth 
Saiger  became  his  wife  in  the  spring  of  1839.  She 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Mifflin,  and  died  in  Dres- 
den, Ohio,  in  1840.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr. 
Kearns,  to  Lucy  A.  Boggs,  occurred  in  1843.  She 
was  also  a  native  of  Mifflin.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren .  Joseph  B.  is  the  oldest.  William  L.  was 


born  Jan.  n,  1850,  in  Peoria,  111.  In  1877  he  was 
married  to  Alice  Startzman,  and  is  the  manager  of 
his  father's  estate. 


eorge  B.  Kitel,  dealer  in  illuminating  oils 
and  gasoline,  Sterling,  was  born  in  Berk- 
shire Co.,  Mass.,  Nov.  24,  1824.  His  par- 
ents were  Francis  and  Hannah  (Brodie)  Kitel, 
natives  respectively  of  Rhode  Island  and 
Massachusetts.  Receiving  a  common-school 
education,  he  left  home  at  the  age  of  16,  and  for  six 
years  was  a  farm  laborer,  following  the  vocation  he 
learned  of  his  father.  At  the  age  of  22  he  took 
charge  of  public  woiks,  plank  roads  and  railroading, 
in  which  he  was  employed  in  the  Eastern  States  until 
1850,  when  he  emigrated  West,  locating  in  Elgin,  111. 
After  conducting  a  hotel  there  for  two  years,  he  took 
charge  as  foreman  of  a  section  of  the  old  Elgin  Rail- 
road; and  from  1853  to  1883  he  was  Road  Master, 
for  one  company.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Sterling 
for  30  years,  and  is  a  highly  esteemed  citizen.  He 
is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  has  held  the 
office  of  Alderman,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Orders  of 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  K.  T.,  and  I.  O.  O.  F.  His  residence 
is  in  Wallace's  Second  Addition  to  Sterling. 

He  was  married  in  August,  1852,  to  Miss  Amanda 
Wright,  and  they  have  had  two  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, viz :  Nella,  who  married  James  St.  J.  Greenoiigh, 
in  1878,  and  has  three  children,  Helen,  George  and 
Fanny ;  Edward  R.,  who  married  Malinda  Rose,  in 
1879,  and  also  has  three  children, — Maud,  Nella, 
and  Andrew  R. 


S> 


Ambrose  I.  Maxwell,  a  Whiteside  County 
pioneer  of  1837,  was  born  April  18,  1814 
inthe  town  of  Delhi,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y., 
His  father,  Christopher  Maxwell,  was  born  in 
1779,  in  Connecticut  and  married  Lucy  Green, 
who  was  born  in  1782,  in  Rhode  Island.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Silas  Green,  who  was  a  Colonial 
soldier.  He  was  in  the  service  under  Arnold  and 
fought  at  Quebec,  as  in  many  other  engagements 


s^ 

n 


The  family  of  Green  went  to  the  State  of  New  York 
about  1787,  and  two  years  later  they  settled  near 
Delhi,  in  Delaware  County.  Later  they  went  to 
Decatur,  in  Otsego  County,  where  the  father  died, 
about  1834. 

James  Maxwell,  paternal  grandfather  of  Ambrose, 
was  born  in  Connecticut,  of  Scotch  lineage.  About 
1797  he  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Delhi.  His  son, 
Christopher,  was  married  in  1801,  and  at  once,  on 
settling  in  life,  became  a  farmer  in  the  township  of 
Delhi,  and  also  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  and 
constructed  several  saw-mills.  With  the  exception 
of  one  year,  which  he  spent  with  his  son  in  Lyndon, 
he  was  a  resident  of  Delaware  County  until  his  death, 
in  1860.  His  wife  died  at  the  home  of  her  daughter 
in  Erie,  in  1855.  They  had  12  children. 

Ambrose  was  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth  and  was 
an  inmate  of  the  parental  home  until  he  was  22.  To 
that  time  he  had  been  a  farmer,  and  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  carpentry  and  also  of  the  business  of  a 
millwright. 

In  the  spring  of  1836  he  came  to  Illinois,  accom- 
panied by  George  Dennis  and  P.  L.  Jeffers.  They 
obtained  employment  on  a  farm  on  De  Soto  Island, 
where  they  stopped  two  days.  He  and  Dennis  went 
to  Peoria,  where  they  remained  two  weeks  and  made 
their  way  thence  to  Chicago  by  stage,  the  fare  being 
$15.  Mr.  Maxwell  took  passage  on  the  lakes  to 
Buffalo,  went  from  there  to  Syracuse  on  the  canal, 
and  reached  Delhi  the  first  of  July.  He  remained  in 
Delaware  County  until  the  spring  of  the  following 
year,  when  he  started,  accompanied  by  several 
others,  to  Illinois.  The  party  had  seven  wagons  and 
thirteen  horses.  Mr.  Maxwell  went  with  them  to 
Cattaraugus  County,  where  he  embarked  on  a  raft  on 
the  Alleghany  River,  going  to  Pittsburg.  He  made 
the  passage  thence  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
Rivers  to  Peoria,  where  he  waited  for  the  arrival  of 
his  brother-in-law,  C.  R.  Coburn,  who  was  on  his 
way  there  overland.  They  came  together  to  Lyndon 
Township,  where  they  arrived  July  9,  1837. 

Mr.  Maxwell  contracted  to  build  a  house  for 
Elisha  Hazard,  which  was  the  second  frame  dwell- 
ing in  the  village  of  old  Lyndon.  In  August  of  the 
same  year  he  engaged  to  build  a  saw-mill  for  Jona- 
than Haines,  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  which  was 
the  first  mill  operated  in  the  county.  The  establish- 
ment was  completed  in  the  middle  of  December  of 


the  same  year.  He  built  a  wheel  and  attached  the 
power  to  a  small  run  of  stones  on  the  same  flumei 
and,  Dec.  25,  1837,  ground  the  first  grain  in  this 
portion  of  Whiteside  County.  In  January,  1838,  he 
went  to  Ogle  County,  where  he  was  employed  as  a 
carpenter  and  builder  until  October,  1839,  when  he 
returned  to  Lyndon. 

May  4,  1839,  he  was  married  at  Peoria,  to  Artemi- 
sia, daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Plummer)  Hulee. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Goshen,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  her  mother  at  Egg  Harbor,  N.  J.  The  families 
to  which  they  belonged  became  residents  of  the  State 
of  New  York  in  the  early  part  of  the  i8th  century. 
Mrs.  Maxwell  was  born  April  2,  1810,  in  Deposit, 
Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  was  educated  with  care 
and  became  a  teacher,  commencing  that  occupation 
when  1 8  years  of  age  in  Broome  County,  in  her  na- 
tive State.  She  came  to  Illinois  and  taught  at  Sugar 
Grove,  Lee  County.  Mr.  Maxwell  had  secured  a 
claim  in  Ogle  County,  which  he  sold  and  settled  at 
Lyndon,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade.  In  1842  he 
made  a  claim  on  section  six  of  "  town  20  north,  5 
east,"  where  he  built  a  frame  house,  and  broke  and 
fenced  about  20  acres  of  prairie.  In  the  fall  of  1844 
he  sold  his  land  and  stock.  In  1845  he  secured  an- 
other claim  on  section  8,  of  town  15,  ranges.  He 
built  a  house,  granary  and  stable  and  fenced  80  acres 
of  land.  In  1851  he  rented  the  farm  and  went  to 
Union  Grove  and  did  the  wood  work  in  a  grist-mill. 
In  1853  he  sold  his  farm  to  J.  D.  Fisk,  who  is  still 
its  owner  and  occupant.  Mr.  Maxwell  engaged  at 
his  trade  in  Unionville.  In  the  spring  of  1854  he 
bought  land  on  section  8,  of  town  21,  range  5  east, 
and  built  a  house.  He  held  the  place  but  a  few 
months,  exchanging  it  for  the  first  claim  he  had  made 
in  the  township  of  Lyndon.  Mr.  Maxwell  was  suc- 
cessful in  his  land  operations  and  was  chiefly  a  resi- 
dent of  Lyndon  Township.  In  1872  he  bought  a 
house  in  Lyndon  village. 

His  family  has  included  five  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living  :  Lousia  M.,  wife  of  William  Patrick 
(see  sketch),  was  born  Jan.  31,  1840,  in  Lyndon 
Township;  Calvin  A.  was  born  March  13,  1842  ;  he 
enlisted  in  1861  in  the  7th  111.  Cav.,  and  died  at 
Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  Jan.  23,  1862;  James  H.  was  born 
Feb.  19,  1845,  and  enlisted  in  the  same  regiment  and 
company  with  his  brother.  He  was  enrolled  in  Sep- 
tember, 1861,  and  was  discharged  in  February,  1862. 


, 

<    • 

Vg) 


' 


U-     -   f>v 
.  -.Ill 

UNIVERSE  Or  ILUNUI* 
UWANA 


He  is  a  resident  of  Noble  Co.,  Minn;  Mary  E.,  born 
Feb.  22,  1847,  is  the  wife  of  George  W.  Cale,  of 
Noble  Co.,  Minn.;  Samuel  A.,  born  Dec.  27,  1851, 
lives  at  Unionville. 


3=3 

5 


•<  * 


prames  H.  Booth,  farmer  on  section  9,  New- 
|r-  ton  Township,  was  born  June  27,  1823,  in 
Harrison  Co.,  W.  Va.  He  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Deborah  (Hart)  Booth.  His 
father  was  a  Major  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  his 
title  was  recognized  as  long  as  he  lived.  In 
1835  the  family  emigrated  to  Ohio,  where  they  lived 
two  years  in  Vinton  County.  They  went  thence  to 
Cass  Co.,  Ind.,  where  they  remained  till  1839,  and 
in  that  year  journeyed  to  Illinois,  transporting  the 
family  and  household  belongings  with  the  aid  of  ox 
teams.  There  were  1 1  persons, — the  parents  and 
nine  children.  They  made  their  journeys  from  Vir- 
ginia to  Ohio,  and  thence  to  Indiana,  by  the  same 
method,  carrying  their  provisions,  cooking  by  the 
way  and  sleeping  in  their  wagons. 

The  senior  Booth  made  a  claim  on  section  9  of 
township  20,  range  3,  now  Newton.  He  built  a  log 
structure,  16  x  16  feet  in  size,  for  a  dwelling,  which 
the  family  occupied  a  few  years,  when  it  was  re- 
placed by  a  frame  house.  William  Booth  died  in 
1854.  His  wife  survived  him  20  years. 

Mr.  Booth,  subject  of  this  sketch,  secured  a  claim 
on  a  section  adjoining  that  on  which  his  father  lo- 
cated. He  was  married  July  6,  1848,  to  Susanna  E. 
Rexroad.  She  was  born  Dec.  21,  1830,  in  Virginia. 
After  the  event  of  his  marriage,  Mr.  Booth  located 
on  his  estate,  which  he  occupied  until  his  death, 
March  17,  1884.  He  was  a  skillful  farmer  and  an 
excellent  manager,  and  his  farm  was  considered  one 
of  the  best  conducted  in  the  township,  being  par- 
ticularly noticeable  for  its  tidy,  well  regulated  ap- 
pearance. The  buildings  are  of  a  good  class,  and 
the  place  is  made  attractive  and  valuable  by  fruit, 
shade  and  ornamental  trees.  In  1850  Mr.  Booth 
went  to  California  overland,  traveling  with  ox  teams, 
as  he  had  done  in  1835,  in  1837  and  in  1839,  thus 
virtually  crossing  nearly  the  entire  distance  between 
the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans  with  teams  of  oxen, 
an  experience  paralleled  but  rarely,  if  ever,  in  the 
history  of  this  continent.  He  spent  two  years  in 


California,  engaged  in  mining  and  in  other  employ- 
ments. In  1852  he  started  for  home,  sailing  from 
San  Francisco,  but  the  vessel  was  wrecked  and  the 
crew  went  back  to  Sacramento.  Mr.  Booth  returned 
by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  New  Orleans. 

In  political  faith  he  was  a  Republican.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Booth  became  members  of -the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  1858. 

There  were  two  children  by  the  first  marriage, — 
Dyer,  a  resident  of  Barton  Co.,  Mo.,  and  Milo,  who 
resides  in  Huron  Co.,  Dak.  The  second  marriage 
of  Mr.  Booth,  to  Cinderella  Burton,  took  place  June 
29,  1857.  She  was  born  in  Madison,  Wis.,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  James  N.  and  Martha  (Wallace) 
Burton.  Her  parents  were  born  in  Tennessee  and 
belonged  to  the  pioneer  element  of  Wisconsin.  They 
settled  in  Rock  Island  County  in  1840.  Eight  chil- 
dren were  born  of  the  second  marriage, — -Otis,  Lucy, 
Aura,  Deborah,  James  M.,  Jessie  B.,  Leslie  K.  and 
Murray  Houston. 


Ransom  Wink,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Hop- 
kins Township,  is  a  son  of  Jacob  A.  and 
Sarah  R.  (Markle)  Wink,  natives  of  Fulton 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  they  lived  till  their  death. 
They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  born  in  the 
following  order:  Thomas  H.,  Amos,  Beulah 
R.,  Lucinda,  Sansom  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Wink,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
what  is  now  Fulton  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  22,  1819.  He 
was  reared  on  the  farm,  receiving  the  benefits  of  the 
schools  of  that  period  and  community,  and  remained 
there  until  he  was  29  years  of  age.  He  continued 
to  reside  in  the  Keystone  State  until  1867,  when  he 
concluded  to  move  West.  He  accordingly  came 
West  and  located  in  Whiteside  County.  He  settled 
on  a  farm  on  section  4  of  Hopkins  Township,  where 
he  resides  at  present.  He  owns  a  fine  and  valuable 
farm  of  160  acres  here  and  enjoys  the  declining  years 
of  his  life  amid  pleasant  surroundings. 

Mr.  Wink  was  married  in  his  native  county  March 
22,  1848,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Rebecca  (Truax)  Johnson,  who  were  natives  of 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  respectively.  They 
were  the  parents  of  1 2  children,  of  whom  Elizabeth 


• 


VV- M  H  «I»  H  M  •' y  V 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


was  the  third.  She  was  born  in  Fulton  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec. 
2,  1830. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wink  have  been  born  14  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  living  but  one,  Lizzie,  who  died 
in  infancy,  Those  living  are  Jacob  J.,  Sarah  R., 
Thomas  H.,  Huldah  J.,  Samantha,  Celesta  H., 
Wesley  C.,  Axophia  B.,  Cecelia  A.,  Howard  L. , 
Elmer  W.,  Corinna  B.,  Olive  and  Charles  A. 

Mr.  Wink  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  pro- 
moting the  welfare  of  the  community  in  which  he 
has  lived  and  filled  some  of  the  local  official  posi- 
tions. Politically  he  is  a  Prohibitionist.  Both  him- 
self and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Chuch. 

As  a  representative  citizen  of  Whiteside  County, 
and  a  gentleman  worthy  to  be  classed  among  the 
best  men  of  the  county,  we  place  a  portrait  of  Mr. 
Wink  in  this  ALBUM.  It  is  engraved  from  a  photo- 
graph taken  in  1878. 


|||  ufus  Aldrich,  of  Tampico  Township,  was 
_  _  bom  in  Binghamton,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y., 
'  May  20,  1817,  and  lived  there  until  he 
was  12  years  old,  when  he  went  with  his  par- 
ents, Rufus  and  Polly  (Smith)  Aldrich,  to 
Bradford  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  married  to  Mary 
Ann  King,  in  1839,  who  was  born  in  Otsego  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  in  1817,  lived  there  until  four  years  old,  when 
her  father,  Joshua  King,  removed  with  his  family  to 
Smithfield,  Bradford  Co.,  Pa. 

In  1855  Mr.  Aldrich  left  Pennsylvania  and  located 
in  Tampico,  Whiteside  Co.,  111.,  purchasing  320  acres 
of  unimproved  land  in  Tampico  Township.  In  later 
years  he  divided  one-half  between  his  two  sons,  John 
Henry  and  Charles  R.  John  H.,  after  living  on  his 
a  number  of  years,  sold  it  and  located  in  Guthrie 
Co.,  Iowa.  He  is  a  mechanic,  and  at  present  en- 
gaged in  bridge-building.  He  married  Miss  Juliaette 
Robinson  and  has  five  children.  Charles  R.  still 
retains  his  farm,  but  has  a  residence  in  the  village. 
He  also  owns  a  livery  stable,  which  he  is  managing. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  Quinn,  of  Woodstock,  111., 
and  has  three  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aldrich  have  had  seven  children  : 
Ataline,  the  oldest  daughter,  married  Philo  D.  Morse, 
and  lives  in  Tampico;  they  have  four  children. 


Juliaette  married  John  W.  Whittington,  and  died  in 
her  3oth  year,  leaving  three  children.  Mary  Jane 
died  in  her  2oth  year.  Halbert,  born  in  1860,  died 
in  1861.  Emma  married  M.  Arthur  Myres  in  1875, 
who  died  in  1881,  leaving  two  children. 

Rufus  Aldrich  is  now  a  resident  of  Tampico,  where 
he  has  a  grocery. 


amuel  Wetzell,  resident  on  section  10, 
Hume  Township,  is  a  farmer  and  teacher. 
He  was  born  Feb.  17,  1848,  in  Tuscarawas 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Su- 
sannah Wetzell.  When  he  was  seven  years  of 
age  his  parents  settled  in  Genesee  Township, 
this  county.  He  became  a  pupil  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  township,  and  afterward  entered  the 
seminary  at  Mt.  Morris,  in  Ogle  County.  He  left 
school  in  1870  and  began  teaching  in  the  year  fol- 
lowing, making  his  initiatory  effort  in  his  home  dis- 
trict, where  he  was  engaged  three  years.  After 
teaching  six  years  in  situations  adjoining,  he  went  to 
Coleta,  to  assume  the  duties  of  Principal  in  the 
schools  of  that  place. 

Mr.  Wetzell  was  married  at  Franklin  Grove,  Lee 
Co.,  111.,  Nov.  14,  1872,  to  Leona  V.  Wingert.  Their 
two  children  were  born  as  follows:  Lester  W., 
March  7,  1874;  Clarence  A.,  March  27,  1875.  Mrs. 
Wetzell  was  born  Jan.  24,  1851,  in  Ohio.  Her  father 
and  mother,  Henry  and  Anna  (Bentz)  Wingert,  were 
natives  of  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  whence  they  removed 
after  their  marriage  to  Ohio.  The  daughter  was  yel 
in  childhood  when  her  parents  came  to  Lee  Co.,  111. 
She  was  educated  at  Mt.  Morris,  in  Ogle  Co.,  111., 
and  began  teaching  in  Lee  County,  when  she  was 
18  years  of  age,  and  pursued  that  vocation  several 
years. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wetzell  located 
at  a  point  a  mile  west  of  Coleta,  where  they  owned 
a  farm  of  no  acres,  situated  in  Genesee  Township. 
They  removed  thence  to  Sterling,  where  Mr.  Wetzell 
engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade,  in  which  he  was 
interested  two  years,  and  conducted  his  affairs  in 
that  line  with  reasonable  success.  Meanwhile  he 
purchased  230  acres  on  sections  10  and  15,  Hume 
Township,  of  which  he  took  possession  in  1879.  He 
has  improved  175  acres  and  erected  good  and  suit- 


: 


<Sf  able  buildings.  The  stock  on  the  place  includes 
good  grades  of  Short-horn  cattle.  Mr.  Wetzell  still 
continues  to  teach  winters. 

He  is  an  uncompromising  Republican.  In  1881 
he  was  elected  Assessor  of  Hume  Township,  and 
held  the  office  two  years.  He  has  served  as  Super- 
visor one  term. 


<:>• 


_lpha  Eugene  Jacobs,  druggist  and  sta- 
tioner at  Tampico,  was  born  Jan.  22,  1856, 
in  La  Salle  Co.,  111.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  and  is  now  deceased.  The  latter  came 
to  Tampico  Township  in  1860  and  settled  on 
a  farm.  Mr.  Jacobs  was  a  pupil  in  the  school 
at  Sterling  and  acquired  a  business  education  in  the 
Commercial  College  at  Chicago.  He  afterwards 
taught  three  terms  in  the  common  schools  of  White- 
side  County. 

Mr.  Jacobs  was  a  member  of  his  father's  family 
until  his  marriage,  in  Tampico  Township,  to  Ida 
Badgley.  She  was  born  Dec.  26,  1859,  in  Tampico 
Township,  and  always  resided  in  the  same  place  un- 
til her  marriage.  Her  parents  reside  in  the  village. 
Asahel  and  Sadie  M.  are  the  names  of  the  children 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacobs. 

Previous  to  his  marriage,  Mr.  Jacobs  had  estab- 
lished his  business  as  a  druggist,  in  which  he  has 
achieved  popularity  and  success.  He  has  a  valu- 
able and  well  assorted  stock  of  goods  common  to  his 
lines  of  business  and  he  owns  village  property,  and 
also  an  individual  interest  in  the  estate  of  his  father, 
which  includes  240  acres  of  land. 

In  political  faith  and  relations  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  he  is  now  serving  as  Village  Treasurer  (1885). 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge.  Mrs.  Jacobs 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


,dgar  Woods,    a    farmer    on    section    26, 
Montmorency   Township,    is    the   son    of 
Peter  C.  and  Angeline  (Blacklidge)  Woods. 
His  parents  were   natives  of  Indiana,  and  set- 
tled in   Franklin  County  after  their  marriage. 
In   December,  1864,  they   came  to  Whiteside 
County,  and  located  on  a  farm  in  the  township  of 


Montmorency,  where  the  death  of  the  father  occur- 
red, June  7,  1880.  The  mother  died  Sept.  21,  1874. 
Harvey  C.,  their  oldest  child,  died  June  20,  1875. 
They  have  two  surviving  sons.  Edgar  is  the  older. 

Edgar  was  born  May  12,  1856,  in  Franklin  Co., 
Ind.,  and  he  was  eight  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
removed  to  Whiteside  County.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools.  He  has  been  occupied  in 
agricultural  pursuits  exclusively.  In  1880  he  took 
possession  of  the  farm  on  which  he  has  since  lived, 
and  of  which  he  became  the  owner  by  right  of  in- 
heritance from  his  father's  estate.  He  is  the  owner 
of  240  acres  in  the  township  where  he  lives,  and  has 
1 80  in  advanced  and  profitable  cultivation.  Mr. 
Woods  is  independent  in  political  opinions  and  rela- 
tions. He  has  held  the  office  of  School  Trustee  five 
years,  and  has  officiated  two  years  as  Collector. 

His  marriage  to  Anna,  daughter  of  Tyler  and 
Rhoda  (Ward)  McWhorter,  took  place  Dec.  24,  1879. 
(A  sketch  of  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Woods  is  given 
elsewhere.)  She  was  born  in  Metamora,  Franklin 
Co.,  Ind.,  April  10,  rS56.  Three  children  are  now 
included  in  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woods — Roy 
G.,  Mabel  A.  and  Chester  C. 


lies  Greene,  one  of  the  leading  and  exten- 
sive agriculturists  of  Whiteside  County, 
residing  on  section  12,  Lyndon  Township, 
is  a  son  of  Benjamin  T.  and  Hetty  (Wilson) 
Greene,  and  grandson  of  William  and  Mary 
A.  Greene,  also  of  Tibbets  and  Phcebe  Wil- 
He  was  born  at  Willett,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y., 
March  13,  1822.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  a  member  of  the  New  York  State  Militia 
during  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, and  went  to  Cortland  County  with  his  parents 
in  1809,  where  he  resided  and  followed  his  vocation 
until  the  date  of  his  death. 

Giles  Greene  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated 
at  the  Cortland  and  Oxford  Academies.  He  com- 
menced teaching  at  the  age  of  18,  and  continued  in 
that  profession  winters  and  farmed  summers,  until 
after  thedeath  of  his  parents  in  1853,  when  he  came 
west,  arriving  in  this  county  in  1854,  and  locating  in 
Lyndon  Township.  He  made  his  first  purchase  of 
land  in  1854,  in  the  township  where  he  has  since 

*$%£%& 


son. 


- 


> 


. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


lived,  and  where  he  has  risen  to  prominence  through 
his  own  efforts  and  judicious  management.  His 
land,  at  the  time  of  purchase,  was  located  on  sections 
i  and  1 2,  and  included  about  15  acres  which  had 
been  plowed.  It  could  boast  also  of  a  frame  house 
of  diminutive  proportions  and  a  straw  stable.  From 
this  beginning  Mr.  Greene  has  progressed  by  the 
usual  methods  of  energy,  industry  and  thrift  until  he 
owns  750  acres  of  land,  in  excellent  condition  for 
progressive  farming.  The  buildings  for  the  pro- 
tection of  his  fine  stock  are  of  the  most  approved 
construction,  and  are  admirably  adapted  to  their 
purposes. 

At  Cincinnatus,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  6,  1855, 
Mr.  Greene  was  married  to  Laura  Mann,  daughter 
of  Aristarchus  and  Sophia  (Kneeland)  Mann,  and 
grand-daughter  of  Oliver  and  Content  (Hill)  Mann  ; 
also'of  Daniel  and  Grace  Kneeland.  Mrs.  Greene 
was  born  at  Franklin,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec. 
27,  1827.  Their  family  consists  of  five  children, 
namely:  Hattie,  Mary,  Ray,  Ben  and  Stark  Greene, 
all  of  whom  reside  at  home. 


— ! 5- 


icholas  Marzi,  retired  farmer,  residing  in 
Erie,  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Snyder)  Marzi,  and  was  born  in  Prussia, 
June  4,  1824.  He  was  a  coachman  in  Ger- 
many some  years,  and  also  served  in  the  army 
in  that  country  three  years.  In  1852  he  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  and  was  13  weeks  in 
crossing  the  water,  having  been  shipwrecked  off  the 
coast  of  Ireland,  and  the  vessel  on  which  he  sailed 
having  put  in  for  repairs.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he 
located  in  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  various  pursuits,  until  1 863,  when  he  went 
to  Davenport,  Iowa.  He  remained  in  the  latter 
place  until  1864,  when  he  went  to  Rock  Island 
County,  and  rented  a  farm  in  Canoe  Creek  Town- 
ship, which  he  cultivated  for  one  year;  then  super- 
intended a  large  stock  farm  one  year.  He  after- 
ward, in  1866,  purchased  a  farm  in  Erie  Township, 
this  county,  consisting  of  86  acres,  and  resided  upon 
and  cultivated  it  for  two  years,  when  he  exchanged 
it  for  hotel  property  in  Erie,  the  same  being  now 
known  as  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel.  He  ran  the  hotel 


until  the  spring  of  1884,  since  which  time  he  has 
rented  it.  In  1882  he  built  a  nice  residence  in 
Erie,  on  six  lots,  which  he  owned,  and  where  he  at 
present  resides. 

Mr.  Marzi  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  in 
Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  n,  1852,  with  Mary 
Blocher,  who  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
March  23,  1827.  Three  children  have  been  born 
of  their  union,  two  in  Rensselaer  and  one  in  this 
county :  Mary  is  the  wife  of  James  Ells,  engineer, 
in  Rock  Island,  111.,  and  was  born  Aug.  21,  1852; 
George  A.,  born  April  23,  1858,  is  now  running  a 
branch  music  store  for  W.  W.  Kimball  &  Co.,  in 
Muscatine,  Iowa,  and  is  unmarried;  Ira  H.,  born 
Feb.  15,  1868,  is  learning  telegraphy  in  the  Erie 
office. 


irk  C.  Fuller,  of  the  firm  of  W.  H. 
Fuller  &  Co.,  grocers  and  general  mer- 
chants, Spring  Hill,  is  a  son  of  John  P.  and 
Almira  (Lanphere)  Fuller.  He  was  born  at 
Sandy  town,  Portland  Township,  Nov.  4, 1847, 
and  was  reared  on  the  farm,  remaining  at  his  paren- 
tal home  until  he  was  22  years  of  age;  then,  after 
working  on  the  homestead,  of  120  acres,  a  year,  his 
wife  died  and  he  returned  to  Prophetstown  and  lived 
upon  rented  farms.  In  October,  1882,  he  came  to 
Spring  Hill  and  purchased  an  interest  in  a  store 
with  his  brother  Willis;  they  are  carrying  on  a  very 
prosperous  business, with  a  stock  averaging  about 
$2,000,  in  groceries,  ready-made  clothing,  notions, 
etc.  Mr.  Fuller  also  keeps  a  hotel.  He  has  been 
Tax  Collector  three  terms,  Constable  four  years,  be- 
ing re-elected  to  that  position  in  1885  ;  in  the  fall  of 
1882,  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff,  and  is  now 
serving  in  that  capacity.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Orders  of  Masonry  and  Odd  Fellows.  He  owns  his 
residence,  barn  and  one  and  a  half  lots. 

Mr.  Fuller  was  married  in  Portland  Township, 
April  14,  1870,10  Miss  Lois,  daughter  of  Miles  and 
Sarah  Briggs;  she  was  born  in  Erie  Township,  and 
died  in  Kansas,  Aug.  25,  1873;  and  Mr.  Fuller  was 
again  married,  in  Portland  Township,  Feb.  t3,  r877, 
to  Miss  Carrie  M.  Rowe,  daughter  of  Van  Ransel- 
laer  and  Jennie  A.  Rowe,  who  was  born  in  Portland 

«4^(<$ 


.  • 


vg> 


- 
. 


•    • 


i  wi' 


I 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Township,  Feb.  13,  1861.  Her  father  came  to  this 
county  when  a  boy,  and  is  therefore  to  be  counted 
among  the  early  pioneers;  he  still  lives  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Erie.  Her  mother  died  March  19,  1876. 


illiain  Hill,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  in 
Whiteside  County,  residing  on  section  5, 
Prophetstown  Township,  has  380  acres 
of  land  on  sections  5  and  8.  He  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Susan  (Baker)  Hill,  and  was 
born  in  Hubbardton,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  Sept. 
30,  1819.  His  father  was  a  fanner  by  occupation, 
but  was  an  experienced  carpenter  and  joiner  and 
wheelwright.  Both  his  parents  were  natives  of 
Massachusetts,  and  were  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  grew  to  man's  estate,  and  four  of 
whom  are  now  living.  The  eldest  of  the  family  now 
living  is  William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Ezra 
is  a  farmer,  residing  in  Prophetstowri  Township; 
Fordyce  and  Joseph  W.  both  reside  in  Prophetstown. 
Mr.  Hill's  father,  with  his  family,  left  Vermont  Sept. 
9,  1835,  and  emigrated  to  this  county  with  a  team, 
being  two  months  on  the  road. 

Mr.  Hill  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  only  the 
advantages  in  the  way  of  an  education  that  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  afforded.  On 
reaching  the  age  of  21  he  went  out  into  the  world 
to  battle  with  fickle  fortune.  He  went  north  to 
the  State  of  Wisconsin,  where  for  five  years  he 
engaged  in  lumbering,  part  of  the  time  working  by 
the  month,  and  for  a  while  engaged  in  contracting 
on  his  own  responsibility.  In  1845  he  left  the 
pineries,  and  came  to  Whiteside  County.  Prior  to 
that  date,  however,  about  1838,  he  made  a  claim  of 
160  acres  in  Prophetstown  Township,  on  what  is 
now  the  Luther  McKenzie  farm.  When  it  came 
into  market,  however,  he  was  only  able  to  obtain  a 
deed  for  40  acres  of  it.  His  brother,  John,  had  made 
a  claim  of  a  quarter-section,  where  our  subject  now 
resides,  but  died  before  the  land  was  put  upon  the 
market  by  the  Government.  Mr.  Hill  bought  this 
claim  for  $200,  to  which  he  has  since  added  until 
he  now  has  380  acres,  under  excellent  cultivation. 
He  has  erected  upon  it  a  fine  residence,  costing 
$3,000,  and  added  a  number  of  improvements,  which 


makes  it  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  conveniently 
arranged  farms  in  the  township. 

While  engaged  in  general  agriculture,  Mr.  Hill 
has  made  a  specialty  of  raising  Holstein  cattle.  He 
carried  on  his  farm  himself  until  1877,  when  he 
rented  it  to  his  son,  Mallory  S.,  who  now  resides 
upon  it.  Mr.  Hill  yet,  however,  retains  a  half  in- 
terest in  the  stock.  They  have  about  40  head  of 
graded  Holstein  cattle,  and  one  full-blooded  regis- 
tered bull,  John  G.  For  a  number  of  years  they 
have  also  given  special  attention  to  raising  Merino 
sheep. 

While  never  seeking  political  positions,  Mr.  Hill 
has  been  called  upon  by  his  fellow  townsmen  to 
represent  the  township  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors, 
and  also  serve  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  latter 
position  he  has  held  for  two  terms.  For  several 
years  he  has  also  served  as  Township  Trustee.  He 
is  also  one  of  the  originators  of  the  Prophetstown 
Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  which 
he  has  been  a  Director  since  its  organization,  and 
President  ever  since,  exeept  one  year. 

Mr.  Hill  was  married  in  Prophetstown  Township, 
May  6,  1846,  to  Miss  Ann  L.,  daughter  of  Harry  and 
Ursula  Smith.  She  was  born  in  Castleton,  Rutland 
Co.,  Vt.,  Sept.  21,  1827.  To  them  have  been  born 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Hester  is  the 
wife  of  Edgar  S.  Bentley,  harness-maker  of  Prophets- 
town  ;  John  Q.,  farmer  in  Prophetstown  Township; 
Leroy,  engaged  in  farming  at  Canton,  McPherson 
Co.,  Kan.;  Truman,  deceased ;  Mallory  S.,  now  re- 
siding on  his  father's  farm;  Stella  A.,  wife  of  Frank 
Johns,  farmer  of  Prophetstown  Township ;  two  others 
died  in  infancy. 

As  a  leading  citizen,  not  only  of  his  township,  hut 
of  Whiteside  County,  the  publishers  take  pleasure  in 
presenting  Mr.  Hill's  portrait  among  those  of  the 
representative  citizens  of  this  county  in  this  ALBUM. 


illiam  Peckham,  a  farmer,  residing  on 
section  36,  Prophetstown  Township,  and 
owning  120  acres  located  thereon,  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Malvina  (Miller)  Peckham, 
and  was  born  in  Verona,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
April  ro,  1842.  .His  father  was  a  lumberman, 
a  native  of  Verona,  and  his  mother  of  Otsego  County, 
that  State.  Their  family  comprised  ten  children, 


*y 

t 


4 


-  -X 


748 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


seven  of  whom  are  living — Achsie,  Emorette,  Will- 
iam, Eugene,  Alfred,  Cora  and  George. 

Mr.  Peckham  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof- 
tree  until  he  attained  adult  age,  when  he  worked  in 
the  lumber  woods,  which  vocation  he  followed  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  late  Civil  War.  Sept.  i, 
1862,  at  Rome,  N.  Y.,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  8ist  N. 
Y.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  private,  and  served  until  Jan.  10, 
1865.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Cold  Har- 
bor, Petersburg  and  others.  His  corps  was  the  first 
that  made  an  advance  on  Petersburg,  and  he  partic- 
ipated in  two  engagements  against  that  place,  one 
under  Grant  and  one  under  Butler.  He  returned  to 
New  York,  and  in  the  spring  of  1866  moved  to  Cerro 
Gordo  County,  Iowa,  and  followed  the  vocation  of  a 
farmer  on  rented  land  for  two  years,  after  which  he 
purchased  a  farm,  consisting  of  80  acres.  He  con- 
tinued to  follow  the  vocation  of  a  farmer  for  seven 
years,  and  in  February,  1874,  came  to  Prophetstown 
Township,  this  county,  and  continued  in  his  occupa- 
tion for  nine  years,  on  rented  land.  In  the  spring  of 
1883,  Mr.  Peckham  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
1 20  acres,  and  has  resided  thereon  ever  since. 

Mr.  Peckham  was  united  in  marriage  in  Sterling, 
this  county,  Feb.  7,  1868,  to  Miss  Anice  Humaston. 
She  was  born  in  Vienna  Township,  Oneida  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  May  4,  1842.  The  issue  of  their  union  has  been 
two  children:  Ettie,  born  May  23,  1871,  and  Ada, 
born  April  17,  1873,  both  in  the  State  of  Iowa. 


illiam  Aitken,  general  farmer  on  section 
10,  Ustick  Township,  was  born  Aug.  12, 
185 1,  in  Scotland.  He  is  the  oldest  child 
of  Robert  and  Margaret  (Duthie)  Aitken, 
and  had  two  sisters, — Isabella  and  Annie. 
Mr.  Aitken  came  to  the  United  States  on  reach- 
ing his  majority,  and  after  spending  about  six  months 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  he  came  in  1873  to  White- 
side  County.  His  father's  family  emigrated  at  the 
same  time,  and  on  their  removal  to  Whiteside  County, 
father  and  son  bought  140  acres  of  land  in  partner- 
ship in  Ustick  Township.  The  latter  is  at  present 
sole  proprietor  of  205  acres  of  land,  in  a  good  farm- 
ing condition. 

May  7,  1880,  he  was  joined  in  marriage,  at  Mor- 
rison,  with    Eliz.a  H.   Cowie,  and  they  have  three 

ff" :3*€£(IC ^rK^D  fl 


children, — William,  Maggie   A.    and   Bessie.     Mrs. 
Aitkin  is  a  native  of  Scotland. 

In  political  views  and  opinions,  Mr.  Aitken  is  in- 
dependent.    He  has  served  as  School  Director. 


ohn  F.  McNaughton,,  proprietor  of  the 
Tampico  House,  Tampico,,  was  born  in 
Hebron  Township,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Jan.  17,  1838.  John  McNaughton,  his  father, 
was  a  teacher  by  profession,  and  married  Bet- 
sy Whitney,  who  was  born  in  Washington 
Co.,  N.  Y.  They  went  shortly  afterward  to  Wayne 
County,  in  the  Empire  State,  returning  subsequently 
to  Washington  County.  In  1855,  the  family  came 
to  Illinois,  and  located  in  the  township  of  Portland, 
Whiteside  County.  The  father  died  in  June,  1871. 
The  death  of  the  mother  occurred  Aug.  31,  1879,  in 
Fairfield  Township,  Bureau  County. 

Mr.  McNaughton  went  with  his  parents  to  Wayne 
County  when  a  mere  child,  and  obtained  a  chief 
part  of  his  education  after  they  returned  to  Wash- 
ington County.  He  lived  with  them  until  their 
death.  He  was  married  July  4,  1853,  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (White)  Liddle.  Her 
parents  were  born  respectively  in  Scotland  and  Ire- 
land. They  came  in  early  life  to  the  United  States, 
and  were  married  in  Argyle,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Mrs.  McNaughton  was  born  May  22,  1831,  in  the 
township  of  Salem,  in  the  county  named.  She  was 
brought  up  by  her  mother,  her  father  having  died 
when  she  was  nine  years  of  age.  Her  mother  died 
some  years  later,  at  the  home  of  her  son  in  Washing- 
ton County. 

On  the  event  of  his  marriage,  Mr.  McNaughton 
located  in  the  township  of  Ontario,  Wayne  County, 
where  he  was  a  citizen  until  1855,  when  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Portland,  Whiteside  County.  He 
occupied  a  farm  in  that  township  for  20  years,  going 
from  there  to  the  town  of  Fairfield,  Bureau  County. 
In  February,  18 — ,  he  came  to  Tampico  and  pur- 
chased the  hotel  property,  of  which  he  has  since 
been  manager. 

Two  of  the  children  that  have  been  added  to  the 
family  are  dead.  Eva  is  the  wife  of  George  Seibel, 
and  they  live  on  a  farm  in  Bureau  County ;  Hattie 
married  Frank  Guy,  and  five,  months  afterwards  be- 


'<&* 


-      -- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


749 


^f  came  a  widow,  her  husband  having  been  drowned  in 
I    Rock   River;  Josephine,  Maggie  L.   and  Sarah  E. 
live   with   their   parents.     Mrs.    McNaughton    is    a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

Politically,  Mr.  McNaughton  is  a  decided  Repub- 
lican, and  has  been  Township  Collector. 


.eorge  Seyller,  a  hardware  merchant,  re- 
siding in  the  village  of  Prophetstown,  is  a 
son  of  George  and  Catherine  (Haumesser) 
Seyller,  and   was   born    in    Alsace,   France, 
April  23,  1847.     When  Mr.  Seyller  was  but 
eight  years  of  age.  his  father  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  and  came  to  Naperville,  this   State. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  soon  af- 
ter settling  at  the  latter  place,  removed  to  Henry 
County  and  located  on  a  farm. 

Mr.  Seyller  was  reared  on  the  farm,  receiving  such 
advantages  as  were  afforded  by  the  common  schools 
in  the  locality  where  he  resided.  He  worked  on  the 
»  farm  until  1868,  when,  having  attained  his  majority, 
he  went  to  Annawan,  Henry  County,  this  State,  and 
there  engaged  in  the  hardware  business,  in  company 
with  Herman  Herschberger,  with  whom  he  remained 
in  partnership  until  1872,  when  he  sold  out.  He 
then  came  to  Prophetstown  and  was  in  the  employ 
of  W.  E.  Suthard  in  the  capacity  of  a  tinner.  He 
remained  with  him  about  nine  months,  when,  in 
company  with  his  brother-in-law,  August  Clementz, 
he  purchased  the  stock  of  Mr.  Suthard,  and  con- 
ducted the  partnership  business  about  nine  years, 
when  Mr.  Seyller  bought  out  his  partner  and  has 
since  conducted  the  business  alone.  In  1874,  while 
the  partnership  was  still  in  existence,  they  built  the 
building  (24  x  74,  two  stories  and  cellar)  which  Mr. 
Seyller  now  occupies.  In  1883,  Mr.  Seyller  bought 
out  the  property  ;  he  carries  a  stock  approximating 
$10,000,  and  is  doing  a  good  and  constantly  increas- 
ing business,  being  the  leading  one  of  this  kind  in 
Prophetstown.  The  stock  consists  of  a  full  line  of 
hardware,  stoves,  cutlery,  tinware,  farming  imple- 
-  ments  and  farm  machinery.  His  warehouse  is  nearly 
opposite  his  store  building.  He  is  also  engaged  in 
tin  roofing  and  repairing,  and  keeps  two  assistants. 
Mr.  Seyller  is  also  the  owner  of  80  acres  of  land 
situated  on  section  31,  Prophetstown  Township, 

-v-,,«        >^jaai^  /-N    V/^HI 


which  he  cultivates.  Religiously,  he  belongs  to  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F. 

Mr.  Seyller  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Henry 
County,  this  State,  Jan.  i,  1872,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Clementz,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Lena  Clementz. 
She  was  born  in  Naperville,  Du  Page  Co.,  111.,  Nov. 
25,  1848,  and  has  borne  her  husband  three  children. 
Their  record  is  as  follows :  Catherine,  born  Oct.  24, 
1873;  Nora,  born  Nov.  25,  1874;  Martha,  Aug.  7, 
1876.  Mr.  Seyller  has  been  a  member  of  the  City, 
Council  four  years  and  is  acting  in  that  capacity  at 
the  present  time;  he  was  also  President  of  the 
Council  one  year. 


,dgar  R.  Beckwith,  grocery  and  provision 
merchant  at  Albany,  was  born  March  29, 
1838,  at  Chazy,  Clinton  Co.,  N.  Y.  His 
father,  Ransom  Beckwith,  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont, and  married  Lois  Graves,  who  was  a 
native  of  Greenbush,  Columbia  Co,  N.  Y. 
Her  father  was  a  pioneer  of  Clinton  County,  and 
was  the  founder  of  the  village  of  Chazy. 

The  Beckwith  family  removed  about  1841  to  Ma- 
lone,  N.  Y.,  and  after  a  residence  there  of  two  years, 
went  to  Madrid,  in  St.  Lawrence  County.  Edgar 
obtained  a  good  common-school  education  at  Mad- 
rid, and  studied  three  terms  at  the  Academy  at 
Potsdam.  At  18  he  began  a  contest  with  the  world 
on  his  own  responsibility,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1856.  His  health  was  poor,  and  he  passed  the 
winter  of  1856  and  1857  in  travel  in  Jo  Daviess, 
and  counties  adjoining.  In  the  following  spring  he 
went  to  Kane  County,  and  remained  there  during 
the  ensuing  summer.  He  came  to  Albany  in  the 
autumn  of  1857.  Soon  after,  he  obtained  an  ap- 
pointment as  surveyor  on  the  Illinois  &  Grand  Trunk 
Railroad,  and  acted  in  that  capacity  until  the  second 
year  of  the  Civil  War.  Aug.  10,  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  C,  8th  111.  Cav.  He  served  two  "years  as  a  pri- 
vate, and  in  August,  1864,  he  was  discharged  by 
special  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  enlist  as 
hospital  steward  in  the  regular  army  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  stationed  at  the  office  of  the  provost- 
marshal  in  Philadelphia.  June  24,  1865,  he  was 


.  ..-. 


1 


r 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


discharged  by  order  of  the  President.  He  returned 
to  Whiteside  County  in  September,  1865,  and  located 
at  Union  Grove.  He  had  lived  there  18  months, 
when,  in  company  with  his  brother,  he  bought  a  stock 
of  hardware  and  transacted  business  there  one  year. 
In  January,  1879,  he  and  his  brother  bought  a  simi- 
lar establishment  at  Albany.  In  1874,  the  firm  style 
became  Beckwith  &  Quick,  by  the  sale  of  the  inter- 
est of  Thomas  Beckwith  to  Benjamin  Quick.  The 
senior  partner  sold  out  to  Mr.  Quick  in  1880,  and 
.Mr.  Beckwith  engaged  in  his  present  business  enter- 
prise. He  sold  out  scon  after,  but  again  established 
his  trade  in  1881.  He  has  met  with  reasonable  suc- 
cess in  his  mercantile  ventures,  and  is  the  owner  of 
a  very  pleasant  residence,  located  at  a  desirable 
point  on  the  bluffs  of  the  river,  and  commanding  a 
beautiful  view  of  the  Mississippi  and  country  adja- 
cent. 

Mr.  Beckwith  was  married  Oct.  6,  1873,  to  Jennie 
E.,  daughter  of  Benjamin  S.  and  Mary  A.  Quick. 
They  have  one  child,  Edgar  Q.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Quick  are  pioneer  settlers  of  Whiteside  County. 


amuol  Curry,  deceased,  a  former  resident 
of  Garden  Plain  Township,  and  a  farmer 
on  sections  32  and  33,  was  born  Nov.  4, 
1833,  in  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.  He  was  the 
eldest  son  of  John  and  Jane  (McRoberts) 
Curry.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  of  his 
father,  where  he  was  born,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools. 

In  October,  1856,  he  came  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Whiteside  County,  and  not  long  after,  bought  the 
wild  land  of  which  his  farm  was  comprised  when  he 
took  possession  of  it.  He  built  a  house  on  his 
property,  and  began  to  make  the  usual  improve- 
ments without  delay.  He  was  a  single  man,  and  his 
house  was  occupied  at  first  by  the  family  of  his 
brother,  with  whom  he  boarded.  He  was  a  man  of 
industrious  habits  and  an  excellent  manager.  He 
put  his  farm  in  fine  and  valuable  condition,  and 
greatly  increased  the  beauty  of  its  appearance  by 
setting  out  numerous  trees. 

Mr.  Curry  was  married  Feb.  17,  1875,  to  Hattie, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Edward  and  Mary  (Mathew) 
White,  pioneers  of  Garden  Plain  Township,  of 


whom  a  sketch  appears  elsewhere.  Their  only 
child  is  named  Mary.  Mr.  Curry  died  March  17, 
1885,  (current  year). 


jharles  T.  Pierce,  proprietor  of  the  Erie 
grist-mill,  at  Erie,  is  a  son  of  Jonas  and 
Fannie  (Earle)  Pierce,  and  was  born  in 
Royalston,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  July  n, 
1837.  His  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  was  a  native  of  the  same  county,  as  was 
likewise  his  mother.  His  parent's  family  consisted 
of  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living,  namely : 
William,  Harriet,  James,  Charles  T.,  George  and 
Willard. 

Charles  T.  was  reared  on  the  farm,  assisting  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  family  and  attending  the  com- 
mon schools  until  he  attained  the  age  of  manhood. 
He  then  came  to  Sycamore,  De  Kalb  County,  and 
engaged  to  work  in  a  grist-mill,  at  that  place,  where 
he  learned  the  business.  He  soon  afterwards  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  mill,  and  the  firm  name 
became  Cox,  Pierce  &  Block. 

*Mr.  Pierce  continued  in  the  mill  until  1874, 
when  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  same,  and  came  to 
this  county  and  purchased  his  present  mill  at  Erie, 
and  has  since  continued  to  run  it.  He  has  enlarged 
the  mill  from  its  original  capacity,  and  at  present 
can  turn  out  75  barrels  of  flour  per  day.  He  does 
custom  work,  grinds  flour,  feed,  meal,  etc.,  and  usu- 
ally employs  two  assistants. 

Mr.  Pierce  was  unitid  in  marriage  in  Sycamore, 
May  28,  1862,  to  Miss  Emily  J.,  daughter  of  Jesse 
C.  and  Phcebe  Kellogg.  She  was  born  in  Sycamore, 
Jan.  28,  1837,  and  has  borne  to  Mr.  Pjerce  five  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Mary,  born 
May  7,  1870;  Susan,  born  Feb.  18,  1873,  and  Cath- 
erine, born  April  6,  1874.  The  names  of  the  de- 
ceased children  are  James,  born  Aug.  8,  1863,  and 
died  Sept.  16,  1863;  and  Fannie,  born  Feb.  14, 
1867,  died  in  October,  1867.  Mrs.  Pierce's  parents 
were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  De  Kalb  County, 
coming  from  Vermont  and  settling  there  at  an  early 
date,  and  she,  Mrs.  Pierce,  was  the  first  white  child 
born  in  that  county.  She  died  in  Erie,  this  county, 
March  15,  1877. 

Mr.   Pierce  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 


I 


°N0£. 

.     . 


-     - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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(4 


of  America,  and  is  one  of  the  School  Directors  of 
Erie.  His  business  is  a  good  one,  and  is  steadily 
increasing. 


I'ames  McGrath,  farmer,  section  25,  Albany 
1^  Township,  was  born  March  10,  1829,  in 
the  town  of  Lincoln,  60  miles  from  St. 
Johns,  N.  B.,  and  is  the  third  son  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Sewell)  McGrath.  He  spent 
his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native  province 
and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1854  he 
came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  rented  a  farm  in  the 
township  of  Garden  Plain,  which  he  managed  until 
1858.  In  that  year  he  moved  to  the  section  on 
which  he  has  since  lived,  in  Albany  Township,  which 
was  then  designated  township  20,  range  2.  In  1860 
he  bought  120  acres  of  land,  which  has  since  been 
his  property.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  600  acres,  lo- 
cated on  sections  25  and  26.  His  parents  came 
with  him  to  Albany  Township  and  lived  with  him 
until  their  deaths,  which  occurred  respectively  in 
1856  and  1884.  Mr.  McGrath  is  still  a  successful 
eluder  of  the  wiles  of  matrimony,  and  it  is  feared  is  a 
confirmed  bachelor. 


;oster  H.  Jones,  deceased,  formerly  a  farm- 
er on  section  26,  Garden  Plain  Township, 
^  was  born  Aug.  6,  1832,  in  Saratoga  Co., 
N.  Y.  He  went  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  when  he 
was  a  young  man,  where  he  was  a  resident 
until  1854.  He  was  married  Aug.  17,  of  that 
year,  to  Elizabeth  Cox,  who  was  born  in  Adams  Co., 
Ohio.  In  the  same  year  he  became  a  citizen  of 
Whiteside  County.  He  rented  land  in  Garden  Plain 
Township  for  five  years  after  his  removal  to  Illinois, 
and  in  1859  he  bought  a  parcel  of  land  on  section 
26.  Its  improvements  consisted  of  a  log  house, 
some  fencing,  and  ten  acres  broken.  The  family 
occupied  the  log  house  about  four  years,  when  the 
proprietor  built  a  fine  frame  house,  and  he  has  since 
erected  large  and  valuable  farm  buildings  to  suit  the 
needs  of  his  business ;  and  he  has  also  set  out  num- 
erous trees  of  various  descriptions.  He  continued 
the  purchase  of  land,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 


he  was  the  owner  of  360  acres,  in  excellent  condition 
for  prosperous  agriculture.  His  widow  still  occupies 
the  homestead.  Albert,  John  C.,  Charles  H.,  Ern- 
est E.  and  Cora  Edna  are  the  names  of  the  children 
who  survive.  Mary  died  in  infancy.  Frank  was 
born  Aug.  7,  1857,  and  was  killed  on  the  cars  at 
Mendota,  111.,  Nov.  29,  1882.  Maggie  was  born 
March  31,  1859.  She  married  Ira  Clough  and  set- 
tled in  Burlingame,  Kan.,  where  she  died  Feb. 
22,  1883.  Albert  is  married  and  lives  in  Garden 
Plain  Township.  John^C.  is  the  manager  of  the 
homestead,  in  which  he  is  assisted  by  Ernest. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Jones  were  natives  respect- 
ively of  New  York  and  Ohio. 


amuel  M.  Whitcomb,  living  at  Albany  in 
retirement,  was  born  July  22,  1816,  in 
Grafton,  N.  H.  Benjamin  Whitcomb,  his 
father,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place,  and 
was  of  unmixed  English  origin.  Benjamin 
Whitcomb,  father  of  the  latter,  was  a  Major  in 
the  War  of  the  Revolution.  Sarah  (Young)  Whit- 
comb, mother  of  Samuel,  was  born  in  Grafton,  of 
Scotch  parents.  Her  mother  was  a  sister  of  Gen. 
Wolf,  hero  of  Quebec,  and  died  in  Grafton,  aged  113 
years. 

In  1824  the  father  removed  to  New  Hampshire, 
Scioto  Co.,  Ohio.  Samuel  was  then  eight  years 
of  age,  and  when  he  was  fourteen  he  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati lo  live  with  a  brother.  While  there  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  as  a  millwright.  After  four 
years  spent  in  the  acquisition  of  his  trade  he  oper- 
ated four  years  as  a  journeyman,  traveling  through 
many  States  in  the  pursuit  of  his  business,  as  was 
then  the  custom.  He  first  came  to  Illinois  in  1835 
and  proceeded  to  Iowa,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
survey  of  the  western  boundary  of  the  State  or  Ter- 
ritory. In  the  course  of  his  travels  he  was  occupied 
a  portion  of  the  time  as  an  engineer  on  the  steam- 
boats on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers. 

Mr.  Whitcomb  located  in  Albany,  in  1849.  April 
i,  1850,  he  started  for  California  by  the  overland 
route,  and  reached  the  land  of  gold  Aug.  12,  follow- 
ing, making  the  journey  principally  on  foot.  After  a 
stay  of  two  years  he  returned  to  Illinois,  by  way  of 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  New  Orleans.  After 


• 


9- 


six 


X 


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i 


754 


rx-vHiooxMH;  -s\  <-s 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


when  a  farm  was  purchased  on  section  16,  in  the 
same  township.  A  frame  house  was  built,  to  which 
the  family  removed,  and  which  formed  a  homestead 
until  1866.  In  that  year  the  elder  Millikan  sold  the 
place  to  his  son  F.  W.,  our  subject,  and  bought  a 
residence  in  Lyndon  village.  He  died  Aug.  18, 1880. 
His  wife  died  March  20,  1875.  They  had  eight 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  Those 
living  are  Ellen  D.,  who  married  G.  W.  Fitch,  of 
Lyndon  (see  sketch)  ;  Martha  A.  is  the  wife  of  Capt. 
John  Whallon  (see  sketch)  ;  Frank  S.  is  a  Congrega- 
tional clergyman,  and  has  a  charge  at  Maquoketa, 
Jackson  Co.,  Iowa.  Frederick  W.  is  the  youngest. 

He  was  reared  in  the  midst  of  pioneer  conditions, 
which  marked  the  period  of  his  birth  and  boyhood  in 
Whiteside  County.  The  first  event  of  importance  in 
his  history  was  that  of  his  marriage  to  Emma  P. 
Stone,  which  took  place  March  26,  1863.  Mrs.  Mil- 
likan was  born  at  New  Boston,  Hillsborough  Co., 
N.  H.,  and  came  with  her  parents,  Thomas  J.  and 
Phebe  F.  (Peabody)  Stone,  to  Whiteside  County  in 
1858.  They  have  lived  on  the  Millikan  estate,  ad- 
joining the  village  of  Lyndon,  since  their  marriage. 
Mr.  Millikan  has  owned  the  property  since  1866. 
William  F.  and  Edward  S.  are  the  names  of  the  sons 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Millikan. 


.0+0— 


'acob  L.  Parker,  deceased,  formerly  a 
farmer  of  Garden  Plain  Township,  was  the 
second  son  of  Abel  and  Eleanor  (Howe) 
Parker,  of  whom  a  sketch  is  given  on  another 
page.  He  was  born  Feb.  27,  1814,  in  the  town 
of  Wells,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.  He  was  an  opera- 
tor in  a  woolen  mill  in  his  native  town,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  the  same  establishment,  coloring  and  fulling 
cloth,  until  1 836.  In  that  year  the  family  removed  to 
Whiteside  County.  Jacob  was  next  the  oldest  and 
came  on  the  lakes  in  charge  of  the  household  fix- 
tures. 

On  his  arrival  in  Illinois,  he  made  a  claim  on  sec- 
tion 15  of  Garden  Plain  Township,  but  made  his 
home  with  his  parents  until  he  was  married.  He 
was  a  mechanic  by  natural  gift,  having  an  intuitive 
knowledge  of  the  use  of  tools,  and  he  found  general 
employ  as  a  carpenter  and  in  repairs  of  various 
kinds. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  March,  1839,  to 


i 


Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Nancy  (Carpen- 
ter) Baker.  She  was  born  Aug.  17,  1823,  in  Queen 
Anne  Co.,  Md.  David  Parker,  the  older  brother  of 
Mr.  Parker,  whose  sketch  and  portrait  are  presented 
on  other  pages,  had  a  claim  on  section  15,  on  which 
a  log-house  had  been  built,  and  of  this  the  newly 
married  people  took  possession.  A  year  later,  Mr. 
Parker  built  a  hewn-log  house,  which  then  consti- 
tuted the  aristocratic  type  of  dwelling,  and  on  its 
completion  took  possession  with  his  family.  Some 
of  the  earliest  religious  services  held  in  the  township 
were  conducted  in  the  same  building.  Mr.  Parker 
had  commenced  the  improvements  on  his  land,  and, 
after  moving  into  his  house,  devoted  his  entire  at- 
tention to  placing  his  estate  under  good  cultivation. 
He  erected  suitable  buildings  as  time  advanced,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  decease  the  property  had  greatly 
advanced  in  attractiveness  and  value.  He  died 
March  4,  1881. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  had  six  children,  whose  rec- 
ord is  as  follows  :  Mary  Eleanor  is  the  wife  of  Delos 
Parker,  of  Garden  Plain  Township;  Hiram  lives  in 
Central  City,  Col.;  James  L.  resides  at  home;  Edwin 
lives  in  Sanborn,  O'Brien  Co.,  Iowa;  Evaline  is  the 
wife  of  John  Hodges  ;  Lizzie  died  in  infancy. 


Carles  Humaston,  a  farmer  residing  on 
section  34,  Prophetstown  Township,  and 
the  proprietor  of  120  acres  of  land  located 
thereon,  is  a  native  of  New  York,  in  which 
State,  in  the  town  of  Vienna,  Oct.  2,  1838,  he 
was  born.  His  father,  Ephraim  Humaston, 
was  also  a  native  of  that  State,  and  was  born  in  the 
same  house  as  was  his  son  Charles,  July  9,  1809;  he 
died  on  the  homestead  now  owned  by  Charles  Hum- 
aston, May  18,  1880.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  notice,  nee  Francis  Pember,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, in  which  State  she  was  born  Feb.  14,  1809. 
The  parents'  family  comprised  nine  children,  four  of 
whom  yet  survive:  Theodocia  C.,  Charles,  Annice 
and  Francis,  all  farmers  and  residing  in  this  county. 
In  1861  Mr.  Charles  Humaston  came  West,  and 
located  in  Cerro  Gordo  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  had  pro- 
cured a  farm,  compiising  160  acres.  He  resided 
there  until  1864,  when  he  removed  to  Aurora,  this 
State,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  that  vicinity  for 
one  year.  In  1865  he  made  another  remove,  com- 


: 


UNIVERSITY  OF  iLlWOIS 


ing  to  Prophetstown  Township,  this  county,  where 
he  rented  land  from  George  P.  Richmond,  and  culti- 
vated the  same  for  a  period  of  four  years.  He  then 
bought  land,  160  acres,  on  the  Rock  River  bottom, 
which  he  cultivated  until  1871,  when  he  sold  it  and 
bought  his  present  farm  of  120  acres,  located  as 
stated.  He  now  has  a  nice  farm  under  a  good  state 
of  cultivation,  with  good  residence,  outbuildings,  etc., 
and  in  addition  to  his  homestead  place,  has  160  acres 
on  section  25.  Since  1871,  he  has  spent  nearly 
seven  years  in  Colorado,  where  he  is  interested  to  a 
considerable  extent,  in  mining  property.  His  inter- 
est in  the  estate  consists  in  stock  in  the  Hope,  the 
Cross,  and  also  the  Lookout  gold  and  silver  mines. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Masonry, 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  Knights  Templars. 

Mr.  Charles  Humaston  formed  a  matrimonial  alli- 
ance in  Prophetstown  Township.  May  g,  1871,  with 
Miss  Helen,  daughter  of  Alden  and  Harriet  M.  Tuller. 
She  died  Oct.  14,  1871,  without  issue,  and  Mr. 
Charles  Humaston  was  again  united  in  marriage  Nov. 
1 6,  1880,  in  Denver,  Col.,  to  Sarah  Weber,  born  in 
Troy,  N.  Y.  One  child  has  been  born  of  the  latter 
union,  Fanny  A.  Humaston,  Aug.  31,  1881. 


ohn  W.  Glassburn,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Glassburn  &  Son,  at  Tampico,  was 
born  June  26,  '835,  in  Gallia  County, 
Ohio.  John  Glassburn,  his  father,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  was  descended  from 
German  ancestors.  His  parents  removed  their 
family  to  Ohio  when  he  was  a  small  boy,  and  he 
grew  to  the  estate  of  manhood  in  the  Buckeye  State. 
He  was  married  in  Vinton  County,  to  Jane  Fee.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  an  Ohio  farmer,  whose  family 
were  early  settlers  in  the  State  of  New  York.  The 
elder  Glassburn  resided  in  Gallia  County  till  1867, 
when  he  removed  to  the  township  of  Hahnaman  and 
settled  on  a  farm.  The  father  died  there,  in  the  fall 
of  1870,  aged  64  years.  The  mother  is  yet  living, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  family  of  her  son  in  Hahna- 
man Township.  She  is  about  74  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Glassburn  attained  to  manhood  under  the 
authority  of  his  parents,  and  acquired  a  fair  educa- 
tion, though  school  facilities  were  limited,  indeed. 
June  14,  1854,  he  was  married  in  his  native  county 


to  Olive  Johnston,  the  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Olive  *; 
(Weed)  Johnston.  She  was  born  in  January,  1838, 
in  Gallia  County,  Ohio,  whither  her  parents  removed 
from  the  State  of  New  York,  in  the  pioneer  period  of 
Ohio.  They  were  residents  there  until  their  deaths.  g\ 
Two  of  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glassburn 
are  deceased.  Thomas,  the  oldest  son,  is  a  partner 
with  his  father  in  the  banking  business  and  the  grain 
trade,  at  Tampico.  Jennie  married  William  G. 
Reeve,  and  they  reside  at  Peru,  III.  Mr.  Reeve  is 
Vice-President  of  the  First  National  Bank  at  that 
place.  May  is  the  wife  of  Silas  C.  Hovey,  of 
Independence,  Iowa.  Silas  H.  is  a  real-estate  agent. 
Fred  lives  with  his  parents.  John  E.  and  Ina  are 
deceased. 

Mr.  Glassburn  located  in  Tampico  about  two 
years  after  his  marriage.  He  located  on  a  claim  of  • 
80  acres  of  wild  land,  which  was  the  condition  of 
most  of  the  surrounding  country.  Later  he  bought 
120  acres  lying  in  Bureau  County,  adjoining  Turn- 
pico  Township. 

In  1 86 1  he  sold  his  estate  and  purchased  80  acres 
on  each  of  sections  14  and  15,  where  he  was  the  first 
permanent  settler.  In  March,  1872,  the  Clinton 
Branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road  was  completed,  and  the  line  of  the  survey  led 
through  his  land.  Mr.  Glassburn  succeeded  in  in- 
ducing the  corporation  to  lay  the  depot  grounds 
in  the  center  of  his  farm,  for  which  he  paid  $2,000, 
and  he  laid  out  the  village,  which  he  named  after 
the  township.  When  the  road  was  open  for  transit, 
he  established  the  business  in  which  he  has  since 
been  interested,  and  in  May,  1882,  he  built  and  or- 
ganized, with  W.  W.  Craddock,  the.  Tampico  Bank, 
of  Glassburn  &  Craddock,  and  was  elected  President 
of  the  bank.  He  first  formed  a  partnership  with 
Marcus  Bryant,  and  later  with  his  son,  Thomas,  on 
the  latter  becoming  of  age.  Their  lines  of  business 
include  traffic  in  grain,  stock,  flour,  coal,  salt,  real 
estate,  and  their  establishment  is  supplied  with  all 
fixtures  and  conveniences  for  the  transaction  of  their 
business,  which  covers  several  hundred  thousand 
dollars  in  value  in  the  course  of  a  year.  J.  W.  owns 
about  1,400  acres  of  land.  The  elevator  connected 
with  their  business  has  a  capacity  of  about  30,000 
bushels,  and  they  held  at  one  time  150,000  bushels 
of  corn.  Mr.  Glassburn  had  all  of  his  farm  platted 
in  the  village  of  Tampico.  He  is  the  founder  of 
Tampico,  and  has  ever  been  alive  to  its  permanent 


-?&,. 


WHITESfDE  COUNTY. 


well-being,  and  it  is  to-day  the  "  apple  of  his  eye." 
His  efforts  have  made  it  a  convenient  shipping  point 
for  the  produce  of  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Glassburn  is  a 
Democrat.  He  has  held  various  local  township 
offices.  His  wife  and  children  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Accompanying  the  foregoing  sketch,  there  is 
given  very  appropriately  a  lithographic  portrait  of 
Mr.  Glassburn,  on  the  page  just  preceding. 


& 
\f 


enry  G.  Moss,  Supervisor  of  Fenton  Town- 
ship (1885),  was  born  Jan.  14,  1826,  in 
Bedford  Co.,  Tenn.,  near  the  city  of  N'ash- 
ville.  His  father,  William  Moss,  was  a  native 
of  Tennessee,  and  married  Rachel  Bratton, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia.  His  parents  came 
in  the  first  year  of  his  life  to  Illinois,  moving  accord- 
ing to  the  primitive  fashion  of  those  times  with  horses 
and  a  pioneer  wagon.  They  settled  seven  miles 
northwest  of  Jacksonville,  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  where 
they  were  among  the  first  permanent  settlers.  The 
father  bought  a  tract  of  wild  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment, built  a  log-house,  and  settled  to  add  his  iota 
to  the  development  of  the  common  wealth  of  Illinois. 
The  senior  Moss  died  there  May  8,  1876,  aged  82 
years.  His  wife's  death  preceded  his  nearly  30 
years,  as  she  died  in  1848.  Their  family  record  is 
one  of  the  most  remarkable,  their  children  number- 
ing 17,  and  all  were  living  at  the  time  of  the  birth 
of  the  youngest. 

Mr.  Moss  is  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth,  and  he 
passed  his  youth  in  the  midst  of  pioneer  conditions, 
which  allowed  little  latitude  save  for  labor  and  pri- 
vation. The  first  important  event  in  his  life  was  his 
leap  into  matrimony.  His  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Eads  took  place  Nov.  19,  1851.  She  was  born  in 
Madison,  Ind.  They  settled  in  Union  Grove  Town- 
ship in  1853,  taking  possession  of  a  portion  of  un- 
improved land,  pn  which  they  began  to  make  the 
usual  efforts  to  reclaim  a  farm.  They  sold  the 
property  in  1855,  and  bought  a  farm  on  which  some 
improvements  had  been  made.  It  was  located  on 
section  8,  and  the  family  were  its  occupants  until 
1867.  In  that  year  they  again  sold,  and  bought  400 

9$. *Q^— 


acres  of  land  on  sections  9  and  4  in  the  township 
of  Fenton.  Since  his  removal  to  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides  he  has  been  chiefly  interested  in 
stock  farming.  In  1881  he  was  elected  Supervisor, 
and  has  been  successively  re-elected  since. 

Following  is  the  record  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Moss:  Emily  C.  is  the  wife  of  Sidney  C. 
Covert,  of  Sterling;  Alice  E.  married  Millard  F. 
Austin,  of  Cloud  Co.,  Kan. ;  Lydia  M.  is  Mrs.  M. 

D.  Allen,  of  Fenton  Township ;  Eliza  B.  is   the  wife 
of  A.   F.    Pinkley,   and    they  reside   in    Nebraska ; 
Charles  N.    is   the   next   in  order;  George.  H.  is  a 
farmer  in  Cloud  Co.,  Kan. ;  Carrie  E.,  who  married 

E.  A.  Sikes,  and  Nellie  J.  are  the  youngest. 

Mr.  Moss  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Fen- 
ton Township,  and  he  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow  townsmen. 


amuel  W.  Spangler,  farmer  on  section  21, 
Garden  Plain  Township,  was  born  April 
14,  1820,  in  Rapho  Township,  Lancaster 
County,  Pa.,  and  is  the  third  son  of  Daniel 
and  Catharine  (Wyland)  Spangler.  The  par- 
ents were  both  born  in  Lancaster  County. 
Mr.  Spangler  acquired  a  complete  knowledge  ot 
the  various  details  of  the  business  pertaining  to  a 
flour  mill,  which  he  began  to  learn  at  19,  and  which 
he  followed  in  Lancaster  County,  in  1844.  In  the 
fall  of  that  year  he  went  to  Wayne  County,  Ind., 
where  he  engaged  in  the  same  capacity  through  the 
winter  following.  He  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  a  resident  there  until  1847,  when  he  went  a 
second  time  to  Wayne  County,  Ind.,  and  passed  four 
years  in  the  management  of  a  flour-mill  near  Center- 
ville. 

In  1851,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County  and 
bought  80  acres  of  land  on  section  21,  of  Garden 
Plain  Township.  He  is  now  a  prosperous  and  pro- 
gressive farmer,  on  the  same  estate  upon  which  he 
first  located  on  coming  to  Illinois.  A  house  has  been 
built  upon  this,  to  which  additions  have  been  made, 
and  other  requisite  farm  buildings  have  been  erected. 
The  proprietor  has  also  planted  hedges  and  set  out 
ornamental  trees.  The  farm  cgntains  IZQ  aqres,  all 


V 


&&&&• 


^^- 


WH1TES1DE  COUNTY. 


inclosed,  and  Mr,  Spangler  is  also  the   owner  of   10 
acres  of  timber. 

He  was  married  March  16,  1848,  to  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Ephraim  J.  and  Margaret  (Trindle)  Merritt. 
She  was  born  Dec.  n,  1829,  in  Wayne  County, Ind. 
They  have  10  children  living,  Washington,  Nancy, 
William,  Edward,  Lincoln,  Albert,  Newton,  Law- 
rence, Mary  J.,  Samuel  and  Arthur.  Orlando,  third 
in  order  of  birth,  died  in  1860,  aged  six  years. 


dwin  P.  Gibbs,  a  farmer  on  section  20, 
Lyndon  Township,  was  born  July  13, 1838, 
in  Hornby  Township,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  is  the  oldest  surviving  child  of  Alanson 
and  Sophronia  (Gaylord)  Gibbs.  His  father  was 
born  in  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  and  accompanied  his 
parents  in  his  young  manhood  to  Steuben  County. 
He  was  there  married  to  the  daughter  of  Marcus 
and  Lydia  (Pond)  Gaylord,  and  they  had  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  living.  Mr.  Gibbs  has  one 
surviving  sister,  Mrs.  Lydia  A.  Robinson,  of  Morri- 
son. 

The  family  remained  in  Hornby  Township  until 
1845.  In  1843  'he  senior  Gibbs  visited  Whiteside 
County;  and,  in  1844,  he  came  again  and  secured  a 
claim  on  section  n,in  the  township  now  called  Lyn- 
don. The  farm  included  20  acres  in  tillage  and 
had  a  farm  house.  Mr.  Gibbs  remained  to  put  in  a 
crop,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  went  back  to 
New  York.  He  started  for  his  new  home  in  the 
spring  of  1845,  and  on  reaching  Chicago  bought  a 
span  of  horses  with  which  he  brought  his  family  to 
Lyndon  Township.  They  occupied  the  farm  until 
1849,  when  it  was  leased  to  a  tenant  and  Mr.  Gibbs 
became  the  manager  of  the  hotel  at  Lyndon,  in 
which  he  continued  until  his  death,  in  August,  1854. 
He  was  a  Whig  in  political  opinion  and  became  a 
pronounced  Abolitionist.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

Mr.  E.  P.  Gibbs  ,was  seven  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Illinois,  and  he  was  16  when  his 
father  died.  His  mother  continued  to  manage  the 
hotel  two  years,  and  he  aided  her  as  best  he  could. 
In  1856  he  went  to  Kansas,  in  company  with  Gen. 


"  Jim "  Lane,  as  a  Free-State  settler,  and  remained 
there  one  summer,  taking  a  claim  while  there,  in 
Brown  County,  which  strengthened  his  principles  as 
an  Abolititionist.  He  came  back  to  Lyndon  and  at- 
tended school  in  the  winter  of  1856  and  1857.  In 
the  spring  ensuing,  he  went  to  the  pineries  of  Wis- 
consin, and  was  occupied  through  the  summer  in 
rafting.  He  attended  school  in  Lyndon  another  win- 
ter, and  afterwards  aided  in  farming  on  the  home- 
stead on  section  n.  In  the  fall  of  1858  he  went  to 
Victoria  Co.,  Texas,  where  he  was  employed  in  a 
hotel  and  as  a  stage-driver  and  in  other  occupations, 
and  was  there  through  the  excitement  preceding  the 
outbreak  of  the  movement  of  Secession.  In  August, 
1 86 1,  he  made  his  way  across  the  country  home  to 
Lyndon. 

Dec.  25,  1862,  Mr.  Gibbs  was  married  to  Lucy 
Church.  She  was  born  in  Portage,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  20, 
1839,  and  died  in  1874,  leaving  four  children — Brad- 
ford L.,  Mabelle,  Augusta  and  Reid.  Mr.  Gibbs  was 
again  married  Dec.  30,  1875,10  Emma  Heilman,  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Ed., 
Erwin  and  Anne  Maud.  Mrs.  Gibbs  is  a  native  of 
Germany. 

At  the  time  of  his  first  marriage,  Mr.  Gibbs  took 
possession  of  the  homestead  which  he  has  since  oc- 
cupied. It  contains  240  acres  in  good  agricultural 
condition,  and  the  proprietor  is  interested  in  raising 
stock  and  grain. 


fohn  P.  Aylsworth,  one  of  the  progressive 
and  representative  citizens,  as  well  as 
prosperous  and  energetic  farmers  of  White- 
side  County,  residing  on  section  27,  in  the 
township  of  Prophetstown,  and  the  proprietor 
of  444  acres  of  land  in  the  township,  was  born 
in  Oneida  County,  Lee  Township,  New  York 
May  19,  1841.  His  father,  John  B.,  was  a  carpen- 
ter and  joiner  by  occupation,  and  died  in  the  State 
of  New  York  March  3,  1877.  His  mother  died 
when  John  P.  was  four  years  of  age,  leaving  two 
children,  of  which  the  subject  of  this  notice  is  the 
oldest. 

In  1865  Mr.  Aylsworth   came  West  and  located 


& 


*  '* 


in  Prophetstown  Township.  He  worked  by  the 
month  two  years  on  a  farm,  then  rented  land  two 
years,  when  he  purchased  221  acres  of  the  farm  on 
which  he  at  present  resides,  and  to  which  he  has 
added  by  subsequent  purchases  until  at  the  present 
time  he  is  the  proprietor  of  444  acres.  He  rents  a 
portion  of  his  land  and  cultivates  the  remainder.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  Short-horn  cattle  and  Clydes- 
dale, Morgan  and  English  coach  horses.  He  has 
one  thoroughbred  bull,  registered  number  19,765, 
raised  in  Lexington,  Ky.  He  has  some  i5-i6thsand 
others  j4  and  3/£  bloods,  and  in  all  has  83  head  of 
cattle  and  18  head  of  horses.  He  has  a  fine  stallion 
named  Clyde,  J^  Black-Hawk  Morgan  and  }4 
Clydesdale,  which  he  raised  from  a  colt.  He  has 
also  sold  a  number  of  fine  horses.  He  has  a  nice 
flock  of  sheep,  usually  numbering  about  50  head, 
and  also  about  100  head  of  hogs. 

Mr.  Aylsworth  was  united  in  marriage  in  Sterling, 
this  county,  Dec.  25,  1866,  to  Miss  Helen  Field. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Olive  (Paddock) 
Field,  born  in  Ava  Township,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
April  21,  1851.  The,-  have  three  children,  Eva 
Anna,  born  Oct.  3,  1868 ;  Ella  Evangeline,  born 
Feb.  15,  1873;  George  Samuel,  Jan.  27,  1883. 


foseph  C.  Snyder,  farmer,  section   24,  Al- 
bany Township,  was   born   July  18,   1844, 
in  the  same   township,   of  which   he  has 
been  a  citizen  since  the  time  he   reached  the 
period  of  his  privileges  as  such,  and  where  he 
spent  the  years  of  his  boyhood  and  youth.    He 
is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Nancy  (Clark)  Snyder. 

At  the  age  of  18  Mr.  Snyder  entered  the  military 
service  of  the  United  States.  He  enlisted  in  the 
same  month  in  which  he  reached  that  age,  in  Co.  F, 
93d  111.  Vol.  Inf.  and  continued  in  service  during  the 
war.  He  was  under  rebel  fire  in  the  battles  at  Jack- 
son, Miss.,  Raymond,  Champion  Hills,  siege  of 
Vicksburg  and  Missionary  Ridge.  At  the  last- 
named  contest  his  ankle  was  broken  by  a  minie  ball, 
and  he  was  disabled  for  six  months.  He  rejoined 
his  command  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  and  accompanied 
his  regiment  to  Washington,  where  he  was  a  partici- 
pant in  the  grand  review. 


On  obtaining  his  discharge,  he  came  back  to 
Whiteside  County,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Gar- 
den Plain  Township.  He  was  married  in  October, 
r866,  to  Mary  H.,  daughter  of  William  and  Harriet 
Ewing,  and  took  up  his  residence  on  his  father's 
farm,  a  portion  of  which  was  under  his  management 
until  his  removal  to  Albany,  where  he  bought  a 
livery  stable.  After  two  years'  attention  to  that 
enterprise,  he  rented  a  farm  in  the  Township  of 
Newton,  which  he  conducted  until  1875.  In  that 
year  he  bought  the  farm  of  which  he  is  still  the 
owner  and  occupant.  It  comprises  160  acres  of 
land  and  is  all  fenced  and  in  advanced  cultivation. 
The  buildings  are  of  a  good  class,  and  the  appear- 
ance and  the  value  of  the  farm  are  much  increased 
by  the  fruit  and  shade  trees. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  have  four  children,  namely: 
Fannie  H.,  Minnie,  Mabel  and  Myrtle. 


harles  L.  Parkhurst  has  been  a  business 
tj|kRp||'    1T>an  at  Lyndon  since  1873,  when  he  pur- 
d*'     chased  a  stock  of  hardware  of  the  Man- 


ning  estate,  his  purchase  including  a  frame 
building.  In  1882  he  bought  the  Coburn 
building,  which  he  moved  and  attached  to  the 
structure  in  which  he  was  then  managing  his  hard- 
ware business  and  the  sale  of  agricultural  implements. 
He  added  the  sale  of  groceries,  glass,  crockery,  boots, 
shoes,  wall-paper,  patent  medicines  and  school- 
books,  and  has  since  actively  prosecuted  the  miscel- 
laneous details  of  his  business. 

Mr.  Parkhurst  was  born  March  27, 1840,  in  Siloam, 
Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents,  Uzual  and  Mary 
(Curtis)  Parkhurst,  were  born  in  New  York.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  four  years  old,  and  at  12 
years  of  age  he  became  a  farm  assistant  near  Oswego, 
where  he  obtained  employment  at  $5  a  month. 
Eighteen  months  afterward,  in  1854,  he  came  to 
Whiteside  County,  having  a  brother-in-law,  George 
B.  Day,  at  Round  Grove.  He  remained  with  his 
relatives  six  months,  when  he  engaged  as  a  clerk 
with  Scott  &  Russell  in  the  sale  of  groceries  and 
hardware  and  operated  in  their  interests  one  year. 
He  then  went  to  Morrison,  where  he  was  employed 


sx 

I 


-"' 


r 


-   "  " 


•~ '.    " 


j&a/^&eff?. 

T^JVl) 


three  years  in  a  restaurant.  Sept.  17,  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  B,  341)1  111.  Vol.  Inf.  In  his  ser- 
vice, which  covered  a  period  of  three  years,  he 
was  a  participant  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Corinth 
and  Stone  River.  He  was  captured  by  the  Rebels 
at  the  last  named  and  was  taken  to  Libby  prison  at 
Richmond.  He  was  paroled  six  months  later,  and 
went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  until  ex- 
changed. He  rejoined  his  command  at  Murfrees- 
boro  and  was  in  action  at  Atlanta  and  Jonesboro. 
He  was  discharged  Sept.  17,  1864,  at  Atlanta,  and 
<*»  returned  to  Whiteside  County.  He  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, but  was  compelled  by  poor  health  to  devote  his 
\  attention  to  other  employ.  In  1867  he  embarked  in 
a  mercantile  enterprise  at  Erie,  in  which  he  was  in- 
terested at  that  point  one  year,  removing  in  1868  to 
Sterling.  He  prosecuted  the  same  business  there 
one  year  and  went  thence  to  Round  Grove,  whence 
he  transferred  his  relations  to  Lyndon  in  1873,  as 
stated.  Mr.  Parkhurst  is  engaged  in  the  active  pros- 
ecution of  a  popular  and  successful  trade,  for  which 
he  is  fitted  by  nature  and  training. 

He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Shoeman  in  1865, 
and  they  have  had  eight  children — Burtie,  Willliam, 
Ceola,  Matie,  Frank,  Freddie,  Jennie  and  Winnie. 
Freddie  died  in  infancy. 


•i  •* 

i> 


ion  B.  Bull,  a  farmer  residing  on  section 
34,  Ustick  Township,  is  a  son  of  John  W. 
and  Huldah  (Wilson)  Bull,  and  was  born 
in  the  township  in   which  he  at  present  re- 
sides, Sept.    19,  1858.     For  a  sketch  of  his 
father,  see  biography  of  J.  W.  Bull  in  another 
part  of  this  work. 

Bion  B.  Bull,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  remained 
alternating  his  labors  thereon  by  attendance  at  the 
common  schools,  until  he  attained  the  age  of  19 
years,  when  he  set  forth  upon  the  sea  of  adversity  to 
fight  the  battles  of  life  alone.  He  worked  out  by  the 
month  farming,  and  continued  that  vocation  for 
about  three  years,  in  the  State  of  Iowa,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Ustick  Township,  and  rented  land, 
which  he  cultivated  for  his  own  individual  benefit. 


-     & 


He  has,  since  boyhood  days  or  until  the  age  spoken 
of,  been  constantly  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
Mr.  Bull  was  united  in  marriage  in  Ustick  Town- 
ship, Feb.  26,  1885,  to  Miss  Maggie,  daughter  of 
James  and  Jane  (McKee)  Jemison.  She  was  born 
in  Ustick  Township,  Jan.  17,  1864.  Politically  Mr. 
Bull  is  an  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republi- 
can party. 


uilford  Langford,  farmer,  resident  on 
section  12,  Albany  Township,  was  born 
Dec.  27,  1836,  in  Waterford,  Fulton  Co. 
111.  Asa  Langford,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Alabama  and  accompanied  his  parents  about 
1805  to  the  Territory  of  Illinois.  They  located 
near  Carmi  in  White  County,  where  they  were  among 
the  earliest  to  make  a  permanent  location.  The 
senior  Langford  was  married  there,  and  about  1815 
he  went  to  Fulton  County  with  his  family,  then  in- 
cluding his  wife  and  two  children.  He  became  in- 
terested in  the  river  service  and  soon  obtained  a 
position  as  pilot,  rising  later  to  that  of  Captain.  He 
was  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  and  held  the  rank  of 
Second  Lieutenant.  He  died  in  Fulton  County, 
April  6,  1862.  Nancy  (Nevitt)  Langford,  his  wife, 
was  the  daughter  of  Wm.  Nevitt,  one  of  the  first 
pioneers  of  Albany  in  Whiteside  County.  She  died 
in  1868.  Four  of  their  seven  children  are  now  liv- 
ing (1885).  The  eldest  is  a  member  of  the  current 
Legislature  of  Illinois.  A  sketch  of  Wm.  Nevitt, 
who  was  a  pioneer  of  Whiteside  County,  is  given 
elsewhere. 

Mr.  Langford  was  the  sixth  child  of  his  parents  in 
order  of  birth,  and  was  14  when  his  father  settled  in 
Albany.  Four  years  later  he  was  attached  to  the 
corps  of  Frink  &  Walker,  stage  route  proprietors,  be- 
tween Chicago  and  Albany,  in  the  capacity  of  road- 
master.  After  operating  in  their  interests  one  year, 
he  engaged  as  an  engineer  in  a  steam  saw-mill,  where 
he  was  occupied  two  years.  The  succeeding  seven 
years  he  rafted  on  the  Mississippi  River.  He  had 
acquired  some  property  and  was  comfortably  located 
at  Albany,  when  the  tornado  of  June  3,  1860,  which 
ruined  the  vfllage,  swept  away  his  accumulations  and 


* 


1" 

(5) 


left  him  with  the  privilege  of  beginning  the  world 
anew.  He  went  to  Bureau  County  and  rented  land, 
which  he  continued  to  manage  two  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  he  took  possession  of  some 
land  left  him 'by  his  father,  situated  on  section  19. 
Three  years  later  he  sold  the  place  and  bought  a 
homestead  on  section  12,  where  he  has  since  operated 
with  success.  He  now  owns  500  acres,  all  in  good 
agricultural  condition  with  excellent  buildings. 

Mr.  Langford  was  married  April  23,  1859,  to 
Emeline  Valentine.  She  was  born  in  Monmouth, 
N.  J.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Wm.  and  Julia  A.  Val- 
entine. Guilford  J.  and  Frank  are  the  names  of  the 
sons  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Langford.  Frank  received 
ijjjroo  per  month  as  stenographer  when  only  19  years 
old. 


:ecker  Miller,  a  pioneer  of  Whiteside 
County,  of  1837,  is  living  in  retirement 
on  his  farm  on  section  25,  Jordan  Town- 
ship. He  is  a  citizen  of  the  United  States 
by  adoption,  having  been  born  in  Oldenburg, 
Germany,  April  6,  1820.  P.  E.  Miller,  his 
father,  'was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  was  the  son  of 
a  manufacturer  of  linseed  oil,  who  was  a  native 
of  Friesland,  Hanover,  Germany,  where  he  died 
many  years  ago.  He  was  the  earliest  ancestor 
known  in  the  paternal  line.  The  family  is,  and  has 
been  for  several  generations,  remarkable  for  strong, 
stalwart  men.  The  father  of  Becker  Miller  was  the 
youngest  of  a  large  family  of  children.  He  was 
gifted  with  a  brilliant  intellect  and  a  strong  pro- 
clivity for  study,  which  he  indulged  through  the 
succeeding  years  of  his  life.  The  peasants  of  the 
Duchy  of  Oldenburg  were  very  poor;  and  in  unpro- 
ductive years,  when  the  scarcity  of  food  threatened 
famine,  and  they  were  reduced  to  suffering,  it  was 
their  custom  to  make  their  distresses  known  to  the 
Duke  ol  Oldenburg  by  petition,  and  the  senior 
Miller  was  selected  not  only  to  prepare  the  docu- 
ment, but  also  to  present  it  to  the  dignitary  who 
formed  the  head  of  the  local  government.  The 
accomplishments  and  fine  character  of  the  messen- 
ger won  the  sincere  friendship  of  the  Duke.  Mr. 
Miller,  senior,  married  Theda  Remmers,  who  was 


born  in  Oldenburg,  and  was  a  farmer's  daughter. 
Her  father  was  possessed  of  a  fine  estate,  and  was 
of  a  deeply  religious  character.  He  was  made  the 
victim  of  unscrupulous  friends,  and  lost  his  wealth. 
His  family  have  been  noted  for  remarkable  tenacity 
of  life. 

In  1837  the  parents  came  with  five  children  to 
the  United  States.  Elizabeth,  the  eldest  child,  re- 
mained in  Germany  until  1866,  when  she  came  to 
America.  Christina  married  John  Abels,  and  died 
in  the  province  where  she  was  born.  The  children 
who  accompanied  the  parents  to  this  country  were 
named  Siebold,  Emke  D.,  Anthony  F.,  Becker  and 
Henry.  With  the  exception  of  the  oldest  son,  who 
was  a  miller  by  profession,  the  sons  were  all  farmers. 
The  family  settled  in  Cass  Co.,  111.,  in  1837,  where 
the  father  died  in  September  of  the  same  year,  aged 
58  years.  He  was  buried  in  that  county,  and  in 
the  next  year  the  mother,  with  her  five  sons,  came 
to  Lee  County,  and  settled  in  Palmyra  Township. 
They  bought  a  claim  in  r838,  which  they  secured 
from  the  Government  when  the  land  came  into 
market  in  1843,  and  had  the  proud  privilege  of 
knowing  that  they  paid  in  full  for  the  land  they 
owned.  They  settled  in  Lee  County,  before  the 
township  had  a  name,  and  when  Dixon  had  no 
existence,  save  as  Dixon's  Ferry,  the  name  given  to 
the  little  cluster  of  insignificant  dwellings  on  the 
site  of  the  now  beautiful  city. 

Mr.  Miler  was  married  Sept.  19,  1852,  in  Palmyra 
Township,  to  Elizabeth  M.  Thummel,  the  youngest 
child  of  the  Rev.  Christian  B.  and  Elizabeth  M. 
(Cox)  Thummel.  She  had  two  brothers  :  William, 
the  oldest,  lives  on  a  farm  in  Worth  Co.,  Mo. 
Charles  died  when  he  was  a  babe.  Mrs.  Miller  was 
born  Dec.  5,  1835,  in  the  city  of  Utica,  N.  Y. 
She  was  10  days  of  age  when  her  mother  died 
Her  father  was  again  married,  May  17,  1837,  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  to  Catherine  Lattin,  and 
the  two  motherless  children  were  reared  by  their 
step-mother. 

In  1846  the  family  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  Palmyra  Township,  in  Lee  County.  The  father 
died  there,  May  24,  1881.  He  was  80  years  of  age. 
and  spent  50  years  in  active,  efficient  ministerial 
labor.  He  was  a  reliable  man,  and  won  universal 
confidence.  For  fifteen  years  before  his  death  he 
was  Treasurer  of  the  Farmers'  Life  Insurance  Com- 


• 

f 

I 

V®) 


pany.  His  wife  is  still  living,  and  is  the  mother  of 
five  children :  Anson  E.,  Charles,  George,  Warren 
and  Catherine.  The  children  of  Becker  Miller  and 
his  wife  are  recorded  as  follows :  Emma  C.  married 
Henry  Montillon,  and  lives  in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa ; 
Adaline  E.  married  Samuel  Wailk,  and  lives  on  the 
homestead ;  Ella  M.  married  William  Emory,  and 
they  are  farmers  in  Boone  Co.,  Iowa;  George  W.  B. 
lives  in  Kansas  ;  Frederick  L.  is  a  resident  of  Mar- 
shall Co.,  Iowa;  and  Jessie  L.  lives  at  home. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Miller  he  located  on  a 
farm  in  Palmyra  Township,  of  which  he  became 
the  owner,  and  which  he  sold  in  1853.  In  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  he  removed  to  Jordan  Township, 
and  bought  an  improved  farm  on  section  25,  where 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  260  acres  of  land,  which  he 
has  redeemed  from  its  original  condition.  He  has 
given  much  attention  to  stock-growing.  He  is  con- 
sidered a  skillful  and  progressive  farmer.  Mr.  Mil- 
ler is  a  Democrat.  During  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 
he  served  two  years  as  Supervisor,  and  devoted  his 
energies  effectively  to  the  prosecution  of  a  draft  in 
his  township.  He  has  held  other  responsible  official 
positions.  For  many  years  he  and  his  wife  have 
been  members  of  the  Lutheran  Cburch. 


obert  K.  Murphy,  farmer,  Garden  Plain 
Township,  was  born  Feb.  14,  1836,  in 
Adams  Co.,  Ohio.  His  parents  removed 
in  1852  to  Whiteside  County.  He  was  then 
1 6  years  of  age,  and  he  resided  with  them  un- 
til his  marriage.  Eliza  J.  Armstrong  became 
his  wife,  March  9,  1859.  She  was  born  Oct.  8,  1835, 
in  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  died  in  Garden  Plain  Town- 
ship in  1878.  She  left  five  children,  namely:  Addie 
married  E.  A.  Harrington  and  they  live  at  La  Moille; 
D.  Edgar  is  a  resident  in  Ustick  Township ;  Samuel, 
Bertha  and  Frances  M.  are  the  names  of  the  three 
youngest,  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  Murphy  was  mar- 
ried a  second  time,  to  Lorinda  Casselman,  March  25, 
1880.  She  was  born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y. 

At  the  time  of  his  first  marriage,  he  located  on  80 
acres  of  land  on  section  27,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  occupied,  continuously  in  its  improvement,  A 

^&,. 


new  dwelling  has  been  erected  on  the  place,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  pursuits  common  to  mixed  husbandry, 
Mr.  Murphy  has  been  for  some  years  interested  in 
the  cultivation  of  small  fruit,  including  grapes,  cher- 
ries and  apples.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  a  fine 
apiary,  comprising  85  colonies  of  bees.  In  1880  he 
embarked  in  the  creamery  business,  in  which  he 
is  operating  with  success. 

Mr.  Murphy  is  reaping  the  reward  of  his  industry, 
frugality  and  thrift,  and  is  a  valuable  citizen  in  his 
township. 


aron  Porter  Holt,  M.  D.,  deceased,  for- 
merly a  medical  practitioner  at  Lyndon, 
was  born  Oct.  8,  1808,  in  Holden,  Worces- 
ter Co.,  Mass.  His  father  was  named  Amos 
Holt,  and  he  was  the  third  son.  The  latter 
was  reared  on  the  paternal  homestead  and  re- 
ceived a  commons-chool  education.  In  youth  he 
was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  business  of  a  machinist, 
but  he  devoted  his  entire  leisure  to  study.  In  1835, 
when  27,  he  began  to  read  medicine,  and  in  1840 
opened  an  office  at  Andover,  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  em- 
ploying the  botanic  and  eclectic  systems.  In  1841 
he  went  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  he  kept  an  infirm- 
ary six  years,  and  met  with  results  entirely  satisfac- 
tory. He  grew  dissatisfied  with  city  life  and  went  to 
Palmyra,  Jefferson  Co.,  Wis.,  where  he  transacted 
business  for  a  brief  period.  In  1847  he  came  to  Lyn- 
don. Two  years  later  he  was  seized  with  a  hemor- 
rhage of  the  lungs,  and  suffered  from  the  conse- 
quences nearly  a  year.  He  was  a  consumptive  by 
inheritance,  his  mother,  brothers  and  sisters  having 
been  victims  of  the  disease.  Through  careful  treat- 
ment he  recovered  his  health.  As  soon  as  he  had 
sufficiently  recovered  to  resume  business,  he  ob- 
tained a  homeopathic  library  and  the  remedies  pre- 
scribed by  that  school  of  medicine;  and  after  careful 
investigation  by  experiment,  he  adopted  that  method 
of  practice.  In  1856  he  was  graduated  at  the  Home- 
opathic College,  at  Cleveland,  O.,  acquitting  himself 
with  honor  in  his  examination.  He  used  no  other 
system  in  his  latter  practice.  Dr.  Holt  was  a  mem- 
ber gf  the  first  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  that 


•; 


was  organized  in  Illinois.  He  also  was  one  of  the 
foremost  citizens  of  Lyndon  in  affording  support  to 
all  projects  that  promised  substantial  or  permanent 
benefit  to  the  general  welfare.  He  was  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Railroad  Addition  to  Lyndon, 
platted  in  1869,  and  in  1874  was  made  one  of  the 
first  Board  of  Trustees  when  the  village  was  incor- 
porated, the  first  meeting  of  that  body  being  held  at 
his  home  May  zd. 

He  was  married  Dec.  2,  1829,  to  Clarissa  Huse,  of 
Chester,  N.  H.  She  died  in  September,  1864.  Dr. 
Holt's  second  marriage,  to  Rosetta  M.  Mitchell,  oc- 
curred in  August,  1865.  She  was  born  in  Aurora, 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  By  the  first  marriage  there  were  six 
children,  but  three  of  whom  are  living.  Lucius  is  a 
medical  practitioner  at  Marshalltown,  Iowa.  Luella 
A.  is  the  wife  of  George  L.  Coburn.  Mary  Lowell  is 
married  to  Atwater  Day,  of  Boston,  Mass.  James 
H.,  the  youngest  son  of  the  earlier  marriage,  was  born 
Aug.  9,  1843.  He  was  a  bugler  in  the  military  ser- 
vice of  his  country  during  the  Rebellion,  and  died 
during  his  period  of  enlistment.  Charlotte  M.,  Amos 
W.,  Kittie  B.,  Arthur  M.  and  Aaron  P.  are  the  chil- 
dren of  the  later  marriage  of  Dr.  Holt. 

He  died  March  6,  1876,  after  an  illness  of  two 
years.  He  prescribed  for  visiting  patients  until  a 
week  previous  to  his  death. 


£~ohn  M.  Overholser,  general  farmer,  section 
9,  Genesee   Township,  was  born  Jan.  19, 
1854.     He  is  the  son  of  Martin   and  Bar- 
bara (Arford)  Overholser,  of  whom  an  account 
is  given  in  connection  with  that  of  Christian 
Overholser. 

The  subject  of  this  personal  record  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born.  He  was  employed  on  his  father's  farm 
until  he  had  passed  his  twentieth  birthday,  and  until 
the  removal  of  the  family  to  Illinois.  They  located 
on  section  9,  where  the  son  entered  into  the  work 
of  improving  a  new  farm,  in  which  he  was  engaged 
until  he  established  himself  as  the  independent  head 
of  a  family.  He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 

ffi  _V^4- ^^^ ^-*< 


Lydia,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna  (Overholser) 
Crom,  in  Wysox,  Carroll  Co.,  111.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  were  brought  up  in 
Harrison  Co.,  Ohio.  After  their  marriage  they  went 
to  Sandusky  County,  and  afterwards  to  Wood 
County,  in  the  same  State.  Mrs.  Overholser  was 
born  there  April  18,  1833.  She  was  19  years  of  age 
when  her  father  made  a  transfer  of  his  family  and 
business  relations  to  Carroll  Co.,  111.  To  her  and 
her  husband  five  children  have  been  born,  Elizabeth 
A.  is  the  wife  of  C.  Vincent,  of  Coleta.  (They  have 
one  child,  Myrtle.)  Martin  married  Anna  M.  Dull, 
and  lives  at  home.  Clara  J.  married  Howard 
Hawkins,  of  Clyde  Township.  Rebecca  A.  and 
James  C.  are  the  two  youngest  children. 

Mr.  Overholser  is  the  owner  of  117  acres  of  land, 
which  he  purchased  after  his  marriage,  and  he  has 
devoted  the  greatest  part  of  his  time  and  energies  to 
its  improvement.  He  has  erected  creditable  farm 
buildings.  In  political  faith  and  adherence  he  is  a 
Republican.  He  belongs  to  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  also  a  member. 


r<t 
: 


*fofrM  ^ 

aniel  Nicenwanger  is  a  farmer  on  section 
31,  Garden  Plain  Township.  He  was  born 
in  Ligonier  Township,  Westmoreland  Co., 
Pa.,  July  2,  1834.  His  paternal  descent  is  of 
German,  and  his  father,  Joseph  Nicenwanger, 
.  was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.  His  mother,  \ 
Margaret  Hull,  before  her  marriage,  was  of  English  rf 
origin,  and  was  born  in  Allegheny  Co.,  Pa.  The  ^ 
father  conducted  a  home  of  public  entertainment  in 
the  village  of  Mill  Creek,  Pa.,  and  he  also  owned  a 
farm,  which  he  managed. 

The  son  operated  as  his  father's  assistant  in  both 
his  business  interests.  He  was  married  July  2, 
1857,  to  Jane  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eliz- 
abeth Lowrey.  She  was  born  June  22,  1835,  in  the'S 
town  of  Ligonier,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  of  mixed  i 
German  and  Scotch  ancestry. 

The  newly  married  people  passed  the  first  year  wjj 
subsequent  to  the'r  marriage  on  the  homestead  farm  Sj* 
of  the  senior  Nicenwanger,  after  which  they  settled  8JJ 
on  a  farm,  of  which  they  were  the  occupants  until 

— |^£<e> 


UNIVERSilY  Of  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


~   . .   " 


-7&\>- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


1862.  In  August  of  that  year,  the  husband  enlisted 
as  a  Corporal  in  the  military  service  in  the  State  of 
Illinois,  and  went  to  Connellsville.  At  that  place  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Quartermaster's  Department 
and  served  six  months.  His  term  of  enlistment  hav- 
ing expired,  he  was  discharged  in  February,  1864.  He 
re-enlisted  in  the  regular  army  as  a  private.  He 
was  assigned  to  a  position  on  the  signal  service  de- 
partment under  Capt.  Russel  Pennis.  He  was  soon 
after  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Sergeant  and  served 
till  August,  1865,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged, 
and  returned  to  Westmoreland  County. 

In  1866  he  came  to  Rock  Island  Co.,  111.,  to  as- 
sume the  duties  as  superintendent  of  the  property 
known  as  the  McCormick  stock  farm,  which  he  man- 
aged five  years.  He  afterward  rented  the  same  farm, 
and  conducted  his  interests  there  two  years.  Mean- 
while he  bought  the  farm  he  now  occupies  in  Garden 
Plain  Township.  It  includes  120  acres,  has  a  good 
outfit  of  buildings,  and  is  under  an  excellent  grade 
of  cultivation.  Its  improvements  includes  one  of 
the  finest  apple  orchards  in  the  county  and  a  large 
assortment  of  varieties  of  small  fruits. 

Mr.  Nicenwanger  belongs  to  the  Post  Captain 
Mack,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Albany,  to  Lodge  No.  66,  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.,  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  Garden  Plain,  and 
to  the  Forest  Camp  of  Modern  Woodmen.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Tht:ir  children  are  named  Anna,  Grace,  Etta  and 
Joseph  Edgar.  The  elder  is  the  wife  of  William 
Drury,  of  Garden  PJain  Township. 


eorge  P.  Richmond,  one  of  the  leading 

a    agriculturists  of  Whiteside  County,  and  a 

K  prominent  stock-horse  raiser,  residing  on 
*- *  section  35,  Prophetstown,  was  born  in  Adams 
Township,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  Oct.  24, 1827. 
His  parents,  John  and  Chloe  Richmond,  were 
New  Englanders,  the  former  a  native. of  Connecticut 
and  the  latter  of  Massachusetts.  In  the  early  part 
of  his  life,  his  father  was  a  farmer,  but  later  engaged 
in  mercantile  business.  He  died  in  1838.  His 
mother  died  in  Berkshire  County  in  1841.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  all  of  whom  are 


living:  John,  the  eldest,  is  a  farmer  in  Adams 
Township,  Mass.;  Mary,  wife  of  R.  M.  Cole,  a  mer- 
chant and  farmer  in  Cheshire,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.; 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  third  in  order  of  birth ; 
and  Rufus,  farmer  in  Pittfield  Township,  Mass. 

When  ready  to  go  into  the  world,  to  enter  upon  a 
business  career  for  himself,  Mr.  Richmond  looked 
for  a  wider  field  of  operation  than  his  native  State 
offered.  With  thousands  of  others,  he  looked  to  the 
great  and  growing  West,  and  in  1849  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  in  Prophetstown  Township,  where 
he  purchased  1 60  acres  of  land,  located  on  section 
26.  He  has  been  quite  successful,  and  accumulated 
property,  until  he  now  has  about  2,000  acres  of  land, 
in  this  township,  besides  a  few  village  lots  in  Lyn- 
don. When  Mr.  R.  first  came  to  this  county  he  had 
but  little  money,  all  told  only  $1,500;  but  by  energy 
and  the  display  of  rare  business  ability,  with  which 
he  is  gifted,  he  has  accumulated  until  he  is  now  quite 
wealthy.  Being  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  however,  he  endured  much  privation  and 
had  had  many  obstacles  to  contend  with,  in  carry- 
ing forward  his  business,  that  the  young  men  of  to- 
day know  little  or  nothing  about  When  he  first 
came  he  raised  a  number  of  cattle,  and  drove  them 
all  the  way  to  the  Chicago  market. 

Mr.  Richmond  is  quite  extensively  engaged  in 
stock-raising,  usually  buying  a  large  number  of  young 
stock,  which  he  raises  and  fattens  for  the  market. 
He  gives  his  special  attention  to  the  raising  of 
horses,  having  at  present  over  100  head.  The 
Hambletonians  are  his  principal  breed,  of  which  he 
raises  very  fine  and  fast  horses.  He  has  been  a 
prominent  competitor  in  the  fairs  of  his  own  county, 
and  those  of  Chicago  in  the  stock  department,  hav- 
ing exhibited  some  very  fine  colts  and  cattle  at  these 
exhibitions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Breed- 
ers' Association,  and  takes  great  interest  in  all  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  the  development  of  farm  stock. 

Mr.  Richmond  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophets- 
town  Township,  Feb.  22,  1860,  to  Miss  Sevilla, 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Orpha  Gage.  His  wife  was 
a  native  of  this  township  and  was  born  April  30, 
1842.  Mrs.  Richmond  died  April  18,  1879.  She 
was  the  mother  of  three  chilcren,  all  born  in  Prophets- 
town  Township.  John,  the  oldest  was  born  Sept.  24, 
1 86 1,  resides  at  home  and  is  interested  with  his 
father  in  the  horses  and  other  stock;  Mary,  wife  of 


\s 

3* 


Vg) 


ft 


~-—- 


' 


grjfc* 
II 


* 

o* 


C.  L.  Passmore,  a  jeweler  at  Savanna,  111.  She 
was  born  Sept.  9,  1863;  Harry  B.,  born  Feb.  25, 
1 87 1 ,  now  at  home. 

Not  only  as  a  representative  agriculturist  of  the 
county,  but  as  one  who  ranks  with  the  leading  men, 
we  place  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Richmond  in  this  ALBUM, 
accompanying  this  sketch.  It  is  engraved  from  a 
photograph  recently  taken. 


acob  L.  Myers,  resident  on  section  22, 
Genesee  Township,  has  been  a  farmer  all 
his  active  life,  and  is  now  living  in  retire- 
ment. He  was  born  Nov.  29,  1829,  in  Carroll 
Co.,  Md.  Joseph  Myers,  his  father,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  mixed 
German  and  English  descent.  He  was  a  carder  and 
fuller  by  trade,  and  worked  at  that  business  among 
the  pioneers  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  He  is 
yet  living  in  McDonough  Co.,  111.,  and  is  82  years  of 
age.  He  married  Mary  Lehman,  a  native  of  York 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  a  descendant  of  the  Pennsylvania 
*Dutch.  Her  father  was  a  carder  and  fuller,  and 
also  a  farmer.  She  died  in  Pennsylvania,  July  6, 
1872,  aged  69  years.  She  became  the  mother  of 
seven  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Mr.  Myers  continued  to  live  in  Maryland  until  he 
was  six  years  of  age,  when  his  parents  went  to  York 
Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  attended  the  common  schools, 
and  was  reared  to  the  age  of  20  years  on  his  father's 
farm.  In  1849  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  miller.  He  first  passed  a  winter  in  that 
employ,  working  for  $30  for  the  season.  He  after- 
ward received  regular  wages,  following  the  same 
business  about  eight  years. 

He  came  during  that  period  to  Whiteside  County, 
and  located  at  the  mouth  of  Buffalo  Creek,  in  Juda 
Township,  where  Joseph  M.  Wilson's  mill  was  in 
operation.  He  was  married  in  1857,  and  resided 
for  a  time  at  a  point  on  section  33,  Jordan  Town- 
ship, yet  known  as  Bressler's  Mill.  A  few  months 
after  locating  there  he  removed  to  his  farm  in  the 
same  township.  He  had  purchased  previous  to  his 
marriage  80  acres  of  land,  and  on  this  he  pursued 
his  agricultural  interests  about  seven  years.  He 
purchased  1 20  acres  of  land  in  Genesee  Township, 


and",  in  1864,  took  permanent  possession  of  the 
place.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  526  acres  in  first- 
class  condition,  and  constituting  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  Genesee  Township,  beautified  and  increased 
in  value  by  its  buildings.  He  also  owns  40  acres  of 
timber,  and  the  same  amount  of  pasture.  He  has 
been  extensively  interested  in  raising  stock. 

Mr.  Myers  was  married  Dec.  3,  1857,  in  Lee  Co., 
111.,  to  Nancy,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (More- 
land)  Cohenour,  natives  respectively  of  Ireland  and 
the  Dominion  of  Canada.  They  were  married  in 
Huntington  Co.,  Pa.,  and  her  father  was  a  wagon- 
maker  by  occupation.  Mrs.  Myers  was  born  Feb. 
5,  1830,  in  Orbisonia,  Hfintington  Co.,  Pa,  and  is 
one  of  a  family  of  nine  children.  Her  father  re- 
moved with  his  family  when  she  was  24  years  of 
age,  to  the  western  part  of  Lee  County.  Four 
children  that  have  been  born  to  her  and  her  hus- 
band are  all  married.  Mary  E.,  born  Sept.  27, 
1858,  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Shank,  of  Genesee  Town- 
ship; Joseph  E.,  born  Nov.  28,  1859,  married  Mat- 
tie  Runion  ;  Ann  Eliza,  born  Nov.  29,  1860,  married 
Jacob  Hager;  John  A.,  born  Aug.  8,  1862,  married 
Mary  Swigart.  They  all  live  in  Genesee  Township. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Dunkard  Church. 
Mr.  Myers  has  been  many  years  a  Deacon,  and  has 
officiated  four  years  as  a  minister.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  in  his  political  connections  is  one  of  the 
most  reliable  citizens  of  his  township.  He  has  held 
several  local  offices. 


rminius  S.  Round,  a  fanner  on  section  25, 
Fenton  Township,  is  the  son  of  George  and 
Rebecca  (Potter)  Round.  His  father  was 
born  in  Scituate,  R.  I.,  and  went  with  his 
parents  to  the  State  of  New  York  when  he 
was  16  years  of  age.  The  mother's  history 
was  much  the  same.  She  died  in  Fenton  at  the 
home  of  her  son.  The  senior  Round  had  a  large 
family  and  limited  resources. 

The  son,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
notice,  set  out  in  his  single-handed  contest  with  the 
world  when  he  was  14  years  old.  He  was  born 

3 *^ . 


I 


Feb.  23,  1836,  in  Richfield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.     He 
hired  out  to  a  farmer  in  1850,  to  work  one  season  at 

^  $5  a  month.  In  the  winter  ensuing  he  did  chores 
for  his  board  and  went  to  school.  Two  successive 
summers  he  worked  for  $6  and  $8  a  month,  and  went 
to  school  winters.  He  continued  to  operate  in  this 
method  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  In  1856 
he  went  to  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  worked  on  a 
farm  one  summer,  teaching  school  in  the  winter  fol- 
lowing. The  next  year  he  took  up  a  claim  in  Kan- 
sas, and  lived  thereon  until  fall,  when  he  returned 
to  the  State  of  New  York,  and  spent  a  year  in  farm 
labor.  He  next  came  to  Grundy  Co.,  111.,  and 
passed  two  years,  teaching  school  winters.  He  went 
next  to  Missouri,  and  thence  to  Memphis,  Tenn., 
where  he  remained  about  two  months.  He  returned 
to  Illinois,  and  reached  Whiteside  County  June  10, 
1859. 

He  was  interested  in  farming  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Southern  Rebellion,  when  he  hastened 
back  to  his  native  State  to  enter  the  military  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States.  He  enlisted  May  i,  r86i, 
20  days  after  the  first  gun  of  the  insurgents  was  fired 
upon  Fort  Sumter.  He  enrolled  in  Co.  G,  34th  N.  Y. 
Vol.  Inf.  He  was  in  action  at  Fair  Oaks,  Savage 
Station,  White  Oak  Swamp,  Malvern  Hill,  South 
Mountain,  Antietam,  and  the  Second  Battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg.  Co.  G  went  into  the  fight  at  Antietam, 
Sept.  17,  1862,  with  35  men,  and  in  less  than  five 
minutes  after  forming  in  line  of  battle  nine  men 
were  killed  and  eight  wounded.  Mr.  Round  was 
shot  through  the  right  lung  in  the  first  volley,  and 
before  he  could  leave  his  position  a  canister  shot 
j  passed  through  his  left  leg,  and  he  was  reported  in  the 
list  of  casualities  as  killed.  He  lay  26  hours  on  the 
field,  during  which  time  our  own  and  the  rebel  line 
of  battle  passed  over  him  three  times  in  charging 
and  recharging,  and  when  the  fighting  finally  ceased, 
he  lay  midway  between  the  two  lines  of  battle!  Five 
months  later  he  rejoined  his  command  at  Falmouth, 
Va.,  where  he  was  commissione'd  Second  Lieutenant. 
He  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 
June  30,  1863,  at  the  expiration  of  his  period  of  en- 
listment. Jan.  i,  1864,  Mr.  Round  re -enlisted  in 
Co.  L,  2d  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery,  as  a  private.  He 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Sergeant,  March  i.  His 
regiment  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  after  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness,  leaving  their  siege  guns  at 

^j.    Washington,  and  going  to  the  front  as  infantry,  and 


\ 


doing  service  as  such  until  the  war  was  ended.  The 
regiment  was  under  fire  at  Spottsylvania  Court- 
house, May  19,  1869;  North  Anna  River,  May  22; 
Tolopoyomy  Creek,  May  31  ;  Cold  Harbor,  June  2 
to  June  10 ;  Petersburg,  June  16,  17,  18  and  22  ; 
Strawberry  Plains,  July  28 ;  Deep  Bottom,  Aug.  14 
and  16  ;  Ream's  Station,  Aug.  25  ;  Hatcher's  Run, 
Dec.  9 ;  Battle  of  the  2d  Corps  near  Petersburg, 
March  25,  1865;  Five  Forks,  March  i;  South  Side 
Railroad,  April  2  ;  Amelia  Springs  (Sailors'  Creek), 
April  6;  Farm ville  (Round  Fort),  April  7  ;  surrender 
of  the  Rebel  Army  by  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee  to  Gen.  U.  S. 
Grant,  at  Appomattox  Court-house,  April  9,  1865. 
Mr.  Round  was  with  his  regiment  through  the  entire 
list  which  has  been  given,  and  was  in  the  nine- 
months'  siege  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  and  at 
Deep  Bottom  on  the  James  River.  At  the  close  of 
the  last-named  engagement,  he  was  the  only  com- 
missioned officer  left  to  his  company,  which  went 
into  action  with  three  who  ranked  him.  He  was 
made  Second  Lieutenant,  July  26,  1864;  Dec.  24, 
1864,  was  commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  and  Feb. 
20,  1865,  became  Captain  of  his  company.  He  as- 
sumed command  of  his  company  Aug.  14,  1864,  and 
was  its  chief  officer  until  Oct.  n,  1865.  On  that, 
day  the  command  was  "mustered"  out  on  David's 
Island  (N.  Y.)  Harbor.  Mr.  Round  sustained  the 
honor  of  the  blood  which  descended  to  him  from  his 
ancestral  stock,  and  proved  the  quality  of  the  patriot- 
ism which  laid  the  sure  foundations  of  freedom  in 
the  New  World.  Barthrum  Round,  his  grandfather, 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  with  the  rank  of 
Ensign,  and  drew  a  pension  from  the  Government. 

Mr.  Round  returned  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1865, 
in  the  capacity  of  a  civilian.  In  the  spring  follow- 
ing he  bought  the  farm  on  which  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance,  Dec.  28, 
1866,  with  Helen  J.,  daughter  of  Asa  and  Elvira 
Adams.  Mrs.  Round  was  born  in  Aurora,  Erie  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Nov.  9,  1844.  Morris,  Tliaddeus,  Nora, 
Daisy  and  George  are  the  names  of  the  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Round,  two  of  whom,  Daisy  and 
Frank,  are  deceased. 

George  Round  was  born  April  21,  1779,  and  died 
Dec.  3,  1851;  Rebecca  Round  was  born  Dec.  22, 
1799,  and  died  Oct.  4,  1872;  Barthrum  Round, 
father  of  George,  was  born  Dec.  22,  1741,  and  died 
Oct.  i,  1833,  aged  92  years;  Alice  Round,  paternal 


& 


I 

KM 


grandmother  of  A.  S.  Round,  was  born  Nov.  6, 1744, 
and  died  April  n,  1828,  aged  84  years.  The 
parents,  whose  births  and  deaths  are  given  at  the 
opening  of  this  paragraph,  were  73  at  the  time  ot 
their  decease. 

The  estate  of  Mr.  Round  is  situated  on  sections 
24  and  25,  and  comprises  215  acres,  in  valuable 
condition. 


iharles  M.  Hewitt,  a  farmer,  residing  on 
section  35,  Montmorency  Township,  is  a 
son  of  Moses  P.  and  Sarah  M.  (Webb) 
Hewitt,  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York 
and  Massachusetts  respectively.  Their  fam- 
ily comprised  seven  children,  namely  :  Chas. 
M.,  Elisha  P.,  William,  Joseph,  John,  Frances  and 
Sarah  M. 

Charles  M.,  the  suject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  born  in  Mexico,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  6, 
1835.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  received  an 
English  education  at  the  common  schools  of  his  na- 
tive county,  remaining  on  the  parental  homestead 
until  about  22  years  of  age.  At  this  period  in  his 
life's  history,  he  engaged  in  the  livery  and  stage 
business,  which  occupation  he  followed  for  about  18 
months.  In  1858  Mr.  Hewitt  came  to  this  county, 
locating  at  Sterling,  where  he  engaged  in  farm  labor, 
and  which  vocation  he  followed  in  the  neighborhood 
of  that  place,  about  four  years  ;  he  then  rented  land 
and  cultivated  it  for  his  own  individual  benefit  for 
some  four  years  longer.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time,  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  located  in 
Montmorency  Township,  upon  which  he  settled  and 
entered  vigorously  and  energetically  upon  the  task 
of  its  cultivation  and  improvement,  and  on  which  he 
has  resided  until  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Hewitt  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ida 
Emmons,  at  Sterling,  111.,  in  1866.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  A.  F.  R.  Emmons,  and  was  born  in  Sterling,  this 
county,  March  22,  1845.  Their  family  comprised 
three  children:  Effie  May,  born  May  10,  1867,  died 
July  22,  following,  aged  10  weeks  ;  Allie  S.,  born 
Aug.  4,  1868;  and  Frankie,  March  22,  1870. 

X 


The  parents  of  Mrs.  H.  were  early  settlers  of  this 
county  and  experienced  all  the  trials  incident  to  the 
establishment  of  a  home  in  this  county  during  its 
pioneer  days.  Their  family  comprised  four  children  : 
Harriet  M.,  Ida  E.,  William  L.  and  Cora  L.  The 
parents  are  yet  living  and  reside  at  Rock  Falls. 

Politically,  Mr.  Hewitt  is  independent.  Al- 
though a  man  who  devotes  his  time  strictly  to  his 
own  business  and  not  a  seeker  after  office,  he  has  of- 
ficiated as  Road  Commissioner,  and  held  other 
minor  offices  within  the  gift  of  the  people  of  his 
township. 


('oseph  W.  Hill,  of  the  firm  of  J.  W.  Hill  & 
ff-  Co.,  dealers  in  dry  goods,  groceries,  boots  *( 
and  shoes,  crockery,  notions,  etc.,  at  ^ 
Prophetstown,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Susan 
(Baker)  Hill,  and  was  born  in  Castleton,  Rut- 
land Co.,  Vt.,  Dec.  2,  1827.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  by  vocation,  and  also  a  mechanic.  His  par- 
ents' family  consisted  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  ^ 
are  now  living.  In  Sept.,  1835,  the  family  started  ( 
from  Castleton.  Vt.,  with  teams  and  three  wagons. 
The  father  had  been  prospecting  in  the  fall  of  the 
previous  year  and  had  decided  to  locate  in  Knox 
Co.,  111.  On  the  way  out,  others  traveling  to  Rock 
River  induced  him  to  come  to  this  county,  and  he 
located  two  miles  southwest  of  the  present  village 
of  Prophetstown,  on  section  7,  of  the  township  of  the 
same  name.  He  bought  a  claim  there,  consisting  of 
1 60  acres,  and  when  the  land  came  into  market  he 
purchased  the  same  from  the  Government.  He 
subsequently  added  to  his  original  purchase,  and,  at 
the  date  of  his  death,  had  a  fine  farm  consisting  of 
200  acres,  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He  died 
on  his  farm,  Aug.  29,  1846.  The  mother  also  died 
there,  Feb.  14,  1871. 

Mr.  Hill,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  when    < 
21  years  of  age,  purchased  the  interests  of 'the  heirs  ^ 
to  the  family  homestead  and  resided  on   the  same  ^ 
till  March  7,  iSSi.       He  then  moved   to   Prophets- 
town  and  rented  his  farm,  and  engaged   in  business 
in  company  with  his  brother  William  during  the  year 


1884.  He  soon  afterward  purchased  the  building. 
His  daughter  has  since  been  admitted  as  a  member 
of  the  company.  They  carry  a  stock  approximating 
$6,000,  and  are  doing  a  good  and  constantly  increas- 
ing business. 

Mr.  Hill  is  the  proprietor  of  280  acres  of  land,  in- 
cluding the  old  homestead.  He  has  taken  an  act- 
ive part  in  school  matters,  and  is,  truly  speaking, 
one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Whiteside 
County.  He  was  married  in  Prophetstown  Town- 
ship, on  the  old  homestead,  to  Miss  Martha  Reynolds, 
a  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Sophia  Reynolds,  April  30, 
1854.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  April  30, 
1835,  and  has  borne  to  her  husband  nine  children. 
Harden  R.  is  a  farmer  and  stockman,  and  resides  in 
Kansas.  Leman  resides  on  the  homestead.  Emma 
is  a  partner  in  the  business  at  Prophetstown.  Almira 
B.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  W.  Hull,  a  banker  in 
Kirwin,  Kas.  Vira  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Warner,  a 
farmer  residing  three  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of 
Prophetstown.  Elma  and  Elbert  L.  are  now  living 
on  a  farm  in  Kansas.  Mina  also  resides  in  the 
latter  State;  and  Mertie  J.  is  residing  at  home. 


tames  Currier,  retired  farmer,  Sterling, 
Ip  was  born  in  the  town  of  Holland,  Erie 
Co.,  N.  Y.,_  on  Cazenovia  Creek,  his 
parents  being  Joseph  and  Mary  (Craig)  Cur- 
rier, natives  of  Montpelier,  Vt.  His  father,  a 
farmer  by  calling,  pursued  his  vocation  on  a 
farm  of  40  acres,  partly  timber  land,  which  he  had 
purchased ;  but  after  occupying  the  place  for  six 
years  he  lost  it.  He  then  moved  12  miles  away, 
with  a  yoke  of  two-year-old  steers,  into  the  woods, 
upon  another  4o-acre  tract,  which  he  had  bought  for 
$2.50.  There  he  built  a  small  log  house,  12x20 
feet  in  size,  commenced  to  clear  the  ground,  ane  the 
first  year  raised  a.  good  little  crop  of  farm  .produce. 
He  died  in  1856,  leaving  a  widow  with  six  depen- 
dent Children,  James  being  the  third  in  order  of 
birth. 

At  the  youthful  age  of  ten  years,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  with  his  mother,  took  charge  of  the  fam- 
ily and  of  the  farm.  She  died  in  1859;  also,  a  son 


and  a  daughter  died  while  the  family  resided  at  that 
place.  James  became  the  owner  of  the  homestead, 
and  continued  to  manage  it,  clearing  more  ground 
and  purchasing  70  acres  of  timbered  land  in  addi- 
tion. All  this  tract  he  cleared,  except  a  small  por- 
tion reserved  for  a  wood  lot.  He  remained  40  years. 

May  10,  1839,  he  married  Sally  A.  Stillwell,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  four  children, — Mary, 
Archibald,  Martha  J.  and  Phebe  A.  Mary  died 
Aug.  14, 1840.  Archibald  married  Mary  McVicker, 
March  9,  187  r,  and  they  have  two  children, — 
Charles  and  Melvin.  Martha  J.  became  the  wife  of 
Jesse  Penrose  in  1879,  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
Lillian.  Phebe  A.  married  Malburn  A  Tapper, 
Oct.  5,  1871,  and  they  have  two  sons, — -Bertie  and 
Eddie. 

Mrs.  Currier  died  May  ro,  1848,  and  for  his 
second  wife  Mr.  C.  married  Miss  Alma  Howe,  Oct. 
8,  1848.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Sarah 
(Clark)  Howe,  natives  respectively  of  Maine  and 
Massachusetts,  Mrs.  C.  being  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth  in  their  family  of  six  children.  By  the  last 
marriage  there  have  been  five  children,  namely: 
Emma  V.,  who,  Sept.  2,  1873,  married  Levi  W. 
Davis,  of  Iowa,  and  they  had  two  children, — Isaa*, 
born  Sept.  6,  1875,  and  Mary,  Aug.  6,  1878.  Mr. 
Davis  died  Nov.  29,  1882.  Julius  S.,  second 
daughter,  was  married  Jan.  i,  r874,  to  Samuel  Hos- 
ford,  of  Montmorency,  111.,  and  they  have  three 
children, — Frederick,  Franklin  and  Theresa.  Ed- 
ward J.  married  Rose  Bowers,  of  Montmorency, 
Jan.  13,  1879,  and  their  three  children  are  Leroy, 
Lee  and  Alma  M.  Elizabeth  S.  was  married  Dec. 
14,  1879,  to  John  Harl. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Currier,  May  14,  1858,  moved  with 
their  family  to  Montmorency,  exchanging  their 
former  homestead  for  200  acres  of  prairie  land,  esti- 
mating the  latter  at  $12  per  acre  ;  also,  in  the  same 
trade,  Mr.  C.  gave  a  horse  for  80  acres  of  land. 

While  practicing  as  a  veterinarian  in  New  York 
State,  Mr.  Currier  purchased  a  valuable  horse,  which 
was  afflicted  with  the  "  grease-heel,"  and  in  doctor- 
ing it  was  poisoned,  so  that  he  was  covered  with 
blisters.  After  the  best  physicians  in  the  vicinity 
had  failed  to  relieve  him,  he  went  in  r874  to  Hot 
Springs,  Ark.,  weighing  only  68J^  pounds,  and  four 
months  afterward  he  came  home  weighing  141 
pounds.  In  1878  he  went  again,  remaining  three 




•5* 

M 


(21 


months;  but  he  has  never  fully  recovered.  The 
doctors  have  taken  pounds  of  proud  flesh  off  his 
arm  and  palm  of  his  hand.  Both  his  hands  are 
crippled. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Currier  is  a  Green- 
backer,  and  as  a  citizen  of  Sterling  he  stands  high  in 
the  estimation  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


I 


eorge  H.  Jennings  was  born  Feb.  7, 
1850,  in  the  Township  of  Lyndon;  and 
he  is  the  son  of  Amzie  and  Helen 
(Highley)  Jennings.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  Lyndon  Township,  and  he  was  brought 
up  on  the  homestead.  He  obtained  a  fair 
education  in  the  district  schools.  His  marriage  to 
Julia  E.  Whipple  took  place  Dec.  13,  1872.  She 
was  born  in  Barre,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Leander  J.  and  Julia  (Anson)  Whipple, 
lx>th  of  whom  were  born  in  the  Bay  State. 

Mr.  Jennings  lived  on  the  homestead  of  his  father 
a  year  after  marriage,  and  then  located  in  Lyndon 
village,  whence  he  removed  to  a  farm  and  continued 
to  push  his  agricultural  interests  as  a  renter  until 
Oct.  22,  1882,  when  he  bought  the  family  home- 
stead, where  he  is  now  engaged  in  prosperous  farm- 
ing. Myra  E.,  Mabel  and  Ross  are  the  names  of 
the  children  belonging  to  the  family. 

Squire  William  Jennings,  grandfather  of  George 
H.,  was  the  earliest  settler  of  the  family  in  Lyn- 
don Township,  whither  he  came  in  1844.  He  was 
born  April  9,  1798,  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y.  When 
he  had  attained  suitable  age  and  strength  he  ob- 
tained employment  on  the  Hudson  River,  where  he 
operated  some  years  and  rose  to  the  responsibili- 
ties and  honors  of  a  Captain. 

He  was  married  Dec.  24,  1825,  to  Emeline  Gay- 
lord,  a  native  of  Plymouth,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn., 
born  April  n,  1808.  At  the  time  of  their  marriage 
they  settled  in  the  town  of  Hornby,  Steuben  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  Mr.  Jennings  buying  land  there  in  the  heavy 
timber.  He  improved  and  put  his  farm  in  good  con- 
dition, and  was  its  occupant  with  the  exception  of 
four  years  until  his  removal  in  1845  to  Whiteside 


County.  The  interval  referred  to  was  passed  in 
Yates  County. 

Mr.  Jennings  set  cut  for  Illinois  with  a  horse  and 
buggy,  and  a  wagon  and  a  span  of  horses.  The 
teams  were  driven  to  Buffalo,  whence  the  party  em- 
barked for  Chicago.  Arrived  at  that  place,  the 
family  again  took  passage  with  their  teams  for 
Whiteside  County.  Mr.  Jennings  pre-empted  land 
on  section  7,  in  what  is  now  Lyndon  Township,  and 
built  a  frame  house,  for  which  he  drew  the  lumber 
from  Chicago.  He  was  a  resident  on  his  farm  ten 
years,  removing  in  1855  to  Como,  where  he  died  in 
1856.  His  widow  is  still  his  survivor,  and  resides 
at  Round  Grove.  Their  children  were  Amzie,  Eg- 
bert, Mary  J.,  Gaylord  M.  and  Willis  L.  The 
daughter  is  the  only  survivor. 

Amiie  E.  Jennings  was  born  Dec.  22,  1824,  in 
Steuben  County,  Ky.,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of  g- 
W.  and  Emeline  (Gaylord)  Jennings.  He  was 
brought  up  by  his  parents  on  the  farm  where  he  was 
born,  and  was  2 1  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came 
with  their  family  to  Lyndon  Township.  After  a  short 
residence  on  the  estate,  pre-empted  by  his  father,  he 
bought  land  adjoining  and  built  a  home,  in  which  he 
lived  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  died  Oct.  9,  1879.  He 
was  twice  married.  Lydia  Hill,  to  whom  he  was 
married  in  April,  1841;,  died  in  October  of  the  same 
year,  and  he  married  Helen  Higley.  She  was  born 
in  Geauga  County,  Ohio,  and  survives  her  husband. 
Since  October,  1880,  she  has  lived  at  Sterling. 
George  H.,  Francis  C.,  Willis  1-.,  Edwin  M.  and 
May  H.  are  the  names  of  her  sons  and  daughters. 
Mrs.  Jennings  is  the  daughter  of  George  and  Phebe 
(Chamberlain)  Higley. 


oseph  E.  Harrison  is  a  farmer  of  Genesee 
Township,  and  is  located  on  section  34, 
where  he  was  born  Sept.  25,  1849.  His 
father,  Mark  Harrison,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  Genesee  Township,  whither  he 
came  in  1836.  He  married  Mary  Taylor. 
Genesee  Township  was  in  the  earliest  of  its  pioneer 
days,  and,  when  Mark  Harrison  married  his  wife 
they  began  life  with  a  joint  cash  capital  of  "5^5.50 


•  •-•'       .*.. 
^//yves^y 


WHIJ^ESIDE  COUNTY. 


the  former  amount  being  the  individual  property  of 
the  wife  and  the  latter  of  the  husband.  But  they 
cooked  and  ate  their  wedding  dinner  in  their  own 
log  cabin.  They  had  no  regular  extension  table, 
but  in  lieu  of  that  there  were  two  long  pins  driven 
into  auger  holes  in  one  of  the  logs  of  which  the 
house  was  built,  and  a  board  lying  thereon  answered 
every  purpose.  They  sat  on  three-legged  stools, 
and  their  bed  was  fresh  straw.  Some  years  passed 
before  the  little  home  had  either  tables  or  chairs. 
In  one  particular  the  record  of  the  mother  is  unique. 
She  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  Sept.  10,  1803,  and, 
losing  her  parents,  became  housekeeper  for  her 
brother,  who  was  a  widower  with  two  children.  He 
sold  his  property,  and  his  sister  and  children  set  out 
for  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  children  were  nine 
and  five  years  old,  and  the  party  had  two  light 
wagons,  with  the  household  goods.  The  journey  of 
1,500  miles  was  accomplished  on  foot.  The  father 
and  brother  remaining  behind  to  settle  up  his  busi- 
ness, the  father  died  suddenly  with  the  cholera,  and 
the  children  were  brought  up  by  Mrs.  Harrison. 
They  are  both  deceased.  The  chief  drawback  to 
the  rapid  advancement  of  Whiteside  County,  in  the 
pioneer  days,  was  the  ruinously  low  price  of  produce. 
At  one  time,  Mr.  Harrison,  Sr.,  sold  wheat  at  25 
cents  a  bushel  to  Hezekiah  Brink,  in  payment  for  a 
colt  for  which  he  paid  $30.  At  another  he  took  two 
fat  cows  to  Galena  to  sell.  One  brought  five  dollars, 
and  he  bought  two  five-pound  bunches  of  cotton- 
yarn  with  the  money.  This  was  combined  with 
home-spun  wool,  and  woven. into  cloth  for  clothes 
for  the  family. 

Mr.  Harrison  of  this  sketch  is  the  youngest  of  five 
children.  The  father  maintained  a  private  teacher 
for  his  children  two  years,  and  it  was  during  this 
period  that  Mr.  Harrison  began  his  education.  He 
was  thoroughly  trained  in  agricultural  knowledge 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  soon  after  attaining  his 
majority  he  assumed  the  management  of  his  father's 
homestead  estate,  and  superintended  the  property 
several  years. 

He  was  married  Sept.  23,  1873,  in  the  city  of  Mor- 
rison, to  Margaret,  daughter  of  C.  B.  and  Jane 
(London^  Peugh.  She  was  born  April  14,  1854,  in 
the  township  where  she  has  always  lived.  After 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison  lived  on  the  home- 
stead as  he  had  done  previous  to  that  event.  By  an 


arrangement  with  his  father,  a  ywrtion  was  set  apart 
to  him  where  he  built  a  house.  On  the  death  of  his 
father  (Nov.  15,1877)116  bought  the  claims  of  the 
other  heirs,  and  is  now  the  proprietor  of  the  whole 
property,  including  120  acres,  all  of  which  is  under 
excellent  improvements,  and  supplied  with  the  best 
type  of  farm  buildings.  Mr.  Harrison  is  an  earnest 
Republican,  as  was  his  father  before  him,  and  he 
has  held  several  local  offices.  He  and  his  wife 
belong  to  the  Christian  Church,  in  which  he  is  a 
Trustee. 

The  children  of  the  family,  five  in  number,  were 
born  as  follows  :  Lillie  B.,  Nov.  3,  1875;  Mary  J., 
Dec.  9,  1877;  Charles  B.  and  Bertha  J.,  twins,  March 
15,  1880;  Cynthia  L.,  Jan.  6,  1883. 


lias  Burkholder,  dealer  in  horses,  mules 
and  cattle,  at  Sterling,  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Pa.,  June  1 6,  1824.  His 
parents,  Christian  and  Fannie  (Groff)  Burk- 
holder, were  natives  also  of  the  Keystone  State, 
and  had  a  family  of  12  children,  Seth,  Chris- 
tiana, Elias,  Ezra,  Menno,  Catharine,  Maria,  Ann, 
Fanny,  Groff,  Christian  and  Peter. 

Their  third  child,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  re- 
mained at  home  until  22  years  ol  age,  assisting  on 
the  farm  and  receiving  a  common-school  education. 
Leaving  home,  he  was  engaged  in  the  commission 
business  nine  years  at  Bird-in-Hand,  in  his  native 
county ;  and  while  there  he  also  studied  medicine 
for  several  years,  and  then  practiced  the  profession 
a  year  at  Vogansville ;  the  next  two  years  he  also 
followed  farming.  In  1858  he  moved  to  New  Vien- 
na, Clinton  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  the  two  vo- 
cations for  eleven  months ;  then  the  same  again  at 
Sterling,  this  county,  until  1875,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  dealing  in  stock,  in  which  business  he  has 
fair  success. 

He  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views,  and 
both  himself  and  wife  belong  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  He  is  a  Christian  gentleman. 

He  was  married  Nov.  18,  1847,  to  Miss  Maria, 
daughter  of  James  and  Harriet  (Harsh)  Blair,  na- 
tives also  of  the  Keystone  State.  Mr.  and  Mrs, 


- 

' 

. 


. 


770 


WH1TES1DE  COUNTY. 


• 


Burkholder  have  had  seven  children,  three  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  Christian,  who  married  Miss 
Mary  Erwin,  of  Rockford,  111.,  and  has  five  children; 
""  Charley,  Lotta,  Homer,  Harry  and  Alice;  Fianna, 
.  who  became  the  wife  of  Fred  Kauffman,  of  Sterling, 
Ox  and  the  mother  of  Branch  and  Mercy  J. ;  and  Mary, 
now  the  wife  of  Dr.  N.  H.  Lehman,  of  Ohio,  and  the 
mother  of  Leroy. 


^avid  McMillan,  of  the  firm  of  McMillan 
&  Wylie,  lumber  dealers  and  merchants, 
at  Tampico,  was  born  Jan.  31,  1834,  in 
Fayette  Co.,  Pa.  Thomas  McMillan,  his 
father,  was  a  native  of  the  same  State.  He  was 
a  man  of  scholarly  attainments  and  passed  the 
years  of  his  early  business  life  in  teaching.  Later 
he  became  interested  in  farming.  He  was  Commis- 
sioner of  Fayette  a  number  of  years.  He  married 
Priscilla  Arnold,  the  daughter  of  a  farmer,  and  who 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  belonged  to  the  nationality  known  as 
English  descent.  The  father  died  in  Fayette  County 
in  1853,  and  the  mother  died  about  ten  years  later. 
Mr.  McMillan  was  the  second  oldest  child  in  or- 
der of  birth,  and  he  had  one  brother  and  two  sisters. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  about  18  years  old. 
Previous  to  that  time  he  attended  the  common  school. 
Subsequently  he  took  charge  of  the  homestead,  liv- 
ing with  his  mother  until  her  death.  After  that 
event  he  came  to  Illinois,  making  his  first  location 
near  Buda,  Bureau  County,  settling  on  a  farm  of  200 
acres.  He  continued  its  management  for  four  years. 
He  spent  a  year  prospecting  in  various  Western 
States  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  a  suitable  loca- 
tion, and  finally  boujit  160  acres  of  land  in  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  Iowa,  near  the  village  of  Red  Oak. 
Later  on  he  came  to  Whiteside  County  and  entered 
into  the  business  relations  in  which  he  has  since 
been  interested.  He  is  the  owner  of  160  acres  of 
land  in  Tampico  Township,  which  is  under  partial 
improvement.  The  firm  owns  a  considerable  amount 
of  property  in  the  village  of  Tampico.  Their  busi- 
ness covers  the  transactions  common  to  trade  in 


lumber,  general  merchandise,  hardware,  agricultural 
implements,  coal,  etc. 

Mr.  McMillan  was  married  Oct.  21,  1879,  in  Lyn- 
don, to  Mollie  Patterson.  James  and  Mary  Pannell 
Patterson,  her  parents,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  belonged  to  the  agricultural  class.  They 
were  early  settlers  in  Lyndon  and  were  connected 
with  the  pioneer  history.  Their  farm  was  located  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  village  of  Lyndon,  where  Mrs.  Mc- 
Millan was  born.  She  was  brought  up  and  educated  in 
the  district  schools  and  in  the  village  schools  at 
Lyndon.  She  became  a  teacher  and  followed  that 
vocation  for  some  years.  Leroy  and  Clark  are  the 
names  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMillan. 
The  mother  is  a  zealous  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 

Mr.  McMillan  has  served  the  interests  of  his 
township  as  Supervisor,  and  is  at  present  School 
Treasurer.  He  has  also  acted  in  the  capacity  of 
Village  Trustee.  He  experienced  a  severe  loss  of 
property  in  the  destruction  of  dwellings  in  the  tor- 
nado of  June  6,  1874. 


x->v     *, 


larles  W.  Worthington,  Postmaster  of 
Sterling,  was  born  in  that  city,  Sept.  16, 
1838.  His  father,  Eiijah  Worthington, 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  from  whence  he 
moved  to  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  engaging  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits  at  Pittston,  and  as  newspaper 
publisher  at  Wilkesbarre.  In  1833  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Eliza  Ann  Merritt,  of  the  latter  place,  and  in 
1835  emigrated  to  Illinois,  becoming  one  of  the  orig- 
inal proprietors  of  what  is  now  the  city  of  Sterling. 
He  died  in  1839.  His  widow  married  Leonard  Goss, 
moving  to  his  home  at  Mt.  Carroll,  where  she  died 
in  1846.  From  eight  years  of  age  until  thirteen, 
Charles,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  had  no  permanent 
abiding  place,  but  "  grew  up  with  the  country  "  as 
best  he  could.  At  13  he  entered  the  office  of  H.  G. 
Grattan,  at  Mt.  Carroll,  to  learn  the  printing  busi- 
ness, and,  after  three  years'  apprenticeship,  returned 
to  Sterling,  serving  the  various  grades  as  compositor, 
foreman  and  local  editor  of  the  Sterling  Times, 
until  circumstances  mustered  the  paper  out  of  exist- 


• 


. 

• 


WHITHSIDE  COUNTY. 


tence,  in  1857.  After  a  year's  sojourn  in  St.  Louis, 
perfecting  himself  in  the  printers'  art,  he  accepted 
the  position  of  foreman  and  local  editor  of  the  Sterl- 
ing Gazette,  then  published  by  Wm.  Caffrey.  In 
1861,  in  company  with  his  father-in-law,  W.  C.  Page, 
he  purchased  the  Gazette  and  continued  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  office  until  1875,  except  a  short  in- 
terval in  1870,  and  during  his  term  of  service  in  the 
army,  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  A,  I4oth  111.  Vol. 
Inf.  He  has  filled  several  official  positions,  viz. : 
Collector  of  Taxes  in  1861;  Alderman  in  1863-4; 
United  States  Revenue  Inspector  and  storekeeper  in 
1866-7.  In  1880  he  was  appointed  Postmaster,  and 
re-appointed  in  1884. 

Mr.  Worthington  is  a  "  native,  and  to  the  manner 
born,"  being  the  first  male  child  born  in  the  settle- 
ment ;  and  can  justly  take  pride  in  the  fact  that  he 
has  seen  the  rude  cabins  of  pioneer  days  give  place 
to  the  thriving  city  of  the  present  time — to  the  pros- 
perity of  which  he  has  contributed  in  no  small 
degree. 


TS* 


pohn  W.  White,  attorney  at  Tampico,  was 
born  Oct.  7,  1852,  in  La  Salle  Co.,  111. 
His  father,  John  White,  was  born  near  the 
city  of  Rome,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  family 
are  descendants  of  ancestry  that  settled  in  the 
Empire  State  in  the  earliest  period  of  its  his- 
tory. The  senior  White  went  in  his  early  life  to 
Allegany  County,  in  his  native  State,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  Danville,  to  Thankful  Clark,  who  was  of 
similar  birth  and  ancestry.  Mr.  White  became 
Captain  of  the  Slate  Militia,  of  the  section  where  he 
resided,  and  held  his  commission  under  Gov.  Sew- 
ard  until  he  resigned  to  come  West.  In  1851,  the 
family  removed  to  La  Salle  Co.,  III.,  and  fixed  their 
residence  at  Northville.  The  mother  died  there  in 
1854,  when  John  W.  was  but  two  years  old.  The 
father  removed  after  her  death  to  Whiteside  County, 
and  lived  in  Hahnaman  Township,  settling  later  in 
the  Township  of  Tampico,  were  he  died,  in,  1879, 
aged  69. 

Mr.  White  of  this  sketch  was  a  member  of  his 
father's  family  till  1875,  working  on  the  farm  and 
attending  school.  In  that  year  he  went  to  Minne- 


sota  and  thence  to  Iowa.  He  became  a  student  of 
law  with  the  legal  firm  of  White  &  Varner,  of  Adel, 
Dallas  County,  and  read  for  his  profession  under 
their  preceptorship  until  1877,  when  he  came  to 
Tampico,  and  established  his  business.  He  has 
conducted  his  affairs  singly.  Mr.  White  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  privileges  of  the  Courts  of  Iowa,  at 
Des  Moines,  in  1876,  and  of  those  of  the  tribunals 
of  Illinois,  in  1878,  on  examination  before  the  proper 
authorities.  Mr.  White  has  met  with  the  success 
which  is  the  just  reward  of  industrious  application  in 
his  business  relations.  He  has  acquired  by  pur- 
chase farm  and  town  property  in  Tampico  Town- 
ship, and  in  the  village  where  he  resides.  He  is 
also  the  owner  of  a  very  complete  law  library. 

Mr.  White  was  married  April  7,  1883,  at  Rock 
Falls,  Whiteside  County,  to  Lizzie,  only  daughter  of 
Charles  E.  and  Mary  (Russell)  Payson.  She  was 
born  Oct.  21,  1857,  in  Chemung  Co.,  N.  Y.  Her 
parents  moved  to  Sterling  when  she  was  12  years  of 
age,  going  later  to  Rock  Falls.  Before  her  marriage 
Mrs.  White  was  engaged  in  the  business  of  dress- 
making. Bessie,  born  Feb.  n,  1884,  is  the  only 
child. 

Mr.  White  is  a  Republican  of  decided  type.  He 
is  at  present  (1885)  Village  Attorney,  and  has  held 
the  office  a  number  of  years.  He  has  also  been 
Supervisor  several  terms.  He  is  Senior  Warden  of 
the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Tampico,  of  which  he  is  a 
member.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  he  being  one  of  the 
Church  officers. 


rank  Hadaway,  one  of  the  energetic,  pros- 
perous and  representative  farmers  of 
Whiteside  County,  residing  on  section  21, 
Prophetstown  Township,  and  the  proprietor  of 
760  acres  in  the  township,  was  born  in  Essex 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  27,  1832.  His  father,  Lot 
Hadaway,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  a  farmer 
and  lumberman  by  occupation.  His  mother,  Are- 
thusa  (Tarbull)  Hadaway,  was  also  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont. The  parents  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
only  two  of  whom  survive,  Frank  and  Susan.  She 
is  the  wife  of  Burchard  Chapman,  a  farmer  in 
Kansas. 

Mr.    Hadaway  was  reared  on   a   farm    and   also 

=— -*£§* 


7 


jfiu/1 


I 


1 

s 

s 


brought  up  to  the  occupation  of  a  lumberman.  In 
January,  1855,  he  came  to  this  county  and  purchased 
80  acres  of  land,  located  on  the  site  of  his  present 
farm,  which  he  had  purchased  in  1853.  He  engaged 
in  running  the  Prophetstown  ferry  one  year,  and 
broke  prairie  one  season,  and  then  located  on  his 
farm.  He  made  a  number  of  improvements  on  his 
farm,  and  by  good  judgment,  energetic  effort  and 
determination,  combined  with  economy  and  co-oper- 
ation on  the  part  of  his  good  helpmeet,  he  has  sub- 
sequently added  by  purchase  to  his  landed  interests 
until  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  the  large  acreage 
stated,  to  wit,  760  acres  in  his  home  farm.  He 
also  owns  80  acres  in  Prophetstown  Township,  52 
acres  in  Portland  Township,  besides  240  acres  north 
of  Spring  Hill,  same  township,  and  320  acres  in 
Kansas.  He  raises  each  year  a  number  of  cattle, 
hogs  and  sheep,  which  he  ships  direct  to  Chicago. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and  was  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  the  Prophetstown  lodge. 

Mr.  Hadaway  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Georgiana  Burk,  in  1860.  She  was  born  in  Portland 
Township,  this  county,  and  bore  him  two  children, — 
George  S.,  who  is  a  farmer  in  Prophetstown  Town- 
ship ;  and  Julia,  now  a  resident  of  Prophetstown,  is 
a  photographer  by  profession.  Mrs.  Hadaway  died 
in  Prophetstown  Township,  July  27,  1868,  and  Mr. 
Hadaway  was  again  married  in  the  same  Township, 
Sept.  5,  1869,  to  Mary  K.  Martin.  She  was  born 
April  23,  1844,  at  Livonia,  Washington  Co.,  Ind., 
and  has  borne  him  four  children. — Frank  Martin, 
Susan,  Kingley  T.  and  Zetta.  George  S.  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  Bechel,  March  10,  1885. 


i,apt.  James  Hugunin,  resident  at  Albany, 
was  born  Dec.  24,  1839,  in  Butler  Co., 
Ohio.  His  father,  James  Hugunin,  was 
born  in  1806,  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
taken  by  his  parents,  in  his  early  boyhood, 
to  Ohio,  where  his  father  secured  a  claim  of 
land  from  the  United  States.  The  site  of  the  city 
of  Cincinnati  now  includes  the  land  comprised  in 
the  claim.  He  constructed  a  residence,  which  his 
family  occupied  a  short  time,  after  which  it  was 
sold,  and  they  went  to  Butler  County.  The  father 
returned  to  Massachusetts,  and  died  in  his  native 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


place.  James  Hugunin  (first)  grew  to  manhood  in 
Butler  County,  and  married  Sarah  Flack,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  They  lived  in  Butler  County  until  1840,  when 
they  removed  to  this  State,  and  five  years  later 
cair.e  to  Albany.'  The  parents,  with  five  chil- 
dren, came  from  Ohio  overland  with  their  own  con- 
veyance. Mr.  Hugunin  at  first  selected  a  location  a 
little  east  of  Albany,  and  later  went  to  the  township 
of  Garden  Plain,  whence  he  removed  to  Clay  Co., 
Kan.,  and  is  now  resident  there. 

Capt.  Hugunin  was  but  six  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Albany.  He  was  but  15  when,  in 
the  fall  of  1854,  he  engaged  in  the  capacity  of  a 
common  hand  on  the  river,  and  h  e  has  spent  every 
successive  season  in  the  same  service  in  the  several 
capacities  of  common  hand,  pilot  and  Captain.  He 
is  also  the  owner  of  forty  acres  of  land,  and  gives 
some  attention  to  agriculture.  He  is  interested  in 
good  breeds  of  horses,  and  owns  some  fine  thorough- 
bred Almont  Rattlers. 

He  was  married  Aug.  16,  1859,  to  Sarah  Whistler. 
She  was  born  Feb.  7,  1841,  in  Morrow  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Kiehl) 
Whistler.  John  E.,  Clara  M.,  Harry  D.  and  Ida 
Augusta  are  the  names  of  their  children. 


amuel  S.  Epla,  a  resident  of  Lyndon,  was 
born  Sept.  22,  1832,  in  Rockingham  Co., 
Va.  When  he  was  about  five  years  of  age 
his  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth  Epla,  went 
to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Clarke  County.  His 
mother  died  there.  Four  years  after  his  father 
went  to  that  county,  the  son  left  there  and  went  to 
Vigo  Co.,  Ind.,  to  reside  with  a  brother-in-law,  with 
whom  he  made  his  home  until  he  was  13  years  of 
age.  In  1845  he  went  to  Paw  Paw  Grove,  Lee  Co. 
111.,  and  he  lived  there  ten  years.  He  went,  in  1855, 
to  Minnesota,  and  made  a  claim  four  miles  west  of 
Owatonna,  broke  and  fenced  a  part  of  the  land  and 
built  a  log-house.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  agricultural  projects  until  1863. 
He  became  interested  in  the  progress  of  the  civil  war, 
and  in  the  year  last  named  he  enlisted  in  Company 
C.,  Second  Minnesota  Cavalry.  His  regiment  was  in 
frontier  service,  in  which  he  was  engaged  about  one 
year,  when  he  wa.s  disabled  by  being  thrown  from 


WHITESlDE  COUNTY. 


a  horse  and  received  honorable  discharge.     He  re- 
turned to  Minnesota  and  resided  there  until  his  re- 
..  ,,  moval  to  Lyndon  in    1873.     In   1875    he   opened  a 
barber-shop,   which    he   continued  to  manage  until 


He  was  married  July  18,  1867,  to  Clara,  daughter 
of  Gustavus  and  Caroline  (Denzer)  Burke,  of  Owa- 
tonna.  They  have  one  child — Viola  May. 


Clark  Miller,  baker  and  confectioner, 
Third  Street,  Sterling,  was  born  in 
Chambersburg,  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  5, 
1842,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Mary 
(Swisher)  Miller,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
members  of  the  farming  community. 
The  subject  of  this  notice  remained  at  home  until 
19  years  of  age,  receiving  a  common-school  educa- 
tion. He  then  served  two  and  a  half  years  at  the 
blacksmith  trade,  and  in  r863  came  to  Sterling, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  ten  years,  a  part  of  the 
time  as  a  journeyman.  Next,  he  was  an  employee 
of  the  William  &  Orton  Manufacturing  Company 
for  about  eight  years,  and  finally,  in  1882,  he  bought 
out  the  bakery  and  confectionery  business  of  W.  M. 
Greeting,  in  which  line  he  has  since  continued,  en- 
joying a  signal  success.  He  owns,  also,  his  resi- 
dence on  Spruce  Street,  blocks  2  and  3. 

In  February,  1885,  Mr.  Miller  married  Miss  D.  A. 
Newton,  of  Titusville,  Pa.  He  belongs  to  the  First 
English  Lutheran  Church,  and  to  the  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  in  politics  is  a  Republican. 


^-*K-'»^>fv,  e\vr 

homas  Burke,  general  farmer,  section   25, 
Hume.   Township,   was   born    in    1831,   in 
County   Tipperary,   Ireland.      About    the 
year  1852,  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
He  first  located  in  New  Jersey,  and  later  went 
to   Northampton    Co.,  Pa.     He   was  married 
there  in  1856,  to  Mary  Fay,  who  was  born  in  Ireland 
«wt  and  came  when  she  was  eight  ye'ars  of  age  to  Amer- 
ica.   The  family  first  settled  in  Connecticut  and  went 
afterwards  to  Pennsylvania.     Mr.   and   Mrs.   Burke 
have  been  the  parents  of  13  children,  of  whom  two 
are  no  longer  living.     Mary  married  John  Taylor 


and  lives  near  Platte  Center,  Neb.  Thomas  lives  on 
the  farm  in  Hume  Township,  as  also  do  William, 
John,  Patrick,  Anna,  Bridget,  David,  James,  Ellen 
and  Edward.  Honora  and  Michael  died  in  child- 
hood. 

Soon  after  marriage  Mr.  Burke  went  to  New  Jersey, 
where  he  lived  two  years,  and  in  r858  he  removed 
his  family  to  Sterling,  111.  During  his  residence  there 
he  purchased  land  in  the  township  of  Hahnaman,  on 
which  he  moved  after  two  years.  He  went  thence 
to  Montmorency  Township,  where  he  was  the  occu- 
pant and  owner  of  200  acres  of  land.  He  sold  the 
place  in  1881  and  purchased  240  acres  of  land  in 
Hume  Township,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
in  prosperous  farming.  Mr.  Burke  is  a  Democrat  in 
political  relations,  and  is  at  present  a  School  Director 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


.  Henry  Utley,  physician  at  Sterling,  was 
born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  23,  1822. 
His  parents  were  Henry  and  Sarah  (Morse) 
Utley,  nat  ives  respectively  of  Rhode  Island 
and  Connecticut,  who  died  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
His   father   was   by   occupation   a  tanner  arid 
saddler. 

At  the  age  of  16  years  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
attended  school  at  Whitesborough  and  then  the 
Clinton  Institute.  In  1846  he  traveled  through  the 
Southern  States,  mostly  in  Alabama  and  Louisiana, 
for  his  health.  Recovering  it,  he  returned  to  Rome, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  continued  his  medical 
studies  (which  he  had  begun),  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
Pope.  He  then  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  the 
Yale  Medical  College  at  New  Haven,  and  another  at 
the  New  York  University  and  the  Bellevue  Hospital 
Medical  College,  where  he  received  his  diploma.  He 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Turin,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  continuing  eight  years,  when 
he  came  to  Como,  this  county,  and  practiced  medi- 
cine there  for  six  years.  Receiving  then  an  appoint- 
ment as  Surgeon  of  the  75 th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  he 
proceeded  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  to  Perry ville,  where 
he  had  charge  of  the  hospital  two  months.  Next,  he 
had  charge  of  the  hospital  at  Danville,  Ky.,  where  he 
received  an  injury  to  his  left  leg  which  laid  him  up 
and  compelled  him  to  resign.  Gov.  Yates  gave  him 


*  '• 


a  commission  promoting  him  and  permitting  him  to 
remain  at  home  until  he  could  return  to  the  field 
^  when  his  health  was  regained ;  and,  although  the 
Sanitary  Commission  of  Sterling  sent  him  to  Nash- 
ville and  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  his  health  continued 
so  poor  that  he  had  to  return  home  to  remain.  Since 
then  he  has  continued  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  Sterling,  with  marked  success.  He  is  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  of  this  part  of  the  country.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican. 

May  i,  1868,  he  married  Miss  C.  S.  Butler,  daugh  • 
ter  of  Ezekiel  Butler,  of  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have 
three  sons:  J.  F.,  who  married  Cora  Richards,  of 
Sterling;  H.  B.,  who  married  Miss  Mattie  Harden, 
also  of  Sterling;  and  W.  P.,  who  married  Miss  Lida 
Howland,  of  Rock  Falls. 


,.enry  Miller,  farmer,  section  16,  Genesee 
Township,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Ham- 
den,  Vinton  Co.,  Ohio,  March  12,  1837. 
Samuel  Miller,  his  father,  was  born  in  Virginia 
and  was  a  stone-mason  by  vocation.  He  was 
left  early  in  life  without  the  care  of  his  father, 
and  he  was  still  in  young  manhood  when  he  went 
to  Ohio,  where  he  married  Catherine  Flowers.  Her 
father  was  a  German  teacher  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Miller,  senior,  was  a  resident  of  Vinton  County  after 
he  was  married,  until  his  death,  about  the  year  1867. 
The  mother  died  in  August,  1882.  They  reared  a 
family  of  seven  children,  born  in  the  order  named : 
Joseph,  John,  Maria,  Samantha,  Mary,  Henry  and 
Kate.  Samantha  and  Mary  are  not  living.  Mr. 
Miller  set  about  the  earning  of  his  own  livelihood 
when  he  was  20  years  of  age.  He  went  to  Southern 
New  York,  whence,  after  remaining  some  months,  he 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  family. 

He  was  married  Nov.  9,  1858,  in  Vinton  Co.,  Ohio, 
to  Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  (Ayers)  Yager. 
Her  parents  were  born  respectively  in  Pennsylvania 
and  Maryland,  and  were  of  Dutch  descent  and  an- 
cestry in  the  paternal  line.  John  Yager  was  born 
Jan.  3,  1809,  in  Union  Co.,  and  went  with  his  parents 
in  1812  to  Pickaway  Co  ,  Ohio.  In  1820  the  family 
made  another  removal  to  Jackson  County,  in  the 
same  State.  He  was  married  April  19,  1829,  and,  in 
1836,  located  at  Chamber's  Grove,  III.  Seven  years 


1 


later  he  settled  near  Genesee  Grove,  where  he  died. 
Ten  children  were  born  to  him,  of  whom  but  two  are 
living.  Mrs.  Miller  has  one  sister,  Mrs.  Harriet 
Brookfield,  of  Sterling.  The  wife  and  mother  died 
Oct.  2,  1852.  Mr.  Yager  was  again  married  Dec.  12, 
1853,  in  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  to  Catherine  Nance,  who 
died,  without  issue,  June  17,  1863.  Mr.  Yager  con- 
tracted a  third  marriage,  with  Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Mc- 
Crea,  Nov.  16,  1863. 

Mrs.  Miller  was  born  June  21,  1836,  in  Vinton 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  only  three  months  old  when  her 
parents  came  to  Illinois.  They  settled  in  Ogle 
County,  and  when  they  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
Genesee  Township  was  practically  unsettled.  Fol- 
lowing is  the  record  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miller:  William,  married  Cynthia  Pulver,  and  lives 
in  Hardin  Co.,  Iowa;  O.  W.  lives  in  Iowa;  John  is  a 
resident  of  Milledgeville,  Carroll  Co.,  111.  Nell  and 
Hattie  live  at  home  with  their  parents  (1885). 
Samuel  is  still  an  inmate  of  the  paternal  home.  After 
their  marriage  in  1858,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  came  to 
Whiteside  County  and  took  charge  of  Mr.  Yager's 
farm.  In  the  fall  of  1860  they  made  a  journey  to 
Vinton  Co.,  Ohio,  in  a  wagon,  and,  in  the  autumn  of 
the  year  following,  they  returned  in  the  same  way  to 
Illinois.  They  resumed  their  former  relations  on  the 
Yager  homestead,  which  they  maintained  two  years, 
and,  in  1863,  bought  60  acres  of  land  in  the  same 
township.  After  some  time  they  removed  to  Mil- 
ledgeville, Carroll  Co.,  111.,  where  Mr.  Miller  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  trade  and  also  became  inter- 
ested in  a  livery  stable.  In  March,  1884,  they 
returned  to  the  homestead  of  Mr.  Yager,  which  he 
had  willed  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Miller.  Mr.  Miller 
is  a  Republican  in  political  views  and  connections. 


'ohn  H.  Kreider  has  been  a  farmer  on  sec- 
tion 13,  Sterling  Township,  since  the  fall 
of  1854.  He  was  born  Dec.  3,  1814,  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  only  surviving 
child  of  his  parents,  John  and  Catherine 
(Hostetter)  Kreider,  who  were  natives  and  life- 
long residents  of  Pennsylvania.  Their  children  were 
six  in  number,  and  five  died  in  childhood. 

Mr.  Kreider  acquired  a  common-school  education 
and  lived  at  home  with  his  parents  until   the  age  of 


Wff/TESSDE  COUNTY. 


775 


22  years.  He  then  obtained  employment  as  a  farmer 
and  passed  13  years  in  that  and  other  occupations  in 
his  native  State.  He  first  purchased  155  acres  of 
land,  and  increased  his  property  to  a  little  less  than 
200  acres  by  later  purchase.  His  farm  now  includes 
150  acres  of  land,  under  good  tillage  and  with  good 
buildings. 

He  was  married  Nov.  9,  1836,  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  to  Sarah  Heidelbuch.  She  was  born  in  the 
county  where  she  was  married,  Feb.  i,  1819,  and  is 
the  youngest  child  of  John  J.  and  Sarah  Heidelbuch, 
who  were  the  parents  of  eight  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kreider  have  had  six  children, — 
Catherine,  Jacob,  David,  Henry,  John  and  Sarah. 
Only  three  children  are  still  living.  The  mother  is 
a  member  of  the  Mennonite  Church.  Mr.  Kreider 
is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  in  political 
preference.  He  has  been  Highway  Commissioner 
about  15  years. 

^ ^  .<->•  - - 


M.  Cunningham,  dealer  in  drugs,  patent 
medicines,  glass,  stationery,  clocks,  watch- 
es, jewelry,  etc.,  at  Erie,  is  a  son  of  An- 
drew and  Sabrina  (Mumford)  Cunningham, 
and  was  born  in  Exeter,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Jan.  31,  1846.  Mr.  Cunningham  was  eight 
years  of  age  when  his  parents  permanently  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Taylor  Township,  Ogle  County. 

Mr.  Cunningham  remained  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Ogle  County  until  18  years  of  age,  receiving  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  by  the  common  schools.  He  then 
went  to  Mt.  Morris,  same  county,  in  which  he  re- 
sided and  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  He  served 
three  years  in  the  latter  and  in  1874  came  to  Erie, 
this  county,  and  conducted  a  drug-store  for  his 
father.  He  soon  afterwards  purchased  the  neces- 
sary tools  for  watch  repairing,  and  carried  on  that 
business  in  connection  with  the  former.  He  con- 
tinued to  conduct  both  branches  of  the  business 
until  1884.  His  father  died  Feb.  24  of  that  year, 
and  he  became  full  possessor  of  the  business  July 
i,  1885.  He  carries  a  stock  approximating  $2,000. 
He  has  a  good  and  constantly  increasing  trade.  He 
has  two  patent  medicines, — Cunningham's  Anti-bil- 
ious Elixir,  and  The  Good  Samaritan.  The  former 
he  warrants  a  sure  cure  for  bilious  fever,  fever  and 


ague,  headache,  dyspepsia,  jaundice  and  all  diseases 
arising  from  an  impure  condition  of  the  blood.  The 
latter  he  warrants  to  cure  croup,  sore  throat,  burns, 
sprains,  wounds,  deafness,  sore  eyes,  rheumatism,  etc-. 
Mr.  Cunningham  was  married  in  Erie,  April  14, 
1877,  to  Miss  Annie  Moffat.  She  was  born  near 
Amboy,  111.,  July  3,  1859,  and  has  borne  him  one 
son,  Ernest  J.,  born  in  Erie,  July  3,  1878. 


'ohn  Abbey,  farmer,  resident  on  section  24, 
Newton  Township,  was  born  in  November, 
1833,  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio,  and  he  was 
four  years  old  when  his  parents,  Luke  and 
Hannah  Abbey,  removed  thence  to  Newton 
Township.  Luke  Abbey  was  a  pioneer  of  1837 
in  Whiteside  County.  He  was  born  in  March,  1787, 
in  Yorkshire,  England.  He  belonged  to  the  agri- 
cultural class  in  his  native  shire,  and  was  trained 
carefully  in  all  things  pertaining  to  the  business  of  a 
farmer.  In  1818  he  came  to  the  United  States,  lo- 
cating in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  where  he  lived  several 
years.  He  went  to  Ohio  in  1833  and  was  a  resident 
of  Licking  County  four  years.  In  August,  1837,  he 
transferred  his  family  and  interests  to  Illinois.  His 
household  included  his  wife  and  seven  children,  and 
the  journey  hither  was  made  overland.  Mr.  Abbey 
located  a  claim  on  section  24  of  township  20,  range 
3,  now  the  township  of  Newton.  At  first  he  built  a 
log  cabin,  and  later  a  cement  house.  He  improved 
a  fine  farm,  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death,  in 
November,  1869.  He  was  married  three  times.  His 
third  wife,  Hannah  Mills  before  her  marriage,  was 
born  in  Mt.  Holly,  N.  J.  She  bore  him  seven  chil- 
dren :  Sarah  married  O.  A.  Root,  of  Dickinson  Co., 
Kan.;  Charles  W.  is  a  resident  of  Aliceville,  Kan.; 
Hannah  L.  is  the  wife  of  John  Marshall,  of  Cotton- 
wood,  Montana ;  John  lives  on  the  homestead ; 
Marie,  wife  of  Henry  S.  Eye,  is  living  in  Citrus,  Los 
Angeles  Co.,  Cal.  Two  children  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Abbey  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  At 
18  he  went  to  California,  starting  April  7,  1852,  with 
ox  teams,  to  cross  the  plains.  He  arrived  at  Placer- 
ville  Aug.  20  of  the  same  year,  more  than  four 
months  elapsing  before  he  arrived  at  his  destination. 
He  was  occupied  in  mining  at  Placerville  and  in 
Calaveras  County  until  1853,  when  he  went  to  Aus- 
tralia, and  interested  himself  in  gold- mining  there. 


. 


• 


vx 

4 


On  the  voyage  to  Australia  the  vessel  became  dis- 
masted in  a  heavy  gale,  and  a  stop  of  14  days  for 
repairs  was  made  at  the  Society  Islands.  An  at- 
tempt to  land  at  Norfolk  Island  was  made,  in  order 
to  procure  coal  and  supplies,  but  the  authorities  re- 
fused permission,  as  the  island  was  inhabited  by 
English  convicts.  He  spent  five  years  on  the  island- 
continent,  and  visited  Sidney  and  Melbourne  and 
other  places  of  interest.  In  1858  he  returned  to 
San  Francisco,  and  resumed  mining  in  California, 
and  also  became  interested  in  farming,  spending  two 
years  in  his  two-fold  business.  In  1860  he  went  to 
Portland,  Oregon,  and  proceeded  thence  to  Lewiston, 
Idaho.  He  returned  to  Portland  in  the  fall  of  that 
year  and  spent  18  months  in  Oregon.  On  his  route 
home  he  went  to  Vancouver's  Island  and  after  a  few 
days  to  San  Francisco.  He  returned  to  Illinois  by 
way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  New  York.  On 
reaching  Whiteside  County,  he  engaged  in  farming. 
He  was  married  March  15,  1864,  to  Annie  E. 
Huff.  Their  children  are  named  Luke,  Lucy,  May, 
Hannah,  Sadie,  Gertie  and  Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Abbey 
was  born  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  George  H.  and  Hannah  (Dodson)  Huff.  Her 
father  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  her  mother  in 
Pennsylvania.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Abbey  settled  on  his  father's  homestead,  which  he 
now  owns  and  occupies.  In  1870  he  built  a  fine 
residence,  which  was  burned  Feb.  ig,  1884.  He 
then  erected  the  dwelling  he  now  occupies.  It  is 
pleasantly  located  near  a  natural  growth  of  timber, 
which  shelters  it  on  the  north  and  east.  Mr.  Abbey 
is  engaged  in  mixed  husbandry,  and  is  giving  some 
attention  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit. 


yron  Frary,  a  farmer,  residing  on  section 
25  of  Portland  Township,  is  a  son  of  John 
and    Rachel    (Crooks)    Frary,    and    was 
born  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  14,   1811. 
He    was    reared  on   a  farm,  and   when    eight 
years  of  age  his  parents   removed  from  Rich- 
mond Township,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Napoli  Town- 
ship, Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y. 

In  1846  Mr.  Frary  bought  90  acres  of  land  in 
Napoli  Township,  and  resided  there  until  1865,  when 
he  came  West  and  located  where  his  son  James  E. 


now  resides,  half  a  mile  south  of  Jefferson  Corners. 
He  bought  120  acres  there  and  made  a  number  of 
improvements  upon  the  same.  In  1866  he  bought 
his  present  farm  of  45  acres,  which  he  still  owns. 
In  1884  he  deeded  the  120  acres  which  he  had 
originally  purchased,  to  his  son,  upon  which  he  is  at 
present  residing.  To  his  daughter  Cynthia  he  pre- 
sented 39  acres  in  Prophetstown  Township,  where 
she  at  present  resides. 

Mr.  Frary  was  united  in  marriage  in  Napoli  Town- 
ship, Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Martha  Morrill,  a 
daughter  of  Martin  and  Sally  (Osborne)  Morrill. 
She  was  born  in  Olean,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y. 

The  issue  of  their  union  was  two  children,  whose 
record  is  as  follows:  Cynthia,  born  Dec.  7,  1841,  is 
the  wife  of  Gilbert  Rogers ;  and  James  E.  was  born 
April  3,  r843.  The  first  wife  of  James  E.  died  in 
Portland  Township,  Dec.  20,  1868,  and  he  was 
again  married,  in  Portland  Township,  Sept.  20,  1870, 
to  Harriet  E.  Baird,  a  native  of  Ohio.  She  died 
March.  10,  1885,  without  issue. 


B.  Witmer,  merchant  at  Sterling,  is  the 
son  of  Benjamin  and  Anna  Witmer,  na- 
lives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  passed  their  en- 
tire lives  in  their  native  State.  He  was  born 
in  August,  1827,  the  fifth  in  a  family  of  eight 
children.  Receiving  a  common-school  edu- 
tion,  at  the  age  of  13  he  left  home  and  was  employed 
in  a  store  at  Mt.  Joy,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  for  ten 
years ;  next,  he  was  clerk  for  four  months  in  a  store 
at  Saluna,  four  miles  east,  and  then,  purchasing  a 
half  interest  in  that  establishment  from  one  of  the 
proprietors,  he  continued  in  business  there  five  yqars 
longer;  finally,  selling  out,  he  came  to  Sterling, 
where,  after  clerking  for  a  short  time,  he  engaged  in 
business  on  his  account.  He  has  since  had  various 
partners,  and  while  under  the  firm  name  of  R.  B. 
Witmer  &  Co.  they  built  their  mammoth  store  on  the 
corner  of  Third  and  Locust  Streets,  in  1865. 

Mr.  Witmer  has  four  regular  departments,  dry 
goods,  clothing,  carpeting  and  groceries, — and  con- 
nected with  the  same  is  a  merchant  tailoring  estab- 
lishment. In  all,  a  force  of  25  men  are  required  to 
conduct  the  business.  Mr.  Witmer  is  also  connected 
with  Williams  &  Orton  in  the  manufacture  of  gas 


engines,  and  he  is  1'resident  of  the  Sterling  Gas  Com- 
pany. He  has  also  held  the  offices  of  Mayor  and 
Councilman.  His  success  in  business  has  been  re- 
markable, and  his  high  standing  in  the  community  is 
conspicuous.  He  has  been  burned  out  twice, — once 
in  Pennsylvania  and  once  in  Sterling.  Politically  he 
is  a  Prohibitionist,  and  in  religion  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  are  also  his  wife  and  four 
daughters. 

In  the  year  1851,  Mr.  Winner  was  married  to 
Martha  J.  Dickey,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
have  eight  children  living, — William  T.  Mary  A., 
Anna  M.,  Elizabeth,  Emma,  Alice,  Robie  B.  and 
Mabel. 


eorge  R.  Cady,  liveryman,  at  Lyndon, 
was  born  Aug.  25,  1840,  in  the  township  of 
the  same  name.  Amos  Cady,  his  father,  a 
pioneer  of  Whiteside  County,  whither  he  came 
in  1837,  was  born  in  1800,  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his  na- 
tive county,  and  in  early  manhood  went  to  Orleans 
County,  in  his  native  State,  where,  and  in  Genesee 
County,  he  passed  the  intervening  years,  until  the 
year  in  which  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  journeyed 
westward  by  the  lakes  to  Detroit,  and  from  there 
over  land  with  teams  to  Whiteside  County.  He 
bought  a  claim  of  G.  G.  Woodruff  on  section  29,  in 
Lyndon  Township.  A  pioneer  cabin  had  been 
erected,  of  which  he  took  possession  with  his  family, 
and  entered  upon  the  duties  pertaining  to  the  im- 
provement of  the  land  included  in  his  purchase.  He 
secured  his  claim  by  the  usual  method  when  it  came 
into  market  and  entered  a  second  on  section  20.  On 
this  he  built  a  frame  house,  which  was  one  of  the 
first  constructed  in  Whiteside  County,  a  part  of  the 
lumber  for  which  he  drew  from  Chicago.  The  siding 
of  the  front  was  of  black  walnut.  This  home  he  oc 
cupied  afterwards  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  Nov.  5,  1857. 

His  first  wife,  born  Cynthia  Smith,  died  in  1836. 
March  21, 1837,  he  was  married  to  Charity  Crippin. 
She  was  born  Jan.  10,  i8r2,  in  Rome,  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Peter  and  Charlotte 
(Smith)  Crippin,  both  parents  being  natives  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  By  the  first  marriage  there  were 


seven  children,  of  whom  at  this  writing  there  are 
six  living.  Henry  is  a  resident  of  Traer,  Tama  Co., 
Iowa;  Amos  lives  in  Lyndon;  John  is  living  in 
Iowa;  Leonard  has  removed  to  California;  Alonzo 
resides  in  Nebraska ;  Sarah  married  Chauncey  Har- 
kins,  of  Lyndon.  Six  children  born  of  the  second 
marriage  of  Mr.  Cady,  senior,  are  still  living,  and  are 
located  as  follows:  William  J.,  Independence,  Kan.; 
Geo.  R.,  Lyndon;  Eliza,  wife  of  Lewis  Gillett,  died 
in  Fayette  Co.,  Iowa,  in  1873';  Cynthia,  wife  of 
Charles  Lewis,  lives  in  the  county  last  named ;  Or- 
lando lives  on  the  Cady  homestead ;  Elza,  Indepen- 
dence, Kan. ;  Adelbert,  telegraph  operator  at  Palo, 
Iowa.  Mr.  Cady  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Lyndon 
Township  and  discharged  his  obligations  as  such  in 
numerous  official  capacities.  He  sef'ved  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  as  Deputy  Sheriff. 

Mr.  Cady,  of  this  sketch,  received  the  training 
common  to  that  usually  bestowed  on  the  sons  of 
farmers,  operating  chiefly  after  reaching  suitable 
growth  on  the  farm  through  the  greater  part  of  the 
year  and  attending  the  district  school  winters.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  Feb.  22,  1862,  to  Nettie 
Parshall.  About  the  same  time  he  bought  a  part  of 
the  old  homestead  and  engaged  in  farming. 

In  1874  he  opened  a  livery  stable  in  Lyndon,  buy- 
ing the  barn  and  equipments  of  Charles  H.  Field ; 
and  has  since  managed  a  prosperous  and  profitable 
business.  He  has  served  six  years  as  village  Con- 
stable, and  in  the  spring  of  1885  was  re-elected  to 
the  same  position.  His  family  includes  five  children: 
Walter  D.  is  the  oldest ;  Ella  married  Jay  Hazard ; 
Zella,  Lelia,  DeWitt  R.,  and  the  youngest,  George 
Myrl,who  was  born  June  9,  1885. 


armenter  Brothers,  of  Lyndon,  represent 
one  of  the  heaviest  business  interests  of 
that  place.  The  firm  is  composed  of  George 
H.  and  Allen  E.  Parmenter,  sons  of  John  G. 
and  Harriet  (Wait)  Parmenter.  John  G.  was 
only  seven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came 
to  Illinois.  He  was  married  in  1851,  in  Rock  Island 
County.  The  family  includes  four  children.  Sophia 
was  born  in  1856  and  married  Albert  Brunner,  of 
Holdredge,  Neb.,  where  she  died,  April  9,  1885. 

George  H  ,  the  eldest  son,  was  born  March  30, 
1852,  in  Edgington,  Rock  Island  Co.,  Ill,,  and  was 

4^§»f 


Y  V.  H  HXD»  H  H  :  -S^l 

WHITESIJJE  COUNTY. 


"(5; 


brought  up  on  his  father's  farm.  In  December, 
1875,  he  married  Amanda  Debord,  who  was  born  in 
Peoria,  111.  He  engaged  in  farming  in  his  native 
township,  where  he  operated  until  1882,  when  he 
came  to  Lyndon  and  purchased  the  business  which 
he  is  now  conducting  in  company  with  his  brother. 

Allen  E.  Parmenter  was  born  Dec.  20,  1853. 
When  20  years  of  age  he  went  to  Mercer  Co.,  111., 
and  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  mercantile  es- 
tablishment at  Hamlet,  where  he  operated  six  years. 
In  1879,  he  came  to  Lyndon. 

Charles  was  born  Dec.  19,  1858,  in  Edgington 
Township,  Rock  Island  County,  and  obtained  a  fair 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  one  year  at 
the  academy  at  Fulton.  In  1879  he  engaged  in 
teaching  at  Osborne  Station,  in  his  native  county. 
He  came  to  Lyndon  in  December,  1882,  and  Jan- 
uary 29,  1884,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Lyn- 
don. The  postoffice  is  in  his  brother's  store. 

The  firm  of  Parmenter  Bros,  is  engaged  in  an  ex- 
tensive and  popular  trade  in  dry  goods,  druggists' 
sundries,  boots  and  shoes,  groceries,  etc. 


^>oc 


fesse  W.  Scott,  a  farmer  on  section  7,  Mont- 
jg-  morency  Township,  is  a  son  of  Asa  and 
Elizabeth  (Taylor)  Scott,  natives  of  Ohio 
who  settled  in  Hopkins  Township,  this  county, 
as  early  as  1839,  and  afterward  moved  to 
Montmorency  Township,  where  they  resided 
the  remainder  of  their  lives,  he  dying  May  17,  1883, 
and  she  March  ig,  1884.  They  had  16  children, 
namely :  Jesse  W.,  Mary  T.,  Elkanah  B.,  Ellen, 
James,  Ada  B.,  Francis,  Anna,  Asa,  Jr.,  Desdemona, 
John,  Dolly,  Eugene,  Carrie,  Frederick  S.  and  Philip 
S.,  the  last  two  are  twins. 

Mr.  Scott  was  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  16, 
1839,  and  ever  since  he  was  old  enough  to  labor  he 
has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  has 
resided  in  this  county  ever  since  he  was  three  and  a 
half  years  old,  with  the  exception  of  six  months  spens 
in  Missouri.  His  school  education  was  such  as  wat 
usual  in  the  common  schools  of  his  boyhood  days. 

He  was  first  married  March  13,  1863,  in  Como 
Hopkins  Township,  to  Sarah  Z.  Scott,  daughter  of 
Solomon  W.  and  Hannah  (Davis)  Scott,  natives  of 
Ohio.  Mrs.  S.  had  one  child,  Ida  M.,  and  died  May 


i,  1867,  in  Missouri.  Mr.  Scott  was  again  married, 
in  Sterling,  111.,  Sept.  22,  1869,  to  Charlotte  A., 
daughter  of  Solon  and  Charlotte  (Smith)  Stevens, 
who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  They  had  seven 
children, — Charlotte  A.,  Martha,  Anna  C.,  John, 
Etta  M.,  Emma  A.  and  Susan.  Mrs.  Scott  was  born 
in  the  Keystone  State  and  she  and  her  husband  are 
the  parents  of  Ernest,  Charlie  P.,  Goldie  G.,  Wayne 
E.  and  Pearlie.  The  first  named  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Scott  is  now  the  owner  of  240  acres  of  land, 
all  but  20  of  which  are  in  cultivation.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  his  political  views,  and  has  held  the 
offices  of  Collector  six  consecutive  years,  Road  Com- 
missioner four  years,  Overseer  of  Highways  several 
years,  etc. 


ohn  Butzer,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  sec- 
tion 34,  Portland  Township  (19  north,  3 
east),  is  a  son  of  Jacob  F.  and  Sarah  R. 
(Rickel)  Butzer,  and  was  born  in  Phenix  Town- 
ship, Henry  Co.,  111.,  May  17,  1858.  His 
father,  a  farmer,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
died  in  Henry  County ;  and  his  mother,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  is  now  a  resident  of  Geneseo,  111.,  aged  55 
years.  They  had  seven  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living,  namely:  John,  Jr.,  Louisa,  Marcella,  George, 
Susan,  William  S.  and  Ella.  George  resides  in 
Portland  Township,  is  a  farmer,  and  his  two  sisters, 
Marcella  and  Ella,  reside  with  him. 

John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  on  the 
farm.  In  1867  the  family  moved  to  Portland  Town- 
ship, settling  upon  a  farm  of  160  acres,  on  the  sec- 
tion above  named,  and  resided  there  until  1870, 
when  they  removed  to  Henry  County.  In  1878, 
John  took  charge  of  a  farm  of  167  acres,  adjoining 
his  present  farm,  for  his  father  one  season;  then, 
renting  it  himself,  he  has  conducted  it  ever  since. 
April  16,  1883,  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
207  acres.  He  raises  annually  about  100  hogs  ;  also 
deals  in  cattle,  shipping  every  year  about  two  car- 
loads ;  keeps  also  a  few  horses  and  a  small  dairy, 
employing  usually  two  assistants. 

Mr.  Butzer  was  married  in  Loraine  Township, 
Henry  County,  Feb.  17,  i88r,  to  Miss  Christena, 
daughter  of  Martin  Roos,  and  born  in  that  township 

i 

„•&}/» 


, 


UNIVERSinr  Of  ILLINOIS 
UKBANA 


Jan.  6,  1860,  and  they  have  two  children,  both  born 
on  the  present  homestead,  viz. :  Jessie  Blanche, 
June  16,  1882;  and  Ada  Maud,  Jan.  12,  1884. 


--*&!, 


-•— f9c- — 


,on.  Edward  H.  Nevitt,  of  Albany,  whose 
portrait  appears  on  the  opposite  page, 
has  been  a  prominent  business  man  of 
Whiteside  County  since  1850.  He  is  a  native 
citizen  of  the  State,  having  been  born  atCarmi, 
White  County,  Jan.  6,  1822.  He  was  15  years 
of  age  when  his  father  (see  sketch  of  William 
Nevitt),  removed  his  family  to  Albany  Township, 
and  until  the  date'  named  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, with  the  exception  of  the  time  spent  in 
obtaing  his  education,  which  he  completed  by  stud- 
ying at  Knox  College.  He  had  observed  the 
advantages  of  the  lumber  trade  on  the  Mississippi, 
and  at  the  age  of  28  years  began  his  active  connec- 
tion therewith,  pursuing  his  business  vigorously  in 
the  various  avenues  of  traffic  in  production  of  lum- 
ber," until  the  summer  of  1860,  when  he  suffered 
almost  total  annihilation  of  his  business  relations 
from  the  tornado  of  June  3,  which  literally  destroyed 
the  village  of  Albany ;  his  saw-mill,  with  the  lumber 
and  fixtures,  and  his  residence,  being  swept  away. 
He  made  a  brave  struggle  to  recover  his  losses, 
staying  on  the  spot  with  his  friends  and  neighbors, 
who  had  encountered  similar  disaster.  In  1865,  he 
was  appointed  United  States  Mail  Agent,  and  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  the  position  on  the  river  route 
from  Dubuque  to  Rock  Island,  one  season.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  he  again  embarked  in  the  lum- 
ber trade,  in  which  h,e  has  since  operated  continu- 
ously. 

Mr.  Nevitt's  abilities  received  early  recognition  by 
his  townsmen,  and  he  was  elected  to  the  position  of 
Assessor  on  the  organization  of  the  township,  and 
was  successfully  re-elected  twenty  years.  He  served 
as  County  School' Commissioner  and  as  Supervisor 
of  Albany.  He  held  the  latter  office  six  consecutive 
years,  and  was  re-elected  fer  a  seventh  term,  but  re- 
signed to  take  his  position  as  Representative  of  the 
Eleventh  District,  which  included  the  counties  of 
Whiteside  and  Carroll.  He  was  elected  to  the 
Assembly  of  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1876,  and  was 
made  a  member  of  some  of  the  most  important  coiu- 


mittees.  His  service  in  the  3oth  General  Assembly 
was  characterized  by  the  same  ability,  faithfulness 
and  public  spirit  which  had  made  him  prominent  in 
local  affairs  and  in  the  duties  of  his  private  citizen- 
ship. Mr.  Nevitt  is  the  possessor  of  a  mind  well 
stored  by  a  wide  familiarity  with  literature  and  prom- 
inent individuals  in  public  life;  and  he  is  the  recip- 
ient of  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him 
for  his  disinterested  services  in  the  general  welfare, 
as  well  as  for  his  superior  character  as  a  man. 

Mr.  Nevitt  was  joined  in  marriage  to  Hannah 
Alvord,  Dec.  27,  1855,  at  LeClaire,  Iowa.  She  was 
lx>rn  May  26,  1826,  in  Ellicottville,  Cattaraugus 
Co.,  N.  Y.  A  daughter — Lizzie  Blanche — was  born 
April  19,  1856,  and  died  Nov.  18,  1858.  The  wife 
and  mother  died  Nov.  30,  1882*  The  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Nevitt,  to  Jennie  Whiting,  occurred  Jan. 
15,  1884.  Mrs.  Nevitt  is  a  native  of  the  City  of 
Lockport,  N.  Y. 


|  obert  Adams,  farmer  on  section  13,  Ster- 
ling Township,  is  the  youngest  son  of  Van 
J.  Adams,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  1836  of 
*  Whiteside  County.  The  latter  was  a  native 
of  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  in  De- 
cember, 1803.  He  was  brought  up  to  the 
business  of  a  miller,  which  he  abandoned  at  19  years 
of  age  and  passed  ten  years  as  a  teacher.  He  was 
married  Oct.  28,  1828,  to  Mary  A.  Ritchie,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  On  their  removal  to  Whiteside  County  they 
located  on  a  farm  east  of  Sterling,  where  the  father 
resided  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  became  wealthy, 
and  his  abilities  made  him  prominent  in  the  local 
and  general  affairs  of  the  county  and  State.  He 
served  one  term  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of 
Illinois,  but  declined  further  preferment.  He  died 
April  29,  1871,  from  the  effects  of  an  accident.  His 
wife  died  in  August  of  the  same  year.  Their  chil- 
dren were  named  Matthew  R.,  Maria  P.,  Josiah  Q., 
Francis  W.,  Jay  H.  and  Robert. 

The  latter  was  born  in  Sterling  Township,  Aug.  16, 
1850.  He  obtained  his  elementary  education  at  the 
common  schools  and  afterward  attended  the  college 
at  Wheaton  two  years.  After  leaving  school,  Mr. 
Adams  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  W.  R.  Stombaugh 
in  the  sale  of  paints  and  oils  at  Sterling;  and  after 


f 

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Ss 

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780 


WHITES  IDE  COUN7Y. 


operating  in  this  joint  relation  two  years,  Mr.  Adams 
sold  out  and  bought  the  livery  establishment  and  in- 
terests of  Frank  Maynard,  associated  with  Henry  H. 
Hoover.  After  operating  four  years,  Mr.  Adams  be- 
came the  proprietor  of  the  entire  business  by  buying 
the  interests  of  his  associate.  After  two  years  he 
severed  his  connection  with  the  livery  business  by 
selling  out.  In  December,  1881,  he  returned  to  the 
old  homestead  and  has  since  carried  on  the  farm  of 
his  father,  in  company  with  his  brother.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  his  political  principles. 

Mr.  Adams  was  married  June  17,  1873,  to  Julia 
M.,  daughter  of  D.  W.  and  Mary  E.  Lewis,  in  Ster- 
ling. Her  parents  came  to  Whiteside  County  in 
1862.  They  settled  in  Sterling  until  1880,  when 
they  went  to  Minnesota.  Their  children  were  four 
in  number,  and  were  named  Isabella  M.,  Julia  M  , 
Emma  C.  and  Martin  R.  Mrs.  Adams  was  born 
July  3,  1853,  in  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.  To  her  and  her 
husband  four  children  have  been  born,  named  Eva 
E.,  Mary  R.,  Robert  H.  and  Van  J.  Mrs.  Adams  is 
a  communicant  in  the  Episcopal  Church.  Her  sister 
Isabella  is  the  wife  of  William  Lindley  and  resides  in 
Iowa.  Emma  married  E.  H.  Reynolds,  of  Rochelle, 
111.,  and  is  now  deceased.  Martin  lives  at  Albert 
Lea,  Minn. 

Matthew  R.  Adams  is  a  resident  of  Rock  Falls. 
Maria  P.  married  Edmund  Bowman,  of  Sterling. 
Josiah  Q.  died  in  November,  1860.  Frances  married 
W.  F.  Eastman,  of  Sterling,  and  died  Feb.  25,  1877. 
Jay  H.  is  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Wilson  & 
Adams,  of  La  Fayette,  Ind. 


McGregor,  a  farmer  residing  on 
section  18,  Erie  Township,  where,  in  con- 
\,\«>  nection  with  his  brother  Robert,  he  is  cul- 
tivating 281  acres  of  land,  which  they  rent,  is 
a  son  of  Daniel  and  Harriet  (Carpenter)  Mc- 
Gregor, and  was  born  in  Portland  Township, 
this  county,  three  miles  southwest  of  the  village  of 
Portland,  Feb.  13,  1851.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  as  likewise  was  his  mother.  They  came 
by  water  to  Chicago  in  1850,  and  then  drove  to 
Portland  Township,  where  the  father  soon  afterwards 
bought  a  farm  of  76  acres.  In  the  fall  of  1870,  he 
went  to  Erie  Township,  and  rented  the  farm  which 


Samuel,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  now  rents.  The 
father  died  on  that  place,  Oct.  15,  1871.  The  mother 
still  resides  with  her  sons  on  the  farm.  The  par- 
ents' family  comprised  five  children,  all  living,  and 
all  born  in  this  county. 

Mr.  McGregor  is  the  oldest  of  his  father's  family. 
Clara  is  "the  wife  of  Jarvis  Fargo,  a  farmer  residing  in 
Erie  Township ;  Robert  is  a  partner  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  farm  ;  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Wm.  Wiggins, 
a  farmer  also  residing  in  the  same  township;  and 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  Dewitt  Bunn,  likewise  a  farmer  in 
Erie  Township.  When  the  father  died  the  two  boys, 
Robert  and  Samuel,  took  charge  of  the  farm,  and 
cultivated  the  same  for  their  mother  three  years;  they 
then  rented  the  farm  themselves,  and  have  ever  since 
cultivated  the  same,  and  have  met  with  success, 
usually  raising  from  25  to  30  hogs,  a  few  colts,  etc. 

-* •*"*• «- 


ucien  J.  Olmstead,  general  farmer,  section 
29,  Genesee  Township,  was  born  Aug.  i, 
1830,  in  the  township  of  Huron,  Wayne 
Co.,  N.  Y.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  White- 
side  County  since  1864,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1852.  His  father,  Elijah  Olmstead,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut  and  was  of  English  descent.  He 
married  Gerusha  Grover,  who  was  born  in  the  State 
of  Vermont,  whence  she  went  in  early  life  to  White- 
hall, N.  Y.,  and  from  there  to  Wayne  County,  same 
State.  She  bore  her  husband  12  children,  and  after 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  Wayne  County,  she  mar- 
ried Robert  Stage.  Late  in  life  she  removed  to 
Genesee  Township,  where  she  died. 

Mr.  Olmstead  was  next  to  the  youngest  child  and 
he  was  four  years  old  when  his  father  died.  He  re- 
mained with  his  mother  and  stepfather  until  he  was 
1 6  years  of  age.  He  then  was  in  Canada  for  two 
years.  '  Returning  home,  he  worked  at  painting  three 
or  four  years.  In  1852  he  came  West  and  located 
in  Carroll  County,  where  he  spent  s«me  time  work- 
ing at  his  trade.  Jan.  17,  1856,  he  was  married  in 
Wysox  Township,  Carroll  County,  to  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Polly  (Holmes)  Dewey,  who  were 
born  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Mr.  Olmstead  was 
born  Aug.  30,1836,  in  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.  Her 
father  died  when  she  was  six  years  old,  and  when  she 
was  14  years  she  wtjnt  with  an  older  sister  to  Brad- 


. 


*s'« 


ford  Co.,  Pa.  She  obtained  a  good  education  in  the 
common  school,  which  she  made  available  in  teach- 
ing. She  came,  when  she  was  18  years  of  age,  with 
her  sister,  Mrs.  Julia  A.  DeWolf,  to  Carroll  Co.,  111., 
and  was  married,  as  stated,  two  years  later.  Follow- 
ing is  the  record  of  five  children  of  whom  she  is  the 
mother :  Ellen  J.  married  James  Keller  and  resides 
at  Omaha,  Neb.,  where  her  husband  is  engaged  in 
teaching  music.  Frank  lives  in  Omaha,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  teaching  and  studying.  Alanson  lives  at 
home.  Luther  D.  is  a  student  at  Dixon,  111.  Fred 
L.  is  the  youngest. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olmstead  re- 
sided at  first  in  Milledgeville,  Carroll  County.  Later 
they  engaged  in  farming.  In  the  fall  of  1864,  they 
purchased  a  farm  in  Genesee  Township,  where  they 
established  their  homestead  permanently.  The  farm 
included  182  acres,  with  60  under  improvement ;  too 
acres  are  now  under  the  plow.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olm- 
stead are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  the  former  has  officiated  as  Steward  and 
Class-leader.  In  political  conviction  and  connection 
he  is  a  Republican. 


S  esley  C.  Graham,  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
farmer,  of  Spring  Hill,  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Eliza  (Martin)  Graham,  and  was 
born  in  Portland  Township,  this  county, 
Dec.  14,  1845.  His  father,  a  farmer,  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  came  to  this  country,  resided 
in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  then  in  Chicago  for  a  time, and  in 
1837  or  1838  came  to  this  county,  settling  in  Port- 
land Township,  on  120  acres  of  land,  which  he  had 
purchased,  near  Rock  River;  he  died  there,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1865  ;  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  still  lives  on  her  farm  in  this  township.  They 
had  12  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living. 

Mr.  Graham  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  after 
working  the  homestead  on  his  own  account  several 
years,  he  came,  in  1874,  to  Spring  Hill  and  opened  a 
general  store.  He  conducted  this  alone  a  year,  and 
then  admitted  to  partnership  Mr.  A.  D.  Booth,  and 
they  managed  the  business  together  three  years  ;  then, 
dividing  their  stock,  Mr.  Graham  was  engaged  in 
trade  in  Geneseo  for  two  years.  He  then  sold  out 


there  and  returned  to  Spring  Hill,  purchasing  117 
acres  of  land,  where  he  is  now  conducting  his  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  is  a  Freemason  in  his  social 
relations,  and  he  has  been  Township  Collector  two 
years  and  School  Director  a  number  of  years.  He  was 
elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1882,  and  re-elected 
in  1885. 

Mr.  Graham  was  married  in  Spring  Hill,  Jan.  29, 
1871,  to  Miss  Lucina,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Melissa 
Fuller.  She  was  born  in  Portland,  Sept.  20,  r843. 
The  two  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graham  are 
Lorena  Dell,  born  Nov.  13,  1871,  and  Franklin,  May 
16,  1875. 


;  ohn  G.  Dieterle,  farmer  and  stock-grower 
^  on  section  8,  Jordan  Township,  was  born 
April  29,  1833,  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany. 
His  father,  Martin  Dieterle,  died  in  Germany, 
when  he  was  63  years  of  age.  His  mother 
died  in  i84r.  In  1855  he  came  to  this  coun- 
try, and  at  once  to  Sterling,  111.,  and  entered  the 
employment  of  Colonel  R.  L.  Wilson,  and  remained 
in  his  service  14  months.  He  went  next  to  Rock- 
ford,  and  was  employed  by  E.  R.  Hinkley  as  a  com- 
mon laborer,  and  continued  to  labor  in  his  interest 
two  years.  He  spent  the  succeeding  two  years  at 
Rochelle,  and  a  year  and  a  half  afterward  worked 
on  a  farm  in  Jordan  Township.  He  then  rented  a 
farm  one  year. 

He  was  married  at  Rochelle,  to  Kate  Dougherty, 
a  native  of  Ireland.  Her  parents  removed  with 
their  family  to  the  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada, 
where  she  was  reared  and  educated.  Her  parents 
died  in  the  Dominion.  Four  children  were  born  of 
her  marriage  to  Mr.  Dieterle :  Fanny  F.  was  born 
March  13,  1865;  Mary  C.,  May  9,  1868;  William 
E.,  Aug.  23,  r86g;  and  one  died  in  infancy.  The 
mother  died  April  4,  1871.  She  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr:  Dieterle 
formed  a  second  marriage  with  Lydia  A.  Jacob, 
Sept.  14,  1875.  She  was  born  Jan.  3,  1843,  near  the 
city  of  Baltimore,  Md.  Her  father,  John  A.  Jacob, 
was  a  mechanic  in  the  State  of  Maryland,  but  came 
West  and  located  on  a  farm  in  the  Township  of  Jor- 
dan, where  he  was  one  of  the  leading  farmers  in 
^m.JJX^.0^  ^^^( 


* '» 


Whiteside  County,  and  one  of  the  most  prominent 
agriculturists  and  growers  of  stock  in  the  township. 
He  died  Sept.  19,  1882.  Catherine  (Story)  Jacob, 
the  mother  of  Mrs.  Dieterle,  was  born  in  Maryland, 
of  German  parentage.  She  is  yet  living  on  the 
homestead,  where  the  family  settled  when  the  daugh- 
ter was  nine  years  of  age.  The  latter  has  been  the 
mother  of  four  children  :  One,  John  A.,  is  deceased; 
he  died  when  seven  days  old;  Lydia  C.  was  born 
Sept.  20,  1876;  Martha  J.,  Sept.  19,  1879;  John  G., 
Sept.  ii,  1882;  the  deceased  child  was  second  in 
order  of  birth,  and  was  born  Aug.  23,  1878. 

Mr.  Dieterle  bought,  in  1864,  80  acres  of  land  on 
section  18,  of  the  railroad  company,  which  was.  all  in 
a  wild  state.  He  put  it  under  tillage,  after  which  he 
sold  it,  and  bought  80  acres  on  section  8,  which  wa? 
partially  improved.  On  this  he  has  wrought  with 
success,  and  has  added  to  his  estate  until  he  is  now 
the  owner  of  240  acres  of  land,  in  good  farming  con- 
dition. His  wife  owns  160  acres  of  land  in  the 
State  of  Iowa.  They  and  three  of  the  children  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  the 
father  was  an  Elder  three  years.  He  is  actively  in- 
terested in  educational  matters. 


f 


ohn  H.  Kreider,  Jr.,  farmer,  section  2, 
r  Sterling  Township,  was  born  Dec.  20, 
1850,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is  the  son 
of  John  H.  Kreider,  of  whom  a  personal  nar- 
ration is  given  on  another  page.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  until  he  was  about  18  years 
old.  He  has  resided  in  Whiteside  County  since  he  was 
four  years  of  age,  his  parents  having  come  hither  in 
1854  ,  and  since  he  reached  man's  estate  he  has 
been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1880  he  bought  no  acres  of  land  on  section 
2,  where  he  is  now  prosecuting  his  farming  projects. 
Of  this,  90  acres  are  under  tillage.  Mr.  Kreider  is  a 
Republican  in  political  sentiment. 

He  was  married  Dec.  24,  1871,  in  Sterling,  111., 
to  Maggie  Ebersole,  and  they  have  five  children,  who 
were  born  in  the  following  order:  Matilda,  Henry, 
Abraham,  Franklin  and  John.  Mrs.  Kreider  was 
born  March  9,  1851,  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is 


the  daughter  of  Abraham  D.  and  Anna  (Rutt)  Eber-     *' 
sole.     A   personal    sketch   of  her   parents    may   be 
found   elsewhere  in  this  volume.     Mrs.  Kreider  is  a 
member  of  the  Mennonite  Church. 


A.  Boyd,  marketman  at  Morrison,  was  lx>rn 
June  i,  1838,  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland.  He  is 
the  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Robinson) 
Boyd,  who  emigrated  to  America  with  their 
family  in  1854,  locating  on  a  farm  two  miles 
east  of  Morrison.  They  had  10  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  still  living.  John  is  a  fanner  and 
dealer  in  stock  near  Morrison;  William  is  a  farmer 
in  Nebraska;  Peter  is  bojk-keeper  for  Thomas  R. 
King,  at  Morrison  ;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Rob- 
inson, a  farmer  in  the  vicinity  of  Morrison ;  Janet 
married  John  Thompson,  an  "  overman  "  in  a  mine 
in  Ayrshire,  Scotland ;  Jane  is  the  wife  of  John 
Clark,  of  Morrison.  (See  sketch.) 

Mr.  Boyd  was  trained  on  a  farm  in  his  native 
shire,  and  when  he  was  18  years  of  age  accompanied 
his  parents  to  this  country.  After  spending  a  few 
years  on  the  home  farm,  near  Morrison,  he  went 
South,  and  was  for  some  time  engaged  as  superin- 
tendent of  construction  on  various  railroads,  over- 
seeing the  labors  of  men  engaged  in  building  trestle- 
wofk,  culverts  and  bridges.  He  returned  to  the 
county,  where  he  has  since  been  a  resident,  and  he 
engaged  in  farming,  drawing  building  materials  and 
jobbing  generally.  He  owned  40  acres  of  land  situ- 
ated a  mile  south  of  Morrison.  In  1873  he  bought 
the  place  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  transac- 
tion of  his  business,  and  opened  a  meat-shop  in 
company  with  his  brother-in-law,  John  Clark.  A 
year  later  he  bought  the  interest  of  the  latter.  He 
•  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  transaction  of  a  heavy 
business,  including  extensive  shipping  relations.  He 
has  also  a  fine  farm  of  100  acres,  lying  one  mile 
southwest  of  Morrison,  which  he  superintended  per- 
sonally, and  is  interested  in  breeding  horses,  making 
a  specialty  of  Mambrinos,  Clydesdale  and  Hamble- 
tonians.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  320  acres  of  land 
in  McPherson  Co.,  D.  T.  His  residence  is  located 
on  three  and  half  acres  of  land,  and  is  an  attractive 
and  valuable  homestead.  He  belongs  to  the  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows. 


>.- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


The  marriage  of  Mr.  Boyd  to  Sarah  Clark  took 
place  Dec.  29,  1864,  in  I)e  Witt,  Iowa,  and  to  them 
four  children  have  been  born:  Herbert  N.,  Gertrude, 
John  T.  and  Mary.  Mrs.  Boyd  was  born  in  Chau- 
tauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Phebe  Clark. 


D.  Ebersole  is  a  farmer  on  section 
3,  Sterling  Township.     He  was  born  Sept. 

'        8'    l822'  in   Lancaster  Co-.  Pa--  and  is  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  his  parents,  David   and  Esther 
(Burkholder)  Ebersole,  who    were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania. 

In  1867  Mr.  Ebersole  sold  his  farm  in  the  State 
where  he  had  lived  45  years,  and  in  the  autumn 
came  to  Illinois.  He  bought  204  acres  of  land  on 
sections  2  and  3  of  Sterling  Township,  where  he 
made  a  permanent  location.  He  is  now  the  owner 
of  i  [o  acres,  which  is  practically  all  under  tillage. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  political  principle. 

He  was  married  Oct.  16,  1845,  in  Lancaster  Co., 
Pa.,  to  Anna,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Magdalena 
(Ebersole)  Rutt.  His  wife  is  the  sixth  child  in  or- 
der of  birth,  and  is  next  the  youngest  of  her  parents' 
children.  She  was  born  Jan.  20,  1827,  in  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ebersole  have  nine  chil- 
dren,— Elias,  Esther,  Maggie,  Anna,  Sabine,  Michael, 
Abraham,  Solomon  and  Amos.  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  Mennonite  Church. 


.  rancis  K.  Hoover  is  a  farmer  of  Sterling 
Township,  and  is  a  resident  on  section  3. 
His  parents,  John  and  Martha  (Kreider) 
Hoover,  were  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  set- 
tled in  the  township  of  Sterling  in  1851.  The 
death  of  the  mother  transpired  Oct.  8,  1869; 
the  father. died  Feb.  2,  1884.  Their  family  included 
eight  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Francis 
K.,  Mary,  Anna,  Isaac,  Martha  and  Benjamin  are 
still  living. 

Mr.  Hoover  was  bom  July  27,  1835,  in   Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa.     He  was  about   16  years  of  age  when  he 


came  with  his  parents  to  Whiteside  County,  and  he 
has  since  been  interested  almost  exclusively  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  became  a  land-holder  in  1867, 
when  he  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  the  section 
wrier"  his  homestead  is  now  located.  On  this  he  has 
since  lived  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  when  he 
resided  on  section  2.  His  farm  now  comprises  200 
acres,  and  is  supplied  with  good  buildings.  His 
place  is  all  under  improvement.  Mr.  Hoover  has 
been  School  Director  three  years,  and  in  political 
sentiment  he  is  in  accord  with  the  Republican  party. 
He  was  married  Feb.  27,  1859,  in  Sterling  Town- 
ship, to  Mary,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Barbara  (Hess) 
Suavely,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  parents  came 
to  Whiteside  County  about  1856,  and  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives  in  Sterling  Township.  They 
had  nine  children.  (See  sketch  of  Levi  Snavely.) 
Mrs.  Hoover  was  born  Feb.  2,  1839,  in  Lebanon  Co., 
Pa  ,  and  she  is  the  mother  of  eight  children,  named 
as  follows:  John,  Edward,  William,  Hattie,  Isaac, 
Harry,  Benjaminand  Frank. 


.enry  Johnson,  general  farmer,  on  section 
26,  Genesee  Township,  was  born  in  Alten- 
burg,  Germany,  Sept.  13,  1842,  and  is  the 
son  of  Volkart  and  Gertrude  (Sies)  Johnson, 
who  were  also  natives  of  the  same  German 
I  State.  His  father  was  a  shoe  maker  by  trade, 
and  removed  with  his  family  to  the  United  States  in 
1852.  They  first  found  a  home  in  Prairieville  (now 
Palmyra),  Lee  Co.,  III.  Three  years  later  they  be- 
gan farming.  The  son  assisted  in  the  improvement 
and  establishment  of  a  homestead  until  he  had 
passed  his  majority  by  some  years. 

He  was  married,  Nov.  27,  1866,  to  Metta,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  J.  and  Frelsa  (Reckleis)  Irlis.  •  The 
family  came  from  Germany  and  were  natives  of  the 
same  State,  where  Mr.  Johnson  was  born  and  where 
his  father's  progenitors  originated.  Mrs.  Johnson 
was  born  Jan.  24,  1845,  in  Germany.  She  was  21 
years  of  age  when  her  father  emigrated  with  his 
family  to  the  United  States,  and  he  became  a  farmer 
in  Whiteside  County. 

Nine  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson,  and  all  are  yet  living  except  one.  They 
are  named  Freleca,  William,  Mary,  Anna  and  Metta 


' 
• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


1 


(twins),    Henry,  Charles   and    Barnet.     Volkhart  is 
deceased. 

On  the  event  of  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson  removed  to  a  farm  in  Jordan  Township, 
where  the  former  became  the  proprietor  of  80  acres 
of  land,  on  which  he  resided,  and  which  he  improved 
in  a  creditable  manner.  In  1872  the  place  was  sold, 
and  the  farm  of  which  Mr.  Johnson  is  now  the  pro- 
prietor in  Genesee  Township  was  bought,  including 
at  the  date  of  purchase  too  acres.  He  has  since  in- 
creased his  estate  to  double  its  original  acreage,  and 
the  entire  amount  is  under  fine  improvement  and  its 
buildings  add  greatly  to  the  appearance  and  value  of 
the  property.  He  owns  a  considerable  amount  of 
valuable  stock.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held 
minor  offices  in  the  Township.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 


i  illiam  A.  Jamison,  a  prominent  agricul- 
turist of  Montmorency  Township,  resi- 
dent on  section  34,  came  to  Whiteside 
County  in  1858.  He  passed  the  first  year  in 
farm  labor  as  an  assistant,  and  in  1 85  9  rented 
land,  in  which  latter  method  he  operated  three 
years,  after  which  he  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  pur- 
chased by  his  mother  in  r&$g.  After  a  residence  of 
two  years  he  rented  a  farm,  which  he  conducted  four 
years.  He  then  bought  1 60  acres  of  land,  which  is 
still  in  his  possession,  together  with  a  subsequent 
purchase  of  a  similar  amount.  His  farm  of  320 
acres  is  all  under  tillage.  Mr.  Jamison  is  a  decided 
Republican  and  has  held  several  township  offices. 

He  was  born  Feb.  i,  i84r,  in  Blooming  Grove, 
Franklin  Co.,  Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
Sarah  (Smith)  Jamison.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Delaware,  and  his  father  was  born  in  Ohio.  After 
their  marriage,  they  settled  in  Union  Co.,  Ind.,  where 
the  father  died, 'April  7,  1853.  The  mother  came  in 
1859  to  Whiteside  County,  and  is  still  living.  Their 
five  children  were  named  William  A.,  Rebecca  B., 
Joseph  A.,  John  Q.  and  Emma.  The  latter  died 
when  two  years  old. 

Mr.  Jamison  was  married  in  Iowa,  on  Feb.  4,  1868, 
to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Anna  (Knif- 
fen)  Brown,  and  they  have  had  three  children — Mary 
E.,  Anna  G.  and  Emma.  Mrs.  Jamison  was  born  in 


the  State  of  Michigan.  Her  parents  were  also  natives 
of  that  State  and  came  thence  in  1865  to  Whiteside 
County,  where  they  lived  three  years.  They  went 
to  Iowa,  where  the  mother  died. 

The  father  died  Oct.  i,  r88i,in  Michigan.  Their 
children  were  Edward,  Elizabeth,  Marvin  G.  and 
Marion  H. 


eorge  Adair,  proprietor  of  the  plow  and 
wagon  shop  at  Rock  Falls,   and   genera' 
jobber  in   mechanical  work,    was   born  in 
Canada,  May  2,  1827,  his   parents  being  John 
and   Anna   (Teezel)   Adair,   natives  of  New 
Jersey. 

He  lived  at  his  parental  home  until  16  years  of 
age,  receiving  a  limited  education.  He  next  served 
two  years  as  an  apprentice  at  the  blacksmith  trade, 
worked  at  the  business  as  a  journeyman  six  years, 
and  then  started  in  business  on  his  own  responsi- 
bility in  Canada.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  sold 
out,  moved  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  established  a 
smithy  and  conducted  it  until  1860.  Next  he  re- 
sided four  years  in  Michigan,  and  then,  until  the  fall 
of  1871,  in  the  same  place  and  business  in  Wiscon- 
sin he  formerly  had;  then  he  sold  out  there  and  re- 
moved to  Moline,  where  he  wrought  at  his  vocation 
for  two  years,  and  finally,  in  1879,  he  commenced 
business  for  himself  in  Rock  Falls.  He  is  prosper- 
ing most  signally.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

He  was  married  in  1849  to  Martha  Simkins,  and 
they  have  had  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  still  sur- 
vive, viz.:  Sarah  J.,  George  M.,  Belvia  A.,  John  E  , 
Angie  N.,  William  S.  and  Ambrose. 


—4= 


ohn  Martin,  of  Sterling,  is  a  native  of  Bed- 
ford Co.,  Pa.,  and  was  born  March  17, 
1814,  his  parents  being  David  and  Cathe- 
rine (Long)  Martin.  His  father  was  an  ex- 
tensive farmer,  owning  and  managing  over  600 
acres  in  that  State.  He  died  in  Pennsylvania, 
in  1859,  and  his  wife  (mother  of  John)  survived  un- 
til 1877. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  with  his  par- 


ents  until  23  years  of  age,  working  on  the  farm  and 
attending  school.  After  leaving  home  he  rented  a 
farm  from  his  father.  In  1839  he  purchased  121 
acres  from  his  father,  and  occupied  it  for  18  years; 
then,  in  1857,  he  rented  that  farm  and  came  to  Ster- 
ling, 111.  In  1864  he  sold  his  Pennsylvania  farm 
and  bought,  all  together,  606  acres  in  this  county, 
which  he  now  lets  out  to  tenants.  At  present  he  is 
leading  a  quiet,  pleasant  life,  his  residence  being  at 
the  corner  of  Cedar  and  Seventh  Streets,  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Sterling.  He  has  accumulated  a  large  amount 
of  property,  and  is  a  citizen  of  high  standing.  In 
his  political  views  he  sustains  Republican  principles. 
Mr.  Martin  was  married  in  1837,  to  Catherine 
Hoover,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  Lancaster  County; 
and  they  have  four  children,  namely :  Joseph,  who 
married  Clara  Stager;  Jennie,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Washington  Dillon,  and  has  four  children, — Cath- 
arine, Margaret,  John  and  Paul;  David  and  John 
W.  are  the  other  two  children  of  Mr.  Martin.  Mrs. 
Martin  died  in  July,  1863,  in  Sterling. 


j|ermon  Sox,  farmer,  section  12,  Sterling 
Township,  was  born  Nov.  14,  1814,  in  Ger- 
many. His  parents,  Selig  and  Rosa  Sox, 
lived  and  died  in  their  native  country.  Their 
children  were  nine  in  number,  and  were  named 
Hirtz,  Myers,  Hermon,  Abram,  Louis,  Hirsch, 
Hannah,  Rosa  and  Emma.  Mr.  Sox  passed  his 
minority  in  his  native  land,  and  fulfilled  the  legal 
conditions  which  provide  that  German  boys  shall 
attend  school  a  certain  number  of  years  and  after- 
ward learn  a  trade.  He  obtained  a  knowledge  of  the 
business  of  a  soap  and  candle  manufacturer  and  also 
worked  on  a  farm. 

In  1835  he  came  to  the  United  States.  He  first 
went  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  lived  three  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  went  to  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  a  year  later  came  to  Whiteside  County. 
He  passed  five  years  in  the  capacity  of  a  farm 
laborer,  and  on  a  farm  which  he  rented,  after  which 
he  bought  240  acres  of  land  in  Sterling  Township. 
He  is  now  the  proprietor  of  160  acres,  all  of  which 
is  under  cultivation,  and  the  buildings  on  the  place 
are  valuable  and  add  greatly  to  its  general  appear- 


§£^*f~r 


ance.     Mr.    Sox   is   identified  with   the  Republican 
party  in  politics. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  Dec.  27,  1838,  in 
Pennsylvania,  to  Margaret  Owens.  She  was  born 
in  that  State  Nov.  14,  1814,  on  the  same  day  of  the 
same  month  and  year  as  her  husband.  Their 
children  are  named  Emily,  Jane,  Ella,  Edward  F., 
Hattie,  Mary,  Louis  N.,  Harmon  E.  and  Amanda. 
Mrs.  Sox  is  the  daughter  of  Redmond  and  Chris 
tiana  (Arnold)  Owens.  Her  parents  lived  and  died 
in  Pennsylvania,  where  they  reared  their  children — 
Christiana,  Edward,,  John,  Mary,  Hattie  and  Eliza- 
beth. 


tr.  H.    E.   Robinson,   physician    and    sur- 
geon at  Albany,  was  born   Dec.  19,  1848, 
in  Mercersburg,  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.,  and   is 
the  son  of  M.  F.  and  Martha  (Rankin)  Rob- 
inson.    His  father  was  a  medical  practitioner, 
and   a   graduate   from  Washington    College,  in 
Baltimore,  Md. 

Dr.  Robinson  obtained  his  elementary  education 
in  the  public  schools,  and  afterwards  improved  his 
supply  of  knowledge  at  the  Normal  and  Classical 
School  at  Newville,  Pa.  He  began  to  study  for  his 
profession  under  the  instructions  of  his  father.  He 
attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  at  Jefferson 
College,  Philadelphia,  finishing  his  course  at  the 
University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  whence  he 
graduated  March  30,  1870,  and  began  his  career  as 
a  practitioner  as  his  father's  associate  in  Newville, 
remaining  with  him  a  few  months.  In  the  fall  of 
the  same  year,  he  came  to  Albany  and  opened  his 
business.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  following,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  H.  M.  Booth,  and 
their  connection  was  in  existence  three  years.  In 
the  autumn  of  1874,  he  went  to  Pennsylvania  and 
embarked  in  the  sale  of  drugs,  and  also  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine,  successively  at  Mt.  Holly  Springs 
and  Newville,  remaining  in  his  native  State  until 
the  fall  of  1880,  when  he  returned  to  Albany  and  re- 
sumed his  practice. 

Dr.  Robinson  was  married  in  October,  1870,  to 
Annie  W,  Woodburn,  a  native  of  Newville,  Cumber- 


) 


^® 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


land  Co.,  Pa.  Their  five  children  are  named 
Laura  E.,  Mary  M.,  Robert  B.,  Arthur  W.,  Annie 
R.  and  Nellie. 


illiam   T.    Whitmore,   Superintendent  of 
the    manufacturing    department    of    the 
Langford  &  Hall  Lumber  Company,  was 
born  in  Vincennes,  Ind.,  Nov.  18,  1843,  and 
is  the  son  of  David  and  Caroline  (Stewart) 
Whitmore.     His  father  was  a  native  of  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  and  his  mother  of  France. 

When  four  years  of  age  he  went  with  his  parents 
to  Maquoketa,  Iowa.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  engaged  as  an  employe  in  the  lumber 
business.  He  worked  at  Maquoketa,  Clinton  and 
Lyons,  Iowa,  and  at  Glen  Haven,  Wis.  He  became 
master  of  the  manufacturing  department  of  the  lum- 
ber business  and  served  several  years  as  foreman. 
In  1877  he  came  from  Lyons  to  Fulton  to  accept  his 
present  position  with  the  Langford  &  Hall  Lumber 
Company,  and  has  been  with  this  company  con- 
tinuously since. 

Mr.  Whitmore  was  married  in  Maquoketa,  Iowa, 
Dec.  24,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Lyle,  daughter  of 
Thomas  P.  Lyle.  Mrs.  Whitmore  was  born  in  Lock 
Haven,  Pa.  They  have  four  children, — three  boys 
and  a  girl, — George  M.,  Josie,  Harry  C.  and  Arthur. 
Mr.  Whitmore  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  made  his 
home  at  Fulton  since  1877.  He  is  an  efficient  and 
competent  manager  in  his  department,  where  he  has 
served  since  1877. 


ames   Jamison,  farmer,  section   21,  Ustick 
Township,  is  the  son  of  Samuel   and  Mary 
(Dummond)  Jemison,who  were  natives  re- 
spectively   of    Scotland    and    Ireland.     Their 
seven    children    were    named    Jane,    Martha, 
Matthew,  Samuel,  Jeannette,  James  and  David, 
Mr.  Jemison  was  born  in  March,  1827,  in  Ireland, 
and  he  lived  on  his  native  soil  until  he  was  20  years 
of  age,  when  he  emigrated    to  the    United   States; 
and,  after  spending  five  years  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, he  went  to  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.     A  year  later 
he  came  to  Whiteside  County,  and  lived  for  a  time 


on  its  western  limits,  but  finally  located  in  Ustick 
Township.  He  is  the  owner  of  i  20  acres  of  land, 
most  of  which  is  in  tillage.  In  political  relations 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  his  township  as 
School  Director  and  as  Overseer  of  Highways. 

Mr.  Jemison  was  married  Dec.  6,  1854,  in  Lan- 
caster Co.,  Pa.,  to  Jane,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Margaret  (McCrumb)  McKee.  She  was  born  Aug. 
16,  1833,  in  Ireland,  which  was  the  native  country  of 
her  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jemison  have  had  14 
children,  but  only  seven  of  them  are  living.  They  are 
named  Martha,  Samuel,  Margaret  J.,  William,  \ 
Charles,  Mary  E.  and  Eli.  Thomas,  Mary  J.,  James 
(ist),  Alexander,  Margaret  I.  and  James  (2d)  died  in  f 
childhood.  James  D.  (3d)  died  in  infancy.  The 
parents  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


S.  Bentley,  a  harness-maker  residing  in 
the  village  of  Prophetstown,  is  a  son  of 
Levi  P.  and  Julia  (Montague)  Bentley, 
and  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Vt.,  Sept.  9, 
1837.  His  father  was  a  native  of  the  same 
State,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  died  in  his 
native  State.  His  mother  was  also  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  died  there.  The  issue  of  their  union 
was  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
Tane  is  the  wife  of  Allen  Leach,  a  farmer  residing 
in  Vermont ;  Mr.  Bentley  of  this  sketch  is  next  in 
order  of  birth ;  Orrin  D.  is  a  sawyer  by  vocation, 
and  resides  in  Michigan;  George  C.  is  an  attorney, 
residing  in  Hancock,  Mich. 

Mr.  Bentley  was  reared  on  a  farm  until  he  at-  ^ 
tained  the  age  of  about  17,  when  he  went  to  North 
Brookfield,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  where  he  learned  f 
the  harness  trade,  and  remained  for  two  years;  he 
then  went  to  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  and  worked  in  a  saw- 
mill for  a  time,  then  came  to  Spring  Hill,  this  county, 
arriving  in  1857.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  here 
until  March,  1860,  when  he  went  to  Pike's  Peak, 
Col.  He  was  engaged  in  mining  near  the  lat- 
ter place  until  the  year  1862,  when,  in  the  fall  of 
that  year,  he  enlisted  in  the  ist  Col.  Cav.,  Co.  F,  as 
private,  and  served  three  years,  his -company  being 
engaged  mostly  in  fighting  the  Indians.  He  was 
also  quartermaster  saddler.  He  then  followed  his 
trade  for  about  18  months,  and  finally  came  to 

^fti/0,5 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


has  conducted  ever  since.  He  keeps  a  good  stock 
of  harness,  saddles,  whips,  etc.,  does  repairing,  and 
usually  has  one  assistant,  and  is  doing  a  good  and 
increasing  business. 

Mr.  Bentley  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophets- 
town,  Sept.  29,  1868,  to  Miss  Hester  Hill,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Ann  .Hill.  She  was  born  in  Prophets- 
town,  Jan.  28,  1847.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Bentley 
came  here  in  November,  1834,  and  may  be  classed 
as  among  the  very  first  settlers  of  the  township,  and 
are  yet  living,  one  and  a  half  miles  southwest  of 
Prophetstown,  where  her  father  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Mr.  Bentley  owns  his  shop  and  residence  and 
one  lot ;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and 
of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 


li  O.  Nash,  contractor  and  builder,  residing 
at  Unionville,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Lydia  (Mixer)  Nash,  natives  of  Vermont. 
The  parents  were  married  and  settled  in  Ver- 
mont, and  afterwards  removed  to  Jefferson  Co., 
"York  State,"  where  they  resided  until  their 
deaths.  Their  family  comprised  nine  children,  namely: 
Rufus,  Almira,  Emma,  Asa,  Eliza,  Whitney,  Unity, 
Nelson  and  Eli  O. 

Eli  O.,  subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  was 
born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  13,  1826.  He 
lived  at  home,  assisting  in  the  working  of  the  farm 
and  received  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  ;  and  on  attaining  the  age  of  20  years  he  en- 
gaged to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner, 
which  he  followed  until  the  spring  of  1868,  in  York 
State.  During  the  year  last  named,  he  came  to 
Kane  County,  this  State,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
to  this  county,  and  has  resided  here  ever  since,  al- 
most continually  engaged  in  working  at  his  trade. 

Mr.  Nash  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  5,  1851,  with  Miss  Parmelia 
Albro.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Alanson  and  Parmelia 
(Brooks)  Albro,  natives  of  Vermont,  whose,  family 
consisted  of  four  children,  Oliver,  Olive,  Henry  and 
Parmelia.  Mrs.  Nash  was  born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  June  25,  1831.  Their  family  consisted  of  three 
children,  only  one  of  whom  survives,  Bert  E.  Alan- 
son,  De  F.  and  Nettie  P.  died  in  infancy. 

Politically,  Mr.  Nash  is  a  believer  in  the  tenets  of 


the  Republican  party.     Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  ^ 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  belonging  to  Grove  Lodge,  No.  257 


- 


arcus  Lyon,  general  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  residing  on  section  6,  Tampico 
Township,  was  born  in  Medina  Co.,  O., 
Feb.  27,  1845,  his  parents  being  Daxter 
and  Sarah  A.  (Vaughn)  Lyon,  who,  after  mar- 
riage, emigrated  to  Illinois,  when  Marcus  was 
five  years  of  age,  settling  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township, 
this  county. 

Mr.  Lyon,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  educated  at  the  district  schools  and  at  Morrison, 
and  remained  an  inmate  of  his  paternal  home  until 
he  was  25  years  of  age,  when,  Feb.  28,  1870,  he  was 
married,  in  Wyoming,  Jones  Co.,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Mi- 
nerva Miller,  a  native  of  Indiana,  who  was  reared 
and  educated  (in  Iowa,  where  her  parents  are  now 
living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyon  have  become  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  namely :  Lottie,  Lewis,  Gracie, 
Hubert,  Katie,  Rhoda  and  Martha.  The  last  named 
is  deceased. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyon  settled  on  a 
farm  of  120  acres  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  this 
county,  where  they  lived  until  March,  1875,  when 
they  moved  to  Tampico.  Here  Mr.  L.  had  pur- 
chased a  quarter  section  'of  good  land,  and  after 
settling  on  the  same  bought  80  acres  more  on  section 
6,  so  that  he  now  has  a  fine  farm  of  240  acres,  all 
improved. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Lyon  is  a  Republican. 


ohn  H.  Helms  is  a  native  of  Hanover,  Ger-  ! 
many,  in  which  country  he  was  born  Nov. 
26,  1841.  He  attended  school  in  his  na- 
tive country  until  he  attained  the  age  of  14 
years,  after  which  he  followed  the  occupation 
of  a  farmer,  until  arriving  at  the  age  of  20 
years.  He  then  joined  the  army,  in  conformity  with 
the  laws  of  his  native  country,  and  served  six  years, 
during  which  time  he  participated  in  several  battles. 
After  receiving  his  discharge,  he  went  to  France, 
and  resided  in  that  country  for  two  years. 

In  1868  Mr.  Helms,  realizing  that  he  could  better 
his  financial  condition  in  the  New  World,  emigrated 

*,£)&*££/& 

•gT*zx;'\\^. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


to  the  United  States,  and  the  same  year  came  to 
this  county,  and  for  a  time  resided  with  his  brother, 
Henry,  who  had  preceded  him  and  located  in  Lyn- 
don Township.  He  remained  with  him  for  about 
one  year,  then  went  to  Minneapolis,  where  he 
worked  in  a  hotel  one  year.  His  next  move  was  to 
the  land  of  gold,  California,  in  which  State  he  was 
variously  employed  until  1873,  when  he  returned 
to  Lyndon  and  rented  farms,  which  he  cultivated  for 
his  own  individual  profit  for  a  period  of  two  years. 

Leaving  the  farm,  Mr.  Helms  moved  to  the 
village  of  Lyndon,  where  he  engaged  in  the  pro- 
vision and  restaurant  business,  which  vocation  he 
followed  for  eight  years.  In  1882  he  purchased  the 
farm  he  at  present  occupies,  adjoining  the  village 
plat  and  located  on  section  1 6.  He  has  also  other 
lands  that  he  has  bought  at  times,  and  at  present  his 
landed  interests  amount  to  200  acres.  Mr.  Helms 
is  a  self-made  man,  and  of  this  world's  goods  that  he 
possesses,  he  has  none  to  thank  except  his  own  in- 
domitable energy,  coupled  with  the  active  co-opera- 
tion of  his  good  helpmeet. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  the  month  of  May, 
1870,  to  Henrietta  Carson.  She  died  October  fol- 
lowing, without  issue,  and  Mr.  Helms  was  again  mar- 
ried Oct.  24,  1873,  to  Miss  Sophia  Meyer,  a  native 
of  Hanover,  Germany.  Four  children  have  been 
born  of  the  latter  union,  Emma,  Anna,  Willie  and 
John. 


?ndrew  T.  Glassburn,  cashier  of  Tampicj 
Bank,  in  the  village  of  Tampico,  is  the  jun- 
ior member  of  the  firm  of  J.  W.  Glassburn 
&  Son.  He  was  born  Oct.  4,  1856,  in  Gallia 
Co.,  O.,  and  was  four  months  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Illinois.  He  was  a  pupil  in 
the  first  school-house  built  at  Tampico,  where  he  ob- 
tained an  elementary  education.  He  has  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  business  methods  by  experience  and 
conducts  his  banking  operations  by  a  thorough  bank- 
ing system.  On  becoming  of  age  he  engaged  in  his 
father's  employ  as  book-keeper  on  a  salary,  but  the 
latter,  recognizing  the  value  of  his  abilities,  gave  him 
a  half  interest  in  his  business  relations,  which  he  has 
greatly  increased  in  extent.  He  continued  in  the 
grain  business  with  his  father  until  February,  1885, 
when  he  bought  W.  W.  Craddock's  interest  in  the 


bank  established  by  Glassburn  &  Craddock,  in  May, 
1882,  and  became  cashier  of  the  same. 

Mr.  Glassburn 's  marriage  to  Viva  Smith  took  place 
Sept.  10,  1878.  Her  parents,  A.  M.  and  Laura 
(Badgley)  Smith,  were  formerly  farmers  in  Tampico 
Township.  Her  mother  died  in  1879.  Her  father 
lives  in  Brown  Co.,  D.  T.,  with  other  children.  He 
is  57  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Glassburn  was  brought  up 
in  Tampico,  where  she  received  her  education.  Asa 
C.,  born  May  18,  1880,  is  the  only  child  of  the 
family. 

Mr.  Glassburn  is  a  Democrat  of  decided  type.  He 
has  served  as  Village  Trustee  and  as  President  of 
the  Board.  With  his  wife,  he  belongs  to  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  and  is  a  Trustee  of  the 
Society. 


..harles  C.  Smith,  of  the  firm  of  Smith  & 
|g  Guthrie,  dealers  in  hardware,  stoves  and 
agricultural  implements  at  Erie,  is  the  son 
of  Sydney  and  Louisa  (Riggs)  Smith,  and  was 
born  in  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  28, 1836. 
His  father  is  a  native  of  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,is  a 
hatter,  and  resides  in  this  county,  aged  80  years. 
His  mother  is  also  a.  native  of  Lewis  County,  and  re- 
sides here.  The  issue  of  their  union  was  six  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  living.  Lester  is  a  tinner  by 
vocation  and  resides  in  Waterville,  N.  Y.;  Lavina 
L.  was  the  wife  of  David  Guthrie  and  resides  in 
Erie.  William  M.  is  cashier  and  book-keeper  for  R. 
L.  Burchell,  of  Erie ;  Charles  C.  is  in  business  as 
stated,  and  the  other  two  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Smith  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and 
joiner  in  his  native  town,  Canton,  St.  Lawrence  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  followed  it  for  a  number  of  years.  In 
1854  he  came  to  Erie  and  followed  his  trade  for  some 
time.  In  1873  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Joseph  Guthrie,  and  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business,  and  has  continued  it  ever  since 
except  about  18  months.  In  the  spring  of  1882  he 
sold  out  and  went  to  O'Brien  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  until  the  fall 
of  1883,  when  he  returned  and  again  entered  in  part- 
nership with  his  former  partner.  They  carry  a  stock 
usually  amounting  to  $6,000,  and  employ  one  clerk. 
They  own  their  buildings,  four  stores  and  ware- 
house, and  keep  all  kinds  of  hardware,  tinware,  ag- 


V. 


X. 


WHITESWE  COUNTY. 


ricultural  implements  and  farm  machinery,  and  are 
having  a  good  and  constantly  increasing  trade.  Mr. 
Smith  was  married  in  Portland  Township,  this  county, 
Sept.  i,  1857,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Guthrie,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Ann  Guthrie,  natives  of  Ireland.  The 
issue  of  their  union  was  five  children:  Estella  L., 
born  July  14,  1858,  is  the  wife  of  Anson  A.  Mat- 
thews, engaged  in  the  furniture  business  at  Erie; 
Sevilla,  born  Aug.  7,  was  the  wife  of  Henry  Loucks, 
a  farmer  of  DeKalb  County,. and  died  April  21,  1885. 
Minnie  was  born  Sept.  9,  1862;  Fannie,  May  14, 
1870,  and  Lester,  Oct.  24,  1874. 


I?  ashington  M.  Dillon,  President  and 
Treasurer  of  the  Northwestern  Barbed 
Wire  Company,  of  Rock  Falls,  was  born 
in  Putnam,  Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  July  2, 
1842.  His  father,  Loyd  Dillon,  was  an  iron 
manufacturer  and  built  the  first  iron  furnace 
west  of  the  Alleghanies,  in  company  with  his  father, 
John  Dillon,  at  Dillon  Falls,  above  Zanesville.  The 
maiden  name  of  Washington's  mother  was  Margaret 
A.  Culbertson.  His  father  was  born  in  Baltimore, 
Md.,  and  his  mother  in  Ohio. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  five  years  of 
age  when  his  father  died,  and  then  lived  with  his 
grandmother  until  14  years  of  age ;  nextv  he  was 
with  an  uncle  on  a  farm  for  six  years,  receiving  also 
a  fine  education.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  service 
of  his  country,  remaining  two  years,  in  the  1481)1 
Regt.  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  and  engaging  in  several  battles 
in  Tennessee  and  Alabama  and  with  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  After  serving  his  time,  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged. 

Returning  from  the  exciting  scenes  of  war,  he  at- 
tended the  commercial  school  at  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
completed  the  course  of  study  and  received  his 
diploma.  Then  he  was  clerk  for  a  year  in  the  bank 
of  Culver,  Penn  &  Co.,  19  and  21,  Nassau  Street, 
New  York  city.  Next,  he  came  West  to  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  conducted  a  paper  for  a  year.  Selling  out, 
he  came  to  Dixon,  111.,  and  clerked  in  the  dry-goods 
house  of  Isaac  Jones  for  a  period  of  six  months ; 
then  for  four  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery 
and  queensware  trade  in  the  same  city ;  he  then  sold 
out  and  came  to  Sterling,  entering  the  hardware 
business  in  company  with  W.  C.  Robinson,  on  Mul- 


berry Street,  in  which  he  continued  for  about  nine 
years.  Again  selling  out,  in  1879,  he  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  barbed'wire,  on  which  he  owns 
the  patents.  A  stock  company  was  formed,  at  first 
with  a  capital  of  $10,000,  which  has  since  been  in- 
creased to  $100,000.  Their  factory  is  at  Rock  Falls, 
where  they  turn  out  600  spools  of  wire  per  day  of  24 
hours.  Mr.  D.  retains  a  controlling  interest. 

Mr.  Dillon  is  a  wide-awake,  representative  busi- 
ness man  of  Sterling,  a  Republican,  an  Odd  Fellow, 
and  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church ;  Mrs.  D.  also  belongs  to  that  de- 
nomination. 

Mr.  Dillon  was  married  May  8,  1875,  to  Miss 
Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  John  Martin,  of  Sterling,  and 
they  have  four  children, — Mary  K.,  Margaret  A., 
John  M.  and  Paul  W. 


eorge  H.  Fadden,  a  farmer  residing  in  the 
village  of  Erie,  and  the  son  of  Ira  and 
Lucinda  (Patterson)  Fadden,  was  born  in 
Clarenceville,  Canada  East,  Dec.  8,  1847.  His 
father  is  a  native  of  the  same  country,  as  like- 
wise is  his  mother,  and  they  are  both  at  pres- 
ent residing  in  Stanstead  Co.,  Can.,  where  his  father 
is  engaged  in  farming.  Their  family  comprised  12 
children,  1 1  of  whom  still  survive  :  George  H.  is  the 
eldest ;  Mary  and  Hiram  reside  in  Canada ;  Adelaide, 
in  Kansas;  Electa,  in  Canada;  Marvin  I.,  a  farmer 
in  this  county;  Harvey,  a  resident  of  Erie;  Emma, 
wife  of  Wm.  James,  a  barber  in  the  same  village; 
Elizabeth,  living  in  Canada ;  and  Charles  and  Ger- 
trude. 

Mr.  Fadden  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  his  native 
country,  receiving  such  advantages  as  were  obtain- 
able at  the  common  schools.  In  the  fall  of  1868,  he 
came  to  Erie,  this  county,  and  was  employed  on  a 
farm  near  that  village  a  short  time,  and  then  on  a 
railroad  for  about  seven  years.  In  June,  1875,  he 
entered  a  butcher-shop  in  Erie,  and  two  years  later, 
in  1877,  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  same,  from  Wm. 
Guthrie.  They  conducted  the  business  for  about  18 
months,  then  sold,  and  Mr.  Fadden  again  engaged 
in  the  same  business,  with  L.  E.  Mathews,  and  the 
partnership  continued  for  over  six  years,  or  until  Feb. 
9,  1885.  Mr.  Fadden  then  moved  on  the  farm  of  his 
father-in-law,  L.  D.  Gordon,  consisting  of  220  acres, 


V> 

ft 


£:.* 


- 


' 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


v> 


which  he  rents,  and  which   he  expects  to  make  a 
stock  farm. 

Mr.  Fadden  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  in  Erie 
village,  Sept.  27,  1875,  with  Miss  Genevie  Gordon. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Lorenzo  D.  and  Orissa  Gordon, 
and  was  born  in  New  York,  Oct.  18,  1851.  Two  chil- 
dren constitute  the  issue  of  their  marriage :  Lester 
G.,  born  July  27,  1876,  and  Mabel  C., born  April  27, 
1 88 1.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Fadden  is  still  living,  and 
resides  with  his  daughter.  Her  mother  died  May 
7,  1884.  The  family  of  Mrs.  Fadden's  parents  con- 
sisted of  Mrs.  Fadden,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  one  sister,  Marien  E.,  who  was  born  in 
Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  15,  1848,  and  died  Jan.  17, 
1883. 


homas  J.  Burch.,  a  farmer  of  Garden  Plain 
Township,  was  born  Nov.  9,  1835,  in  La 
Porte  Co.,  Ind.  Ira  Burch,  his  father,  was 
born  May  24, 1800,  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.  The 
latter  entered  the  lake  service  when  a  young 
man,  and  operated  as  a  sailor  on  the  chain  of 
the  great  lakes  until  1832.  On  the  5th  of  April  in 
that  year  he  was  married  to  Joanna  W.  Bacon.  She 
was  born  Aug.  i,  1817,  in  Sunderland,  Bennington 
Co.,  Vt.  For  a  year  subsequent  to  their  marriage 
they  lived  in  Ripley,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in 
1833  went  to  La  Porte  Co.,  Ind.,  whither  they  moved 
their  family  and  household  fixtures  by  the  aid  of  an 
ox  team.  The  father  secured  a  claim  of  80  acres  of 
land  near  the  present  city  of  La  Porte,  where  they 
were  resident  until  1837.  In  that  year  they  again 
set  out  to  find  a  home  in  an  untried  region,  traveling 
with  a  pair  of  horses  and  a  wagon,  and  were  on  the 
road  a  little  more  than  a  week.  Mr.  Burch  had 
made  a  trip  to  Whiteside  County  a  little  before  and 
made  a  claim  on  section  1 8,  in  Union  Grove  Town- 
ship, as  it  has  since  been  designated.  He  also  built 
a  house  for  a  shelter  for  his  family.  They  remained 
in  it  but  a  short  time,  as  Mr.  Burch  sold  his  claim 
and  secured  another  on  section  7,  in  the  same  town- 
ship, and  built  a  pioneer  cabin.  He  had  also  en- 
tered a  claim  on  section  12,  of  township  21,  range  3, 
now  Garden  Plain.  To  this  the  second  log  house 
was  afterward  removed.  The  father  died  March  n, 
1846.  The  widow  survives,  and  is  a  resident  of  the 
homestead  in  Union  Grove  Township.  Of  eight 


children  born  to  them  four  are  deceased.     Harrison 
D.   lives    in    Whiteside  County.     Thomas  J.  is  the 
second  in  order  of  birth.     Eliza  is  the  wife  of  G.  A. 
Clauff,  of  Ringgold  Co.,  Iowa.     Ira  S.  is  the  young-  . 
est. 

Mrs.  Burch  was  married  again   to    Ezekiel  Perry, 
who  died  in  June,  1860. 

Thomas  J.  was  in  his  second  year  when  his 
parents  settled  in  Whiteside  County.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  log  and  stone  school-houses  of  the 
township  of  Garden  Plain,  and  was  trained  in  a 
knowledge  of  agriculture.  In  1858  he  went  to  Mis- 
souri, going  there  through  Iowa,  Kansas  and  Ne- 
braska. While  in  Missouri  he  was  married  to  Mary 
A.  Cooley,  in  July,  1859.  She  was  born  Sept.  13, 
1834,  in  Ohio.  In  1860  they  returned  to  Garden 
Plain  Township,  and  were  residents  on  the  home- 
stead two  years.  In  1862  Mr.  Burch  bought  55 
acres  of  land  on  section  i,  to  which  he  removed.  He 
is  at  present  owner  of  160  acres  on  the  same  section, 
having  since  purchased  105  acres,  the  remainder  of 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  i.  He  also  owns 
33  acres  of  timber  in  Union  Grove  Township. 

Four  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burch  are 
living  at  this  date  (1885),  Harry  D.,  Henry,  Alvin 
and  Elmer.  Mr.  Burch  has  been  a  Prohibitionist  in 
principle  several  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


:enjamin  P.  Echelbarger,  Supervisor  of 
Newton  Township  the  current  year,  was 
born  March  13, 1839,  in  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio. 
His  parents,  George  and  Jane  (Hagaman) 
Echelbarger,  removed  when  he  was  nine  years 
old  to  Union  County,  and  the  family  continued 
to  reside  there  until  1856.  In  that  year  they  trans- 
ferred their  interests  to  Whiteside  County,  locating 
near  Erie.  The  father  died  there  in  1857.  The 
mother  died  in  1860,  in  Newton  Township. 

Oct.  12,  1861,  Mr.  Echelbarger  enlisted  in  Co.  D, 
461)1  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  The  command  remained  in 
barracks  at  Dixon  until  February,  1862,  when  it  was 
sent  South  and  was  stationed  at  Memphis.  In  the 
fall,  Mr.  Echelbarger  was  sent  home  on  recruiting 
service  and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  position, 
holding  the  rank  of  Sergeant.  He  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment in  July,  1863,  at  Vicksburg.  In  January,  1865, 


IflWVERSJTV  OF  ILLINOIS 


a;J 


2! 


The  Prophet 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


'  he  was  transferred  to   the    i6th   Veteran    Reserve 

Corps  and  stationed  at  St.  Louis.    In  March  he  went 

,  to  Washington   and   from  there  to  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  period  of  enlistment  he  was 

discharged    and    returned    to     Whiteside     County. 

Within  the  year  he  bought  40    acres   of  unbroken 

prairie  in  Newton  Township,  located  on  section    i, 

vvhere  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  a  pioneer  farm- 

er, and  has  operated   with  successful    results.     He 

now  owns  80  acres  of  land,  having  bought  an  addi- 

-  tional  40  acres  adjoining  his  first  purchase.     The  en- 

,  tire  property  is   in  good  agricultural  condition.     In 

1  political  faith  he  is  a  Republican.     He  has  officiated 

1  as  Constable  nine  years  and  has  been  Road  Commis- 

sioner six  year.    In  the  spring  of  1884  he  was  elected 

Supervisor  and  was  re-elected  in  1885. 

Mr.  Echelbarger  was  married  in  1867,  to  Eliza- 
beth Slead.  She  was  born  March  19,  1850,  in 
Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y. 


eorge  F.  Allen,  of  the  firm  of  Allen  Bros., 
dealers  in  hardware  and  agricultural  im- 
plements at  Morrison,  was  born  Dec.  20, 
1854,  in  Milford,  111.  George  W.  and  Cather- 
ine (Hamlin)  Allen,  his  parents,  are  yet  living. 
They  were  born  respectively  in  the  State  of 
New  York  and  in  Canada.  Following  is  the  record 
of  their  children:  James  A.  is  a  merchant  at  Davis 
Junction,  Ogle  Co.,  111.;  Charles  W.  is  the  business 
associate  with  his  brother,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Cora  is  a  teacher  in  the  High  School  at  Rochelle,  111.; 
Hattie  is  engaged  in  the  same  occupation  near 
Bloommglon,  111. 

Mr.  Allen  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  At  the 
age  of  15  he  engaged  in  the  acquisition  of  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  trade  of  a  tinner,  wWch  has-  thus-  far  in 
life  chiefly  engaged  his  attention.  After  completing 
his  trade  he  entered  the  employ  of  D.  E.  Edrington, 
of  Creston,  111.,  in  whose  interests  he  operated  seven 
years.  Subsequently  he  was  employed  by  Patten 
Bros.,  of  Fielding,  five  years  after  which,  in  company 
with  I.  W.  Miller,  he  purchased  the  business  of  his 
employers.  Their  relations  were  in  existence  two 
years,  when  Mr.  Allen  came  to  Morrison,  and  in 
April,  1884,  established  his  present  business  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother,  and  they  are  conducting 
a  prosperous  trade. 


Mr.  Allen  was  united  in  marriage  in  Fielding,  De 
Kalb,  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  31,  1882,  to  Hattie  Nash.  Mrs. 
Allen  was  born  Nov.  n,  1852,  in  Ogle  Co.,  111. 


iiram  Parker,  a  farmer  on  section  25,  Gar- 
den Plain  Township,  is  the  youngest  son  of 
Abel  and  Eleanor  (Howe)  Parker,  pioneers 
of  Whiteside  County  of  1836,  of  whom  a  sketch 
appears  on  another  page.  He  was  born  July 
18,  1833,  in  the  town  of  Wells,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt., 
and  when  he  was  three  years  of  age,  in  company 
with  his  parents,  he  came  to  Whiteside  County, 
where  he  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  His  father  died 
in  1839,  and  he  lived  with  his  mother  and  brothers 
until  1863,  when  he  bought  the  interest  of  the  other 
heirs  in  the  homested  of  his  parents.  On  this  he  has 
since  resided  and  continued  the  work  of  improve- 
ment. He  has  erected  a  good  set  of  farm  build- 
ings and  has  an  exceptionally  pleasant  home. 

Mr.  Parker  was  married  Feb.    19,  1873,  to   Emily 
A.  DeGraff.     She  was  born  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  is  descended  from  French  ancestry.     Her   pro- 
genitors were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  her  na- 
.  live  county. 


-et- 


a-bo-kies-shiek,  or  White  Cloud,  the 
prophet  of  the  Winnebagoes,  and  com- 
monly called  "The  Prophet,"  was  the 
most  prominent  Indian  that  was  ever  inti- 
mately connected  with  the  history  of  White- 
side  County.  He  was  born  about  1790,  and 
made  Prophetstown  his  home.  He  was  a  stout, 
shrewd-looking  Indian ;  sagacity  and  cunning  were 
prominent  traits  of  his  character  and  essential  to  the 
prophetic  pretensions  by  which  he  imposed  upon  the 
credulity  of  his  ignorant  followers.  It  is  claimed 
that  he  was  one  of  the  chief  instigators  in  bringing  on 
the  Black  Hawk  War.  He  resided  at  Propjietstown, 
where  there  was  a  large  Indian  village.  (See  page 
889.) 

Through  the  generous  interest  of  the  Hon.  Elihu 
B.  Washburne,  while  Minister  Plenipotentiary  from 
this  country  to  the  Court  of  Paris,  this  county  was 
enabled  to  secure  a  portrait  of  this  noted  chief,  which 


. 


Sg) 


• 

Q.  m 


^® 


>   79* 
fe 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


(if 


now  decorates  the  walls  of  the  Supervisors'  room  in 
the  Record  building  at  Morrison.  It  is  painted  by 
P.  A.  Healey,  the  distinguished  American  portrait 
painter,  from  the  original  study  of  George  Catlin,  the 
American  artist,  and  one  of  the  most  celebrated  of 
Indian  painters.  It  was  painted  by  Mr.  Healey  in 
Europe,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Washburne,  and  pre- 
sented by  him  to  Whiteside  County  as  a  historic 
souvenir.  This  work  was  greatly  admired  while  on 
exhibition  in  the  artist's  studio  at  Paris.  It  is  a  full- 
sized  portrait  and  is  a  work  of  rare  merit.  It  repre- 
sents the  Prophet  standing  erect,  in  full  Indian  dress, 
with  his  blanket  thrown  over  his  left  shoulder,  par- 
tially folded  over  one  arm,  and  hanging  with  careless 
grace  by  his  side.  He  stands  upon  the  brow  of  a 
hill,  while  about  are  some  small  trees  and  shrubbery. 
In  the  back-ground  is  the  blue  sky.  In  front  is  a 
broad  expanse  of  country,  over  which  his  eye  rests 
with  a  melancholy  gaze,  contemplating  a  land  that  is 
rapidly  fading  away  from  him  and  his  race.  Mr. 
Washburne  was  cordially  received  by  the  people  of 
Whiteside  County,  whom  he  had  formerly  repre- 
sented for  many  years  in  Congress.  The  presenta- 
tion of  the  portrait  was  made  Oct.  27,  1877,  at  the 
Fair  Grounds,  which  had  been  fitted  up  for  the  oc- 
casion, and  was  preceded  by  an  eloquent  address 
from  Mr.  Washburne,  the  donor.  It  was  made  a 
grand  occasion,  and  one  long  to  be  remembered  by 
the  people  of  the  county. 

In  connection  with  this  sketch  we  give  the  por- 
trait of  White  Cloud,  a  reproduction  of  the  painting 
mentioned  above. 


•>#-)£-*« 


jilliam  Bryant,  dealer  in  live  stock  at  Erie, 
is  a  son  of  James  and  Emily  (Benson) 
Bryant,  and  was  born  in  Portland  Town- 
ship, Oct.  n,  1850.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, and  at  present  resides  in  Portland  Town- 
ship. He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  that  town- 
ship, married  there  and  reared  a  family  of  four 
children. 

Mr.  Bryant  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  Port- 
land Township,  where  he  received  the  advantages 
afforded  by  the  common  schools,  assisted  in  the  main- 
tenance of  the  family,  and  developed  into  manhood. 


He  was  married  in  Geneseo,  Henry  Co.,  111.,  May  27, 
1873,  to  Miss  Almeda  Blaisdell,  daughter  of  Mason 
and  Alzina  (Rowe)  Blaisdell,  and  was  born  in  Port- 
land Township,  July  31,  1857.  The  issue  of  their 
union  was  three  children,  two  born  in  Portland  Town- 
ship, and  one  in  Erie  Township:  Lorena,  March  29, 
1875;  Emil,  Dec.  15,  1882;  Ralph  C.,  Oct.  28,  1884. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Bryant  resided  on  64  acres  of 
land  in  Portland  Township,  which  belonged  to  his 
father;  his  wife  received  67  acres  of  land  adjoining 
that  on  which  he  resided,  making  131  acres,  where 
they  lived  until  October,  1882,  when  he  moved  into 
the  village  of  Erie.  Having  since  become  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  farm,  he  rents  it.  Since  moving  to  the 
village  he  occupies  his  time  in  buying  live  stock  and 
shipping  to  Chicago,  in  which  business  he  is  asso- 
ciated with  Charles  H.  McLean. 


amuel  Rosenkrans,  resident  at  Albany, 
was  born  Feb.  15,  1834,  in  Smithfield, 
Monroe  Co.,  Pa.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of 
Simeon  and  Mary  (Zimmerman)  Rosenkrans. 
Simeon  Rosenkrans,  his  paternal  grandsire, 
was  born  in  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.  He  was  a 
physician,  and  married  Sarah  Shumaker,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  county.  They  were  both  of  Hol- 
land Dutch  descent.  They  went  from  New  Jersey 
to  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  died.  Simeon 
Rosenkrans,  the  father,  was  born  in  Wallpack,  Sussex 
Co.,  N.  J.,  and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Smithfield, 
Pa.  She  died  in  Cohocton,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
June,  1884,  at  the  age  of  79.  His  father  died  In  the 
same  place  in  May,  1872,  at  65.  He  was  second 
cousin  to  the  distinguished  General  of  the  late  civil 
war. 

Mr.  Rosenkrans  is  the  only  survivor  of  three 
children.  He  was  in  infancy  when  his  parents  went 
to  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  his  father  bought  a  farm 
in  Avoca  Township.  He  grew  to  man's  estate,  and 
obtained  a  good  degree  of  education  in  the  common 
schools.  He  afterward  attended  four  terms  at  the 
High  School  at  Bath,  and  one  term  at  Franklin 
Academy.  At  16  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  general 
store  at  Bath,  where  he  operated  three  years,  after 
which  he  obtained  a  situation  as  agent  of  the  New 
York  &  Erie  Railroad  at  Wallace  Station,  in  Steuben 


-—-- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


793 


County.  He  retained  the  position  nine  years,  and, 
on  relinquishing  it,  engaged  in  the  management  of 
his  father's  farm,  in  which  capacity  he  was  occupied 
two  years.  He  then  bought-  a  farm  in  the  adjoining 
town  of  Cohocton,  and  conducted  his  agricultural 
interests  there  six  years.  He  sold  his  property  in 
1870,  and  came  to  Illinois  on  a  visit  and  to  prospect. 
He  remained  until  the  ist  of  July  in  the  same  year, 
when  he  returned  to  New  York  to  make  preparations 
to  return  and  locate  in  Whiteside  County.  In  Sep- 
tember he  came  to  Albany,  and,  in  partnership  with 
James  Early,  he  engaged  in  traffic  in  grain  and 
stock.  They  continued  their  joint  business  opera- 
tions two  years,  and,  on  their  dissolution,  Mr.  Rosen- 
krans  continued  the  management  of  his  trade  singly. 
He  is  also  engaged  in  farming  on  sections  25  and  26, 
Albany  Township,  and  is  also  interested  in  raising 
stock. 

He  was  married  in  1859  to  Harriet  A.  Armstrong, 
and  they  have  four  children—  Mary,  Henry,  Louisa 
and  Myron.  Mrs.  Rosenkrans  was  born  in  Cohoc- 
ton, Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y. 


gnatz  Spinka,  proprietor  of  the  pottery  at 
Fulton,  was  born  March  31,  1842,  in  Bohe- 
mia. He  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
country  until  the  age  of  12,  when  he  began  the 
acquisition  of  a  knowledge  of  the  craft  of  a 
potter.  He  was  employed  in  that  business  un- 
til 1868,  when  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  at  once 
proceeded  to  Carroll  Co.,  111.,  where  a  brother  who 
had  preceded  him  to  the  New  World  resided.  He 
remained  with  him  one  year  in  the  capacity  of  a 
farm  assistant.  In  1870  he  came  to  Fulton,  and  en- 
tered the  employ  of  C.  B.  Batchelder,  the  proprietor 
of  a  pottery.  He  afterw  ard  bought  the  business,  and 
has  since  conducted  its  relations  on  his  own  respon- 
sibility. He  has  operated  with  success,  and  owns  a 
house  and  lot  at  Fulton.  He  built  his  dwelling  in 
1872. 

Mr.  Spinka  is  an  industrious  and  enterprising 
man,  and,  like  most  of  his  class,  has  prospered  tinder 
the  influences  of  the  habits  he  brought  from  his 
native  land,  which  form  the  best  capital  of  foreign- 
born  citizens  of  the  American  Republic,  and,  to- 
gether with  their  energetic  perseverance,  rarely  fail 
.to  produce  substantial  results.  He  has  acquired  a 


thoroughly  practical  knowledge  of  English,  which  he 
reads  and  speaks. 

He  was  married  Jan.  22,  1867,  to  Mary  Baryz- 
kaalso,  a  native  of  Bohemia,  and  they  have  three 
daughters  —  Mary,  Carrie  and  Annie.  The  two 
oldest  were  graduated  from  Fulton  Academy,  June 
3,  1885. 


ndrew   J.    Stowell   was   born   March    14, 
1846,  in  Rock  Island  Co.,  111.,  and  is  the 
son  of  Ira  and  Caroline   A.  (Riel)  Stowell. 
His   father  died  when  he  was  but  an  infant, 
and  when  he  was  six  years  of  age  his  mother 
marrried  Capt.  A.  M.  George,  and  the  family 
moved  to  Garden  Plain  Township. 

Mr.  Slowell  was  educated  in  the  district  school 
and  later  attended  the  "  Northern  Illinois  Soldiers' 
College,"  at  Fulton,  two  terms.  His  marriage  to 
AddieS.,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Margaret  (Curry) 
Storer,  took  place  Dec.  23,  1873.  She  was  born  in 
Allegheny,  Pa.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Stowell  was  in  the  employ  of  Lamb  &  Sons,  mer- 
chan^,  at.  Clinton,  and  when  the  season  of  naviga- 
tion opened,  he  accepted  a  situation  as  clerk  on  a 
steamboat.  In  the  winter  ensuing  he  entered  an  of- 
fice, and  in  that  alternate  manner  he  operated  three 
years.  He  passed  two  years  subsequent  in  farming 
in  Garden  Plain  Township.  In  1876  he  began  to 
operate  as  a  grain  and  stock  buyer,  at  Garden  Plain 
Station,  and  has  since  operated  continuously  in  that 
vocation. 

Mr.  Stowell  is  a  Republican  in  affiliation  and  was 
elected  to  the  position  of  clerk  of  Lyndon  Township 
in  1 88 1.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  220,  A.  O. 
U.W.,  at  Garden  Plain,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  Mrs.  Stowell  is  also 
a  member. 


on.  Nathan  Williams,  a  citizen   farmer  of 
Montmorency  Township,  resident  on   sec- 
tion 20,  came  to  Whiteside  County  in  1856. 
He  was  born  June  18,  1821,  in   Pomfret,  Wind- 
ham    Co.,    Conn.       His    parents,    Nathan    and 
Phila  (Day)  Williams,  were  also  natives  of  that 
county,   where   his    father   was   for   many   years   a 


«  'a 

t 

f  \ 


n 


(o 


farmer,  having  been  born  on  the  farm  where  he 
passed  his  entire  life.  He  was  a  neighbor  of  Gen. 
Israel  Putnam,  and  died  in  1862.  The  mother  died 
in  1876.  Their  children  were  born  in  the  following 
order :  Wareham,  Nathan,  John,  Watz,  Deborah, 
Julia  and  Albert  D. 

Mr.  Williams  passed  his  boyhood's  years  in  school 
and  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  was  an  assistant 
until  he  was  16  years  old.  At  that  age  he  engaged 
in  teaching,  and  was  occupied  several  seasons  in 
that  capacity.  He  attended  an  academy  at  Brook- 
lyn, four  miles  from  his  home,  which  distance  he 
walked  night  and  morning.  When  he  was  22  years 
old  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of  the  Mason- 
ville  Manufacturing  Company,  and  officiated  three 
years  in  that  capacity,  and  in  that  of  book-keeper  in 
their  interests.  In  1846  he  became  interested  in 
mercantile  pursuits  at  Putnam,  Conn.,  in  which  he 
was  engaged  nine  years,  and  operated  principally 
alone,  with  satisfactory  results.  He  found  that  his 
health  was  becoming  broken  from  the  confinement 
and  other  causes,  and  he  determined  to  try  a  change 
of  climate.  In  1856  he  came  to  Sterling,  where  he 
again  interested  himself  in  his  former  pursuit,  in  a 
building  which  he  erected  for  the  purpose.^  After 
two  years  he  was  obliged  from  the  same  causes  to 
sell  his  business.  He  then,  in  1858,  bought  160 
acres  of  land  on  sections  19  and  20  in  Montmorency 
Township,  fixing  his  hom-sstead  on  the  latter.  He 
has  been  fortunate  in  his  agricultural  projects  and 
has  extended  his  ownership  until  he  is  the  possessor 
of  880  acres  of  land  in  the  same  township.  Nearly 
600  acres  are  under  excellent  tillage.  His  stock 
includes  about  100  head  of  cattle,  and  between  40 
and  50  horses.  He  is  interested  in  raising  fine 
breeds  of  the  latter,  and  was  the  first  to  introduce 
Clydesdales  into  Whiteside  County.  He  also  fat- 
tens about  a  hundred  head  of  hogs  annually. 

In  the  early  days  of  his  political  career,  Mr.  Will- 
iams was  a  Whig ;  and,  on  the  adjustment  of  party 
elements  and  organization  of  the  Republican  party, 
he  joined  its  ranks  and  has  since  supported  its  is- 
sues. In  his  native  State  he  was  actively  interested 
in  local  and  general  politics,  and  his  executive  abili- 
ties and  public  spirit  brought  him  a  long  array  of 
official  honors,  wholesomely  mixed  with  official  labor. 
He  has  served  an  aggregate  of  20  years  as  Justice 
of  the  Peace  in  Connecticut  and  Whiteside  County, 
and  in  the  latter  has  been  Township  Assessor  five 

** ^^ — ~ 


years.  He  has  also  been  warmly  interested  in 
school  matters  in  both  States.  At  the  fall  election 
of  1870  he  was  elected  for  the  position  of  Repre- 
sentative from  the  nth  District,  comprising  Carroll 
and  Whiteside  Counties,  and  served  through  two  reg- 
ular and  two  special  sessions,  covering  ten  months 
during  the  two  years  of  his  term. 

Mr.  Williams  was  united  in  marriage  in  Thomp- 
son, Conn.,  July  23,  1845,  to  Catherine  B.  Thatcher. 
They  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom 
there  are  four  survivors  :  Ada  T.,  Thomas  T.,  N.  v 
Percy  and  Abbott.  Mrs.  Williams  was  born  Dec. 
5,  1819,  in  Hartford,  Susquehanna  Co.,  Pa.,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Betsey  (Mills) 
Thatcher.  Her  father  was  born  in  Massachusetts, 
and  her  mother  was  a  native  of  Connecticut.  The 
former  was  a  manufacturer  and  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  Connecticut,  where  he  was  married.  He  died 
March  28,  1845.  His  wife  died  June  19,  1825. 
Their  children  were  Sarah  M.,  Catherine  B.,  Ellen 
and  Anna  F. 


ranklin  F.  Hamilton,  a  farmer,  on  section 
34,  Fenton  Township,  is  the  son  of  a 
pioneer  of  Whiteside  County.  James  /• 
Hamilton,  his  father,  was  born  in  1812,  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  He  came  to  Erie  Town- 
ship in  1836,  and  married  Lucinda,  daughter 
of  Lewis  D.  and  Phoebe  (Hunt)  Crandall.  Lewis 
D.  Crandall  was  the  second  settler  in  Erie  Town- 
ship, where  he  came  in  1835,  and  located  on  section 
18.  He  died  in  1860.  After  his  marriage  the  senior 
Hamilton  went  to  Lee  Co.,  111.,  and  was  a  resident 
there  until  1844,  when  he  returned  with  his  family 
to  Whiteside  County.  He  died  in  1874.  His  wife 
survived  until  1881. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  the  second  of  their  six  children. 
He  was  born  at  Grand  deTour,  then  in  Lee  Co.,  111., 
Oct.  30,  1843,  and  was  but  a  few  months  old  when 
his  father  came  to  Whiteside  County,  for  a  permanent 
residence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  parental  house- 
hold until  he  assumed  family  responsibilities  himself. 
Feb.  8,  1869,  he  located  on  section  34,  Fenton 
Township,  on  a  farm  of  196  acres,  which  is  in  excel- 
lent condition4  for  successful  tillage. 

Dec.    24,    1866,   Mr.    Hamilton    married   Esther 

A^C)       >^y          _M|^^(g) 


A 


jjr 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


Peters,  who  was  born  Nov.  10,  1846,  in  Fenton 
Township,  this  county.  By  this  marriage  there  were 
four  children.  Mrs.  H.  died  July  19,  1879,  leaving 
two  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  namely, 
Allie,  who  was  born  Nov.  4,  1870;  Frankie  was  born 
Feb.  9,  1879,  and  died  Dec.  17,  1882. 

Mr.  Hamilton  formed  a  second  matrimonial  alli- 
ance, April  24,  1884,  with  Carrie  Naftzger,  a  native 
of  Ohio. 


L  Murray,  a  prominent  young  farmer 
of  Montmorency  Township,  residing  on 
section  35,  is  a  son  of  George  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Richardson)  Murray,  both  natives  of 
Kentucky.  A  sketch  of  George  Murray,  the 
father  of  John  L.,  who  is  now  deceased,  may 
be  found  on  page  688.  He  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Montmorency  Township,  and  was  extensively 
engaged  in  farming,  owning  about  500  acres  of  land, 
most  of  which  was  in  excellent  agricultural  condi- 
tion. 

John  L.,  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice, 
was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  ten  children.  He 
was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county,  receiving 
such  advantages  as  the  schools  of  the  county  af- 
forded in  the  way  of  obtaining  an  education.  For  a 
life  pursuit  he  has  chosen  the  quiet,  pleasant  and 
profitable  occupation  of  a  farmer,  and  to-day  is  one 
of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Montmorency  Town- 
ship. 


|  illiarn  R.  Brightman,  a  farmer  on  section 
25,  Garden  Plain  Township,  was  born  Jan. 
5,  1819,  in  Adams  Co.,  Ohio.  He  is  the 
only  son  of  Abner  and  Nancy  (Clark)  Bright- 
man, and  his  parents  removed  in  his  infancy 
to  Lewis  Co.,  Ky.,  where  they  brought  up  their 
family  on  a  farm.  He  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance 
in  1842,  with  Elizabeth  Royster,  who  was  a  native 
of  Lewis  County.  During  the  summer  of  the  same 
year  Mr.  Brightman  worked  on  a  farm,  and  passed 
the  remaining  months  in  rafting  lumber.  Sept.  13, 
1852,  he  set  out  with  his  family,  including  his  wife 
and  five  children,  and  accompanied  by  his  mother 
and  step-father,  for  Illinois.  A  wagon  drawn  by  a 
span  of  horses  conveyed  the  parly  to  Garden  -Plain. 
They  traveled  in  the  manner  common  in  the  earlier 
days,  camping  and  cooking  on  the  way.  On  the  8th 
day  of  October  they  arrived  in  the  township  of  Gar- 
den Plain.  For  a  few  years  Mr.  Brightman  rented 
land,  on  which  he  operated  successfully  as  a  farmer. 
In  1864  he  bought  a  tract  of  unimproved  land  on 
section  25  of  the  same  township,  which  he  had  en- 


tered in  1855.  His  first  purchase  included  40  acres, 
and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  90  acres  in  an  improved 
condition  and  27  acres  in  timber.  The  place  now  is 
supplied  with  a  good  set  of  frame  buildings,  and  has 
also  a  valuable  orchard. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bnghlman  have  eight  surviving 
children,  namely :  Nancy  A.  is  the  wife  of  Nicholas 
McGrath,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Albany  Township  ; 
William  L  ,  James  R.,  Rufus,  Sarah  E.,  Charles  E., 
Alexander  and  Joseph  C.  are  the  names  of  the 
younger  children;  John  Henry  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, Feb.  22,  1843.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  Co. 
F,  93d  III.,  Inf.,  and  was  killed  in  action,  May  22, 
1863,  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 


rick  P.  Brown,  residing  at  Prophetstown, 
is  a  son  of  Philip  B.  Brown,  deceased, 
and  was  born  in  the  village  in  which  he 
at  present  resides,  Dec.  19,  1853.  Philip  B. 
Brown,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  biograph- 
ical notice,  was  born  in  Rutland,  Rutland  Co., 
Vt.,  June  21,  1821.  He  was  a  son  of  Philip  Brown, 
and  was  united  in  marriage  in  Prophetstown,  March 
24,  1851,  to  Miss  Adeliza  D.  Nichols,  daughter  of  E. 
G.  and  Elizabeth  G.  Nichols.  She  was  born  Oct. 
27,  1826,  and  bore  to  her  husband  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living — Erick  P.,  the  subject  of 
this  notice;  Ernest  M.,  born  Feb,  22,  1855,  died 
Sept.  17.  1878;  Nicholas  B,  born  May,  6,  1857, 
Bertha  E.,  born  July  21,  1859,  is  the  wife  of  R.  C. 
Forkey,  a  clerk  in  Baldwin's  store,  Prophetstown. 

Philip  Brown  came  to  this  county  in  1847  and 
located  in  Prophetstown  Township,  on  sections  3 
and  10,  and  when  the  land  came  into  market  paid 
$1.25  per  acre  for  160  acres,  on  which  his  son  Nich- 
olas B.  at  present  resides.  While  living,  he  made  a 
specialty  of  fine  horses  and  cattle,  and  devoted  his 
time  to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm.  He  died  on  the 
old  homestead,  lamented  and  mourned  by  a  host  of 
relatives  and  friends,  Oct.  4,  1880.  His  widow  still 
survives,  and  is  at  present  residing  with  her  daughter 
at  Prophetstown. 

Erick  P.  Brown,  subject  of  this  biographical  no- 
tice, was  reared  and  educated  in  Prophetstown.  On 
arriving  at  about  the  age  of  14,  he  returned  to  the 
homestead  in  Prophetstown  Township,  where  he 
taught  school  for  about  two  years.  His  education 
had  been  acquired  in  the  schools  of  Prophetstown, 
and  he  graduated  from  the  Commercial  College  at 
Clinton  in  1876.  In  March,  1883,  Mr.  Brown  en- 
tered the  drug-  store  of  J.  H.  Mosher,  at  Prophets- 
town,  with  whom  he  has  remained  until  the  present 
time.  He  has  acquired  a  full  knowledge  of  the  drug 
business  in  ;ill  its  different  details,  and  expects  to 
continue  in  the  same. 


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WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


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INTRODUCTORY. 


^^^ 


UT  little  more  than  a  half  cen- 
tury has  passed  away  since 
the   white   men   made  their 
first    settlement   in   what  is 
now  one  of  the  most  thriving 
counties   in    the  great  State 
of   Illinois  —  the   county   of 
Whiteside.     But  within  that 
time  a  wilderness  has  been 
transformed  into  a  cultivated  region  of 
thrift  and  prosperity  by  the  untiring  zeal 
and  energy  of   an  enterprising  people. 
The  trails  of  hunters  and  the  wily   red 
men  have  given  place  to  railroads  and 
thoroughfares  for  vehicles  of  every  de- 
scription ;  the  cabins  and  garden  patches 
of  the  pioneers  have  been  succeeded  by 
,-r  comfortable   houses  and  broad  fields  of 

Zjf  waving    grain,   with    churches,   school- 

houses,  mills,  postoffices,  manufactories,  and  every 
convenience  that  could  be  asked  for  by  civilized 
man. 

The  record  of  this  marvelous  change  is  history, 
and  the  most  important  that  can  be  written.  For 
one-half  century  the  people  of  Whiteside  County 
have  been  making  a  history  that  for  thrilling  inter- 
est, grand  practical  results,  and  lessons  that  may  be 
perused  with  profit  by  citizens  of  other  regions,  will 
compare  favorably  with  the  history  of  any  county  in 
the  great  Northwest.  Take,  for  instance,  the  record 


of  the  county  in  the  great  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
Where  were  braver  men  than  those  forming  the 
quota  of  Whiteside?  There  were  few  only  of  the 
battle-fields  of  the  South  but  what  were  moistened 
by  the  life-blood  of  her  sons. 

The  question  is  often  asked  why  men  leave  the 
comforts  and  pleasures  of  civilized  lands  and  strike 
out  into  a  new  and  almost  unknown  country,  bearing 
the  toils  and  privations  which  are  unavoidable.  Not 
more  from  choice  than  from  necessity,  did  the  old 
pioneers  bid  farewell  to  the  play-grounds  of  their 
childhood  and  the  graves  of  their  fathers.  One  gen- 
eration after  another  had  worn  themselves  out  in 
the  service  of  avaricious  landlords,  or  had  to  eke  out 
a  miserable  existence  upon  barren  or  worn-out  land 
which  they  called  their  own.  From  the  first  flashes 
of  the  morning  light  until  the  last  glimmer  of  the 
setting  sun,  they  had  toiled  unceasingly  on  from 
father  to  son,  carrying  home  each  day  upon  their 
aching  shoulders  the  precious  proceeds  of  their  daily 
labor.  Money,  pride  and  power  were  handed  down 
in  the  line  of  succession  from  the  rich  father  to  his 
son,  while  unceasing  work,  continuous  poverty  and 
everlasting  obscurity  were  the  heritage  of  the  work- 
ingman  and  his  children.  For  the  sons  and  daugh- 
ters of  the  poor  man  to  remain  there,  was  to  follow 
and  never  to  lead — to  be  poor  forever. 

Without  money,  prestige  or  friends,  the  old  pioneer 
drifted  along  seeking  the  garden  spot,  the  place 
where  he  might  establish  a  home,  where  he  might 


\S> 


£*£&. 


XV 

i 


educate  his  sons  and  daughters,  giving  them  privi- 
leges never  enjoyed  by  himself.  The  broad  prairies 
and  beautiful  groves  of  Whiteside  County  in  that 
early  day  were  indeed  inviting  to  those  seeking  a 
home  in  a  more  favored  land,  and  here  they  planted 
their  stakes.  To  secure  and  adorn  the  homes  de- 
sired by  the  pioneers,  more  than  ordinary  ambition 
was  required,  greater  than  ordinary  endurance  de- 
manded. How  well  they  have  succeeded  let  the 
broad  cultivated  fields  and  fruit-bearing  orchards, 
the  flocks  and  the  herds,  the  palatial  residences,  the 
places  of  business,  the  spacious  halls,  the  clattering 
car-wheels  and  ponderous  engines  all  testify. 

There  was  a  time  when  pioneers  waded  through 
deep  snows,  across  bridgeless  rivers  and  through 
bottomless  sloughs,  more  than  a  score  of  miles,  to 
mill  or  market,  and  when  more  time  was  required  to 
reach  and  return  from  market  than  is  now  required 
to  cross  the  continent  or  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  These 
were  the  times  when  their  palaces  were  constructed 
of  logs  and  covered  with  clapboards  riven  from  the 
forest  trees.  These  were  the  times  when  children 
were  stowed  away  in  the  night  in  the  low,  dark  attics, 
amongst  the  horns  of  the  elk  and  the  deer,  and 
where  through  the  chinks  in  the  clapboards  they 
could  count  the  twinkling  stars.  These  were  the 
times  when  chairs  and  bedsteads  were  hewn  from 
the  forest  trees,  and  tables  and  bureaus  constructed 
from  the  boxes  in  which  goods  were  brought.  These 
were  the  times  when  all  were  required  to  work  six 
days  in  the  week  and  all  the  hours  in  the  day  from 
sunrise  to  sunset.  Now  all  is  changed.  In  viewing 
the  blessings  which  now  surround  us,  we  should 
reverence  those  that  made  them  possible,  and  ever 
fondly  cherish  in  memory  the  sturdy  old  pioneer  and 
his  log  cabin. 


Value  of  Local  History. 

HE  great  dread  of  man  from   remote  ages 
has  been  to  be  forgotten.     The  means  em- 
ployed to  prevent  this  and  to   perpetuate 
his    memory  has  been    in    proportion    to   the 
amount  of  intelligence  he  possessed.     It  has 
been  conceded  now  by  scientists  that  the  prin- 
cipal object  of  the  Egyptians  in  building  their  pyra- 
mids was  to  perpjtuate  the  name  and  deeds  of  their 

igvVgrgv/A.n, 
^/yvvsry— 


great  leaders  and  rulers.  The  walls  in  the  extensive 
apartments  beneath  those  huge  stone  monuments  are 
covered  with  paintings  illustrating  the  deeds,  both 
in  peace  and  war,  of  her  illustrious  princes,  and  in 
chronological  order.  These  colors  are  as  bright, 
apparently,  as  when  they  were  first  laid  on,  and  the 
work  shows  great  skill  and  artistic  design.  The  ex- 
humations made  by  the  archaeologist  of  Egypt  from 
buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  these  people  to 
perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements.  The 
walls  of  these  palaces  found  buried  here  are  decorated 
with  historical  emblems  representing  the  lives  and 
deeds  of  these  people.  In  Memphis  they  displayed 
a  higher  art.  The'y  carved  out  in  marble  elegant  and 
life-like  statues  of  their  distinguished  princes,  accom- 
panied with  hieroglyphics,  illustrating  their  deeds. 
The  erection  of  those  great  obelisks  were  for  the 
same  purpose.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period  we 
find  the  Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums 
and  monuments,  and  carving  out  statues  to  chron- 
icle their  great  achievements,  and  carry  them  down 
the  ages.  It  is  evident  that  the  Mound-Builders,  in 
piling  up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this 
idea — to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived. 
All  these  works,  these  representations,  though  many 
of  them  costly  in  the  extreme,  give  but  a  faint  idea 
of  the  lives  and  character  of  those  whose  memory 
they  were  intended  to  perpetuate,  and  scarcely  noth- 
ing of  the  masses  of  the  people  that  then  lived.  The 
great  pyramids  and  some  of  the  obelisks  remain,  ob- 
jects only  for  scientists  or  curiosity  seekers ;  the 
mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crumbling 
into  dust.  The  monuments,  statues  and  other  relics 
are  being  gradually  conveyed  to  the  different  muse- 
ums of  the  world,  and  soon  there  will  nothing  remain 
in  these  countries  to  illustrate  the  lives  of  the  people 
who  once  dwelt  in  them. 

Generation  after  generation  comes  and  goes  like  the 
leaves  of  autumn.  Nations  have  been  born,  have 
had  their  rise  and  fall,  and  then  passed  away,  leav- 
ing scarcely  a  riffle  on  the  great  ocean  of  time  to 
show  that  they  ever  existed,  so  imperfect  and  muta- 
ble has  been  their  means  to  perpetuate  their  achieve- 
ments. It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an 
intelligent,  undecaying,  immutable  method  of  per- 
petuating this  history, — immutable  in  that  it  is  al- 
most unlimited  in  extent,  and  perpetual  in  its  action  ; 
and  this  is  through  the  art  of  printing.  Nations 
may  become  disintegrated  and  pass  away,  monu- 


•y-t 

l\ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


ments  and  statues  may  crumble  into  dust,  but  books 
will  live.  This  art  has  been  rapidly  advancing  from 
[ts  first  inception  until  now  it  would  seem  that  there 
were  no  longer  any  further  ground  for  improvement. 
This  is  pre-eminently  an  age  of  printing,  an  age  of 
books. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  are  we  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system 
of  local  history  and  local  biography.  By  this  system 
every  man,  though  he  has  not  achieved  what  the 
world  calls  greatness,  has  the  means  to  perpetuate 
his  life,  his  history  through  the  coming  ages  ;  so  alike 
has  every  community. 

We  come  now  to  the  work  before  us  :  To  our 
patrons,  we  say,  that  the  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down 
all;  nothing  of  the  physical  man  is  left;  the  monu- 
ment which  his  children  or  friends  may  erect  to  his 
memory  in  the  cemetery  will  crumble  into  dust  and 
pass  away  ;  but  his  life,  his  achievements,  the  work 
he  has  accomplished,  which  otherwise  would  be  for- 
gotten, is  perpetuated  by  this  book  through  coming 
ages.  Shakespeare  has  said  : 

The  evil  men  do  lives  after  them  ; 

The  good  is  oft  interred  witli  their  bones. 

Our  aim  in  this  work  has  been  only  to  preserve 
the  good.  We  sought  to  gather  from  the  best 
sources  of  information  obtainable,  the  conditions  and 
incidents  of  the  early  pioneer  life,  and  to  present 
that,  together  with  the  present  development  of  the 
county.  Many  of  the  pioneers  came  into  this  beau- 
tiful country  without  a  dollar  in  their  pockets,  but 
with  the  unflinching  determination  to  carve  out  their 
fortunes  and  build  up  a  country.  With  undaunted 
hearts,  and  a  courage  equal  to  that  of  the  great  he- 
roes of  our  history,  they  began  life. 


How  Our  Fathers  Lived. 

IONEER  life  at  the  present  time  is  not  to 
^^L    be   compared  with   that  of  50  years   ago. 
In  this  day  the  great  railway   corporations 
build  railroads  into  and  through  such   country 
as  they  may  think  in  time  will  become  profita- 


(•  J 

•    / 

lr 


ble  to  the  settlers  and  themselves,  and   the  pioneers 
j)  enter  palace  cars  and  are  conveyed  to  their  destina- 
>s,  tion  at  the  rate  of  thirty  miles  an  hour,  and  from  the 


beginning  have  a  market  for  their  produce  at  their 
very  door.  All  this  was  different  in  the  early  days 
of  Whiteside  County.  Then,  when  one  desired  to 
remove  from  the  far  East,  it  required  long  and  ex- 
tensive preparations,  their  conveyance  generally  be- 
ing an  ox  team  hitched  to  a  heavy  lumber  wagon. 
The  route  lay  through  a  wild  and  rough  country  ; 
swamps  and  marshes  were  crossed  with  great  exer- 
tion and  fatigue;  rivers  were  forded  with  difficulty 
and  danger;  nights  were  passed  in  the  dense  forests, 
with  mother  earth  for  a  couch  and  the  trees  and  foli- 
age for  a  shelter ;  long,  weary  days  and  weeks  of 
travel  were  endured,  but  finally  their  eyes  were  glad- 
dened and  their  hearts  beat  faster  when  a  vision  of 
their  future  home  burst  upon  them. 

The  first  thing  upon  their  arrival  was  to  set  about 
building  a  cabin.  While  this  was  being  done  the 
family  slept  in  the  wagons  or  upon  the  grass,  while 
the  .horses  or  mules,  tethered  to  prevent  escape, 
grazed  on  the  grass  around  them.  Trees  of  a  suita- 
ble and  uniform  size  were  selected,  felled  and  pre- 
pared for  their  places.  The  day  for  the  raising  was 
announced,  and  from  far  and  near  came  other  pio- 
neers to  assist  in  the  labor.  The  structure  went  up, 
a  log  at  a  time,  those  engaged  in  the  work  stopping 
now  and  then  to  "  wet  their  whistles,"  and  soon  it 
was  ready  for  the  clapboard  roof,  which  was  held  on 
by  huge  weight-poles.  A  door  and  a  window  were 
cut  where  the  good  wife  directed,  a  chimney  built, 
and  the  building  was  ready  for  its  occupants.  The 
space  between  the  logs  was  filled  with  split  sticks  of 
wood,  called  "  chinks,"  and  then  daubed  over,  both 
inside  and  out,  with  mortar  made  of  clay.  The 
floor  was  sometimes  nothing  more  than  earth  tramped 
hard  and  smooth,  but  was  commonly  made  of  pun- 
cheons, or  split  logs,  with  the  split  side  turned  up- 
wards. The  roof  was  made  by  gradually  drawing 
in  the  top  to  the  ridge-pole  and  on  cross-pieces  lay- 
ing the  clapboards,  which,  being  several  feet  in 
length,  instead  of  being  nailed  were  held  in  place  by 
weight-poles,  reaching  the  entire  length  of  the  cabin. 

For  a  fire-place,  a  space  was  cut  out  of  the  wall 
on  one,  side  of  the  room,  usually  about  six  feet  in 
length,  and  three  sides  were  built  up  of  logs,  making 
an  offset  in  the  wall.  This  was  lined  with  stone,  if 
convenient;  if  not,  then  earth  was  used.  The  flue, 
or  upper  part  of  the  chimney,  was  built  of  small 
split  sticks,  two  and  a  half  or  three  feet  in  length, 
carried  a  little  space  above  the  roof,  and  plastered 


t 


-  . .  -- 


800 


f  V-  M  M  «O»  H  H  •'  yV     5 

WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


5 


1 

i 


over  with  clay,  and  when  finished  was  called  "  cob 
and  clay  "  chimney.  The  door  space  was  also  made 
by  cutting  an  aperture  in  one  side  of  the  room  of 
the  required  size,  the  door  itself  being  made  of  clap- 
boards secured  by  wooden  pins  to  two  cross-pieces. 
The  hinges  were  also  of  wood,  while  the  fastening 
consisted  of  a  wooden  latch  catching  on  a  hook  of  the 
same  material.  To  open  the  door  from  the  outside, 
a  strip  of  buckskin  was  tied  to  the  latch  and  drawn 
through  a  hole  a  few  inches  above  the  latch  bar,  so 
that  on  pulling  the  string  the  latch  was  lifted  from 
the  catch  or  hook,  and  the  door  was  opened  without 
further  trouble.  To  lock  the  door  it  was  only  neces- 
sary to  pull  the  string  through  the  hole  to  the  inside. 
Here  the  family  lived,  and  here  the  guest  and  way- 
farer were  made  welcome.  The  living-room  was  of 
good  size,  but  to  a  large  extent  it  was  also  kitchen, 
bed-room,  parlor  and  arsenal,  with  flitches  of  bacon 
and  rings  of  dried  pumpkin  suspended  from  the 
rafters.  These  simple  cabins  were  inhabited  by  a 
kind  and  true-hearted  people.  They  were  strangers 
to  mock  modesty,  and  the  travelers  seeking  lodgings 
for  the  night,  or  desirous  of  spending  a  few  days  in 
the  community,  if  willing  to  accept  the  rude  offer- 
ings, was  always  welcome,  although  how  they  were 
disposed  of  at  night  the  reader  may  not  imagine. 


The  character  of  the  pioneers  of  Whiteside  County 
falls  properly  within  the  range  of  the  historian.  They 
lived  in  a  region  of  exuberance  and  fertility,  where 
Nature  had  scattered  her  blessings  with  a  liberal 
hand.  The  forest  supply,  the  fertile  prairie,  and  the 
many  improvements  constantly  going  forward,  with 
the  bright  prospect  for  a  glorious  future  in  every- 
thing that  renders  life  pleasant,  combined  to  deeply 
impress  their  character,  to  give  them  a  spirit  of  en- 
terprise, an  independence  of  feeling,  and  a  joyous- 
ness  of  hope.  They  were  a  thorough  admixture  of 
many  nations,  characters,  languages,  conditions  and 
opinions.  There  was  scarcely  a  State  in  the  Union 
that  was  not  represented  among  the  early  settlers. 

The  clothing  of  the  early  pioneers  was  as  plain  and 
simple  as  their  houses.  Necessity  compelled  it  to  be 
in  conformity  to  the  strictest  economy.  The  clothing 
taken  to  the  new  country  was  made  to  render  a  vast 
deal  of  service.  In  summer,  nearly  all  persons,  both 
male  and  female,  went  barefooted.  Buckskin  moc- 
caskins  were  much  worn.  Boys  of  12  and  15  years 
of  age  never  thought  of  wearing  anything  on  their 
feet,  except  during  three  or  four  months  of  the  cold- 
est weather  in  winter.  Boots  were  unknown  until  a 
later  generation. 


• 


- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


So  i 


—3 


e^fti&ta? 

pf^VPWWT^WW^W^ftTV^W^^^^VWrWfTtT^TVA^W 


^*,&.t«.t..t^^^ 


HE  numerous  and  well  au- 
thenticated accounts  of  anti- 
quities found  in  various  parts 
of  our  country,  clearly  demon- 
strate that  a  people  civilized, 
and  even  highly  cultivated, 
a  occupied  the  broad  surface  of 
our  continent  before  its  posses- 
sion by  the  present  Indians ; 
but  the  date  of  their  rule  of  the 
Western  World  is  so  remote  that 
all  traces  of  their  history,  their 
progress  and  decay,  lie  buried  in  the 
deepest  obscurity.  Nature,  at  the 
time  the  first  Europeans  came,  had 
asserted  her  original  dominion  over 
the  earth  ;  the  forests  were  all  in  their  full  luxuriance, 
the  growth  of  many  centuries ;  and  naught  existed 
to  point  out  who  and  what  they  were  who  formerly 
lived,  and  loved,  and  hibored,  and  died,  on  the  con- 
tinent of  America.  This  pre-historic  race  is  known 
as  the  Mound-Builders,  from  the  numerous  large 
mounds  of  earth-works  left  by  them.  The  remains 
of  the  works  of  this  people  form  the  most  interesting 
class  of  antiquities  discovered  in  the  United  States. 
Their  character  can  be  but  partially  gleaned  from 
the  internal  evidences  arid  the  peculiarities  of  the 


only  remains  left,— the  mounds.  They  consist  of 
remains  of  what  were  apparently  villages,  altars, 
temples,  idols,  cemeteries,  monuments,  camps,  forti- 
fications, pleasure  grounds,  etc.,  etc.  Their  habita- 
tions must  have  been  tents,  structures  of  wood,  or 
other  perishable  material ;  otherwise  their  remains 
would  be  numerous. 

The  mounds  and  other  ancient  earth-works  con- 
structed by  this  people  are  far  more  abundant  than 
generally  supposed,  from  the  fact  that  while  some 
are  quite  large,  the  greater  part  of  them  are  small 
and  inconspicuous.  Along  nearly  all  our  water 
courses  that  are  large  enough  to  be  navigated  with  a 
canoe,  the  mounds  are  almost  invariably  found,  cov- 
ering the  base  points  and  headlands  of  the  bluffs 
which  border  the  narrower  valleys;  so  that  when  one 
finds  himself  in  such  positions  as  to  command  the 
grandest  views  for  river  scenery,  he  may  almost  al- 
ways discover  that  he  is  standing  upon,  or  in  close 
proximity  to,  some  one  or  more  of  these  traces  of  the 
labors  of  an  ancient  people. 

This  county  is  a  prolific  field  for  the  study  of  the 
archaeologist,  many  mounds  having  been  found  here, 
the  one  near  Sterling  being  the  largest.  In  these 
mounds  have  been  found  stone  axes,  arrows  and 
spear  heads,  earthen-ware  of  various  colors,  beads  of 


Is 


^'ViMMXfi.MH.:/^    ^ 
WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


<& 


bone  and  stone,  pieces  of  copper,  besides  bones  of 
human  beings. 

The  largest  number  of  mounds  found  in  any  one 
group  are  near  Albany.  They  are  rounded  heaps 
from  two  to  twelve  feet  in  height,  nearly  circular, 
though  a  few  are  elliptical,  their  long  diameter  being 
parallel  with  the  river.  Galena,  mica  and  fragments 
of  pottery  have  been  found  in  these  mounds,  together 
with  bone  implements  and  human  skeletons. 

It  is  thought  by  some  that  on  account  of  the  num- 
ber of  implements  found  in  some  localities,  that  the 


pre-historic  race  must  have  lived  in  villages.  In 
plowing  one  acre  of  ground  in  Genesee  Township, 
84  arrow  heads  and  spear  points  were  found.  A 
number  of  small,  sharp  triangular  pieces  of  flint  were 
also  found.  On  the  farm  of  one* gentleman  in  Clyde 
Township,  more  than  100  scrapers,  together  with  a 
number  of  corn  pestles  and  stone  hoes,  were  found. 
Skinning  axes  have  also  been  found  in  this  county. 

To  those  interested,  Whiteside  County  furnishes  a 
fruitful  field  for  investigating  the  subject  of  pre-his- 
toric man  as  revealed  in  the  numerous  mounds. 


Hf  N  the  north,  Whiteside  County 
is  bounded    by  Carroll  and 
Ogle,  on  the  east    by    Ogle 
and   Lee,  on  the    south   by 
Bureau  and  Henry  Counties, 
and  on  the  west  by  Rock  Is- 
land and  the  Mississippi.    It  embraces 
1 6  entire  and  5  fractional  townships. 
The  southeastern  part  of  the  county 
is  quite  level,  the  greater  part  having 
formerly  been  regarded  as  swamp  land; 
but  of  late  years  much  of  this   has 
been  reclaimed  by  drainage,  so  that 
now    what    were   once    sloughs    and 
marshes    are   fine,    productive  farms. 
The  central  part  of  the  county  is  quite  rolling,  while 
the  western  part  is  hilly,  some  of  the  ridges  reaching 
a  height  of  more  than  100  feet. 

The  principal  streams  are  the  Rock  River — the 
Sinnissippi  of  the  Indians — Elkhorn,  Sugar,  Grove, 
Lynn,  Rock,  Otter  and  Spring  Creeks.  The  Rock 
River  enters  the  county  on  section  25,  Coloma  Town- 
ship, and,  pursuing  a  tortuous  course  in  a  southwest- 
ern direction,  it  leaves  the  county  in  the  extreme 
southwestern  corner.  Excellent  water  power  is  af- 


forded  and  utilized  at  two  points  in  the  county — 
Sterling  and  Lyndon.  For  many  years  it  was  hoped 
that  the  stream  would  be  made  navigable,  and  no 
dams  were  permitted  for  20  years  after  the  first  set- 
tlements were  made  in  the  county.  Elkhorn  Creek 
heads  in  Carroll  County  and  flows  into  Rock  River 
on  section  35,  Hopkins  Township.  Spring  Creek  is 
tributary  to  the  Elkhorn.  Rock  Creek  flows  into 
Rock  River  on  section  4,  Erie  Township.  Grove 
Creek  is  tributary  to  Rock  River.  Otter  Creek  flows 
into  the  Mississippi.  The  highest  lands  in  the 
county  are  in  the  northeastern  part.  A  variety  of 
soil  is  found  in  the  county,  but  principally  a  black 
loam.  It  is  adapted  to  all  the  cereals  peculiar  to 
this  latitude. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  county  made  their  claims 
in  close  proximity  to  the  timber  and  water,  and  could 
hardly  believe  that  the  distant  prairies  would  ever 
serve  any  other  purpose  than  that  of  a  large  range 
for  stock.  They  felt  sure  that  no  farmer  could  live 
there,  so  far  away  from  the  timber.  They  little 
thought  many  of  them  would  live  to  see  it  all  settled 
and  occupied  by  man.  Some  of  the  wealthiest  farm- 
ers and  the  most  productive  farms  of  the  county  are 
now  found  on  the  prairies. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


before  the  advent  of  the  white 
men,  the  territory  comprising  the 
county  of  Whiteside  was  occu- 
pied by  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  and 
the  Winnebago  tribes  of  Indians. 
The  Rock  River  Valley  was  what 
might  be  termed  the  Indian's 
paradise,  abounding,  as  it  did, 
with  game  of  all  kinds,  and  its 
clear  waters  stocked  with  an 
abundance  of  fish.  The  Sacs 
and  Foxes  were  originally  of  the 
Algonquin  tribe,  inhabiting  the 
Eastern  States,  but  had  been 
driven  step  by  step  towards  the 
setting  sun  by  the  whites  and  other  warlike  tribes 
of  Indians,  the  Iroquois  being  an  inveterate  foe. 

In  1804  a  treaty  was  made  with  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes  by  which  they  ceded  to  the  whites  all  title  to 
the  Rock  River  country,  though  they  were  permitted 
the  privilege  of  living  and  hunting  therein  as  long 
as  it  remained  the  property  of  the  United  States. 
This  treaty  Black  Hawk,  one  of  their  most  celebrated 
chiefs,  would  never  recognize,  asserting  that  it  was 
secured  by  the  whites  through  fraud,  the  Indian 
chiefs  being  drunk  when  the  treaty  was  signed.  In 
the  War  of  1812  these  tribes  sided  with  Great  Britain. 
In  1816  a  treaty  was  made  with  them  at  Fort  Arm- 
strong (Rock  Island)  by  which  that  of  1804  was  rati- 
fied, and  large  bodies  of  land  were  ceded  to  the 
United  States.  Black  Hawk  signed  this  treaty. 
In  1829  a  portion  of  the  land  in  the  Rock  River 


country  was  sold  to  private  individuals,  and  therefore 
it  became  necessary  to  remove  the  Indians  across  the 
Mississippi.  Another  treaty  was  therefore  made,  in 
1830,  by  which  they  agreed  to  surrender  the  land 
ceded  to  the  United  States  and  peaceably  retire  to 
their  Iowa  reservations.  Notwithstanding  Black 
Hawk  was  a  party  to  the  treaty  and  retired  with 
his  tribe,  yet  he  longed  to  return  to  live  and  hunt  in 
the  beautiful  Rock  River  country.  He  represented 
to  the  tribes  that  their  rights  to  the  soil  were  inalien- 
able and  the  cessions  and  treaties  were  null  and 
void.  In  1831,  with  300  warriors  and  his  women 
and  children,  Black  Hawk  re-crossed  the  Mississippi, 
ordered  the  settlers  away  and  killed  their  cattle  and 
otherwise  destroyed  their  property.  Gov.  Reynolds 
at  once  issued  a  call  for  700  troops  to  drive  them 
back  to  their  reservation,  and  1,600  responded  to  the 
call.  Upon  the  appearance  of  these  troops  Black 
Hawk,  with  his  warriors,  fled  across  the  river,  and 
for  fear  of  pursuit  and  punishment,  sued  for  peace. 
Another  treaty  was  entered  into  by  which  the  In- 
dians agreed  to  forever  remain  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River,  and  never  to  re-cross  it  without  permis- 
sion of  the  President  or  Governor  of  the  State.  The 
•treacherous  character  of  the  Indians  was  shown  the 
following  year,  when  Black  Hawk  and  the  disaffected 
braves  returned  to  the  Rock  River. 

In  Whiteside  County  there  were  several  Indian 
villages,  the  most  noted  being  that  known  as  Prophets- 
town,  being  the  home  of  the  Prophet,  a  noted  In- 
dian chief  of  the  Winnebago  tribe.  (See  sketch.) 
There  were  villages  and  various  points  along  the 
Rock  River,  that  stream  abounding  in  fish. 

r$ *^ 


•    - 


v-. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


K.    £ 


The  Indians'  Mode  of  Living. 

'HE  art  of  hunting  not  only  supplied  the  In- 
dian with  food,  but,  like  that  of  war,  was  a 
means  of  gratifying  his  love  of  distinction. 
The  male  children,  as  soon  as  they  acquired 
sufficient  age  and  strength,  were  furnished 

I  with  a  bow  and  arrow,  and  taught  to  shoot  birds 
and  other  small  game.  Success  in  killing  large  ani- 
mals required  years  of  careful  study  and  practice, 
and  the  art  was  as  sedulously  inculcated  in  the 
minds  of  the  rising  generation  as  are  elements  of 
reading,  writing  and  arithmetic  in  the  common 
schools  of  civilized  communities.  The  mazes  of  the 
forest  and  the  dense  tall  grass  of  the  prairies  were 
the  objects  of  the  most  searching  scrutiny,  and  re- 
vealed at  a  glance  the  animal  that  made  any  visible 
traces,  the  direction  it  was  pursuing,  and  the  time 
that  had  elapsed  since  it  had  passed.  In  a  forest 
country  he  selected  the  valleys,  because  they  were 
most  frequently  the  resort  of  game.  The  most  easily 
taken,  perhaps,  of  all  the  animals  of  the  chase  was 
the  deer.  It  is  endowed  with  a  curiosity  which 
prompts  it  to  stop  in  its  flight  and  look  back  at  the 
approaching  hunter,  who  always  avails  himself  of 
this  opportunity  to  let  fly  the  fatal  arrow. 

Their  general  councils  were  composed  of  the 
chiefs  and  old  men.  When  in  council,  they  usually 
sat  in  concentric  circles  around  the  speaker,  and 
each  individual,  notwithstanding  the  fiery  passions 
that  burned  within,  preserved  an  exterior  as  immov- 
able as  though  cast  in  bronze.  Before  commencing 
business  a  person  appeared  with  the  sacred  pipe,  and 
another  with  fire  to  kindle  it.  After  being  lighted  it 
was  presented  to  heaven,  then  to  the  earth,  then  to  the 
presiding  spirit,  and  lastly  to  the  several  councilors, 
each  of  whom  took  a  whiff.  These  formalities  were 
observed  with  as  close  exactness  as  state  etiquette 
in  civilized  courts. 

The  dwellings  of  the  Indians  were  of  the  simplest 
and  rudest  character.  On  some  pleasant  spot  by 
the  bank  of  a  stream,  or  near  an  ever-running  spring, 
they  raised  their  groups  of  wigwams,  constructed  of 
the  bark  of  trees,  and  easily  taken  down  and  re- 
moved to  another  spot.  The  dwelling-places  of  the 
chiefs  were  sometimes  more  spacious,  and  con- 


structed  with  greater  care,  but  of  the  same  materials. 
Skins  taken  in  the  chase  served  them  for  repose. 

Though  principally  dependent  upon  hunting  and 
fishing,  the  uncertain  supply  from  these  sources  led 
them  to  cultivate  small  patches  of  corn.  Every 
family  did  everything  necessary  within  itself,  com- 
merce, or  an  exchange  of  articles,  being  almost  un- 
known to  them.  In  case  of  dispute  and  dissension, 
each  Indian  relied  upon  himself  for  retaliation  ;  blood 
for  blood  was  the  rule,  and  the  relatives  of  the  slain 
man  were  bound  to  obtain  bloody  revenge  for  his 
death.  This  principle  gave  rise,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  to  innumerable  and  bitter  feuds,  and  wars  of 
extermination,  when  such  were  possible.  War,  in- 
deed, rather  than  peace,  was  the  Indian's  glory  and 
delight — war,  not  conducted  as  in  civilization,  but 
where  individual  skill,  endurance,  gallantry  and 
cruelty  were  prime  requisites.  For  such  a  purpose 
as  revenge  the  Indian  would  make  great  sacrifices, 
and  display  a  patience  and  perseverance  truly  heroic; 
but  when  the  excitement  was  over  he  sank  back 
into  a  listless,  unoccupied,  well-nigh  useless  savage. 
During  the  intervals  of  his  more  exciting  pursuits, 
the  Indian  employed  his  time  in  decorating  his  per- 
son with  all  the  refinement  of  paint  and  feathers, 
and  in  the  manufacture  of  his  arms  and  canoes. 
These  were  constructed  of  bark,  and  so  light  that 
they  could  easily  be  carried  on  the  shoulder  from 
stream  to  stream.  His  amusements  were  the  war 
dance,  athletic  games,  the  narration  of  his  exploits 
and  listening  to  the  oratory  of  the  chiefs  ;  but  during 
long  periods  of  such  existence  he  remained  in  a 
state  of  torpor,  gazing  listlessly  upon  the  trees  of  the 
forest  and  the  clouds  that  sailed  above  them  ;  and 
this  vacancy  imprinted  habitual  gravity,  and  even 
melancholy,  upon  his  general  deportment. 

The  main  labor  and  drudgery  of  Indian  communi- 
ties fell  upon  the  women.  The  planting,  tending 
and  gathering  of  the  crops,  making  mats  and  bas- 
kets, carrying  burdens, — in  fact,  all  things  of  the 
kind  were  performed  by  them,  thus  making  their 
condition  but  little  better  than  slaves.  Marriage 
was  merely  a  matter  of  bargain  and  sale,  the  hus- 
band giving  presents  to  the  father  of  the  bride.  In 
general  they  had  but  few  children.  They  were  sub- 
jected to  many  and  severe  attacks  of  sickness,  and 
at  times  famine  and  pestilence  swept  away  whole 
tribes,  small-pox  being  especially  destructive. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


The  Black  Hawk  War. 

'HIS  conflict,  though  occurring  prior  to  the 
settlement  of  Whiteside  County,  has  an  im- 
portant bearing  upon  its  history.     It   was 
the  fertile   valley  of  the  Rock  River  that  the 
old  chief  and  his  braves  wanted  to  re-possess, 

I  that  was  the  cause  of  the  war.  Black  Hawk 
had  recrossed  to  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Mississippi 
prior  to  1832,  as  stated  above,  but  it  was  during  the 
early  part  of  that  year  that  he  made  the  most  con- 
certed and  desperate  effort  to  regain  the  country  so 
dear  to  him  and  which  he  considered  he  had  been 
unjustly  deprived  of.  There  has  been  much  specu- 
lation as  to  Black  Hawk's  motives  in  returning  to 
Illinois,  many  claiming  he  came  only  to  get  food  for 
his  tribe  and  not  with  hostile  intentions.  Upon 
Black  Hawk  with  his  force  appearing  on  this  bank 
of  the  Mississippi,  a  large  force  was  at  once  raised 
and  marched  against  him.  On  the  evening  of  May 
14,  1832,  the  first  engagement  occurred  between  the 
military  and  Black  Hawk's  band,  in  which  the  former 
were  defeated. 

This  attack  and  its  result  aroused  the  whites.  A 
large  force  of  men  was  raised,  and  Gen.  Scott  hast- 
ened from  the  seaboard,  by  way  of  the  lakes,  with 
United  States  troops  and  artillery  to  aid  in  the  sub- 
jugation of  the  Indians.  On  the  241(1  of  June,  Black 
Hawk,  with  200  warriors,  was  repulsed  by  Major 
Demont  between  Rock  River  and  Galena.  The 
American  army  continued  to  move  up  Rock  River 
toward  the  main  body  of  the  Indians,  and  on  the 
2istof  July  came  upon  Black  Hawk  and  his  band, 
and  defeated  them  near  the  Blue  Mounds. 

Black  Hawk,  with  his  twenty  braves,  retreated  up 
the  Wisconsin  River.  The  Winnebagoes,  desirous 
of  securing  the  friendship  of  the  whites,  went  in  pur- 
suit and  captured  and  delivered  them  to  Gen.  Street, 
the  United  States  Indian  Agent.  Among  the  pris- 
oners were  the  son  of  Black  Hawk  and  the  prophet 
of  the  tribe.  These  with  Black  Hawk  were  taken  to 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  soon  consigned  as  prisoners 
at  Fortress  Monroe. 

At  the  interview  Black  Hawk  had  with  the  Presi- 


dent, he  closed  his  speech  delivered  on  the  occasion 
in  the  following  words :  "  We  did  not  expect  to 
conquer  the  whites.  They  have  too  many  houses, 
too  many  men.  I  took  up  the  hatchet,  for  my  part, 
to  revenge  injuries  which  my  people  could  no  longer 
endure.  Had  I  borne  them  longer  without  striking, 
my  people  would  have  said,  '  Black  Hawk  is  a 
woman  ;  he  is  too  old  to  be  a  chief;  he  is  no  Sac.' 
These  reflections  caused  me  to  raise  the  war-whoop. 
I  say  no  more.  It  is  known  to  you.  Keokuk  once 
was  here;  you  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  when  he 
wished  to  return  to  his  home,  you  were  willing. 
Black  Hawk  expects,  like  Keokuk,  he  shall  be  per- 
mitted to  return  too." 

After  their  release  from  prison  they  were  con- 
ducted, in  charge  of  Major  Garland,  through  some  of 
the  principal  cities,  that  they  might  witness  the 
power  of  the  United  States  and  learn  their  own  in- 
ability to  cope  with  them  in  war.  Great  multitudes 
flocked  to  see  them  wherever  they  were  taken,  and 
the  attention  paid  them  rendered  their  progress 
through  the  country  a  triumphal  procession  instead 
of  the  transportation  of  prisoners  by  an  officer.  At 
Rock  Island  the  prisoners  were  given  their  liberty, 
amid  great  and  impressive  ceremony.  In  r838  Black 
Hawk  built  him  a  dwelling  near  Des  Moines,  Iowa, 
and  furnished  it  after  the  manner  of  the  whites,  and 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  hunting  and 
fishing.  Here,  with  his  wife,  to  whom  he  was  greatly 
attached,  he  passed  the  few  remaining  days  of  his 
life.  To  his  credit,  it  may  be  said,  that  Black  Hawk- 
remained  true  to  his  wife,  and  served  her  with  a  de- 
votion uncommon  among  Indians,  living  with  her 
upward  of  40  years. 

In  September,  1838,  while  on  his  way  to  Rock 
Island  to  receive  his  annuity  from  the  Government, 
he  contracted  a  severe  cold  which  resulted  in  a  fatal 
attack  of  bilious  fever,  and  terminated  his  life  Octo- 
ber 3.  After  his  death  he  was  dressed  in  the  uni- 
form presented  to  him  by  the  President  while  in 
Washington.  He  was  buried  in  a  grave  six  feet  deep, 
situated  upon  a  beautiful  eminence.  The  body  was 
placed  in  the  middle  of  the  grave,  in  a  sitting  posture 
upon  a  seat  constructed  for  that  purpose.  On  his 
left  side  the  cane  given  him  by  Henry  Clay  was 
placed  upright,  with  his  right  hand  resting  upon  it. 
Thus,  after  a  long,  adventurous  and  shifting  life, 
Black  Hawk  was  gathered  to  his  fathers. 

: «f^£ 


"•x^v^^ 
WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


•  ^ 
*•'•••-<& 


HEN  it  was  fully  understood 
that  the  Indians  were  re- 
moved beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi and  were  not  likely  again 
to  molest  the  whites,  settle- 
ments began  to  be  made  in 
various  parts  of  Northern  Illinois, 
and  it  could  not  be  that  the  beau- 
tiful Rock  River  Valley  would 
long  escape  the  watchful  eyes 
of  those  seeking  a  home  in 
a  more  favored  land  than  the 
barren  and  over-crowded  East.  In 
June,  1834,  Alexander  J.  and  Nor- 
man B.  Seely  made  claims  to  the 
land  upon  which  the  village  of 
Portland  was  subsequently  located. 
Norman  Seely  erected  a  cabin  in  the 
grove  where  he  lived  the  following 
winter.  Mitchell  Ruxton  also  came 
the  same  year  and  located  near 
the  Seelys.  Asa  Crook  and  family 
located  in  what  is  now  the  town- 
ship of  Prophetstown  the  same 
season.  About  the  same  time  Samuel  A.  McClure 
located  at  the  mouth  of  Walker's  Slough.  In  Sep- 
tember, following,  he  sold  out  to  John  W.  Stakes. 
John  Bowman,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Stakes,  came  with 
them.  Alfred  Wood  and  John  Cham  pine  were  here 
in  the  fall. 

In  May,  1834,  Hezekiah  Brink  located   his  claim 

upon  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Sterling.     Mr. 

Brink  yet  resides  upon  a  portion  of  his  original  claim. 

Adam  and  John  James  and  Jesse  Hill  located  in 

Genesee  early  in  the  spring  of  1834.     It  has  usually 


been  said  that  this  settlement  was  made  in  1835,  but 
on  the  authority  of  George  O.  James,  now  living  in 
Morrison,  the  date  given  is  1834. 

These  were  all  the  settlements  made  in  the  county 
during  the  year  1834.  In  1835,  settlements  were 
made  in  various  parts  of  the  county. 

As  the  early  settlement  of  the  county  is  given  in 
detail  in  the  histories  of  the  various  townships  and 
villages  in  their  respective  places,  we  forego  further 
mention  here  other  than  to  give  the  date  of  the  set- 
tlements of  the  various  townships.. 

Albany  Township  was  settled  in  1835  by  Edward 
Corbin  and  Mr.  Mitchell,  brothers-in-law.  The  lat- 
ter made  a  claim  in  what  is  now  known  as 'Upper 
Albany,  and  the  latter  in  Lower  Albany. 

Erie  was  settled  in  1835,  by  Lewis  D.  Crandall, 
Peter  Gile  and  Mr.  Hunt,  the  first  named  locating 
on  section  18. 

John  Baker  was  the  first  settler  in  Fulton,  in  1835. 
He  located  where  the  city  of  Fulton  now  stands. 

Joseph  Fenton,  for  whom  the  township  was  named, 
was  the  first  settler  in  Fenton  Township,  in  1835. 

On  the  loth  day  of  April,  1835,  S.  Miles  Coe 
made  claim  to  a  portion  of  sections  33  and  34  of 
Jordan  Township,  and  thus  has  the  honor  of  being 
the  first  settler.  Mr.  Coe  now  writes  his  name 
Simeon  M.,  only  adopting  the  former  method  while 
his  father  was  yet  living,  the  latter  then  being  known 
as  Simeon  M. 

Jason  Hopkins  and  Isaac  H.  Brittell,  in  the 
spring  of  1835,  made  a  settlement  on  the  site  of  the 
old  village  of  Como,  and  were  the  first  settlers  of 
Hopkins  Township. 

Lyndon  wa.s  settled  in  1835.     Adam   R.   Hamil- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


8o7 


ton,  Chauncey  G.  Woodruff,  Liberty  Walker,  Win. 
D.  Dudley  and  Ephraim  H.  Hubbard  were  the  pio- 
neers, 

James  J.  Thomas,  Felix  French,  Wm.  H.  and 
John  D.  Paschal  were  the  first  settlers  of  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, in  1835. 

In  1836  Abel  Parker  made  the  first  settlement  in 
Garden  Plain.  He  located  at  the  grove  which  has 
since  been  known  as  Parker's  Grove. 

Leonard  Morse  made  a  claim  on  section  16,  of 
Hume,  in  1836,  and  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
;n  that  township. 

In  the  spring  of  1836  Joshua  T.  Atkinson  located 
in  Union  Grove,  and  was,  therefore,  the  pioneer. 


Wooster  Y.  Ives  and  Edward  Corbin  made  claims 
and  located  in  Ustick  Township,  in  1837.  Amos 
Short  and  Edward  Rolph  settled  here  the  same  year. 

Coloma  was  settled  in  1837  by  Edward  Atkins, 
Noah  Merrill  and  Daniel  Brooks. 

Jesse  Hill  and  Wm.  Mick  made  claims  in  Clyde, 
in  1835,  but  the  first  permanent  settlement  was 
doubtless  made  in  1838,  Henry  W.  Daniels,  Hugh 
Hollinshead,  Dr.  H.  H.  Fowler  and  Mr.  Wing  being 
among  the  number  then  locating  here. 

Wm.  Renner  and  family  located  in  Hahnaman 
Township,  in  1841,  being  the  pioneer. 

Montmorency  was  settled  first  in  1847,  by  Asa 
Scott. 


I 

as?. 


ANUARY  1 6,  1836,  an  act 
was  passed  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Slate  nam- 
ing and  establishing  the  pres- 
ent boundaries  of  Whiteside 
County,  as  follows  :  "  All  that 
tract  of  country  within  the  follow- 
ing boundary,  to-wit:  Commencing 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  town- 
ship No.  19  north,  of  range  7  east, 
of  the  fourth  principal  meridian; 
thence  west  with  the  said  township 
line  to  Rock  River;  thence  down 
the  middle  of  Rock  River  to  the 
middle  of  the  Meredosia,  with  the 
line  of  Rock  Island  County,  to  the 
Mississippi  River;  thence  along  the 
middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Mississippi 
River  to  the  point  where  the  north  line  of  township 
22  intersects  the  same;  thence  east  with  the  said  last 
mentioned  township  line  to  the  southeast  corner  of 
township  23;  thence  south  with  the  line  between 


ranges  7  and  8,  to  the  point  of  beginning,  shall 
constitute  a  county  to  be  called  Whiteside." 

The  question  has  frequently  arisen  as.  to  whom 
the  honor  was  conferred  upon  in  naming  the  county. 
Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  investigated  the  question  most 
thoroughly.  After  giving  the  opinion  of  Hon.  John 
T.  Stuart,  of  Springfield,  that  the  county  was  named 
for  no  member  of  the  Whiteside  family  in  particular, 
and  of  Hon.  William  Thomas,  of  Jacksonville,  who 
said  that  he  "  had  a  distinct  recollection  of  being  in- 
formed when  the  bill  was  pending  in  the  Senate  that 
it  was  called  for  the  father  of  John  I).  Whiteside, 
afterwards  State  Treasurer,"  Mr.  Washburne  said: 

"  The  John  D.  Whiteside  alluded  to  by  Judge 
Thomas  was  a  very  prominent  man  in  the  history  of 
our  State  and  time,  and  was  the  son  of  the  old  pio- 
neer, Col.  William  Whiteside.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  State  Senate,  from  Monroe  County,  at  the  time 
the  bill  was  passed  creating  Whiteside  County  in 
1836,  which  might  have  given  color  to  the  idea  that 
the  county  was  named  after  his  father.  But  my 
judgment  is  that  it  was  named  after  Gen.  Samuel 


T 

4 


•^fe. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


3$ 


fcS 


Whiteside.  He  had  resided  at  an  early  day  at  what 
was  then  called  the  'Galena  country,'  was  known  by 
the  people,  identified  with  their  interests,  and  had 
been  a  leading  figure  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  I  am 
strengthened  in  this  belief  from  the  fact  that  the  bill 
creating  Whiteside  and  other  counties,  was  introduced 
in  the  Senate  by  the  then  Senator  from  this  dis- 
trict, Col.  James  M.  Strode,  who  himself  commanded 
a  regiment  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  who  was 
attached  to  the  command  of  Gen.  Whiteside,  and 
knew  him  well.  It  was,  therefore,  much  more 
natural  for  him  to  give  to  the  county  the  name  of 
General  Samuel  Whiteside,  who  was  so  familiar  with 
this  section  of  the  country,  and  who  had  been  iden- 
tified with  its  struggle,  rather  than  to  Col.  William 
Whiteside.  This  is  the  opinion  of  Hon.  Joseph  Gil - 
lespie,  who  was  an  early  pioneer  of  the  Galena  min- 
ing region,  and  mined  for  lead  at  'Snake  Diggins,' 
now  Potosi,  Wis.,  before  the  Black  Hawk  War. 

"  Distinguished  as  a  lawyer  and  judge,  Mr.  Gilles- 
pie  is  probably  as  well  posted  in  the  early  history  of 
our  State  as  any  man  in  iC  My  acknowledgments 
are  due  to  him  for  the  following  sketch  of  Gen.  Sam- 
uel Whiteside.  After  enumerating  the  services  he 
rendered  in  a  military  capacity,  and  w.iich  I  have  al- 
ready stated,  he  says  of  him  :  '  He  never  put  any 
value  on  promotion  in  civil  life,  but  seemed,  indeed, 
to  despise  it.  He  could  undoubtedly  have  succeeded 
to  any  ciyil  place  in  his  county  if  he  had  striven 
for  it.  He  did,  however,  act  as  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners who  selected  Vandaliafor  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment of  Illinois,  and  I  think  aided  in  selecting  the 
Canal  lands.  In  matters  of  religion  he  sided  with 
the  Baptists,  and  in  political  affairs  he  co-operated 
with  the  Democrats.  He  was  an  honest  man,  and 
the  only  thing  he  was  afraid  of  was  being  in  debt. 
He  believed  with  all  his  powers  that  what  he  believed 
'  was  right,  and  it  was  rather  a  hard  task  to  con- 
vince him  that  the  opposite  side  might  seem  to  be 
right.  He  thought  there  was  but  one  right  side  to  a 
question,  and  that  all  honest  men  would  be  apt  to 
see  it  in  the  same  light. 

'"He  was  a  famous  hunter  and  followed  the  chase 
as  long  as  his  strength  permitted.  He  was  thor- 
oughly versed  in  wood-craft,  and  knew  all  the  haunts 
and  habits  of  wild  animals  to  perfection.  He  loved 
to  make  long  limits  and  live  in  camp  for  weeks 
gether,  and  eat  nothing  but  game.  His  hunt- 


ing dress  in  early  life  was  buckskin,  and  he 
wore  moccasins  while  in  the  woods.  It  would  have 
delighted  him  to  attack  a  lion,  or  tiger,  or  grizzly 
bear.  I  believe  he  would  have  gone  into  the  fight 
with  as  little  dread  on  his  mind  as  if  he  had  a  rabbit 
to  contend  with;  and  I  have  no  doubt  he  would  have 
employed  the  skill  and  means,  in  every  instance,  to 
enable  him  to  come  out  without  any  risk  or  scratch. 
The  writer  knew  of  his  killing  three  panthers  on  one 
occasion,  and  he  did  not  seem  to  think  he  had  per- 
formed a  feat  worthy  of  mention.  He  died  Jan.  3, 
1866,  one  mile  and  a  half  east  of  Mount  Auburn, 
Christian  Co.,  111.,  at  the  house  of  his  son-in-law, 
John  A.  Henderson,  with  whom  he  had  been  living 
since  1855.  Whiteside  County,  I  have  no  doubt, 
was  named  in  his  honor.  The  county  was  formed  in 
1836,  and  he  was  the  only  Whiteside  of  note  at  that 
time.' " 

At  the  time  the  act  was  passed  fixing  the  bound- 
aries of  the  county,  the  territory  comprising  it  formed 
a  part  of  Jo  Daviess  County.  By  the  latter  county 
it  was  divided  into  three  election  precincts.  What 
is  now  Gordon  Township  was  attached  to  Elkhorn 
Grove  precinct,  which  comprised  also  parts  of  Ogle, 
Lee  and  Carroll  counties.  Harrisburg  precinct  com- 
prised the  present  townships  of  Sterling,  Coloma, 
Montmorency,  Hahnaman,  and  the  east  half  of 
Tampico,  Hopkins  and  Hume.  Crow  Creek  pre- 
cinct comprised  all  the  rest  of  the  county.  An  elec- 
tion was  held  in  each  of  these  precincts  in  August, 
1836. 

By  the  same  act  defining  the  boundaries  of  White- 
side,  the  county  of  Ogle  was  created,  and  on  its 
organization  Whiteside  was  attached  to  it  for  county 
and  judicial  purposes.  The  latter  county  reorgan- 
ized the  precincts,  and  in  1839  there  were  seven  in 
number:  Albany,  Elkhorn,  Fulton,  Genesee,  Little 
Rock,  Portland  and  Union  Grove. 

Early  in  1839  it  was  thought  best  the,  county  of 
Whiteside  should  organize.  Accordingly  an  election 
was  ordered  to  be  held  May  6,  1839,  for  the  election 
of  county  officers.  It  resulted  as  follows:  Nathaniel 
G.  Reynolds,  Elijah  Worthington  and  John  B.  Dodge, 
County  Commissioners;  James  C.  Woodburn,  Sheriff; 
Daniel  B.  Young,  Probate  Justice;  David  Mitchell, 
County  Treasurer ;  Charles  R.  Rood,  County  Sur- 
veyor;  Augustine  W.  Newhall,  Recorder;  Ivory  Col- 
cord,  Coroner;  Guy  Ray,  Clerk  of  the  County  Com- 
missioners' Court. 


A 


®> 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


809 


At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  county  the 
$  civil  government  of  counties  was  vested   in   a  board 
'  of  county  commissioners,  consisting  of  three  mem- 
bers.    In    this   connection    are  given   some  of  the 
most    important  acts  of   the   commissioners,  as   well 
^  as    those   officers  who    subsequently  discharged   the 
same  duties. 


Acts  of  the   County   Commissioners. 

'HE  first  meeting  of  the  Commissioners' 
Court  was  held  at  the  house  of  William 
D.  Dudley,  in  Lyndon  Township,  May  16, 
1839.  Nathaniel  G.  Reynolds,  Elijah  Worth- 
ington  and  John  B.  Dodge  qualified  as  Com- 
missioners. Guy  Ray  was  appointed,  and 
took  the  oath  of  office  as  Clerk  of  the  Board,  having 
given  satisfactory  bonds  for  the  faithful  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  the  office. 

The  second  meeting  was  .held  at  the  school- 
house  near  the  residence  of  Mr.  Dudley. 

The  county  was  divided  into  i  r  road  districts, 
bounded  as  follows: 

Road  District  No.  i  to  comprise  that  portion  of 
the  county  south  of  Rock  River  and  east  of  town- 
ship line  between  ranges  5  and  6  east.  William 
W.  Durant  to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  2  to  comprise  that  portion  of 
the  county  south  of  Rock  River,  east  of  the  west 
line  of  section  35,  township  19  north,  range  4  east, 
to  line  of  range  5  east.  Erastus  G.  Nichols,  Super- 
visor. 

Road  District  No.  3  to  comprise  all  the  territory 
south  of  Rock  River,  west  of  section  35,  township  19 
north,  range  4  east.  James  Rowe,  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  4  to  comprise  all  that  part 
of  Elkhorn  precinct  north  of  the  towrship  line 
running  east  and  west  between  townships  21  and 
22  north.  Joseph  Nelson,  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  5  to  comprise  all  that  portion 
of  Elkhorn  precinct  lying  south  of  the  east  and  west 
line  between  townships  21  and  22  north.  Nelson 
Mason,  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  6  to  comprise  all  that  part 
called  Genesee  precinct.  Ivory  Colcord,  Super- 
visor. 

Road  District  No.  7  to  comprise  all   the  territory 


east  of  the  center  of  township  26  north,  range  4 
east.  David  Hazard,  Supervise* 

Road  District  No.  8  to  comprise  all  the  territory 
west  of  the  east  line  of  range  4  east.  Arthur  Put- 
ney, Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  9  to  comprise  all  the  territory 
in  Union  precinct.  John  W.  Stakes,  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  10  to  comprise  all  the  territory 
in  Fulton  precinct.  John  Baker,  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  n,  to  comprise  all  the  territory 
in  Albany  precinct.  Gilbert  Buckingham,  Super- 
visor. 

All  persons  subject  to  road  labor  were  each  re- 
quired to  labor  on  the  roads  five  days. 

Assessors  for  the  different  precincts  were  ap- 
pointed as  follows:  Union,  Henry  Boyer;  Portland, 
Ebenezer  Seely ;  Elkhorn,  John  W.  McLemore ; 
Genesee,  William  Wick;  Fulton,  Hosea  Jacobs; 
Albany,  Lewis  Spurlock;  Little  Rock,  Chauncey  G. 
Woodruff. 

After  appointing  assessors  in  the  various  pre- 
cincts, Court  adjourned  till  Monday,  June  3,  1839. 

On  the  3d  of  June  the  Court  met,  but  transacted 
no  business,  adjourning  till  the  following  day. 

The  first  business  transacted  was  the  appoint- 
ment of  John  Wick,  Assessor  of  Genesee  precinct, 
instead  of  William  Wick,  who  declined  to  serve. 

A  petition  was  presented  asking  the  formation  of 
an  election  precinct,  to  be  known  as  Round  Grove, 
and  bounded  on  the  east  by  Klkhorn  River;  on  the 
north  and  west  by  the  north  and  west  line  of  town- 
ship 2  r ,  range  6  east ;  also  by  the  west  line  of  town- 
ship 20,  range  6  east,  to  Rock  River;  on  the  south 
by  Rock  River.  The  elections  to  be  held  at  the 
school-house  in  Round  Grove  The  petition  was 
signed  by  R.  J.  Jenks,  Charles  C.  Jenks,  William 
Pilgrim,  N.  P.  Thompson,  Joel  Harvey,  Caleb 
Plnmmer,  William  H.  McLemore,  John  Washy, 
Levi  Gaston,  Joseph  Jones,  Samuel  Higby,  Thomas 
Matthews,  Earle  A.  Somers,  George  Higby,  W. 
Morrison,  John  Van  Tassel,  F.  Simonson,  Clement 
D.  Nance.  The  petition  was  granted  with  a  change 
in  the  boundary  line,  the  east  line  being  made  town- 
ship 21,  range  6  east,  and  Elkhorn  Creek.  R:  J. 
Jenks,  George  Higby  and  Joel  Harvey  were  ap- 
pointed Judges  of  Election. 

A  petition  was  received  from  Fulton  City,  urging 
the  Board  not  to  grant  license  for  the  sale  of  ardent 


(j) 

< 

A 


810 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


(§; 


~£* 

* 


spirits  by  the  drink.  This  petition  was  signed  by 
Daniel  Reed,  William  Ross,  Richard  L.  Mills,  Eli- 
jah K.  Webb,  John  H.  Prentiss,  H.  Chenery,  A. 
Phelps,  W.  Knight,  W.  Y.  Ives,  Henry  Bond,  Lewis 
Graves,  H.  F.  Rice,  Moses  W.  Jenks,  Reuben  S. 
Rhodes,  Nathan  Scott,  John  Morgan.  It  is  sup- 
posed the  request  of  the  petitioners  was  complied 
with,  as  there  is  no  entry  of  license  being  granted. 

George  P.  Dennis  was  appointed  Special  Con- 
stable at  this  session  to  serve  the  notices  of  the 
Court. 

The  rates  of  toll  for  ferriage  across  Rock  River 
were  made  as  follows  : 

One  person 1 2  J^ 

Wagon  or  carriage  drawn  by  two  horses 75 

For  every  additional  ox  or  horse 12^ 

Wagon  drawn  by  one  horse 37  j£ 

Cart  drawn  by  horses  or  oxen 50 

Cattle,  hogs,  goats,  each  head 6]£ 

Sheep,  each '. 3 

The  ferriage  was  to  be  free  for  citizens  of  the 
county,  the  Court  appropriating  the  sum  of  $40  per 
year  as  compensation  to  the  owner  of  the  ferry  for 
that  purpose. 

John  W  McLemore  was  appoined  Collector  of 
taxes  for  the  year  1839. 

The  court  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Dr. 
Stickel,  in  Lyndon,  the  first  Tuesday  in  July. 

At  this  meeting  the  Commissioners  drew  lols  for 
the  term  of  office.  Nathaniel  G.  Reynolds  drew  for 
oneyenr;  Khjah  Worth! ngton  for  two  jears;  John  B. 
Dodge  for  three  years. 

Judges  of  election  were  api>ointed  at  this  term  for 
the  various  precincts. 

At  the  December,  1839,  meeting,  Simeon  S.  Page 
was  allowed  $30  for  use  of  his  ferry  during  the  past 
season.  Edward  S.  Gage  was  allowed  $65  for  the 
same  purpose,  and  William  Knox  $20  in  addition  to 
what  had  already  been  allowed  him  for  the  same 
purpose, 

The  Clerk  was  authorized  to  employ  Jonathan 
Haines  to  nuiko  a  seal  for  the  county,  either  of  cop- 
per, brass  or  silver. 

At  the  March,  1840,  term  of  the  Court,  Hosea 
Jacobs,  William  Sampson  and  Hiram  Harmon  ap- 
peared and  qualified  as  County  Commissioners.  The 
first  named  drew  the  ticket  for  term  of  service  which 
expired  the  first  Monday  in  August,  1840.  William 


Sampson  drew  for  the  term  that  expired  the  first  Mon- 
day in  August,  1841.  Hiram  Harmon  drew  for  the 
term  which  expired  the  first  Monday  in  August, 
1842. 

Caleb  Clark  was  authorized  to  keep  a  ferry  across 
the  Mississippi  River  at  Fulton  City  for  the  period 
of  one  year  on  the  payment  of  a  license  fee  of  $10. 
The  rates  of  toll  were  fixed  as  follows : 

For  each  footman $     25 

Man  and  horse 75 

Head  of  cattle 25 

Two-wheel  carriage   i  oo 

Yoke  of  oxen  and  wagon  loaded i   50 

Additional  ox  or  horse 25 

Head  of  hogs  or  sheep 12}^ 

One  horse  and  wagon i  oo 

The  Clerk  of  the  Commissioners'  Court  was  author- 
ized to  call  upon  the  Clerk  of  Commissioners' 
Court  of  Ogle  County  for  a  transcript  of  the  elec- 
tions of  all  justices  of  the  peace  and  the  time  of 
qualification,  together  with  a  transcript  of  the  bound- 
aries of  election  precincts. 

John  W.  McLemore  was  appointed  Assessor  for 
the  county. 

Simeon  M.  Coe  contested  the  election  of  William 
Sampson,  and  on  the  315!  day  of  March  Van  J. 
Adams,  Daniel  Brooks  and  A.  C.  Jackson,  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  sat  as  a  court  lo  hear  and  determine 
who  was  entitled  to  the  seat.  After  hearing  the  evi- 
dence they  decided  that  Mr.  Coe  was  entitled  to  the 
certificate  of  election  and  instructed  the  Clerk  of  the 
Commissioners'  Court  to  make  out  and  certify  to  him 
the  fact  of  his  election.  It  was  accordingly  done, 
and  Simeon  M.  Coe  appeared  at  the  June  term  and 
took  the  oath  of  office. 

It  was  ordered  by  the  Court  that  its  members 
should  draw  by  lot  for  the  term  of  service.  Mr.  Har- 
mon objected,  probably  on  the  ground  that  he  had 
already  drawn,  and  that  Mr.  Coe  should  serve  the 
time  drawn  by  Mr.  Sampson.  His  protest  was  not 
heeded.  Hosea  Jacobs  drew  one  year.  Simeon  M. 
Coe  drew  three  years.  Mr.  Harmon  refused  to 
draw. 

D.  B.  Young  was  appointed  School  Commissioner. 

At  the  December,  1840,  term  it  was  ordered  that 
Portland  Precinct  be  divided  into  three  precincts,  as 
follows :  All  the  territory  south  of  Rock  River  in 
Whiteside  County,  and  east  of  the  line  north  and 
south  through  the  center  of  township  6  east  of 
fourth  principal  meridian,  to  be  known  as  Rapids 


.:          _ 


pa 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


8n 


f 

® 

1 


Precinct,  the  place  of  holding  elections  to  be  at  the 
house  of  Edward  Atkins;  all  the  territory  south  of 
Rock  River  and  west  of  Rapids  Precinct,  lying  east 
of  a  certain  slough,  between  Hiram  Underbill's  and 
Richard  Potter's,  on  the  south  line  of  the  county, 
ihence  northeasterly  along  the  center  of  said  slough 
and  its  outlet  into  Rock  River,  to  be  known  as 
Prophetstown  Precinct,  and  the  place  of  holding 
elections  to  be  at  the  house  of  Asa  Crook ;  and  all 
the  territory  west  of  Prophetstown  Precinct,  and 
south  of  Rock  River,  to  remain  as  Portland  Precinct, 
the  place  of  holding  elections  to  be  at  the  house 
of  Kbenezer  Seely.  William  W.  Durant,  Daniel 
Brooks  and  L.  H.  Woodworth  were  appointed  judges 
of  election  of  Rapids  Precinct;  Asa  Crook,  Jabez 
Warner  and  N.  G.  Reynolds,  of  Prophetstown  Pre- 
cinct; and  Daniel  Blaisdell,  William  S.  Crane,  and 
Simeon  Fuller,  of  Portland  Precinct. 

Guy  Ray,  Clerk  of  the  Court,  was  allowed  $7.80 
for  returning  votes  of  August  election  for  represent- 
ative to  Jo  Daviess  County.  On  the  same  day  Lyn- 
don township  was  authorized  to  organize  into  a  school 
district,  and  Edward  S.  Gage  licensed  to  run  a  ferry 
across  Rock  River  at  Prophetstown. 

Lyndon  Township  was  authorized  to  organize  into 
a  school  district. 

Lewis  D.  Crandall,  Arthur  Putney  and  A.  Smith 
were  authorized  to  solicit  subscriptions  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  bridge  over  the  Meredosia  River,  near 
Rock  River,  on  the  mail  route  from  Lyndon  to 
Stephenson,  and  to  expend  the  same  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  bridge  according  to  a  plan  to  be  furnished 
by  Hosea  Jacobs,  provided  it  was  done  without  cost 
to  the  county. 

At  the  March  session,  in  1841,  John  Scott  was  au- 
thorized to  operate  a  ferry  across  Rock  River,  at 
Como,  by  paying  a  license  fee  of  $5.  He  was  per- 
mitted to  charge  as  ferriage  "  for  each  two-horse  or  ox 
wagon,  with  team,  50  cents;  single  wagon  and  horse, 
25  cents;  man  and  horse,  18^  cents;  footman,  6 ]£ 
cents;  head  of  cattle,  6j^  cents;  head  of  sheep  or 
swine,  6^  cents. 

David  and  Samuel  Mitchell  were  authorized  to 
operate  a  ferry  across  the  Mississippi  River  at  Al- 
bany. 

At  the  April,  1841,  term,  Guy  Ray  resigned  the 
position  of  Clerk  of  the  Commissioners'  Court.  Theo- 
dore Winn  was  appointed  Clerk  pro  tern. 


The  following  order  was  placed  upon  record  : 
"  WHEREAS,  by  virtue  of  an  act  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  the  State  of  Illinois,  passed  on  the  zist 
day  of  February,  1839,  providing  for  the  location  of 
the  county  seat,  or  seat  of  justice,  for  Whiteside 
County  and  State  aforesaid.  To  the  end,  therefore, 
we,  the  County  Commissioners  in  and  for  said  county 
from  a  fair  and  impartial  examination  of  the  poll 
books  now  in  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  County  Com- 
missioners' Court,  do  verily  believe  that  the  people  of 
said  county  have  placed  the  county  seat  at  the  town 
of  Sterling,  in  said  county;  do  therefore  order  the 
Circuit  and  County  Commissioners'  Court  to  be  holden 
in  and  at  the  town  of  Sterling,  in  said  county,  and 
do  direct  this  order  to  be  put  on  the  record  of  this 
Court,  and  that  a  copy  of  this  order  be  served  upon 
the  Sheriff  of  this  county,  and  also  on  the  Clerk  of 
the  Circuit  Court." 

The  June  term  of  the  Court  was  held  at  Sterling, 
commencing  June  8. 

Royal  Jacobs  was  allowed  three  months'  additional 
time  in  which  to  complete  a  horse  ferry-boat  to  be  run 
across  the  Mississippi  River  at  Fulton.  Mr.  Jacobs 
was  the  assignee  of  A.  M.  Wing  and  others.  He  was 
required  to  give  bond  to  run  the  ferry  according  to 
law. 

The  following  order  was  entered  upon  the  records: 
Whereas,  by  virtue  of  an  act  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  this  State,  passed  and  in  force  Feb.  21, 
1839,  entitled  "  An  act  to  locate  the  county  seat  of 
Whiteside,  and  provide  for  election  of  county  officers,'' 
elections  have  been  held  in  said  county,  pursuant  to 
said  law,  and  at  the  election  held  on  the  23d  day  of 
September,  1839,  for  the  location  of  said  county  seat, 
the  following  was  the  result :  Sterling  received  264 
votes;  Lyndon  received  253,  and  Windsor  4  votes. 
By  virtue  of  said  result,  and  in  pursuance  of  said 
law,  the  County  Commissioners,  by  an  order  entered 
on  the  record  of  said  Court,  declared  Sterling  the 
county  seat  of  said  county.  And,  further,  the  said 
Court  now  in  session,  and  holding  their  June  term, 
hereby  order  and  direct  that  the  Clerk  of  this  Court 
proceed  to  the  Land  Office  at  Dixon  and  receive  and 
obtain  of  and  from  the  proper  officers  a  full  and  com- 
plete title  by  pre-emption,  as  provided  by  law  for  the 
use  and  benefits  of  said  county,  for  the  southwest 
fractional  quarter  of  section  22,  township  21,  range  7 
east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian  ;  that  being  the 


dP 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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fractional  quarter  upon  which  the  town  or  point, 
Sterling,  is  now  located,  and  that  being  the  quarter 
now  claimed  by  said  Commissioners  for  the  use  of 
said  county,  by  virtue  of  said  location  of  the  county 
seat,  and  in  pursuance  of  law  in  such  cases  made 
and  provided,  directed  by  said  Court  this  8th  day  of 
June,  1841. 

Whereas,  the  pfoprietors  of  the  towns  of  Harrisburg 
and  Chatham,  at  the  Rapids  in  Elkhorn  Precinct, 
have  united  the  said  town  plats,  and  have  agreed  to 
change  the  names  of  said  towns  to  that  of  Sterling; 
and,  whereas,  by  an  act  to  locate  the  county  seat  of 
Whiteside,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  individuals  of  said 
county  to  offer  donations  of  lands  to  the  county  of 
Whiteside  whereon  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  of 
said  county,  the  proprietors  of  said  Sterling  offer  the 
following  donations :  Eighty  acres  of  land  bounded 
as  follows  :  Beginning  at  a  point  in  Broadway  and 
Fourth  Street,  being  the  center  of  said  town,  thence 
west  50  rods,  thence  north  120,  thence  east  80  rods, 
thence  south  1 20  rods,  thence  west  30  rods  to  the 
place  of  beginning,  containing  60  acres,  and  to  be 
deeded  to  the  Commissioners  by  the  proprietors  of 
that  part  of  the  town  formerly  known  as  Harrisburg; 
also  20  acres  adjoining  and  being  partly  between 
said  60  acres  and  the  river,  to  be  bounded  by  streets 
and  alleys,  and  extending  west  to  the  section  line  of 
2 1 ,  and  to  be  deeded  to  the  Commissioners  by  the 
proprietors  of  that  part  of  the  town  formerly  known 
as  Chatham  ;  and  further,  the  proprietors  of  each  of 
the  above  named  places  offer  and  agree  to  pay  to  the 
County  Commissioners  $  1,000  for  county  purposes, 
and  to  be  paid  in  equ.il  payments  in  three,  six,  nine 
and  twelve  months  from  the  day  and  date  of  the  lo- 
cation of  the  county  seat,  making  in  the  whole  a 
donation  of  80  acres  of  land  and  $2,000.;  provided 
the  public  buildings  for  said  county  shall  be  placed 
in  block  58,  west  of  Broadway,  being  a  central  posi- 
tion in  said  town." 

The  offer  was'dated  at  Sterling,  May  3,  1839,  and 
was  signed  by  Nelson  Mason,  J.  D.  Barnett,  Heze- 
kiah  Brink,  E.  Worthington,  Hugh  Wallace. 

The  Commissioners  accepting  the  offer  made, 
spread  an  order  upon  their  records  in  which  it  was 
provided  that  the  sum  of  $2,000  received  from  the 
proprietors  of  the  town  of  Sterling  should  not  be- 
come a  part  of  the  general  fund  of  the  county,  but 
was  to  be  used  solely  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  the 


county  buildings  on  block  58  of  the  town  of  Sterling. 

Robert  L.  Wilson  was  appointed  a  Commissioner 
on  the  part  of  the  county  to  superintend  the  sale  and 
conveyance  of  the  lots  of  the  county  in  the  town  of 
Sterling. 

At  the  September  term  Daniel  Blaisdell  appeared 
as  one  of  the  Commissioners.  John  Roy  gave  bonds 
as  Clerk  of  the  Commissioners'  Court. 

R.  L.  Wilson  made  his  report  in  relation  to  the 
disposal  of  the  real  estate  of  the  county.  He  sold 
lots  amounting  to  $583.37^,  and  reported  that  he 
had  taken  notes  for  the  sum  of  $2,000  offered  by  the 
proprietors  of  the  town,  all  of  which  was  amply  se- 
cured. 

Jacob  Whipple  was  appointed  an  agent  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms : 

"Ordered,  that  Jacob  Whipple  be  and  he  is  here- 
by appointed  an  agent  to  make  contracts  on  behalf 
of  the  county  of  Whiteside  for  all  necessary  materials 
for  the  erection  of  public  buildings  in  said  county, 
and  he  is  hereby  empowered  to  collect,  sue  for  and 
receive  moneys  now  due  or  hereafter  to  become  due 
and  payable  to  said  county  and  for  said  purposes  in 
such  sums  and  at  such  times  as  he  may  deem 
necessary  for  the  erection  of  said  buildings,  not  to 
exceed  $2,000,  and  that  he  proceed  to  do  the  same 
without  unnecessary  delay  after  giving  a  bond  with 
good  security  approved  by  the  Clerk." 

It  was  further  ordered  "  That  the  Court-House  to 
be  erected  for  the  county  of  Whiteside  to  be  37  feet 
long  by  30  feet  wide ;  lower  story  eight  feet  high ; 
upper  story  eleven  feet  high  in  the  clear;  passage 
through  the  lower  story  seven  feet  wide ;  balance  of 
lower  story  to  be  divided  into  four  rooms  ;  house  to 
be  covered  with  white  pine  shingles,  and  finished  in 
a  plain  and  substantial  manner.  That  our  agent 
issue  specifications  and  receive  proposals  for  the 
building  of  said  Court-House  without  unnecessary 
delay  and  report  to  our  next  Court. 

At  the  December,  1841,  term  of  the  Court  the 
order  in  relation  to  the  size  of  the  Court-House  was 
amended  so  as  to  read  that  the  Court-House  should 
be  40  feet  square,  the  lower  story  nine  feet  high  in 
the  clear,  the  upper  story  1 2  feet  high  in  the  clear, 
with  a  passage  ten  feet  wide  in  the  lower  story,  which 
was  to  be  divided  into  six  rooms. 

Col.  Whipple  was  removed  as  agent  for  making 
contracts  for  material  to  be  used  in  the  erection  of 


- 


V^V-iMMXIXM  W'V  Y^ 

WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


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fa 


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the  Court-House,  and  William  Sampson  appointed 
in  his  place,  in  January,  1843.  He  was  authorized 
to  demand  of  Whipple  all  contracts, money,  or  other 
valuables  in  his  possession  belonging  to  the  county. 
Mr.  Sampson  reported  to  the  Commissioners  that  he 
called  on  Whipple,  as  directed,  and  was  sent  by  him 
to  R.  L.  Wilson,  but  could  get  no  satisfaction. 

At  the  March,  1843,  term;  William,  Sampson  was 
appointed  an  agent  to  settle  with  Col.  Wilson,  Com- 
missioner appointed  by  the  Court  to  dispose  of  the 
real  estate  donated  to  the  county,  the  proceeds  of 
which  were  to  be  applied  in  the  erection  of  county 
buildings.  The  order  was  subsequently  rescinded. 

The  County  Commissioners  met  at  their  June 
term,  1843,  at  Lyndon,  that  town  having  been  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat  by  the  Commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  ap- 
proved Feb.  28,  1843.  Daniel  Blaisdell,  David  Mitch- 
ell and  Henry  Boyer,  Commissioners,  were  present. 

William  Sampson  was  again  appointed  agent  of 
the  county  for  the  purpose  of  making  contracts  for 
material  to  be  used  for  public  buildings. 

At  the  March  term,  in  1844,  Jacob  Whipple  re- 
signed the  position  of  agent  for  the  county  to  super- 
intend the  erection  of  public  buildings,  and  Joel 
Harvey  was  appointed  in  his  place. 

At  the  March,  1845,  term  it  was  ordered  that  the 
people  of  Sterling  have  the  use  of  the  Court-House 
for  religious  services,  and  that  Rev.  George  Stebbins 
have  the  use  of  two  rooms  for  school  purposes. 

The  June,  1847,  term  of  the  Court  was  held  at 
Sterling. 

At  the  March,  1848,  term,  Thomas  W.  Trum- 
bull  made  demand  on  the  Commissioners  that  they 
should  deed  back  to  him  certain  real  estate  which  he 
had  donated  for  county  purposes  at  Lyndon,  the 
seat  of  justice  having  been  removed  to  Sterling.  M. 
S.  Henry  was  appointed  Commissioner  to  deed  Mr. 
Trumbull  the  land  claimed. 

County  Court. 


jjr 

i® 


£Y   an    act   of  the   General   Assembly   the 
:   business  of  the  county   heretofore  trans- 
acted by  officers  known   as  County  Com- 
missioners, in    1850,   was    made  to  devolve 
upon    the    County    Court,    composed    of    a 
county  judge  and  two  associate  judges.  The 
first  session  of  this  court  met  at  the  Court-House  in 


Sterling,  March  4,  1850.  There  were  present  N.  G. 
Reynolds,  Judge ;  Winfield  S.Wilkinson  and  Thomas 
Brewer,  Associate  Judges;  L.  D.  Crandall,  Sheriff ; 
N.  J.  Nichols,  Clerk. 

No  acts  of  special  interest  were  transacted  by  this 
Court. 

At  the  November  election,  in  1851,  the  question 
was  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people  on  the  ques- 
tion of  the  adoption  of  the  township  organization 
law.  There  were  37^  votes  cast  for  and  144  against 
the  measure.  The  question  had  once  before  been 
submitted  to  a  vote  and  carried.  Commissioners 
were  appointed  who  divided  the  county  into  town- 
ships, but  on  account  of  some  informality  the  ques- 
tion had  to  be  re-submitted. 

At  the  December,  1851,  term  of  the  Court,  L.  D. 
Crandall,  L.  H.  Wood  worth  and  William  Pollock 
were  appointed  a  Committee  to  divide  the  county 
into  townships  according  to  an  act  of  the  General 
Assembly,  providing  for  township  organization.  They 
reported  the  townships  as  follows  : 

Township  of  Fulton  includes  fractional  township 
22  north,  range  3  east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian. 

Ustick  includes  township  22  north,  range  4  east. 

Clyde  includes  township  22  north,  range  5  east. 

Genesee  includes  township  22  north,  range  6  east. 

Jordan  includes  township  22   north,  range  7  east. 

Sterling  includes  that  part  of  township  21  north, 
range  7  east,  north  of  Rock  River,  including  Cant- 
rail's  Island,  so-called,  in  said  river. 

Montmorency  includes  township  20  north,  range 
7  east. 

Coloma  includes  that  part  of  township  21  north, 
range  7  east,  south  and  east  of  Rock  River,  includ- 
ing all  the  islands,  except  Cantrall's,  in  that  part  of 
said  river  bounding  said  territory  on  the  north  and 
west;  also,  that  part  of  section  25,  township  21 
north,  range  6  east,  lying  east  of  Rock  River,  and 
for  judicial  purposes,  for  the  time  being,  is  attached 
to  the  township  of  Montmorency,  excepting  the 
western  tier  of  sections. 

Hahnaman  includes  township  19  north,  range  7 
east. 

Hume  includes  that  part  of  township  20,  range  6 
east,  lying  south  of  Rock  River;  also  that  part  of 
section  34,  township  21  north,  range  6  east,  lying 
south  of  Rock  River.  [This  town  was  given  the 
name  of  Jackson  by  the  Commissioners,  but  subse- 


( 


| 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


quently    changed    by    the    Board    of    Supervisors.] 

Como  includes  that  part  of  township  20  north, 
range  6  east,  north  of  Rock  River,  except  that  the 
north  and  south  half  section  line  of  section  4  in 
said  township  and  Rock  River  be  the  eastern 
boundary.  [Originally  called  Homer,  and  subse- 
quently made  a  part  of  Hopkins.] 

Hopkins  includes  township  21  north,  range  6  east, 
excepting  those  parts  allotted  to  the  township  of 
Hume  and  Rapids  orColoma;  includes,  also,  that 
part  of  township  20  north,  range  6  east,  lying  north 
of  Rock  River,  and  east  of  a  line  passing  north  and 
south  through  the  center  of  section  4,  and  for  judi- 
cial purposes,  for  the  time  being,  is  attached  to  the 
western  tier  of  sections  of  the  township  of  Mont- 
ruorency;  also,  that  part  of  the  township  of  Hui;  e 
extending  as  far  west  as  Rock  River,  and  the  half 
section  line  passing  north  through  the  center  of  sec- 
tions 33,  28,  21  and  16,  until  intersecting  Rock 
River;  also  the  town  of  Hahnaman. 

Tampico  includes  township  19  north,  range  6 
east. 

Volney  includes  township  19  north,  range  5  east, 
south  and  east  of  Rock  River.  [Originally  the 
township  was  called  Washington,  and  subsequently 
made  a  part  of  Prophetstown.] 

Prophetstown  includes  township  20  north,  range  5 
east,  south  and  east  of  Rock  River,  and  for  judicial 
purposes  for  the  time  being  attached  to  the  western 
part  of  the  township  of  Hume,  excepting  as  far  east 
as  a  line  running  north  through  sections  33,  28, 
21  and  1 6,  to  the  intersection  of  Rock  River;  also 
the  townships  of  Tampico  and  Washington. 

Portland  includes  that  part  of  township  19  north, 
range  4  east,  south  of  Rock  River ;  also  that  part  of 
township  19  north,  range  3  east,  south  of  Rock 
River,  and  that  part  of  township  20  north,  range  4 
east,  south  of  Rock  River. 

Erie  includes  township  19  north,  range  4  east, 
north  of  Rock  River,  excepting  that  part  of  section 
i  lying  north;  also  that  part  of  township  19  north, 
range  3  east,  lying  north  of  Rock  River. 

Fenton  includes  so  much  of  township  20  north, 
range  4  east,  as  is  lying  north  of  Rock  River;  also 
township  19  north,  range  5  east,  lying  north  and 
west  of  Rock  River;  also  that  part  of  section  i, 
township  19  north,  range  4  east,  lying  north  of  Rock 
River.  [This  township  was  originally  called  Eden.] 


Lyndon  includes  that  part  of  township  20  north, 
range  5  east,  lying  north  and  west  of  Rock  River, 
and  for  judicial  purposes  for  the  time  being  is 
attached  to  the  township  of  Homer  [Como]. 

Mt.  Pleasant  includes  township  21  north,  range  5 
east. 

Union  Grove  includes  township  21  north,  range  4 
east. 

Garden  Plain  includes  township  21  north,  range  3 
east. 

Albany  includes  fractional  township  21  north, 
range  2  east. 

Newton  includes  fractional  township  20  north, 
range  2  east,  lying  east  of  the  Meredosia,  and  town- 
ship 20  north,  range  3  east. 

Board  of  Supervisors. 

HE  election  for  members  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  was  held  the  first  Tues- 
day in  April,  1852,  in  all  the  townships 
except  Montmorency,  Hume,  Hahnaman  and 
Tampico,  which  were  not  fully  organized. 
The  following  named  were  chosen  mem- 
bers of  the  first  Board  for  their  respective  town- 
ships: Albany,  W.  S.  Barnes;  Coloma,  Richard 
Arey  ;  Clyde,  W.  P.  Hiddleson  ;  Erie,  Charles  R. 
Coburn;  Fenton,  James  M.  Pratt;  Fulton,  Wilson 
S.  Wright;  Garden  Plain,  S.  M.  Kilgour;  Genesee' 
Ivory  Colcord ;  Hopkins,  Simeon  Sampson;  Jordan, 
J.  Talbot ;  Lyndon,  R.  G.  Clendenin ;  Mt.  Pleasant, 
A.  C.  Jackson;  Newton,  Joseph  Miller;  Prophets- 
town,  O.  W.  Gage;  Portland,  B.  P.  Besse ;  Sterling, 
Jesse  Penrose;  Union  Grove,  W.  C.  Snyder;  Ustick, 
John  Mackenzie. 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held 
in  September.  W.  S.  Barnes  was  chosen  Chairman 
for  the  ensuing  year,  and  rules  were  adopted  for  the 
government  of  the  Board. 

W.  C.  Snyder,  R.  G.  Clendenin  and  Simeon  Samp- 
son were  appointed  a  committee  to  ascertain  the 
indebtedness  of  the  county. 

But  little  business  was  transacted  for  some  years 
of  public  interest.  At  the  March,  1855,  term  of  the 
Board,  the  Drainage  Commissioner  was  instructed 
to  sell  certain  swamp  lands,  and  to  pay  all  money 
received  for  the  same  to  the  School  Commissioner, 
to  be  loaned  by  him,  and  the  interest  applied  as 
other  school  funds.  The  first  choice  of  the  land 


*>: 


i 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


was  to  be  sold  at  $3  per  acre,  the  second  $1.50,  and 
the  third  at  50  cents. 

In  1856  the  question  of  the  purchase  of  a  poor 
farm  was  under  discussion  in  the  Hoard.  A  com- 
mittee appointed  for  the  purpose  reported  pauperism 
on  the  increase,  and  that  the  cost  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  the  poor  was  greater  than  it  would  other- 
wise be  if  the  county  was  provided  with  a  suitable 
place  for  their  proper  care.  They  recommended  the 
purchase  of  240  acres  of  land  in  Union  Grove 
Township,  120  acres  of  which  were  under  cultiva- 
tion, and  on  which  was  situated  a  good  stone  house, 
barn,  and  out-buildings,  and  never-failing  springs  of 
water.  The  report  was  received,  and  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  purchase  the  farm. 

In  1857  considerable  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  procuring  funds  for  the  transaction  of  county 
business.  A  committee  of  three  was  appointed  to 
procure  a  loan,  but  in  consequence  of  the  scarcity 
of  money  and  the  county  having  allowed  some  of 
its  bonds  to  mature  without  provision  for  their  pay- 
ment, a  loan  was  finally  effected  in  Chicago,  but  at 
a  considerable  discount.  The  Drainage  Commis- 
sioner was  ordered  to  pay  to  the  County  Treasurer 
the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  swamp  lands,  the  county 
obligating  itself  to  pay  the  same  to  the  School  Com- 
missioner, in  five  years,  with  interest  at  10  per 
cent.,  payable  semi-annually.  In  1858  the  Board 
resolved  to  sustain  the  Township  Collectors  and 
County  Treasurer  in  receiving  good  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin  currency  in  payment  of  taxes. 

During  the  war  the  Board  performed  its  part 
nobly,  doing  all  in  its  power  to  aid  enlistments  and 
to  provide  for  the  families  of  the  volunteers. 

From  that  time  to  the  present  it  has  continued 
to  administer  the  affairs  of  the  county  in  a  manner 
satisfactory  to  the  people  generally.  The  credit  of 
the  county  is  No.  T. 

County-Seat  Contests. 

counties  throughout   the  length    and 
breadth  of  the  land  but  have  had    their 
county-seat   contests.      To   be    the   shire 
town  of  a  county  is  an  honor  coveted  at  all 
times,  and   much   bad  blood  has  been  engen- 
dered  in    working   to    secure    the    prize  of  a 
county  seat.     The  people  of  many  towns  have  acted 


815 


&&*** 


as  though  they  believed  that  if  their  town  was  only 
permitted  the  possession  of  the  court-house  and  jail 
of  the  county,  and  made  the  home  of  the  county 
officers,  a  metropolis  would  at  once  spring  up.  The 
same  efforts  that  have  been  put  forth  to  secure  the 
seat  of  justice  of  a  county,  if  used  in  another  direc- 
tion, would  result  in  incalculable  good  to  a  place. 

Whiteside  County  is  no  exception  to  the  general 
rule  in  relation  to  a  county  seat.  The  General  As- 
sembly passed  an  act  which  was  approved  Feb.  21, 
1839,  in  relation  to  the  county  seat  of  this  county. 
By  that  act  the  question  was  to  be  left  to  a  vote  of 
the  people  to  decide  where  it  should  be  permanently 
located.  It  was  provided  by  the  act  that  an  election 
should  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  1 839. 
If  more  than  one  point  was  voted  for,  and  no  place 
received  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast,  another  election 
should  be  held  on  Monday  of  each  succeeding  four 
weeks,  until  some  place  should,  receive  a  majority. 

It  was  also  provided  in  the  act  that  neo  person 
might  offer  a  donation  of  land  on  which  to  locate  the 
county  seat,  and  in  the  event  of  the  point  offered 
being  selected  by  the  legal  voters  of  the  county,  a 
good  and  sufficient  deed  should  be  executed  to  the 
County  Commissioners  within  four  weeks. 

The  first  election  for  the  location  of  the  county 
seat  was  held  at  the  time  provided  in  the  act,  but  no 
place  received  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast.  An- 
other election  was  held,  with  like  results.  Finally, 
on  the  23d  of  September,  1839,  it  was  declared  that 
the  village  of  Lyndon  had  received  a  majority  of  the 
votes  cast.  The  result  was  declared  by  Adam  R. 
Hamilton  and  C.  G.  Woodruff,  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace  named  in  the  act  for  canvassing  the  vote. 
Lyndon,  previous  to  this  time,  had  virtually  been  the 
county  seat,  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  being 
held  at  that  place 

On  the  i  rth  of  February,  1840,  a  contract  was 
made  with  Thomas  C.  Gould,  by  John  Ray  and 
Augustine  Smith,  on  the  part  of  the  people  of 
Lyndon,  for  the  erection  of  a  good  and  substantial 
frame  building,  26  x  17  feet,  one  and  a  half  stories 
in  height,  to  be  used  for  county  puqwses.  The 
building  was  soon  afterward  erected  on  lot  51,  block 
10,  and  used  for  county  and  court  purposes  until 
the  removal  of  the  offices  to  Sterling. 

By  reference  to  the  history  of  the  city  of  Sterling  it 
will  be  seen  that  that  place  originally  comprised  two 




..    •  ,. 


816 


WHITBSIDE  COUNTY. 


£ 


villages,  located  but  a  few  rods  apart.  Desiring  to 
secure  the  location  of  the  county  seat,  and  knowing 
that  neither  could  obtain  the  prize  if  acting  alone, 
the  proprietors  of  the  two  villages  had  the  vacant 
space  between  the  two  places  surveyed,  thus  uniting 
the  two,  and  naming  it  Sterling.  They  then,  on  the 
3d  day  of  May,  r839,  offered  to  donate  to  the  county 
80  acres  of  land,  provided  they  secured  the  location 
of  the  county  seat.  In  addition  to  the  donation  of 
land,  the  proprietors  agreed  to  pay  to  the  County 
Commissioners  the  sum  of  $2,000,  to  be  used  for 
county  purposes,  providing  the  public  builduigs 
should  be  erected  on  block  58,  west  of  Broadway, 
a  central  position  in  the  totvn. 

With  the  declared  result  of  the  election,  in  which 
it  had  been  averred  that  Lyndon  had  received  a 
majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  on  the  23d  of  Septem- 
ber, 1839,  the  friends  of  Sterling  would  not  agree, 
claiming  the  result  was  obtained  by  throwing  out 
the  votes  of  a  precinct  which  had  given  a  ma- 
jority for  Sterling.  At  that  election  the  regularly- 
appointed  Judges  refused  to  serve,  and  the  legal 
voters  of  the  precinct  selected  others  in  their  places, 
who  received,  counted,  and  certified  the  returns. 
These  returns  were  thrown  out  as  irregular,  thus 
giving  Lyndon  the  majority.  In  February,  r84o, 
at  an  election  for  county  commissioners,  the  candi- 
date favorable  to  Sterling  was  elected.  A  re- 
canvass  of  the  vote  of  Sept.  23,  1839,  was  ordered, 
the  returns  of  the  rejected  precinct  received  and 
counted,  showfng  a  majority  of  seven  votes  in  favor 
of  Sterling. 

The  County  Commissioners,  on  the  result  being 
declared,  issued  an  order  removing  the  county  seat 
to  Sterling.  Accordingly  the  sessions  of  the  County 
Commissioners'  Courts  were  held  in  Sterling  until 
September,  1842.  At  the  annual  election  held  this 
year  for  county  Commissioners,  candidates  favorable 
to  Lyndon  were  elected.  At  the  September  session 
of  the  Court  an  order  was  entered  removing  the 
county  seat  back  to  Lyndon.  So  back  it  went. 

In  order  to  forever  settle  the  matter,  an  act  was 
passed  in  the  General  Assembly  of  1843  appointing 
G.  W.  Harrison  and  John  McDonald,  of  Jo  Daviess 
County,  Joshua  Harper,  of  Henry  County,  Leonard 
Andrus,  of  Ogle  County,  and  R.  H.  Spicer,  of 
Mercer  County,  Commissioners  to  permanently  lo- 
cate the  seat  of  justice  of  Whiteside  County.  The 

•^j%, -^.agi^          /-s 


act  provided  that  the  Commissioners,  or  a  majority 
of  them,  should  meet  at  the  town  of  Albany,  on 
the  first  Monday  in  May,  r843,  or  within  30  days 
thereafter,  and  locate  the  county  seat  at  the  plact 
which  would  most  conduce  to  the  public  good  of 
the  citizens  of  the  county.  After  examining  such 
parts  of  the  county  as  they  might  think  proper, 
they  were  to  make  out  and  return  to  the  Clerk 
of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  a  certificate 
of  such  location.  By  the  act  the  Commissioners 
could  not  locate  the  seat  of  justice  at  any  point 
where  a  donation  of  at  least  30  acres  of  land  was 
not  secured.  It  was  also  provided  that  as  soon 
as  convenient  after  the  location  of  the  county  seat 
the  County  Commissioners  should  cause  to  be 
erected  a  court-house  and  other  necessary  buildings, 
for  public  use. 

Joshua  Harper,  Leonard  Andrus  and  R.  H.  Spi- 
cer, agreeable  to  the  provisions  of  the  act,  met 
at  Albany,  at  the  specified  time,  and  proceeded 
to  examine  the  different  locations.  They  finally 
agreed  upon  Lyndon,  and  so  reported  to  the  County 
Commissioners  on  the  zyth  of  May,  1843. 

It  was  now  supposed  that  the  contest  was  ended 
and  that  Lyndon  would  remain  in  peaceable  posses- 
sion of  the  prize.  But  not  so.  When  the  County 
Commissioners,  in  1841,  ordered  the  removal  of  the 
county  seat  to  Sterling,  steps  were  at  once  taken  to 
erect  a 'court-house.  A  house  40  feet  square,  two 
stories  in  height,  was  erected  and  finally  completed 
in  1844.  This  property  the  Commissioners  always 
controlled,  notwithstanding  the  seat  of  justice  was 
taken  from  Sterling,  and  the  proprietors  could  not 
therefore  reap  any  of  the  benefits  they  sought  to  de- 
rive in  making  the  donations  to  the  county.  The 
proprietors  of  Lyndon,  on  the  place  beirig  selected 
by  the  Commissioners  appointed  to  locate  the  county 
seat,  made  a  donation  of  40  acres  for  county  pur- 
poses ;  but  no  county  buildings  were  erected.  The 
friends  of  Sterling  therefore  claimed  that,  inasmuch 
as  no  public  buildings  had  been  erected  in  Lyndon, 
and  that  the  same  had  been  erected  in  Sterling,  that 
place  should  be  the  county  seat.  The  County  Com- 
missioners were  prevailed  upon  to  enter  an  order 
that  the  grand  and  petit  juries,  selected  at  their 
March  (1846)  term  to  attend  at  the  May  term  of  the 
Circuit  Court,  be  summoned  to  attend  at  Sterling 
instead  of  at  Lyndon, 


I 

' 


(•' 
,/Ss 


v 

I 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Agreeable  to  the  order  of  the  County  Commission- 
ers, the  terms  of  the  Circuit  Court  were  afterwards 
held  at  Sterling.  Lyndon  was  not  pleased  at  this 
action  of  the  County  Commissioners,  and  applied  for 
a  writ  of  mandamus  compelling  the  Commissioners 
to  make  an  order  removing  the  Circuit  Court  back 
to  Lyndon,  on  the  ground  that  the  Commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  for  the  purpose  of  perma- 
nently locating  the  county  seat,  had  selected  that 
point  and  that  suitable  buildings  were  provided  for 
the  county  officers  and  Court  purposes.  The  writ 
was  refused,  the  Court  holding  that  from  the  evi- 
dence the  building  used  for  county  purposes  was  not 
upon  the  grounds  donated  to  the  county,  as  required 
by  the  statutes. 

The  General  Assembly  of  the  State  was  again  ap- 
pealed to,  and  passed  an  act  declaring  Sterling  to  be 
the  county  seat  until  such  time  as  the  county  should 
compensate  the  donors  of  money  and  land  for  their 
donations  used  for  county  purposes.  As  several 
thousand  dollars  had  been  donated  and  expended, 
the  friends  of  Lyndon  could  not  raise  the  amount 
or  prevail  upon  the  County  Commissioners  to  make 
a  levy  for  that  purpose.  It  was  cheaper  to  again 
appeal  to  the  General  Assembly.  An  act  was  there- 
fore secured  by  which  the  question  should  be  sub- 
mitted to  a  vote  of  the  people  as  to  which  of  the  two 
places,  Sterling  or  Lyndon,  should  be  the  permanent 
seat  of  justice  of  the  county.  If  Lyndon  should  se- 
cure a  majority  of  the  votes  cast,  it  should  be  de- 
clared the  county  seat,  and  the  act  by  which  Sterling 
was  to  be  made  the  county  seat  until  compensation 
should  be  made  to  donors  of  land,  should  be  re- 
pealed. The  act  further  provided  that  donations  of 
money  and  lands  might  be  offered  for  the  purpose  of 
the  erection  of  county  buildings  and  that  the  offers 
should  be  entered  upon  record.  James  M.  Pratt 
and  Augustine  Smith  offered  50  acres  of  land  on  be- 
half of  Lyndon,  and  $1,432  was  offered  by  the  citi- 
zens. The  election  was  held  April  3,  1849,  resulting 
in  favor  of  Sterling  by  a  majority  of  68,  in  a  total 
vote  of  970. 

For  eight  years  Sterling  was  permitted  the  county 
seat,  when  the  General  Assembly  was  once  more  ap- 
pealed to,  and  an  act  was  passed  entitled  "  An  act 
for  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  justice  of  Whiteside 
County,"  which  was  approved  Feb.  7,  1857.  The 
act  provided  that  at  the  November  election  the  legal 


voters  of  the  county  should  vote  upon  the  question 
of  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Sterling  to 
Morrison,  and  that  in  case  the  latter  should  receive 
a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast,  it  should  be  declared 
the  county  seat,  provided  a  donation  of  land  should 
be  made  not  less  than  300  feet  square,  and  the  sum 
of  $3,000  donated  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  county 
buildings.  At  the  election  held  for  the  purpose,  Mor- 
rison received  a  majority  of  59,  out  of  3, 203  votes 
cast. 

The  ground  selected  by  a  committee  appointed  by 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  was  deeded  to  the  county, 
and  $3,000  turned  over  to  the  County  Treasurer; 
and  May  3,  1858,  the  county  offices  were  removed  to 
Morrison,  where  they  yet  remain. 


Court-House. 

FTER  the  county  seat  had  been  removed 
from  Sterling  to  Morrison,  which  was  in 
1858,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  took  under 
consideration  the  building  of  a  suitable  court- 
house and  other  county  buildings.  For  the 
Court-House,  by  order  of  the  Board,  plans  were 
made  and  bids  were  called  for.  There  were  many 
contestants,  but  the  contract  was  finally  let  to  John 
McKay,  of  Springfield,  111.,  for  $14,000.  Architect 
B.  S.  Foreman  drew  the  plans.  The  building  was 
completed  in  the  spring  of  1866,  and  was  accepted 
by  the  Board.  For  extra  work  the  contractor  was 
paid  $668.80.  In  1881  an  addition  was  made  to  the 
rear  of  the  building  at  a  cost  of  $3,341.66,  making 
a  total  cost  of  $18,010.46.  The  foundation,  or 
basement,  is  of  block  stone  and  the  superstructure 
is  built  of  brick.  It  is  well  constructed,  and 
neatly  finished  on  the  inside  and  furnished.  The 
court  room  is  circular  in  form,  large,  lightsome  and 
airy,  with  a  gallery  facing  the  bench,  which  is  entered 
from  the  story  above.  The  building  is  nearly 
too  feet  in  length  by  55  feet  in  width.  From  the 
floor  to  the  ceiling,  in  the  court  room,  it  is  23  feet. 

On  the  left,  as  you  enter  the  building,  is  the 
Sheriff's  office.  Directly  above,  on  the  second  floor, 
is  the  County  School  Superintendent's  office.  In  the 
rear  of  the  court  room,  first  floor,  is  a  hall  which 
opens  into  the  court  library  and  Judge's  room.  A 


CY^iS... 


A4? 


8i8 


WHITESrDE  COUNTY. 


back  stairway  leads  up  to  a  vestibule  on  the  second 
floor,  which  opens  into  the  Grand  Jury  room.  Ad- 
joining this  room  is  the  State's  Attorney's  room. 
Directly  in  the  rear  of  the  court  chamber  is  the  Petit 
Jury's  room.  Surmounting  the  building  is  a  dome 
from  which  a  grand  view  of  the  surrounding  country 
can  be  had.  The  building  is  located  on  an  elevated 
site  in  the  north  part  of  the  city,  and  is  in  the  center 
of  the  block. 


Record  Building. 

I;  RIOR  to  the  construction  of  the  Court- 
House,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  appro- 
priated $1,200  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable 
building  for  county  offices — for  County  Clerk, 
Recorder,  Treasurer,  Circuit  Clerk,  Supervisors 
and  Probate  Judge.  This  building  was  com- 
pleted in  1862,  and  is  situated  west  of  the  Court- 
House  in  the  county  block.  It  is  a  solid  two-story 
building,  constructed  of  brick,  with  stone  trimmings, 
and  is  fire-proof. 

The  finishing  and  furnishing  inside  is  neat  and 
substantial.  This  building  was  constructed  .under 
the  supervision  of  R.  G.  Clendenin,  E.  B.  Warner 
and  A.  Farrington.  The  Recorder's  and  the  Clerk's 
rooms  are  incased  with  solid  walls  and  have  iron 
doors  with  combination  locks.  The  Supervisors' 
room  is  in  this  building.  It  is  a  pretty  little  hall, 
providing  a  bench  for  the  President  and  his  Clerk, 
and  a  desk  for  each  Supervisor. 


County  Jail. 

URING  the  January  term  of  1858,  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  passed  an  order  for 
"*  the  construction  of  a  jail.  Bids  were  re- 
ceived by  W.  S.  Barnes,  H.  C.  Fellows  and 
A.  C.  Jackson,  Supervisors,  who  were  appointed 
a  committee  on  construction  and  contract.  The 
contract  was  let  to  Charles  Nelson,  who  was  to  com- 
plete the  work  for  $10,100,  in  accordance  with  the 
plans  and  specifications  adopted.  The  building  was 

-^&z — 9-*<>ii!l: 


completed  in  the  early  part  of  1859.  The  jail  was 
inadequate  to  meet  the  increasing  demands  of  later 
years,  and  in  1876  the  Board  of  Supervisors  made  an 
appropriation  of  $4,900  for  enlarging  and  remodeling 
it.  This  work  was  completed  the  same  year.  Total 
cost  of  jail,  including  Sheriffs  residence,  $15,000. 
These  improvements  were  much  needed,  not  only  for 
the  safety  of  the  prisoners,  but  for  their  health. 

The  jail,  with  the  Sheriffs  residence,  which  is  in 
front,  is  a  two-story  building,  constructed  of  Joliet 
stone.  There  are  eight  cells,  which  are  built  after 
the  P.  J.  Pauly  patent,  four  below  and  four  above. 
A  corridor  runs  on  three  sides,  leaving  the  north  end 
of  the  cells  against  the  outer  wall.  These  cells  are 
constructed  with  a  combination  of  iron  and  steel,  and 
would  seem  proof  against  the  most  experienced  and 
skillful  criminal.  They  are  well  ventilated  and 
reasonably  lighted.  An  iron  stairway  leads  to  the 
cells  above.  Water  is  conducted  through  the  entire 
building  from  the  water  works.  The  jail  is  situated 
in  the  Court-House  Square  block,  just  east  of  the 
Court-House. 


Poor  Farm. 

HE  Board  of  Supervisors  assembled  together 
at  the  June  term  of  1853  to  devise  some 
means  to  provide  for  the  helpless  poor  of 
the  county.  After  due  consideration  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  for  this  purpose,  con- 
sisting of  W.  C.  Snyder,  William  Y.  Wetzell 
and  James  M.  Pratt.  The  committee  immediately 
set  to  work  and  matured  their  plans.  A  farm  of  240 
acres,  of  which  one-half  was  inclosed  and  under  cul- 
tivation, was  selected,  in  Union  Grove  Township.  It 
contained  a  good  rock  house  and  outbuildings.  This 
farm  could  be  bought  for  $25  per  acre,  one-half  down 
and  the  balance  in  one  and  two  years'  payments. 
The  report  of  the  committee  was  accepted  by  the 
Board,  and  the  farm  purchased,  which  was  called  the 
County  Poor  Farm.  This  answered  the  purpose  for 
many  years.  A  more  suitable  location,  one  con- 
venient to  the  railroad  and  the  county  seat,  became 
desirable. 

The  Supervisors  took  the  matter  under  consider- 
ation, which  resulted  in  the  appointment  of  James 


^    VV-.HH O HM.-/^    ^ 
WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


819 


M.  Pratt,  L.  S.  Pennington  and  H.  R.  Sampson  as 
a  committee  to  make  a  new  selection  of  grounds  and 
erect  necessary  buildings.  The  committee  selected 
1 08  acres  of  land  on  section  23,  township  21  north, 
range  5  east,  on  the  line  of  the  Northwestern  Rail- 
road, which  could  be  purchased  for  $45  per  acre. 
This  selection  was  approved  by  the  Board,  and  the 
committee  was  instructed  to  purchase  the  farm,  and 
erect  the  necessary  buildings,  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed 
$r5,ooo  for  the  whole.  Switzer  &  Kennedy  received 
the  contract  for  putting  up  the  house,  barn  and  out- 
buildings. The  whole  was  completed  in  1870,  and 
at  a  cost  of  $13,448.  The  building  is  50  by  72  feet, 
three  stories  high,  with  basement,  and  constructed  of 
brick.  It  is  divided  in  two  parts  for  the  conven- 
ience of  the  male  and  female  occupants. 

The  basement  is  divided  up  into  apartments  for 
kitchen,  dining-room,  store-rooms,  bath-rooms  and 
cellar.  On  the  first  floor  are  bed-rooms,  a  parlor,  a 
sitting-room  and  a  vestibule.  The  second  is  ar- 
ranged for  sleeping- rooms,  with  ample  closets.  The 
general  construction  of  the  building  is  substantial 
and  the  architecture  attractive.  Every  convenience 
is  considered  for  making  thercounty  wards  comfort- 
able and  at  home.  The  soil  is  rich  and  well  adapted 
for  agriculture.  The  larger  and  smaller  fruits  are 
cultivated  at  the  farm  with  success.  This  eleemosy- 
nary institution  is  very  creditable  to  the  authorities 
and  citizens  of  Whiteside  County,  and  gives  assur- 
ance that  while  they  are  supplied  with  the  wants  and 
luxuries  of  life,  they  are  not  forgetful  of  the  poor.  W. 


F.  Bariuim  is  the  present  Superintendent  of  the 
farm.  He  is  paid  $850  for  his  services.  Expenses 
for  the  year  ending  Sept.  i,  1884,  was  $6,343,67. 


The  Building  for  the  Insane. 

S  the  population  of  the  county  increased,  so 
did  the  number  of  insane  people,  and  it 
was  deemed  necessary  to  make  some  suit- 
able provisions  for  them.  The  subject  was 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors, and  they  made  an  appropriation  for  a 
building  which  was  to  be  erected  on  the  Poor  Farm. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  draw  up  plans  and 
specifications  for  the  building,  and  an  estimate  of  the 
expense. 

The  plans  and  specifications,  with  an  estimate  of 
the  cost,  was  presented  to  the  Board  at  a  special 
meeting  held  in  December,  1874,  and  were  adopted. 
The  contract  was  let  to  Messrs.  A.  &  J.  A.  McKay. 
In  November,  1875,  the  building  was  completed, 
and  accepted  by  the  committee. 

The  total  cost  of  the  building  was  $7,429.47.  This 
building  stands  near  the  Farm  house.  It  is  a  large 
iwo-story  and  basement  structure,  built  of  stone  and 
brick.  It  contains  1 6  cells,  with  large  corridors  and 
halls  for  the  accommodation  and  recreation  of  the 
inmates. 


< 

fh 


« » 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


INCE  the  days  of  Adam  crime 
has  existed  in  the  world,  and 
for  the  punishment  thereof 
courts  have  been  instituted, 
and  men  have  made  the  study 
of  law  their  life  work.  The 
legal  profession  is  an  honored 
one,  and  those  connected  with  it 
have  always  been  regarded  as  leaders 
of  the  people.  They  were  expected 
to  make  as  well  as  to  interpret  and 
execute  law.  When  Whiteside 
County  was  organized  it  was  made 
part  of  the  Sixth  Judicial  Circuit, 
which  then  included  the  counties  of 
Whiteside,  Rock  Island,  Carroll, 
Stephenson,  Winnebago,  Boone  and  Jo  Daviess.  By 
the  act  organizing  the  circuit  the  terms  for  White- 
side  County  were  to  begin  on  the  second  Monday 
in  April  and  September.  By  the  act  of  1840  the 
time  was  changed  to  the  first  Thursday  after  the 
third  Monday  in  April.  The  first  term  of  the  Cir- 
cuit Court  in  this  county  was  ordered  held  on  the 
second  Monday  of  September,  1839,  but  was  not 
held,  however,  unlil  the  Thursday  after  the  third 
Monday  in  April,  1840.  There  were  present  at  this 
term  Hon.  Dan  Slone,  Judge  of  the  Sixth  Judicial 
Circuit ;  Erastus  G.  Nichols,  Clerk  ;  Shelton  L.  Hall, 
Circuit  Attorney;  James  C.  Woodburn,  Sheriff. 
Among  the  attorneys  present  at  this  first  term  were 
Harvey  &  Woodruff,  Edward  Southwick,  Hugh 
Wallace,  James  McCoy,  Knox  &  Drury,  Isaiah  H. 


Marshall,  L.  B.  Knowlton,  Isaac  Hopkins,  Mr. 
Frazer,  Mr.  Evans,  Mr.  Davidson  and  Mr.  Kellogg. 
But  two  of  this  number,  Hugh  Wallace  and  James 
McCoy,  were  residents  of  this  county.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  at  this  time  lawyers  were  in  the 
habit  of  traveling  the  circuit  and  taking  such  cases 
as  they  could  pick  up  at  the  term  of  court  then  be- 
ing held. 

Erastus  G.  Nichols  resigned  the  position  of  Clerk 
of  the  Court,  and  Robert  L.  Wilson  was  appointed. 

The  first  case  entered  upon  the  docket  was  that  of 
Win.  R.  Cox  vs.  Hutchins  Crocker,  assumpsit. 
When  the  case  was  called  the  plaintiff's  attorney 
moved  that  the  suit  be  dismissed  at  the  plaintiff's 
cost. 

On  motion,  Joseph  Knox,  Isaiah  H.  Marshall  and 
Isaac  Hopkins  were  admitted  as  attorneys  and  coun- 
selors at  law  of  the  Court. 

The  grand  jurors  serving  at  this  term  of  court 
were  Jason  Hopkins,  Henry  Burlingame,  Jacob  Sells, 
James  Talbott,  Jeremiah  Johnson,  James  Row, 
Hiram  Harmon,  Jabez  Warner,  W.  F.  Van  Norman, 
A.  W.  Newhall,  Brainard  Orton,  John  C.  Pratt, 
Jonathan  Haines,  D.  B.  Young,  Win.  Wick,  John 
Wick,  Erastus  Allen,  P.  B.  Vannest,  David  Mitchell, 
Hosea  Jacobs,  Daniel  Reed,  Edmund  Cowdrey, 
Win.  Heaton,  Ivory  Colcord,  A.  J.  Matson,  Horatio 
Wells,  Chas.  R.  Rood  and  Hezekiah  Brink. 

Writs  were  issued  against  John  Baker,  A.  M. 
Wing,  W.  S.  Barnes,  Alfred  Slocum,  Isaac  Merrill, 
John  Chapman,  Harry  Smith,  A.  C.  Jackson  and 
Henry  Boyer  for  contempt  of  court  for  failing  to  at- 


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* . 


tend  as  grand  jurors.  Writs  were  also  issued  against 
E.  Wick,  Van  J.  Adams,  Chester  Lusk,  Ivy  Buck, 
J.  A.  Reynolds,  D.  P.  Brewer,  Lyman  Blake,  H.  F. 
Rice,  J.  T.  Atkinson,  Joseph  Town  and  Chas. 
Clark  for  contempt  in  failing  to  attend  as  petit 
jurors. 

The  second  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  was  held  in 
May,  1841,  Hon.  Thomas  C.  Browne,  Judge;  R.  L. 
Wilson,  Clerk;  John  W.  McLemore,  Sheriff;  Shel- 
ton  L.  Hall,  Circuit  Attorney.  At  this  term  Mary 
Beeman  applied  for  a  divorce  from  her  husband, 
John  Beeman.  The  first  criminal  case  was  that  of 
The  People  vs.  Daniel  Dolan,  on  a  charge  of  rape. 
This  case  came  from  Lee  County  on  a  change  of 
venue.  The  jury  found  Dolan  guilty,  and  fixed  his 
punishment  at  three  years  in  the  penitentiary. 

By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  approved 
Feb.  23,  1841,  some  changes  were  made  in  the 
Sixth  circuit,  it  then  embracing  the  counties  of 
Whiteside,  Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson,  Winnebago, 
Boone,  Lee,  Carroll,  Rock  Island,  Mercer  and 
Henry.  The  second  Monday  in  May  and  the  third 
Monday  in  September  were  fixed  as  the  time  for 
holding  terms  of  court  in  this  county.  No  further 
change  was  made  until  1847.  During  this  time 
Judge  Brown  remained  ori  the  bench,  while  three 
different  prosecuting  attorneys  served  the  Circuit — 
Joseph  R.  Wells,  James  L.  Loop  and  Thos.  L. 
Turner.  Robert  L.  Wilson  continued  as  Clerk, 
with  John  W.  McLemore  and  James  A.  Sweet, 
Sheriffs  at  different  times. 

By  an  act  approved  Feb.  27,  1847,  the  Sixth  Cir- 
cuit was  reduced  in  size,  and  made  to  constitute  the 
counties  of  Whiteside,  Lee,  Henry,  Mercer,  Rock 
Island,  Carroll  and  Joe  Daviess.  The  third  Mon- 
day in  April  and  fourth  Monday  in  August  were 
fixed  as  times  for  holding  court.  At  the  terms  of 
court  held  in  this  county,  in  1847  and  1848,  there 
were  present  Hon.  Thos.  C.  Brown,  Judge ;  H.  B. 
Stillman,  Prosecuting  Attorney  ;  R.  L.  Wilson,  Clerk  ; 
John  W.  McLemore,  Sheriff. 

In  1849,  under  the  constitution  of  1848,  several 
new  circuits  were  created,  and  the  boundaries  of  the 
old  much  changed.  The  Sixth  Circuit  was  made  to 
embrace  the  counties  of  Whiteside,  Jo  Daviess, 
Stephenson,  Ogle,  Lee  and  Carroll,  with  terms  in 
Whiteside  to  be  held  on  the  third  Monday  in  April 
and  September,  At  the  April  term,  1849,  Hon. 


Ben.  R.  Sheldon  was  Judge ;  H.  B.  Stillman,  Pros- 
ecuting Attorney ;  R.  L.  Wilson,  Clerk ;  Lewis  D. 
Crandall,  Sheriff.  No  business  of  public  interest 
was  transacted. 

In  1851  the  boundaries  of  the  circuit  were  again 
changed,  and  the  circuit  made  to  embrace  White- 
side,  Henry,  Rock  Island,  Ogle,  Lee  and  Carroll, 
and  so  remained  until  r857.  Ira  O.  Wilkinson  was 
elected  Judge  and  began  his  term  in  185 r,  serving 
for  the  first  time  in  this  county  in  October  of  that 
year.  H.  B.  Stillman  served  as  Prosecuting  At- 
torney till  1853,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Wm.  T. 
Miller. 

At  the  April  term,  1853,  William  A.  Chamberlain 
was  indicted  and  tried  for  offering  to  sell  playing 
cards.  The  charge  was  not  sustained.  At  the  same 
term  Lyman  Wilcox  and  Lewis  A.  Davis  were  in- 
dicted for  selling  playing  cards.  Trial  was  had  in 
September  and  the  two  were  found  guilty.  This  was 
the  first  and  last  trial  for  this  offence  on  record  in 
this  county.  What  brought  about  the  streak  of  virtue 
in  the  grand  jury  the  old  settler  telleth  not. 

In  1855  James  Chrismas  and  Ruth  Towning  were 
under  arrest  for  murder,  but  after  investigation  by 
the  grand  jury  they  were  discharged. 

In  September,  1855,  Hon.  J.  Wilson  Drury  was 
upon  the  Bench  as  Judge.  He  served  but  two  years, 
when  the  circuit  was  changed. 

At  the  October  term,  in  r8s7,  an  investigation  was 
had  by  the  grand  jury  on  a  charge  of  murder  against 
Charles  Montgomery.  Sufficient  cause  for  indict- 
ment could  not  be  found  and  the  accused  was  dis- 
charged. 

By  an  act  approved  Feb.  5,  1857,  several  more 
circuits  were  created.  By  this  act  Whiteside  was 
made  a  part  of  the  22d  Circuit,  embracing  the  coun- 
ties of  Whiteside,  Lee,  Ogle  and  Carroll.  The  terms 
for  Whiteside  were  to  be  held  on  the  fourth  Mondays 
in  March  and  October.  John  V.  Eustace  was  elec- 
ted Judge  of  the  Circuit  and  served  until  1862. 
Robert  C.  Burchell  was  elected  State's  Attorney,  as 
then  called,  and  served  until  i86r. 

At  the  March,  1858,  term,  Thomas  Coggins  was 
indicted  for  murder.  When  the  case  was  called  a 
continuance  was  secured.  At  the  May,  1859,  term, 
he  was  arraigned  and  by  the  Court  adjudged  insane 
and  ordered  as  such  to  a  hospital  for  the  insane. 

At  the  January,   1861,  term,  Judge  Eustace  pre- 


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822 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


sided.  David  McCartney  was  State's  Attorney ; 
Addison  Farrington,  Clerk;  R.  G.  Clendennin, 
Sheriff. 

In  July,  1861,  Hon.  William  W.  Heaton  received 
his  commission  as  Judge  of  the  22d  Circuit,  and 
served  until  his  death,  in  1877. 

Cornelius  Ryon  and  Susan  Ryon,  alias  Susan 
Grace,  were  indicted  for  murder  at  the  May  term  of 
the  Court,  in  1865.  In  October,  1865,  Susan  Ryon 
was  tried  and  acquitted.  The  case  against  Cornelius 
Ryon  was  continued  from  term  to  term  until  January, 
1867,  when,  on  motion  of  the  State's  Attorney,  it  was 
stricken  from  the  docket. 

In  January,  1866,  John  Flood,  Sr.,  John  Flood,  Jr., 
Dennis  Ryan,  Timothy  McGrath,  Michael  McGrath 
and  William  McGrath  were  indicted  for  murder. 
They  were  tried  and  the  jury  rendered  a  verdict  of 
acquittal. 

Elishaand  William  Conant,  in  January,  1867,  were 
indicted  for  murder,  tried,  and  the  jury  failed  to 
agree.  They  were  remanded  to  the  Lee  County  jail 
for  safe  keeping.  In  October,  1867,  they  were 
brought  back  and  tried  on  the  charge  of  man- 
slaughter. Both  were  found  guilty  and  William  was 
sentenced  to  eight  years  and  Elisha  to  six  years  in 
the  penitentiary. 

Adeline  Goddard,  at  the  May,  1867,  term,  was  in- 
dicted and  tried  for  manslaughter.  She  was  found 
guilty  and  the  jury  fixed  the  term  of  imprisonment  at 
four  and  a  half  years. 

In  October,  1868,  an  indictment  was  found  by  the 
grand  jury  against  Elizabeth  Osborne  for  the  crime 
of  murder.  When  the  case  was  called  for  trial  a 
continuance  was  had  to  the  January,  1869,  term, 
when  she  was  tried  and  acquitted. 

Under  the  Constitution  of  1870,  the  General  As- 
sembly, by  an  act  approved  March  28,  1873,  divided 
the  State  into  26  Judicial  Circuits,  in  each  of  which 
one  Judge  was  elected  on  the  2d  of  June,  1873,  for 
the  term  of  six  years.  Whiteside,  together  with  the 
counties  of  Carroll,  Ogle  and  Lee,  was  made  to  con- 
stitute the  Third  Circuit,  and  William  W.  Heaton 
was  elected  Judge. 

In  August,  1874,  Geo.  Bryant  and  Mason  Blaisdell 
were  indicted  for  manslaughter.  At  the  December 
term  following  the  case  was  tried.  Bryant  was  ac- 
quitted, but  Blaisdell  was  found  guilty  and  sentenced 
to  one  year  in  the  penitentiary. 


• 


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By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  approved  June 
2,  1877,  the  State  was  divided  into  13  circuits,  in 
each  of  which  three  Judges  were  to  be  elected. 
Whiteside,  together  with  the  counties  of  Winnebago, 
Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson,  Carroll,  Ogle  and  Lee,  con- 
stituted the  1 3th  Circuit.  The  Judges  serving  the 
circuit  from  that  time  to  the  present  are  William  W. 
Heaton,  who  died  Dec.  26,  1877;  William  Brown, 
Joseph  M.  Bailey  and  John  V.  Eustace. 

At  the  December,  1880,  term,  Michael  Joyce  was 
indicted  for  the  murder  of  John  McLaughlin,  by 
shooting  him  with  a  revolver.  McLaughlin  lingered 
five  days  and  died.  Joyce  was  tried,  but  the  jury 
rendered  a  verdict  of  not  guilty  as  charged,  and  that 
he  was  insane  at  the  time  the  deed  was  committed. 

At  the  March,  1884,  term,  Christian  Reibling  was 
indicted  for  the  murder  of  Albert  Lucia,  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Lyndon,  on  the  25th  of  December,  1883. 
The  trial  was  had  before  Judge  Eustace,  and  lasted 
two  days.  The  County  Attorney,  Walter  Stager, 
prosecuted  the  case,  and  Reibling  was  defended  by 
J.  D.  Andrews  and  W.  H.  Allen.  The  jury  found 
the  defendant  guilty  and  fixed  the  sentence  at  death. 
A  motion  for  a  new  trial  was  over-ruled,  and  on  the 
izth  of  April,  1884,  Judge  Eustace  pronounced  the 
sentence  of  death,  the  execution  to  take  place  Friday, 
May  1 6,  1884.  The  crime  for  which  Reibling  was 
convicted  occurred,  as  stated,  in  the  village  of  Lyn- 
don, Dec.  25,  1883.  Reibling  was  in  the  store  of  C. 
L.  Parkhurst,  pleading  with  the  proprietor  for  some 
liquor.  While  there,  Albert  Lucia  entered,  and  was 
immediately  ordered  by  Reibling  to  leave,  the  latter 
drawing  a  revolver  to  enforce  his  demand.  Lucia 
went  over  to  Cody's  livery  stable,  followed  shortly 
afterwards  by  Reibling,  who  ordered  him  to  leave 
that  place.  Lucia  refused  to  go.  After  talking  a 
moment  or  two  to  others,  Reibling  again  ordered 
Lucia  to  leave  the  stable,  at  the  same  time  pointing 
his  revolver  at  him ;  and  as  the  young  man  attempted 
to  leave,  he  fired,  the  bullet  taking  effect  in  Lucia's 
leg.  After  surviving  u  days  the  young  man  died 
from  the  effects  of  the  wound. 

At  2  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  May  16,  1884, 
Christian  Reibling  was  led  from  the  jail  to  the  scaf- 
fold, and  after  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Sweet  and  a  few 
words  of  farewell  by  the  condemned,  in  which  he 
stated  that  strong  drink  was  the  cause  of  his  ruin, 
the  noose  was  placed  around  his  neck,  the  trap-door 

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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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sprung,  and  the  unfortunate  man  was  rushed  into 
the  presence  of  his  Maker. 

John  Miller  was  indicted  in  December,  1884,  for 
the  murder  of  August  Langley,  by  striking  him  on 
the  head  with  an  ax.  The  prisoner  pleaded  guilty 
when  arraigned  for  trial,  refusing  to  accept  counsel. 
The  court  sentenced  him  to  imprisonment  in  the 
penitentiary  for  life. 

The  Judges  of  the  Circuit  Court  for  Whiteside 
County  have  been  as  follows :  Dan  Stone,  Thomas 
C.  Brown,  Benj.  R.  Sheldon,  Ira  O.  Wilkinson,  J. 
Wilson  Drury,  John  V.  Eustace,  Wm.  W.  Heaton, 
Wm.  Browne,  Joseph  M.  Bailey. 

The  State's  Attorneys  for  the  Circuit  have  been 
Shelton  L.  Hall,  Joseph  B.  Wells,  James  L.  Loop, 
Thomas  L.  Turner,  Henry  B.  Stillman,  Wm.  T. 
Miller,  Robert  C.  Burchell,  and  David  McCartney. 
The  County  Attorneys  have  been  David  McCartney 
and  Walter  Stager. 

Probate  Court. 

HE  General  Assembly,  in  1837,  passed  an 
act  creating  the  office  of  Probate  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  the  justice  being  vested  with  the 
same  powers  and  jurisdiction  in  civil  cases  as 
other  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  were  subject 
I  to  the  same  rules  of  law.  All  probate  matters 
were  committed  to  their  trust.  The  first  Probate 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this  county  was  Daniel  B. 
Young,  who  was  commissioned  June  6,  r839,  and 
held  the  office  for  about  three  years.  The  first  rec- 
ord made  by  this  court  was  on  the  2gth  of  October, 
1839,  when  the  will  of  Joseph  H.  Carr  was  admitted 
to  probate.  Ivory  Col  cord  and  William  Wick  were 
appointed  administrators  under  the  will  and  gave 
bond  in  the  sum  of  $800. 

Robert  L.  Wilson  succeeded  Mr.  Young  as  Pro- 
bate Justice  and  filled  the  office  until  it  was  abol- 
ished by  law. 

County   Court. 

:Y  an  act  of  the   General  Assembly,    ap- 
proved Feb.  12,  1849,  a  court  of  record 
was  formed  to  be  styled  the  County  Court, 
and  the  office  of  County  Judge  was  created. 
Under  the  act  the  County  Court  was  vested 
with  all   the  powers  and  jurisdiction  of  the 
'  Probate   Court.     The  act  further  provided  that  the 
\>f. 


823 


County  Judge,  with  two  Justices  of  the  Peace,  to  be 
known  as  Associate,  Justices  should  sit  as  a  County 
Court  and  have  all  the  powers  vested  in  the  County 
Commissioners'  Court,  the  latter  being  abolished  by 
this  act.  N.  G.  Reynolds  was  elected  the  first 
County  Judge  and  served  eight  years.  In  1852,  and 
during  the  term  of  office  of  Judge  Reynolds,  the 
county  adopted  the  township  organization  law,  and 
the  powers  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  were 
taken  from  the  County  Court  and  vested  in  that  of  a 
County  Board  of  Supervisors,  leaving  the  County 
Judge  vested  with  only  such  powers  as  in  that  of  a 
Judge  of  Probate. 

The  General  Assembly  in  1872  passed  an  act  by 
which  County  Courts,  in  addition  to  ..their  probate 
powers,  were  to  have  concurrent  jurisdiction  with 
Circuit  Courts  in  all  civil  cases  where  the  value  of 
property  in  controversy,  or  the  amount  claimed 
should  not  exceed  $500,  and  in  criminal  cases  where 
the  punishment  is  not  imprisonment  in  the  peniten- 
tiary or  death.  No  appeals,  however,  are  allowed 
from  Justices  of  the  Peace  to  the  County  Court. 

The  Bar  of  the  County. 

S  stated  on  a  previous  page,  attorneys 
from  abroad  in  search  of  business,  visited 
the  county  at  each  term  of  the  Circuit 
Court.  They  followed  the  Circuit  Judge  from 
one  county  to  another  in  the  circuit  and  thus 
secured  a  practice  they  would  not  otherwise 
have  obtained.  The  most  eminent  lawyers  in  North- 
ern Illinois  thus  visited  Whiteside  County.  Among 
those  now  remembered  were  Joseph  Knox,  Judge 
Purple,  David  Campbell,  Hoge,  Sweet,  Kellogg 
and  Knowlton. 

Fun  was  the  order  of  the  day,  and  the  night, 
too,  among  these  traveling  attorneys.  They  played 
their  jokes  upon  the  people  with  whom  they  stopped 
and  upon  one  another.  It  is  related  that  on  one  occa- 
sion Campbell  and  another  attorney  had  been  occu- 
pying the  same  bed  for  a  time,  when  one  day  Camp- 
bell said  to  his  friend:  "See  here!  You  must  get 
the  landlord  to  furnish  you  another  bed."  "  I  would 
like  to  know  what  objection  you  have  to  sleeping 
with  me,  Gen.  Campbell?"  "Sleeping  with  you!" 
criid  the  General ;  "  sleeping  with  you!  Nobody  can 
sleep  with  you  while  you  snore  like  a.  trooper.  I  can 
stand  it  no  longer.  You  must  get  the  landlord  to 


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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


furnish  you  another  bed."  "But  what  if  he  hasn't 
another  bed? "  "Then  go  out  to  the  hay  mow;  any- 
where." "  Now,  look  here,  friend  Campbell ;  if  any 
one  has  to  go  out  to  the  hay  mow  it  will  be  you  and 
not  me."  That  night  the  friend  went  to  bed  at  an 
early  hour,  but  before  retiring  he  placed  upon  one 
of  his  heels  a  sharp  spur.  Along  about  12  o'clock 
Campbell  came  in  to  bed  about  "  half  seas  over." 
Undressing  himself,  he  jumped  into  bed,  telling  his 
friend  to  lie  over,  and  also  began  fondling  him.  The 
friend  who  had  been'  feigning  sleep  and  snoring 
quietly  began  to  say,  "  Get  up,  here!  get  up,  here!  " 
at  the  same  time  raising  his  leg  and  sinking  the  spur 
into  the  thigh  of  the  Campbell.  The  latter  jumped 
about  six  feet, upon  the  floor,  crying  out,  "  Jeho- 
shaphat!  the  fellow  has  got  the  nightmare,  and  has 
taken  me  for  his  blamed  old  horse !  " 

James  McCoy  was  the  first  lawyer  to  locate  in  the 
county.  For  almost  a  half  century  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Bar  and  has  a  larger  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances  than  probably  any  other  man 
here.  He  has  been  an  active  man  and  has  not  yet 
ceased  to  labor.  In  this  connection  the  living,  act- 
ive representatives  of  tfie  Bar  are  not  mentioned  at 
length,  and  the  reader's  attention  is  called  to  a  sketch 
of  Judge  McCoy  on  page  195. 

Among  the  attorneys  that  have  practiced  before 
the  Courts  of  this  county,  who  have  died,  moved 
away  or  have  quit  practicing,  are  Erastus  G.  Nichols, 
Hugh  Wallace,  M.  S.  Henry,  Mr.  Stillman,  Edwin 
N.  Kirk,  Elliot  Anthony,  Fred  Sackett,  David  Mc- 
Cartney, Joseph  Weir,  B  C.  Coblentz,  Samuel  Straw- 
der,  H.  W.  Bristol,  Geo.  T.  Smith,  James  Haskell, 
Jeremiah  Humphrey,  C.  C.  Teats  and  E.  H.  Brenton. 

Hugh  Wallace  came  from  Pennsylvania  and  lo- 
cated in'  Sterling,  then  Chatham,  in  1837.  He  was 
a  graduate  of  Washington  College,  Pennsylvania, 
and  read  law  with  Gen.  Porter  in  Lancaster,  that 
State.  Upon  his  removal  to  this  county,  he  engaged 
in  farming  as  well  as  in  the  practice  of  law.  In 
1846  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  General  Assembly,  and  in  1852 
he  was  elected  State  Senator.  He  also  served  four 
years  as  Register  of  the  Land  Office  at  Dixon.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  energy,  and  whatever  he  at- 
tempted to  do,  he  did  with  all  his  might.  He  was  a 
very  hospitable  man,  and  the  members  of  the  Bar 
who  followed  the  circuit  usually  made  his  house 


their  home  when  in  Sterling.  Mr.  Wallace  died 
Aug.  1 8,  1864. 

Mr.  Stillman  came  to  the  county  at  an  early  day 
and  located  in  Sterling  when  that  place  was  the 
county  seat.  He  was  a  fine  lawyer  and  became 
quite  noted  at  the  Bar.  Mr.  Stillman  was  a  native 
of  this  State.  After  remaining  in  Sterling  some  years, 
he  returned  to  Southern  Illinois  and  died,  in  1883. 

Jeremiah  Humphrey  located  in  Fulton  in  1837. 
He  was  from  Massachusetts,  and  was  a  fine  lawyer 
in  every  respect,  a  brilliant  advocate,  and  a  very 
logical  and  fine  judicial  pleader.  He  died  about 
1843. 

M.  S.  Henry  was  from  New  York  and  came  to 
this  county  in  1846.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  natural 
ability  and  a  good  lawyer.  He  served  for  some  time 
as  one  of  the  Bank  Commissioners  of  the  State.  He 
was  very  active  in  every  local  enterprise  calculated 
to  build  up  his  adopted  place.  When  the  Sterling 
&  Rock  Island  Railroad  Company  was  organized, 
he  was  elected  and  served  as  President.  Mr.  Henry 
died  at  Sterling,  in  1878. 

Edwin  N.  Kirk  located  in  Sterling  about  1854. 
He  was  a  native  of  Maryland.  Mr.  Kirk  was  a  man 
of  more  than  average  ability.  He  died  here  some 
years  ago. 

Fred  Sackett  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  law- 
yers that  ever  resided  in  Whiteside  County.  As  a 
criminal  lawyer  he  ranked  among  the  best  in  the 
State.  Mr.  Sackett  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts 
and  located  in  Sterling  about  1854.  His  death  oc- 
curred while  in  Chicago. 

B.  C.  Coblentz  was  a  native  of  Maryland.  He  lo- 
cated here  about  1856,  but  did  not  attain  any  great 
distinction.  Some  years  ago  he  removed  to  Arkan- 
sas, where  he  was  when  last  heard  from. 

Elliot  Anthony  came  to  the  county  in  1857  and 
remained  about  two  years,  removing  to  Chicago, 
where  he  attained  considerable  distinction  at  the  Bar 
and  became  one  of  the  Judges. 

Geo.  T.  Smith  came  from  Ohio  in  1857,  and  re- 
mained here  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until 
1 86 1,  when  he  went  to  Washington,  where  he  se- 
cured a  position  in  one  of  the  departments.  His 
present  whereabouts  are  unknown. 

Samuel  Strawder  was  from  Ohio,  locating  here  in 
1860.  He  was  a.  fair  lawyer  and  a  man  of  great 
energy.  He  died  in  1868. 


v§) 


«•  • 


A 


•- 


WHIT&SIDE  COUNTY. 


H.  W.  Bristol  was  also  from  Ohio.  In  1861  he 
entered  the  army  as  Captain.  Resigning  some  time 
afterwards,  he  returned  to  Ohio. 

C.  C.  Teats  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1854  and 
commenced  practice  in  the  village  of  Erie.  In  1861 
he  was  elected  County  Judge  and  served  four  years. 
Judge  Teats  died  in  1874. 

Edward  H.  Brenton  was  also  an  attorney  residing 
in  the  village  of  Erie.  He  remained  here  in  prac- 
tice until  1882. 

H.  M.  Teller  opened  an  office  in  Morrison  on  the 
location  here  of  the  county  seat,  and  remained  here 
until  1861,  when  he  moved  to  Colorado,  locating  at 
Central  City.  Since  his  removal  to  Colorado,.  Mr. 
Teller  has  become  quite  distinguished.  Securing  an 
extentive  practice  while  Colorado  was  a  Territory,  as 
a  claim  lawyer,,  he  formed  a  large  acquaintance,  and 
when  the  Territory  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as 
a  State,  he  was  elected  United  States  Senator  for 
the  short  term  and  re-elected  for  the  long  term.  He 
resigned  his  seat  in  the  Senate  to  accept  the  portfolio 
of  the  Interior  Department.  In  the  winter  of  1884-5 
he  was  again  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  for 
a  term  of  six  years. 

William  Teller,  a  brother  of  H.  M.,  came  to  Mor- 
rison shortly  after  the  removal  of  his  brother  to  Col- 
orado. He  was  a  fair  lawyer,  and  secured  a  fair 
practice,  but  also  moved  to  Colorado  many  years 
ago. 

John  J.  Woodruff  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1870. 
He  practiced  in  partnership  with  his  brother  until 
his  removal  to  Nebraska  in  1875.  He  now  resides 
near  Kearney,  engaged  in  the  sheep  culture.  Mr. 
Woodruff  was  a  good  chancery  lawyer. 

Julius  E.  Hibbard  was  from  New  York,  and  lo- 
cated in  Fulton,  where  he  engaged  in  practice,  be- 
tween 1850  and  1855.  He  removed  to  Kansas  and 
has  since  died.  Mr.  Hibbard  was  an  energetic  man 
and  a  fair  lawyer. 

S.  T.  Smith  was  a  prominent  lawyer  here  between 
1850  and  1858.  He  now  resides  in  Cincinnati. 

David  McCartney  read  law  with  Judge  McCoy, 
and  on  his  admission  to  the  Bar  commenced  the 


practice  of  his  profession  at  Fulton.  While  still  a 
resident  at  Fulton  he  was  elected  Prosecuting  At- 
torney, and  served  as  such  till  his  health  gave  way, 
a  few  years  ago.  Mr.  McCartney  was  regarded  a 
brilliant  prosecutor,  full  of  wit  and  humor,  good  at 
retort,  and  had  a  great  faculty  for  observing  and 
running  down  a  falsehood  in  witnesses.  David 
McCartney  yet  resides  in  Sterling,  which  has  been 
his  home  for  many  years,  and  is  honored  by  all. 

Charles  J.  Johnson  also  read  law  with  McCoy, 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Fulton.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Morrison, 
and  secured  an  extensive  practice.  He  was  County 
Judge  one  term.  After  remaining  in  Morrison  for 
some  years,  Judge  Johnson  removed  to  Rock  Island, 
and  from  thence  to  Chicago.  He  is  now  a  resident 
of  Sterling.  Judge  Johnson  is  a  man  of  fine  abilty, 
a  good  advocate,  and  ranks  above  the  average  in  his 
profession,  excelling  as  a  chancery  lawyer. 


The  Present  Bar. 

'HE  Bar  of  Whiteside  County  to-day  will 
favorably  compare  with  any  other  period 
of  its  history.  As  full  sketches  of  many 
of  its  members  are  given  in  the  biographical 
department  of  this  work,  the  names  alone  are 
given  in  this  connection. 
Sterling.— John  W.  Alexander,  E.  G.  Allen,  F.  E. 
Andrews,  Bennett  Si  Green,  Chamberlin  Bros.,  J.  & 
J.  Dinsmoor,  V.  S.  Ferguson,  C.  J.  &  C.  C.  Johnson, 
Manahan  &  Ward,  David  McCartney,  J.  E.  Mc- 
Pherran,  C.  S.  Sheldon,  Walter  Stager,  A.  A.  Wolf- 
ersperger. 

Morrison. — O.  F.    Woodruff,  Frank   D.  Ramsay, 
William    J.   McCoy,   James    D.    Andrews,   William 
Lang,  George  H.  Hay  and  L.  C.  Stocking. 
Albany. — D.  S.  Efner  and  C.  P.  Ege. 
Fulton. — James  McCoy. 
Erie.—\V.  H.  Allen. 


IP 


ff) 


^-xsarvuk.  — '    » 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


| ; .' ; "<•.'.•  i.-:.  V-1.  •.  •. '. '.  '. '. '..'. '. '. '.  'i '.  v.  '>  "..V.  't"..'»:"..V'..' 


ROM  the  formation  of  the 
Government  for  a  period  of 
over  three-fourths  of  a  cen- 
tury, slavery  was  a  source  of 
trouble  between  the  free  and 
slave-holding  States.  Bitter 
feelings  were  engendered,  threats 
often  indulged  in,  and  compro- 
mise measures  passed  to  avert 
what  many  believed  would  ulti- 
lj  mately  come  to  pass — a  bloody 
civil  war.  Increase  in  power, 
with  a  strong  following  in  the 
free  States,  had  made  the  slave- 
holders lx>ld  and  arrogant  in 
their  demands.  The  Missouri  Compromise,  which 
limited  the  spread  of  slavery  in  the  territories  south 
of  an  imaginary  line,  was  repealed  by  the  passage 
of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  and  the  friends  of  free- 
dom were  aroused.  The  Republican  party  rapidly 
gained  in  numbers  and  in  strength,  and  in  1860,  in 
consequence  of  the  division  existing  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  succeeded  in  electing  their  candidate 
for  the  Presidency— Abraham  Lincoln.  Threats  of 
secession  were  made  by  the  Southern  States  in  the 
event  of  Lincoln's  election,  and  almost  as  soon  as 
the  result  was  known,  State  after  State  in  the  South, 
by  their  respective  conventions,  passed  articles  of 
secession.  Lincoln  was  inaugurated  on  the  4th 


of  March,  1861,  and  issued  an  inaugural  address 
full  of  kindly  feelings  and  assurance  that  the  rights 
of  no  States  would  be  interfered  with ;  but  it  was 
without  avail  to  allay  the  fancied  fears  of  the  South- 
ern people.  Preparations  were  made  for  war  by  the 
so-called  Southern  Confederacy,  which  had  been 
organized;  and  on  the  i2th  day  of  April,  i86r, 
the  first  gun  was  fired  upon  Fort  Sumter,  which,  on 
the  i4th,  was  compelled  to  surrender  to  the  rebel 
forces. 

The  first  gun  that  was  fired  echoed  and  re-echoed 
through  the  North,  and  was  as  much  a  signal  for 
a  call  to  arms  as  the  proclamation  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln for  75,000  men,  which  immediately  followed. 
No  call  by  any  government  that  ever  existed  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth  was  more  speedily  answered. 

The  tocsin  of  war  was  sounded,  meetings  were 
held  in  every  township,  at  which  stirring  and  spirited 
addresses  were  made,  and  resolutions  adopted  ad- 
mitting of  but  one  interpretation — that  of  uncon- 
ditional allegiance  and  undying  devotion  to  their 
country  and  their  country's  flag;  that,  at  whatever 
cost  of  blood  or  treasure,  the  stars  and  stripes, 
wherever  floating,  must  be  honored,  and  the  su- 
premacy of  the  law  of  the  national  union  sustained. 

Whiteside  County  was  behind  no  other  section  of 
the  country.  The  loyal  citizens  were  aroused,  and 
each  and  every  one  determined  to  do  his  duty 
toward  the  support  of  the  Government  and  the 
maintenance  of  the  Union.  Party  lines  were  for 


(J) 

« 

A 


" 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


the  time  obliterated,  and,  like  the  lamented  Douglas, 
it  was  hereafter  to  be  with  all  the  thought  that  the 
country  must  first  be  saved,  and  only  patriots  and 
traitors  would  be  known  until  all  danger  was 
averted.  A  mass  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Morri- 
son and  vicinity  was  held,  and  it  was  resolved  to 
hold  all  sympathizers  with  the  Rebels  as  enemies  to 
the  Government,  and  to  treat  them  accordingly. 
The  citizens  were  each  requested  to  display  the 
Union  flag,  showing  their  loyalty  to  the  Govern- 
ment. A  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  all 
who  refused  to  display  the  flag,  and  if  found  in 
sympathy  with  the  enemies  of  their  country,  they 
were  ordered  to  leave  the  place  within  24  hours. 
In  case  of  their  refusal  to  leave,  the  committee  were 
empowered  to  call  assistance  and  forcibly  expel 
such  persons  from  the  place. 

That  the  Board  of  Supervisors  were  loyal  and 
patriotic  their  labor  during  the  years  of  the  rebellion 
readily  shows.  They  loved  and  venerated  their 
national  emblem,  the  stars  and  stripes ;  and  not 
only  would  they  sacrifice  all  in  defending  it  from 
further  tnsult,  but  desired  to  confer  upon  it  greater 
honor. 

The  Board  met  in  April,  i86r,  shortly  after  the 
first  gun  was  fired,  and  passed  strong  resolutions, 
declaring  the  devotion  and  fidelity  of  the  county  to 
the  Union.  It  made  a  bright  record  during  the  Re- 
bellion. Scarcely  a  county  in  the  State  was  more 
active,  or  further  took  the  lead  in  matters  relative  to 
her  soldiery,  than  Whiteside  County. 

Under  the  first  call  for  three  months'  men,  White- 
side  County  was  not  represented ;  but  in  the  first 
three  years'  regiment,  the  r3th  infantry,  it  had  two 
full  companies,  B  and  G.  These  companies  were 
recruited  within  two  weeks  after  the  fall  of  Fort 
Sumter.  The  Board  of  Supervisors  passed  the 
following  resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  the  people  of  Whiteside  County 
do,  without  regard  to  party,  unanimously  pledge  to 
the  Governor  of  this  State  the  entire  resources  of 
our  county  for  the  defense  of  our  State  and  Union, 
and  that  we  will  pledge  the  entire  credit  of  our 
county  to  furnish  men  or  money  as  the  Government 
may  require. 

Resolved,  That  we  do  hereby  appropriate  a  fund 
of  $20,000  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  five  com- 
missioners, to  be  appointd  by  our  Chairman,  to  be 
used  for  the  support  of  needy  families  of  volunteers 
while  said  volunteers  are  engaged  in  the  service  of 
their  country. 


The  year  of  1862  will  be  remembered  as  one  of 
general  gloom.  The  Union  armies  had  met  with  a 
number  of  reverses,  and  great  apprehensions  ex- 
isted on  every  hand.  All  thought  of  a  speedy 
triumph  in  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  was  at 
an  end.  In  its  place  was  a  fixed  determination  to 
maintain  the  supremacy  of  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost.  Several  calls  had  been  made  by  the  Presi- 
dent for  more  troops  to  fill  up  the  depleted  ranks  of 
our  defeated  armies,  and  most  nobly  did  the  men  of 
Whiteside  County  respond  to  the  call.  The  ladies, 
too,  did  all  in  their  power  to  aid  in  the  good  work. 
Soldiers'  aid  societies  were  formed  in  every  town 
and  township  in  the  county,  and  the  boys  in  the 
field  received  from  their  hands  many  delicacies  not 
provided  by  the  general  Government. 

During  this  year  an  enrollment  of  militia  was 
ordered  preparatory  to  a  draft,  should  not  a  sufficient 
number  of  volunteers  be  secured.  A  draft  was  not 
desired  in  this  county,  and  an  earnest  effort  was  put 
forth  to  raise  the  quota.  War  meetings  were  held 
in  almost  every  village  and  hamlet,  and  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  was  petitioned  to  offer  a  bounty  of  $100 
to  each  volunteer.  Responding,  in  part,  to  the  pe- 
tition, the  Board  appropriated  $60  each.  Five  com- 
panies were  raised  for  the  75th  111.  Inf.,  and  one 
company  for  the  93d.  To  meet  the  extra  expense 
incurred,  the  Board  decided  to  borrow  $40,000. 

In  1863  many  enlisted  to  fill  up  the  depleted 
ranks  of  regiments  then  in  the  field.  Still  there 
was  not  enough.  In  1864  many  of  those  whose 
terms  of  service  had  nearly  expired  re-enlisted  for 
three  years  or  during  the  war.  Two  companies  of 
too  days'  men  were  enlisted  in  this  county  this  year, 
under  the  President's  call  for  100,000  men  to  serve 
for  that  time  in  garrison  duty,  while  the  veterans 
were  actively  engaged  in  the  field. 

Call  after  call  had  been  made  for  troops,  and  every 
time  promptly  filled,  and  still  treason  was  not 
crushed.  The  President  issued  another  call,  for 
500,000.  Whiteside  County  had  always  filled  her 
quota  quickly,  but  now  it  was  apparent  that  without 
extra  and  greater  inducement  a  draft  must  be  made. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  decided  to  pay  to  each 
volunteer  the  sum  of  $200.  They  also  appropriated 
$10,000  to  aid  families  of  volunteers.  A  draft  was 
ordered  for  Oct.  5,  1864.  This  county  on  the  27th 
of  September,  1864,  was  owing  87  men.  To  evade 




i 


-  .  - 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


the  draft  subscription  papers  were  circulated  to  se- 
cure an  additional  amount  to  be  added  to  the  $200 
offered  by  the  county.  By  the  efforts  put  forth  the 
number  was  secured  save  for  the  township  of  Hah- 
naman,  where  three  men  were  drafted,  the  only  con- 
scription in  the  county  during  the  war. 

On  the  igth  of  December,  1864,  another  call  for 
300,000  men  was  issued,  the  quota  of  this  county 
being  250.  A  draft  was  thought  to  be  inevitable,  but 
by  almost  super-human  efforts  it  was  avoided.  The 
Board  of  Supervisors,  at  their  December  meeting, 
voted  a  bounty  of  $500  to  each  volunteer,  and  in 
February,  1865,  $100  additional  was  voted.  The 
township  also  voted  to  pay  an  additional  bounty. 

But  the  war  was  drawing  to  a  close.  Our  armies 
undercommand  of  Grant,  Sherman,  Sheridan,  Logan 
and  others  whose  names  have  been  rendered  im- 
mortal, were  fast  drawing  in  on  the  rebels,  capturing 
their  fortifications,  taking  prisoners  corps  and  divis- 
ions of  half-starved  men,  and  soon  the  news  was 
flashed  over  the  wires  that  Lee  had  surrendered, 
that  Richmond  had  fallen,  and  the  rebellion  was 
virtually  at  an  end. 

For  four  long  years  the  organization  of  new  com- 
panies and  enlistment  of  men  for  old  companies 
whose  ranks  had  been  decimated  by  disease  and 
rebel  bullets,  was  carried  on.  Gray -headed  men, 
who  had  almost  reached  three  score  years  and  ten, 
and  boys  not  yet  out  of  their  teens,  went  to  the 
camp,  and,  through  the  most  urgent  solicitation, 
were  accepted  and  sworn  into  the  service.  Neither 
age  nor  youth  kept  them  back ;  and  when  rejected 
from  either  cause,  or  from  physical  inability,  would 
insist  on  being  received,  believing  themselves  as 
capable  of  doing  a  soldier's  duty  as  thousands  who 
had  gone  before.  Over  2,500  of  men  as  brave 
as  ever  handled  a  musket  or  drew  a  sword  went  out 
from  this  county, — many,  very  many,  never  to  re- 
turn. If  you  go  with  us  to  the  battle-fields  of  the 
South  we  shall  see  how  there  fell  at  Stone  River, 
Shiloh,  Mission  Ridge,  Lookout  Mountain,  Chatta- 
nooga, Chickamauga,  Atlanta,  Vicksburg  and  other 
places,  those  who  were  the  pride  of  fond  fathers, 
loving  mothers,  and  unselfish,  devoted  wives.  We 
shall  see  them  dropping  off  one  by  one,  and  often 
without  coffin  or  burial  shroud  thrown  into  the  cold 
ground,  there  to  await  the  resurrection  morn  and  the 
reunion  upon  the  other  side  of  the  river  of  death. 


In  many  a  home  throughout  the  county  we  find  the 
vacant  chair,  and  witness  the  mournful  look  of 
those  ever  watching  for  one  that  cometh  not.  Upon 
the  streets,  day  by  day,  we  meet  those  wearing 
sleeveless  garments,  or  walking  in  a  way  that  tells 
too  plainly  that  the  sound  of  the  foot-fall  is  not 
made  by  flesh  and  blood.  Inquire  the  reason,  and 
we  shall  probably  learn  that  while  charging  the  ene- 
my's lines  at  Vicksburg,  Shiloh,  or  elsewhere,  a  can- 
non ball  deprived  them  of  a  limb.  But  no  word  of 
complaint  do  we  hear ;  the  only  regret  expressed 
being  that  it  was  not  possible  to  do  more  for  their 
country. 

The  record  of  Whiteside  County  in  the  war  is  a 
glorious  one.  With  a  population  of  but  18,729,  it 
sent  2,535  men  to  ^e  field,  a  deficit  of  only  four 
men  under  all  the  calls  that  were  made.  The  sum 
of  $529,402.17  was  expended  in  aid  of  the  cause, or 
$28  for  each  man,  woman  and  child  in  the  county. 

The  happy  termination  of  the  war  was  made 
gloomy  by  the  sad  death  of  President  Lincoln. 
Struck  down  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin  on  the 
night  of  the  I4th  of  April,  1865,  on  the  morning  of 
the  isth  he  breathed  his  last,  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth  mourning  his  loss.  In  every  city,  village  and 
hamlet  in  the  North,  where  the  church  spires 
pointed  heaven  ward,  services  in  commemoration 
of  the  noble  deadwere  held. 

The  war  is  over,  but  it  is  not  forgotten  by  the 
loyal  citizens  of  Whiteside  County.  In  too  many 
homes  exists  the  vacant  chair ;  too  many  mourn  the 
loss  of  a  kind  father,  a  loving  brother,  or  an  affec- 
tionate husband.  In  our  graveyards  lie  the  remains 
of  many  who  lost  their  lives  during  that  fear- 
ful rebellion,  or  who  wasted  away  from  disease  con- 
tracted in  that  gloomy  period.  In  the  sunny  South 
were  left  the  bodies  of  others  of  the  brave  sons  of 
Whiteside,  where  they  will  remain  till  the  resurrec- 
tion day.  On  our  streets  is  daily  seen  the  empty 
sleeve  of  those  who  lost  an  arm  in  the  service,  or  we 
hear  the  uncertain  step  of  others  who  gave  a  limb 
that  their  country  might  be  saved.  No ;  the  war  is 
not  forgotten  ;  nor  are  the  brave  men  who  perished. 
Once  each  year  the  old  soldiers  and  their  friends 
meet  at  the  graves  of  the  departed,  strewing  them 
with  beautiful  flowers,  shedding  the  regretful  tear, 
but  happy  in  the  consciousness  that  they  are  at  rest, 
and  have  exemplified  the  thought,  "  How  noble  it  is 
to  die  for  one's  country." 

_i§A/?:v>A, 


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I     , 


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¥TS337Vi^X    V-^-J 

K^gai 


V   '.-^i&s 

V^ii^tf®1 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


1Kt.&A.t,.t™tr.t.».^ 


•+-X9c~ 


iAILROADS  form  no  inconsid- 
erable portion  of  the  wealth 
of  this  county ;  nor  is  the 
history  of  the  railroads  within 
its  borders  void  of  historic  in- 
terest.  From  the  beginning 
of  the  agitation  of  the  build- 
ing of  railroads  in  this  county, 
which  was  about  as  early  as  that  of 
any  other  portion  of  the  State,  the 
people  have  given  great  attention  to, 
and  manifested  great  interest  in,  the 
subject  of  railroad  building.  The 
gigantic  system  of  internal  improve- 
ments which  was  inaugurated  by  the 
Legislature  of  1837,  included  the 
building  of  many  railroads  throughout  the  State. 
The  plans  promulgated  at  that  time  involved  an 
expenditure  of  about  $30,000,000  by  the  State  for 
the  building  of  railroads.  The  country  was  but 
partially  settled  then,  and  consequently  was  not 
in  a  condition  to  export  anything  that  would  com- 
mand money.  Soon  after  the  law  was  enacted, 
certificates  of  internal-improvement  stock  were 
readily  taken,  contracts  let,  and  work  commenced 
at  various  points  in  all  parts  of  the  State ;  nor  was 
Whiteside  County  behind  any,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
following  sketches.  Millions  of  dollars  were  squan- 
dered in  this  way  before  the  autumn  of  1837,  when 
the  great  financial  crash  swept  over  the  whole 


United  States,  and  the  internal  improvement  system 
of  Illinois  went  down,  leaving  the  State  in  what  was 
thought  at  the  time  to  be  hopeless  bankruptcy.  We 
give  the  history  of  the  various  railroad  enterprises 
under  the  heads  of  the  names  by  which  they  were 
known. 


The  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad. 

(S  early  as  1836  a  charter  was  obtained 
from  the  General  Assembly  of  Illinois  for 
the  Galena  &  Chicago  Railroad.  But 
little  work  was  done  upon  this  line,  however, 
for  several  years,  after  which  it  was  com- 
pleted only  as  far  as  Freeport,  at  which  place 
a  junction  was  afterward  formed  with  the  Illinois 
Central  to  Galena.  This  line  was  of  no  practical 
benefit  to  the  people  of  Whiteside  County,  who 
wanted  a  railroad  connection  with  Chicago  or  the 
lakes. 

In  1851  the  passage  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
a  bill  granting  a  charter  for  the  construction  of  a 
road  from  Beloit,  Wis.,  to  Rock  Island,  gave  the 
people  of  the  county  a  chance  for  a  railroad  line,  but 
it  was  not  satisfactory.  The  route  of  this  road  was 
to  be  in  the  Rock  River  Valley,  through  Rockford, 
Dixon,  Sterling,  Albany,  and  then  on  the  Rock 
Island.  At  this  time  a  road  from  Chicago  to  Beloit 


\.s- 


r 


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> 
\& 

I 

1 

I 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


was  in  operation.  The  Beloit  and  Rock  Island 
project  was,  however,  nipped  in  the  bud  by  another 
railroad  enterprise,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter. 

While  a  charter  was  pending  in  the  Illinois  Legis- 
lature, in  1851,  for  a  railroad  to  pass  from  north  to 
south  through  the  center  of  the  State,  known  as  the 
Illinois  Central,  another  railroad  project  was  con- 
ceived by  Judge  James  McCoy,  of  Fulton,  for  a 
grand  central  line  leading  from  the  lakes  directly 
west  to  the  nearest  point  on  the  Mississippi,  and 
passing  through  Central  Iowa  to  Council  Bluffs, 
on  the  Missouri  River.  This  was  a  new  railroad 
scheme.  Judge  McCoy  immediately  gave  notice 
for  a  railroad  meeting  at  Lyons,  just  opposite  Fulton 
in  Iowa. 

The  Legislatures  of  both  States  were  then  in 
session.  He  assured  the  meeting  that  if  the  Iowa 
Legislature  would  pass  an  act  for  the  incorporation 
of  a  railroad  company  to  construct  a  line  from 
Council' Bluff  to  Lyons,  on  the  Mississippi,  he  would 
procure  a  charter  from  the  Illinois  Legslature  for  a 
road  from  Fulton,  running  east  and  intersecting 
with  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad. 

Three  delegates  were  appointed  to  accompany 
Mr.  McCoy  to  Iowa  City,  where  the  Legislature  was 
then  in  session.  This  project  was  eagerly  taken  up 
by  the  Iowa  Legislature.  The  bill  was  presented 
one  day,  and  was  passed  the  next,  and  received 
the  Governor's  signature.  Immediately  afterward 
McCoy  went  home,  called  a  railroad  meeting  at 
Fulton,  and  secured  a  large  petition  for  a  railroad 
running  eastward  from  Fulton. 

Hurrying  on  to  Springfield,  as  the  Illinois  Legis- 
lature was  about  closing  its  session,  by  arduous 
labor  he  secured  a  charter  before  adjournment  for 
his  great  project — the  Mississippi  &  Rock  River 
Junction  Railroad,  which  passed  the  same  time  as 
the  Illinois  Central  bill.  The  object  of  this  road 
was  to  connect  with  the  latter  at  or  near  Dixon. 

When  the  Illinois  Central  surveyed  its  route  "it 
made  a  branch  survey  from  the  main  line  about  50 
miles  north  of  Cairo,  to  a  point  opposite  Dubuque, 
Iowa,  which  passed  through  Dixon. 

In  1852  the  Chicago,  St.  Charles  &  Mississippi 
Railroad  was  projected  to  run -from  Chicago  to  the 
Mississippi  River  at  Savanna.  This  project  rather 
alarmed  the  managers  of  the  Galena  &  Chicago 
Union  Railroad,  and  a  charter  was  hastily  secured 


by  them  authorizing  the  construction  of  the  Dixon 
Air  Line  Road,  commencing  at  a  point  about  six 
miles  east  of  St.  Charles  and  running  directly  west  to 
Dixon.  This  was  to  be  a  branch  of  the  Galena  & 
Chicago  Union  Railroad.  About  this  time  a  rail- 
road was  being  constructed  around  the  southern  end 
of  Lake  Michigan  to  Chicago  by  the  Litchfields,  in- 
tending to  form  a  connection  with  the  Galena  & 
Chicago  Railroad,  which  was  in  course  of  construc- 
tion, and  had  been  built  to  Cherry  Valley,  about  15 
miles  east  of  Freeport,  with  a  branch  from  St.  Charles 
westward  to  Dixon,  and  another  to  Aurora  from  the 
junction. 

It  became  evident  to  the  projectors  of  the  Beloit, 
Rock  River  &  Rock  Island  Railroad,  that  if  the  Ful- 
ton road — the  Mississippi  &  Rock  River  Junction — 
was  built,  it  would  cross  their  route  near  the  center, 
and,  with  its  southern  and  eastern  connections,  be 
fatal  to  their  enterprise  ;  consequently  a  most  vigor- 
ous attack  was  made  upon  the  managers  of  this  road. 
A  meeting  was  called  at  Sterling,  which  was  largely 
attended,  the  main  object  of  which  was  to  defeat  the 
Fulton  enterprise. 

This  meeting  was  more  for  effect  or  a  counter 
movement  than  otherwise ;  for  no  stock  could  be 
taken,  as  public  notice  had  not  been  given  under  the 
requirements  of  theii  charter.  Flaming  speeches 
were  made,  and  the  Mississippi  road  was  unscrupu- 
lously attacked.  During  the  meeting  Judge  McCoy 
dropped  in  (who  was  on  his  way  home  from  a  session 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  in  Iowa),  and  became  a  silent 
spectator  to  the  abuse  of  his  great  project.  He  could 
do  nothing  but  listen  until  his  name  was  used,  when 
he  arose  and  responded  to  them  in  an  eloquent 
speech.  This  meeting  was  a  benefit  to  Judge  Mc- 
Coy, in  that  it  gave  him  an  insight  into  their  plans 
and  enable  him  to  defeat  them.  He  at  once  started 
out,  and  when  the  necessary  time  had  elapsed  for 
the  opening  of  the  stock  books  for  their  road,  he  had 
secured  almost  all  the  inhabitants  along  the  line  of 
their  projected  road,  to  become  stockholders  in  his 
enterprise.  He  continued  to  work,  making  some- 
times speeches  every  day,  until  the  capital  stock  was 
fully  subscribed.  On  the  first  day  of  May  a  meeling 
of  stockholders  convened  at  Union  Grove,  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  a  president  and  directors.  James 
McCoy  was  chosen  President;  J.  T.  Atkinson,  Royal 
Jacobs,  Charles  Dement,  Benj.  Lake,  Elijah  Buell, 


& 

* 


*!!» 


_ 


-~  -...,..- 


A'Sv.'VvA 

'.         'V 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


John  Phelps  and  A.  W.  Benton,  Directors.  The 
contest  between  these  two  projects  continued  nearly 
a  year,  which  only  resulted  in  placing  the  Fulton 
road  on  a  firmer  basis.  The  citizens  of  Rock  Island 
took  but  little  interest  in  the  Rock  River  Valley 
project,  as  their  attention  was  mainly  given  to-  the 
construction  of  a  road  from  their  town  to  Chicago. 

In  January,  1853,  the  directors  of  the  Mississippi 
road  let  the  contract  for  building  the  track,  and  the 
8th  of  February  following  the  first  ground  was  broken. 
In  April  following  the  Galena  &  Chicago  Union,  and 
the  Michigan  Central  Railroads  came  forward  and 
took  $405,000  stock  in  the  road,  which  insured  its 
success.  At  the  annual  election  of  officers  for  the 
company,  held  in  May,  1853,  the  following  directors 
were  elected :  John  B.  Turner,  J.  H.  Burch,  E.  Peck, 
J.  Van  Hartwick,  James  F.  Joy,  James  McCoy, 
Bayard  Fowler,  Charles  Dement  and  Lewis  D.  Cran- 
dall.  Charles  Dement  was  chosen  President.  About 
this  time  all  that  was  available  of  the  St.  Charles  Air 
Line  Railroad  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Galena 
&  Chicago  Company,  and  was  used  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  road  to  Fulton.  The  Galena  &  Chicago 
Company  had  now  become  so  far  identified  with  the 
Mississippi  Junction  Road  that  the  construction  was 
carried  on  under  their  direction,  under  the  name  of 
the  Galena  &  Chicago  Union  Company.  The  first 
bonds  of  the  Mississippi  Junction  Company  were 
sold  in  Boston  for  ninety-six  and  five-eights  cents  on 
the  dollar. 

The  first  train  of  cars  of  this  road  steamed  into 
Sterling  July  17,  1855,  when  a  grand  celebration 
was  had  in  honor  of  the  event.  It  partook  of  the 
nature  of  an  old-fashioned  barbecue.  Simeon  M. 
Coe,  the  first  settler  of  Jordan  Township,  donated  a 
fat  ox,  which  was  roasted  whole.  About  3,000  peo- 
ple were  assembled,  among  whom  were  many  invited 
guests,  John  Wentworth,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  I. 
N.  Arnold  and  B.  F.  Taylor  being  present. 

An  eloquent  address  was  delivered  by  Mr.  Taylor, 
after  which  the  "  Little  Giant  "  made  one  of  his 
characteristic  speeches.  The  festivities  concluded 
with  a  ball  in  the  evening. 

The  road  was  completed  to  Fulton  about  the  mid- 
dle of  December,  1855. 

A  union  was  formed  with  the  Wisconsin  road  and 
then  the  line  was  called  the  Chicago  &  Northwest- 
ern. This  was  in  1856.  The  Chicago  &  North- 


western  Company  about  this  period  took  a  lease  of 
the  Chicago,  Iowa  &  Cedar  Rapids  Railroad,  running 
from  Clinton  to  Cedar  Rapids,  until  1862,  agreeing 
to  pay  ten  per  cent,  of  the  gross  earnings.  By  the 
time  the  lease  was  out,  the  Northwestern  Company 
had  control  of  the  stock,  which  gave  them  the  con- 
trol of  the  road  to  Cedar  Rapids.  During  this  time 
the  company  built  a  track  (a  plug)  from  Fulton  to 
Clinton  bridge.  From  Cedar  Rapids  they  extended 
their  line  to  Council  Bluffs,  under  the  name  of  the 
Mississippi  Railroad  Company.  Subsequently  an 
iron  bridge  was  built  across  the  Mississippi,  which 
cost  $[,700,000.  Before  this  bridge  was  built,  the 
trains  ran  across  on  boats.  The  bridge  is  under 
control  of  a  separate  corporation,  which  charges 
toll  for  all  freight  passing  over. 

The  Northwestern  moved  their  depot  from  the 
city  of  Fulton  to  the  junction,  its  present  location. 
Subsequently,  however,  they  laid  a  track  along  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi  in  front  of  the  city,  where 
they  erected  a  large  elevator  with  a  capacity  of  75,- 
ooo  bushels  of  grain. 

This  road  enters  about  the  middle  of  the  county 
in  Sterling  Township,  and  passes  through  Hopkins, 
Mount  Pleasant,  the  northwestern  corner  of  Union 
Grove,  southwestern  corner  of  Ustick,  and  Fulton. 

This  company  is  now  one  of  the  heaviest  railroad 
corporations  in  the  country,  operating  some  6,000 
miles  of  railway. 


The   Chicago,    Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad. 

HIS  company  completed  its  branch  road, 
known  as  the  Clinton  &  Mendota  Branch 
of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  (No. 
6),  through  the  county  in  1872.  It  enters  in 
the  southeastern  corner  of  the  county  and  runs 
through  the  townships  of  Hahnaman,  Tampico, 
Prophetstown,  Lyndon,  Fenton,  Union  Grove  and 
Garden  Plain  to  the  Mississippi,  opposite  to  Clinton. 
After  many  years  of  struggling,  this  company  secured 
their  right  of  way  into  Fulton.  They  obtained  their 
right  of  way  across  the  Northwestern  track  Dec.  25, 
1882.  In  the  month  of  January,  1883,  they  com- 
pleted their  track  and  ran  their  first  train  into  Ful- 
ton. 

This  company  also  owns  the  road  from  Rock  Isl 
A  r^ 


*  > 


and  to  Sterling,  known  as  the  Rock  Island  &  St. 
Louis  Branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy. 
This  road  was  completed  through  the  county  in  Jan- 
uary, 1869.  It  leaves  the  line  of  the  Northwestern 
a  few  miles  west  of  Sterling  and  runs  southwest 
along  Rock  River,  passing  out  through  the  lower 
part  of  Erie  Township. 

This  company  controls,  under  a  lease,  the  road 
from  Rock  Falls  to  Aurora,  by  way  of  Amboy,  cross- 
ing the  Illinois  Central  at  the  latter  place.  In 
order  to  make  this  line  available,  the  company  con- 
structed a  bridge  across  the  river  to  Sterling. 


The  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad. 

^tevo~<^ 

HIS  was  formerly  the  Racine  &  Mississippi 
Railroad.  It  came  into  Fulton  as  the 
Warsaw,  Rock  Island  &  Galena  Company, 
commonly  known  as  the  Western  Union.  Their 
right  of  way  was  obtained  into  Fulton  during 
the  latter  part  of  December,  1864.  Soon  after 
the  right  of  way  was  secured  and  the  land  con- 
demned, work  was  commenced  and  continued  through 
the  winter.  In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1865,  the 
track  was  completed  and  the  train  came  into  Fulton. 


Whiteside  County  Agricultural  Society. 

T  the  village  of  Union  Grove,  Feb.  26, 
1856,  the  Whiteside  County  Agricultural 
Society  was  organized,  with  the  following 
named  gentlemen  as  its  first  officers :  Robert 
L.  Wilson,  President ;  A.  R.  Hamilton,  Vice 
President;  L.  S.  Pennington,  Secretary; 
Luther  Dodge,  Treasurer.  Annual  fairs  were  held 
at  Morrison  until  1863,  when  the  society  suffered 
the  loss  of  part  of  its  property,  and  was  considerably 
in  debt.  Notwithstanding  its  ill  luck,  all  premiums 
were  paid  in  full.  New  grounds  were  obtained  at 
Sterling  and  fitted  up  for  the  annual  exhibitions, 
since  which  time  all  fairs  have  been  held  here.  The 
receipts  in  1863  were  $2,859.90. 

In    1864,  Charles   D.  Sanford  was  elected  Presi- 
dent ;    Charles    B.    Holmes,    Secretary ;  Lucius    E. 


Rice,  Treasurer.  A  fine  exhibition  was  held  this 
year,  though  the  weather  was  very  unfavorable. 
Mr.  Sanford  was  re-elected  President  for  the  years 
1866  and  1867,  and  the  fairs  continued  to  be  more 
profitable  year  by  year.  The  receipts  for  1867  were 
$3,626.  In  1868  they  were  increased  to  $4,000,  and 
in  1878  to  $6,000. 

The  affairs  of  the  society  have,  in  general,  been 
well  managed.  The  grounds,  which  are  owned  by 
one  of  the  citizens  of  Sterling,  and  for  which  an  an- 
nual rental  of  $900  is  paid,  are  well  fitted  up  for  the 
purpose  of  the  annual  exhibitions,  which  have  been 
held  without  interruption  since  its  organization.  In 
1884  the  Teachers' Association  of  the  county  offered 
premiums  for  the  best  specimens  of  penmanship  and 
map-drawing.  Many  specimens  were  entered,  and 
much  interest  was  taken  in  the  display  by  pupils, 
teachers  and  parents,  so  much  so  that  the  society 
for  1885  increased  the  amount  offered  for  the  pur- 


•' 


.  . 


: 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


pose  by  the  Teachers'  Association.  Another  inter- 
esting feature  was  that  of  dressed  dolls,  premiums 
being  offered  for  the  best  dressed  doll  and  for  dolls 
dressed  to  represent  certain  historical  and  fictitious 
characters.  This,  too,  was  well  represented.  Premi- 
ums were  also  offered  for  the  best  collection  of  in- 
sects and  birds.  Altogether,  the  Whiteside  County 
Agricultural  Society  is  indeed  creditable  to  the  citi- 
zens of  the  county,  and  to  its  many  patrons  from  ad- 
joining counties.  For  1885  Moses  Dillon  is  the 
President,  and  Alfred  Bayliss,  Secretary. 

County  Officers. 

HITESIDE  County  has  been  excep- 
tionally fortunate  in  securing  efficient 
,  and  honest  men  to  conduct  its  public  af- 
!,'  fairs  from  the  organization  of  the  county. 
The  business  of  the  county  has  usually 
„  been  conducted  with  satisfaction  to  all  parties. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  county 
from  its  organization  to  the  present  time  : 

CLERK  COUNTY   COMMISSIONERS'  COURT. 

I    John  Roy 1841-49 

COUNTY   CLERK. 

Norton  J  .  Nichols 1849-53     f    Winfield  S.  Wilkinson 1857-69 

Rufus  DeGarmo l%53-57     I     Edwin  W.  Payne 1869-85 

CLERK  CIRCUIT  COURT. 

Erastus  G.  Nichols 1839-40    '     Robert  L.  Wilson 1840-48 

RECORDER. 

Augustine  W.  Newhall... 1839          I     W.W.Gilbert 1.1839-48 

CIRCUIT  CLERK  AND  RECORDER. 

Robert  L.  Wilson 1848-60     I     William  P.  Squire 1872-76 

Addtson   Farrington 1860-68     I     Addison   Farrington 1876-84 

John  N.  Baird 1868-72     |     Lauren   E.  Tuttle 1884-85 

PROBATE  JUSTICE. 

Daniel  B.  Young 1839-42     I     Robert  L.  Wilson 1842-49 

COUNTY  JUDGE. 
N.  G.  Reynolds 1849-57          Christopher  C.  Teats 1861-65 


Guy  Ray 1839-41 

Theodore  Winn 1841 


James  McCoy ^57-59 

Charles  J.  Johnson 1859-60 

W.  Anderson 1860-61 


James  C.  Woodburn 1839-40 

J.  W.  McLemore 1840-44 

James  A.  Sweet 1844-46 

J.W.    McLemore 1846-48 

L.  D.  Crandall 1848-50 

Perry  L.  Jeffers   1850-52 

Charles  Wright 1852-54 

Wm.  Mauahan 1854-56 


Ed.  G.  Allen i?6s-69 

William  Lane 1869-82 

Wm.  J.  McCoy 1882-85 

SHERIFF. 

R.G.   Clendenin 1856-58 

John  Dippell 1858-60 

R.  G.  Clendenin 1860-62 

Robert  E.  Logan 1862-64 

John  IJippell   1864-66 

L.  A.  Lincoln 1866-68 

Edwin   A.Worrell-. 1868-80 

Thos.  A.   Beach 1880-85 


CORONER. 


Ivory  Colcord 1839-44 

Gilbert  Buckingham 1844-46 

Clinton  G.   Taylor 1846-48 

Ivory  Colcoid 1848-54 

D.  F.  Miilikan 1854-56 

Daniel  Reed 1856-58 

Wm.  L.  Coe 1858-60 

John  Eddy 1860-62 

Samuel  Taylor 1862-68 


Wm.  L.  Coe 1868-70 

D.  B.  Seger   1870-72 

John  Riley 1872-73 

Meril  Meade 1873-74 

David  E.    Dodge 1874-76 

M  OSes    Lathe 1876-78 

James  A.  Nowlen 1878-80 

H.  C.  Donaldson 1880-85 


TREASURER. 


David  M  itchell 1839-41 

Daniel  Brooks 1841-43 

David  Hazard 1843-47 

Henry   UstSck 1847-50 

John  B.   Myers 1850-51 


David  Hazard 

Jesse   Penrose 

Edward  B.  Warner.. .. 
William  H.  Thatcher. 


•1851-55   ®) 
• i85S-57 
.1857-69  ' 
. 1869-85 


SURVEYOR. 


Charles  R.  Rood 1839-42 

W.  S.  Wilkinson 1842-47 

Wm.  Pollock 1847-53 

W.  S.Wilkinson 1853-57 

L.  H.  Woodworth 1857-63 


Miles  T.  Woolley 

John  D  .  Arey 

Silas  Sears   

Watson  C.    Holbrook 


SCHOOL  COMMISSIONER. 


Charles  S.  Deming.    ..    . 
COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  SCHOOLS. 


Daniel    B.  Young 1840-42 

William  Nevitt 1842-45 


1863-65 
1865-71 
1871-79 
1879-85 


l845-55 


Charles  S.  Deming... 

M.  R     Kelly 

Michael  W.  Smith.... 


....1855-57 
....1857-69 
....1869-77 


Orrin  M .  Crary 

Geo.  C.  Loomis 

Benjamin  F.   Hendricks. 


•873-77 
.1877-82   ' 
1882-86   f 


Patrons  of  Husbandry. 


HE  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  on  its 
organization,  secured  a  strong  following  in 
this  county.  In  a  very  short  time  granges 
were  established  in  every  township,  and  in 
some  there  were  two  or  three  organizations. 
In  1873  a  County  Grange  was  organized. 
Nearly  all  the  best  and  most  influential  farmers  be- 
came members  of  the  order  and  took  a  lively  inter- 
est in  its  welfare.  That  great  good  was  accomplished 
by  means  of  the  order  can  not  be  denied.  On  the 
organization  of  the  State  Grange,  in  1872,  Alonzo 
Colder,  of  Montmorency  Township,  was  elected 
Master,  and  served  two  terms.  As  a  token  of  their 
appreciation  of  his  services,  the  members  of  the 
State  Grange  presented  him  with  a  fine  gold  watch, 
which  he  wears  with  becoming  modesty.  Mr. 
Colder  represented  the  State  Grange  in  the  Na- 
tional Grange  several  years,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  National  Executive  Committee. 


Matrimonial. 

HE  following  very  interesting  table  gives  JL 
the  number  of  marriage  licenses  issued  each 
year  from  the  organization  of  the  county. 
It  will  be  noticed  that  the  largest  number  is- 
sued in  any  year  was  in  1866,  the  year  follow- 
ing the  close  of  the  war,  when  so  many  of  the 
boys  in  blue  returned  home  to  fulfill  the  vows  long 
made: 


1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 

1843 
1844 

I84S 

1846 

1847. 

1848. 

1849 

1850 

1851 

1852 

I853- 

1854 

1855 
1856 

I8S7 
1858 
1859.. 
i860 

1861 


::•; 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


1862 152 

1863 145 

1864 203 

1865 224 

1866 297 

1867 248 

1868 254 

1869 273 

1870 264 

1871 250 

1872 239 

'873 259 

1874 270 

1875 274 

1876 287 

1877 290 

1878 269 

1879 285 

1880 247 

1881 272 

1882 256 

1883 278 

1884 277 


How  Whiteside  Missed  Forming  a  Part  of  the 
State  of  Wisconsin. 

EW  of  the  present  generation  know  that  it 
was  the  desire  of  proba'bly  the  greater 
number  of  the  early  settlers  that  White- 
side  County  should  form  a  part  of  Wisconsin 
Territory,  and  that  at  an  election  held  in 
1841  the  question  of  a  separation  was  voted 
upon.  According  to  an  ordinance  of  Congress  in  re- 
lation to  the  government  of  the  Northwestern  Terri- 
tory, the  northern  boundary  of  Illinois  should  be  a 
direct  line  west  from  the  southern  bend  of  Lake 
Michigan.  This  would  have  brought  nearly  the 
whole  of  Whiteside  County  in  Wisconsin  Territory. 
By  the  ordinance  the  line  could  not  be  changed  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  original  States  and  the  people 
of  the  Northwest  Territory.  Notwithstanding  this 
section  of  the  ordinance,  the  line  was  changed 
by  an  act  of  Congress,  without  the  consent  of  the 
people,  the  object  being  to  enable  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois to  have  the  benefit  of  the  lake.  Meetings  were 
held  throughout  Northern  Illinois  of  those  favoring 
the  original  line.  The  desire  to  form  a  part  of  Wis- 
consin was  intensified  by  the  fact  that  Illinois  had 
become,  as  it  was  supposed,  almost  hopelessly  in 
debt.  State  paper  was  worth  but  about  15  cents  on 
the  dollar.  Wheat  at  this  time 'was  worth  but  25 
cents  per  bushel  and  pork  $i  per  hundred,  and  no 


market  nearer  than  Chicago.  The  prospect  was  in- 
deed gloomy,  and  it  is  but  little  wonder  the  citizens 
of  Northern  Illinois  were  willing  to  do  anything  hon- 
orable to  change  their  condition.  Notwithstanding 
the  desire  of  the  people  for  annexation  and  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  the  people  and  authorities  of 
Wisconsin,  the  effort  failed.  The  State  debt  was 
provided  for,  an  era  of  prosperity  set  in,  and  it  is 
doubtful  if  there  could  many  be  found  to  advocate 
annexation  at  this  time.  Whiteside  County  is  one 
of  the  banner  counties  of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Old   Settlers'  Association. 

HE  pioneers  of  Whiteside  were  among  the 
very  first  in  Northern  Illinois  to  meet  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  an  association 
whereby  old  friendships  may  be  renewed,  old- 
time  incidents  talked  over  and  a  historical  rec- 
ord kept.  In  pioneer  life  there  are  always 
incidents  of  peculiar  interest,  not  only  to  the  pioneers 
themselves,  but,  if  properly  preserved,  would  be  of  in- 
terest to  posterity. 

Fifty  years  have  come  and  gone  since  white  men 
began  to  exercise  dominion  in  this  region  of  country, 
erst  the  home  of  the  red  men.  These  years  have 
been  full  of  changes,  and  the  visitor  of  to-day,  igno- 
rant of  the  past  of  the  county,  could  scarcely  be 
made  to  realize  that  within  these  years  there  has 
grown  up  a  population  of  30,000  people,  who  in  all 
the  accomplishments  of  life  are  as  far  advanced  as 
are  the  people  in  the  counties  of  older  States. 
Schools,  churches,  colleges,  palatial  dwellings, 
beautiful  grounds,  large,  well-cultivated  and  pro- 
ductive farms,  as  well  as  cities,  towns  and  busy 
manufactories,  have  grown  up  and  now  occupy  the 
hunting  grounds  and  camping  places  of  the  In- 
dians, and  in  every  direction  there  are  evidences 
of  wealth,  comfort  and  luxury.  There  is  but  little 
left  of  the  old  landmarks.  Advanced  civilization 
and  the  progressive  demands  of  revolving  years 
have  obliterated  all  traces  of  Indian  occupancy,  until 
they  are  only  remembered  in  name. 

Of  the  inhabitants  in  T840,  representing  a  popula- 
tion of  a  few  thousand,  many  removed  from  the 
county  to  find  homes  in  other  States,  while  the  spirits 
of  others  were  called  to  join  the  immortal  throng 
gathered  around  the  great  white  throne  in  the  far- 


T 


X 


ix  away  realms  of  eternal  life  and  light.  Others  pre- 
)  ferred  to  remain  in  the  homes  they  commenced  in 
Whiteside  County,  and  by  the  goodness  and  mercy 
of  God  have  grown  in  wealth,  wisdom  and  usefulness, 
until  in  their  declining  years  they  are  respected  and 
honored  patriarchs  in  the  community  that  owes 
much  of  its  character  and  great  advancement  to  the 
influences  they  established  in  pioneer  times. 

It  is  not  strange  that  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
any  new  country  a  deep-seated  and  sincere  friend- 
ship should  spring  up,  that  should  grow  and 
strengthen  with  their  years.  The  incidents  peculiar 
to  life  in  a  new  country — the  trials  and  hardships, 
privations  and  destitutions — are  well  calculated  to 
test,  not  only  the  physical  powers  of  endurance,  but 
the  moral,  kindly,  generous  attributes  of  manhood  and 
womanhood.  Then  are  the  times  that  try  men's 
souls  and  bring  to  the  surface  all  that  there  may  be 
in  them  of  either  good  or  bad.  As  a  rule  there  is  an 
equality  of  conditions  that  recognizes  no  distinctions. 
All  occupy  a  common  level,  and  as  a  natural  conse- 
quence a  brotherly  and  sisterly  feeling  grows  up 
that  is  as  lasting  as  time  ;  for  "  a  fellow  feeling  makes 
us  wondrous  kind."  With  such  a  community  there 
is  a  hospitality,  a  kindness,  a  benevolence  and  a 
charity  unknown  and  unpracticed  among  the  older, 
richer  and  more  densely  populated  commonwealths. 
The  very  nature  of  the  surroundings  of  these  pio- 
neers teaches  them  to  feel  each  other's  woe  and  share 
each  other's  joys.  An  injury  or  a  wrong  may  be 
ignored,  but  a  kindly,  generous,  charitable  act  is  never 
forgotten.  The  memory  of  old  associations  and 
kindly  deeds  is  always  fresh.  Raven  locks  may 

i  bleach  and  whiten ;  full,  round  cheeks  become 
sunken  and  hollow ;  the  fires  of  intelligence  vanish 

^  from  the  organs  of  vision  ;  the  brow  become  wrinkled 
with  care  and  age,  and  the  erect  form  bowed  with 
the  accumulating  years  ;  but  the  true  friends  of  "long 
ago"  will  be  remembered  as  long  as  life  and  reason 
endure. 

Speaking  of  the  hospitality  of  the  pioneers,  Marcus 
L.  Coe,  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Pioneer  Association, 
which  was  held  at  Sterling,  Feb.  22,  1858,  said,  "  No- 
where does  the  stranger  meet  with  a  more  hearty 
welcome  than  with  the  'old  pioneer.'  To  his  '  corn 
dodger,'  or  '  roast  turkey,'  you  are  alike  welcome,  and 
will  ever  be  greeted,  with  a  hearty  '  I  reckon.'  His 
'latch-string  is  always  out.'  'Old  Settlers,'  may  their 
corn  and  bacon  always  equal  their  hospitality." 


Referring  to  the  hard  times  of  the  pioneers,  Col.  R. 
L.  Wilson  responded  to  the  toast  on  this  subject  at 
the  same  meeting,  as  follows: 

"  In  the  land  of  our  nativity,  surrounded  by  kind 
friends,  schools,  churches,  and  scenes  of  childhood, 
why  are  we  not  content?  Many  causes  contribute  to 
alienate  our  affections,  and  offer  a  compensation  for 
the  privations  incident  to  the  life  of  the  pioneer. 
Some  are  prompted  by  curiosity,  and  a  love  for  the 
romantic  grandeur  of  nature;  but  the  largest  portion 
seek  retirement  on  the  frontier  for  the  purpose  of  bet- 
tering themselves  and  families.  They  can  there  ob- 
tain a  home  that  they  can  call  their  own  ;  although 
it  may  be  a  log  cabin,  it  is  still  'sweet  home.'  When 
we  have  fully  made  up  our  minds  to  emigrate,  the 
work  is  almost  done.  All  that  remains  is  to  '  wait  for 
the  wagon,'  and  we  'take  a  ride'  to  our  future  home 
in  the  West.  The  wagon  box  serves  for  a  house — 
being  at  once  the  parlor,  the  kitchen,  and  the  pantry 
— a  place  for  everything.  We  finally  arrive  at  our 
claim,  and  then  comes  the  raising  of  log  cabins,  on 
which  occasion  every  pioneer  within  20  miles  is  on 
hand.  By  and  by  a  school-house  and  church  are 
wanted ;  and  ift  in  the  West  the  husband  is  not  able 
to  assist  in  building  the  school-house  and  church, 
and  he  may  not  yet  have  paid  his  last  payment  so  as 
to  relieve  his  home  from  the  Shylock's  trust  deed, 
his  wife  calls  a  meeting  of  the  ladies,  when  the  work 
is  done ;  for  who  ever  heard  of  an  enterprise  failing 
when  pioneer  ladies  untertook  it  ?  The  secret  of  the 
success  of  the  pioneer  is  explained  by  his  determina- 
tion to  leave  his  loved  home,  to  endure  the  priva- 
tions of  the  journey,  the  discomforts  of  the  log  cabin, 
the  want  of  suitable  food  and  clothing,  the  absence 
of  schools  and  churches,  and  the  recollection  of  dear 
ones  who  'miss  them  at  home."  The  man  or  woman 
who  encounters  all  these  privations,  with  the  fever 
and  ague  of  the  early  days,  will  succeed  anywhere 
and  under  any  circumstances,  and  their  descendants 
may  be  depended  upon  as  the  guardians  of  civil  and 
and  religious  liberty. 

Upon  this  very  interesting  occasion,  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  Pioneer  Society,  among  a  large  number  of 
others  besides  the  above  named  gentlemen  who  spoke, 
was  Joseph  Ware,  in  response  to  the  toast :  "  White- 
side  County  now  and  as  she  was  when  her  sons 
wore  buckskin  trousers  and  wolfskin  caps.  "  "  It  is 
useless  for  me  to  speak  to  this  audience  of  White- 
side  County  as  it  was.  You  have  all  seen  it  in  its 

^ 1*^- 


S&* 
3* 

«  !• 

V©) 


*• 


_X-;i 


(a; 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


original   beauty.     You  have  looked  upon  these  prai- 
ries before  they  were  marred  by  the  plow,  or  dotted 
with  buildings,  as  they  lay  in  green  luxuriance — 
'  Gardens  of  the  desert  unshorn, 
Fields  boundless  and  beautiful,' 

Their  fertility  and  beauty  were  sufficient  to  cause 
you  to  give  up  your  comfortable  homes,  and  induce 
you  to  brave  the  toils  and  dangers  of  a  pioneer  life; 
but  to  one  whose  boyhood  has  been  spent  in  their 
midst,  who  has  no  other  recollections  to  fall  back 
upon,  who  has  recognized  no  other  spot  as  home, 
their  beauty  is  doubly  attractive.  Of  the  earliest 
settlers,  of  the  men  who  wore  the  coonskin  cap  and 
buckskin  hunting  shirt,  I  doubt  not  your  recollections 
are  as  broad  as  mine.  That  they  were  good  men  and 
true,  hardy,  enterprising  and  honest,  you  all  know. 
I  have  one  in  mind  who  would  serve  as  an  excellent 
example  of  the  class.  Doubtless  many  will  recollect 
him, — John  B.  Dodge,  of  Mt.  Pleasant.  How  I  wish 
he  could  stand  before  you  this  evening  in  his  pioneer 
dress,  with  buckskin  moccasins  and  hunting  shirt, 
surmounted  by  that  veritable  coonskin  cap !  He 
was  a  man  of  matchless  proportions,  had  seen  some 
active  service  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  had  the 
reputation  of  being  the  strongest  man  in  Northern 
Illinois.  He  had  been  known  to  kill  a  wolf  with  his 
naked  hands>  and  to  conquer  a  savage  and 
frightened  horse  by  the  mere  force  of  strength  and 
will.  Mr.  John  B.  Dodge  was  one  of  the  members 
of  the  first  Board  of  County  Commissioners  that 
was  elected  in  our  county,  and  in  that  capacity 


officiated  at  the  first  Court.  The  Court-House 
on  that  occasion  was  one  room  of  a  double  log 
house,  near  Lyndon.  Mr.  Dodge,  as  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners, opened  the  Court;  and,  standing  in  the 
door  of  the  cabin,  arrayed  in  all  the  glories  of  buck- 
skin and  coonskin,  he  announced  in  a  loud  voice, 
'O  yes!  O  yes!  O  yes!  the  first  Hon.  County  Court 
of  Whiteside  is  now  setting,  and  will  soon  hatch! '  Of 
the  future  of  our  county  it  is  useless  to  speak.  Her 
present  prosperity  and  past  success  are  sufficient 
guarantees  that  she  will  continue  to  advance.  All 
the  elements  of  wealth,  prosperity  and  greatness  lie 
thick  around  us,  and  literature,  science  and  art  will 
assuredly  follow  in  their  train.  Then  honor  to  old 
Whiteside! 

'We'll  plow  the  prairies  as  of  old 

Our  fathers  plowed  the  sea; 

We'll  make  the  West, 

As  they  the  East, 

The  homestead  of  the  free. ' 

Meetings  of  this  association  are  annually  held,  and 
as  the  years  go  by,  and  one  by  one  the  old  settlers 
pass  "  over  the  river,"  those  that  remain  assemble  at 
these  annual  gatherings  with  warm  hearts,  talk  of 
the  olden  times,  think  of  the  time  when  they,  too, 
will  go  to  meet  those  who  have  gone  before,  yet  re- 
joicing in  the  fact  that  their  work  on  earth  has  been 
well  done,  and  that  they  leave  for  their  children  a 
grand  country  in  which  they  can  live  and  enjoy  life 
without  the  trials  and  hardships  which  they  were 
called  on  to  endure. 


I 


§$'Vi7'-X 


v:u«V"V 


WHITKSIDR  COUNTY. 


gOWNSHIP  history  is  an  es- 
sential and  prominent  part 
of  the  county  history.  The 
various  parts  of  Whiteside 
County  were  settled  by  men 
most  of  whom  have  repre- 
sentatives now  living  in  the 
county,  or  are  still  living  here 
themselves.  A  careful  reading  of 
the  incidents  relating  to  the  early 
settlement  of  the  several  town- 
ships will  repay  the  reader,  as  each 
one  contains  the  names  of  the  first 
settlers,  and  many  other  items 
which  are  required  to  make  the 
history  complete.  The  township 
histories  are  given  in  their  alpha- 
betical order,  and  the  sketches  of 
the  villages  are  included  in  their  respective  town- 
ships. The  cities  of  Morrison,  Sterling  and  Fulton 
follow  the  townships. 


ALBANY  TOWNSHIP. 

|f  LBANY  in  its  precinct  organization  em- 
braced its  present  territory  and  that  of 
Garden  Plain,  Newton  and  a  part  of  the 
Congressional  township  of  Cordova,  now  form- 
ing a  part  of  Rock  Island  County.  It  was 
organized  under  the  township  system  April  6, 
1852.  At  the  election  for  township  organization 
held  Nov.  4,  1851,  Albany  Precinct  cast  59  votes  in 
favor  and  19  against  the  organization. 

The  first  meeting  for  selecting  township  officials 
was  held  at  the  school-house  in  the  village  of  Albany 


„".,.., 


and  resulted  in  the  election  of  Wm.  S.  Barnes  for 
Supervisor,  M.  S.  Denlinger,  Clerk ;  Wm.  Ewing  and 
Ivy  Buck,  Justices  of  the  Peace  ;  Charles  Boynton, 
Assessor;  B.  L.  Quick,  Collector;  Commissioners  of 
Highway,  Alfred  Slocum  and  J.  B.  Emmons  ;  Over- 
seer of  the  Poor,  Henry  Pease  ;  Constables,  Chester 
Lusk  and  Thomas  Stagg.  Albany  Township  is  only 
a  fraction  alone,  and  is  in  Congressional  townships  20 
and  2 1  north,  of  range  2  east  of  the  4lh  principal 
meridian.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Miss- 
issippi River,  on  the  east  by  Garden  Plain  and  New- 
ton Townships,  on  the  south  and  west  by  Rock  Island 
County,  and  the  west  by  the  Mississippi.  In  the 
northern  part  of  this  township  and  along  the  Missis- 
sippi the  land  is  high  and  very  much  broken.  Along 
the  Marais  d'  Osier,  the  land  is  low,  and  contains  a 
good  many  sloughs.  On  the  bluffs,  or  highlands,  the 
soil  is  clay  with  a  mixture  of  sand ;  in  the  low  lands 
the  soil  is  mostly  a  heavy  loam.  The  township  is 
long  and  narrow,  and  is  watered  by  the  Mississippi, 
the  Marais  d'  Osier  and  Spring  Creek. 

The  Marais  d'  Osier  extends  from  the  Mississippi 
to  Rock  River,  passing  through  the  northwestern 
portion  of  the  township.  The  high  land  divides  it, 
one  part  flowing  into  the  Mississippi  and  the  other 
into  Rock  River.  Some  of  the  scenery  in  this  town- 
ship is  quite  beautiful,  especially  the  northern  part, 
which  has  a  commanding  view  of  the  "  Father  of 
Waters."  There  are  many  fine  farms  which  are  well 
cultivated  and  highly  improved,  with  good  dwellings 
and  farm  buildings.  The  people  have  given  con- 
siderable attention  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit,  which 
does  well  here.  The  Southwestern  Division  of  the 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  passes  through  the 
township  from  north  to  south.  This  railroad,  with 
the  Mississippi,  gives  the  people  ample  means  of 
transportation. 

— ^€^ H 


ft 

1 

1 


•® 


The  first  Supervisor  of  this  township,  W.  S.  Barnes, 
')  died  at  Albany   village,  July  20,  1872,  and  his  re- 
s' ,*  mains  rest  in  the  Albany  Cemetery. 

The  early  settlers  in  the  territory  now  embraced  by 
(Qjthis  township  were  mostly  identified  with  Albany 
village;  and  the  history  of  the  township  and  the  vil- 
lage are  so  closely  woven  together  that  it  has  been 
thought  best  to  continue  the  history  of  the  township 
in  that  of  the  village. 

The  County  Superintendent,  in  his  annual  report 
for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1884,  furnishes  the  fol- 
-j  lowing  information  regarding  the  school  of  this  tOwn- 
.1  ship:  School  District  i,  which  is  graded  and  has  a 
brick  building.  Value  of  school  property,  $4,000. 
Of  persons  under  21  years  of  age  there  were  334,  of 
whom  229  were  of  scholastic  age,  184  being  enrolled. 
The  highest  wages  paid  teachers  was  $70  per  month; 
the  lowest  $30.  Tax  levy,  $900. 

From  the  Assessors'  report  of  1884  the  following 
information  is  obtained :  Number  of  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  3,207 ;  valuation  of  improved  land, 
$34,701;  Total  value  of  town  lots,  $37,537;  total 
value  of  personal  property,  $30,549 ;  number  of 
horses,  240;  asses  and  mules,  3  ;  cattle,  565  ;  sheep, 
*  32;  hogs,  364;  carriages  and  wagons,  135  ;  watches 
and  clocks,  174;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  104; 
pianos,  16;  organs  and  melodeons,  33.  Total  value 
of  lands,  lots  and  personal  property,  $119,169. 

Below  are  given  the  names  of  the  Supervisors 
who  have  represented  this  township  since  its  or- 
ganization : 

SUPERVISORS. 

W.  S.  Barnes 1852  E.  H.  Nevitt 1871-6 

f     William  Y.  Wetzell 1853  Peter  Ege    1877-82 

A.T.Hudson "8=4-5  J.  F.  Hopper 1883 

'     W.S.Barnes   1856-62  Peter  Ege 1884 

t>enn  S.  Efner 1863-70  Geprge  D.  Quick ...  1885 


Albany  Village. 

OR  natural  beauty  of  location  Albany  is  un- 
surpassed by  any  town  in  the  county,  and 
also  for  commercial  advantages.  In  its 
site  it  has  no  superior;  but  advantages  in  loca- 
tion do  not  always  make  towns  or  cities.  The 
most  trivial  circumstance  often  shapes  the 
destinies  of  nations;  so,  also,  with  towns  and  indi- 
viduals. Albany  was  settled  about  as  early  as  any 


other  part  of  the  county,  and  had  the  power  of 
the  great  Mississippi  to  aid  it  in  the  beginning. 
People  came  here  to  trade  at  one  time  from  all  parts 
of  the  precinct.  It  had  the  Mississippi  as  a  great 
auxiliary  on  one  side,  and  all  it  wanted  to  insure  its 
prosperity  was  a  timely  connection  with  the  great 
lakes  by  rail.  This  the  keen-sighted  founders  of 
Albany  saw,  but  failed  in  the  necessary  activity  to 
consummate  it.  Delays,  they  say,  are  dangerous. 
It  so  appeared  in  the  case  in  point. 

In  1851  the  General  Assembly  of  Illinois  passed 
a  bill  for  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  Beloit, 
Wis.,  to  Rock  Island.  The  general  line  of  this  road 
was  to  run  along  Rock  River  Valley,  from  Beloit  to 
Rockford,  Dixon,  Sterling,  and  to  Albany,  and  from 
Albany  to  Rock  Island.  A  meeting  of  the  project- 
ors and  friends  of  this  enterprise  was  held  at  Ster- 
ling in  February,  1852,  the  result  of  which  was  the 
division  of  this  route  into  four  sections,  and  the 
passage  of  a  resolution  providing  that  from  the 
capital  stock  first  subscribed  an  amount  should  be 
at  once  appropriated  sufficient  to  complete  the  third 
section  of  the  road.  The  first  section  of  the  road 
was  to  extend  from  Beloit  to  Rockford  ;  the  second 
from  Rockford  to  Dixon ;  the  third  from  Dixon  to 
Albany,  and  the  fourth  from  Albany  to  Rock  Island, 
completing  the  line.  In  accordance  with  the  reso- 
tion,  a  contract  was  made  for  the  completion  of  the 
third  section;  but  there  were  many  delays  in  its 
execution,  which  were  fatal  to  the  enterprise  and 
the  aspiring  hopes  of  the  citizens  of  Albany.  The 
Galena  &  Chicago,  and  the  Mississippi  &  Rock 
River  Junction  Companies  joined  their  interests,  and 
directly  commenced  the  construction  of  their  line  to 
Fulton.  This  defeated  the  former  enterprise,  and 
gave  a  direct  blow  to  the  growth  of  Albany. 

The  village  of  Albany  is  located  on  what  is  called 
the  Great  Eastern  Bend  of  the  Mississippi.  The 
landing  could  not  be  better.  The  town  site  is 
highly  picturesque  and  beautiful.  From  the  river 
the  ground  rises  at  an  angle  of  some  20  degrees, 
until  it  reaches  the  height  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try, where  a  commanding  view  of  the  Mississippi 
and  its  Iowa  borders  is  had.  The  first  settlers  here, 
as  far  as  known,  were  Mr.  Mitchell  and  Edwin 
Corbin,  squatters,  who  came  in  in  1835  and  made 
claims,  the  former  at  the  upper  end,  and  the  latter 
at  the  lower  end,  of  Albany. 

In    the   spring   of   1836,  Lewis   Spurlock,  Alfred 


* 


WHITES1DE  COUXTY. 


839 


Slocum,  William  Nevitt  and  Gilbert  Buckingham 
came  in  and  located  in  Upper  Albany,  as  it  is 
called,  buying  out  Mitchell's  interest,  and  S.  M. 
Kilgour,  R.  H.  Niblack,  I.  C.,  Allen,  C.  R.  Rood, 
P.  B.  Vannest,  Oliver  McMahan,  E.  Allen,  S. 
Mitchell,  D.  Mitchell,  A.  Bergen,  C.  Lusk  and 
Samuel  Searles  located  in  Lower  Albany,  buying 
out  Edwin  Corbin's  claim.  This  ground  was  subse- 
quently laid  off  into  133  lots,  and  filed  for  record. 
C.  R.  Rood,  Spurlock  and  Garrett  made  an  addition 
in  1841.  The  land  was  re-surveyed  by  W.  S.  Wil- 
kinson, in  March,  1842.  Liberal  reserves  were 
made  for  public  buildings,  schools  and  churches. 

About  one  mile  below  Albany  the  Marias  d'Osier 
puts  into  the  Mississippi.  The  country  in  this 
vcinity  and  along  Rock  River  is  unsurpassed ;  and 
it  was  prophesied  that,  with  the  exception  of  the 
sloughs,  it  would  be  covered  with  a  dense  popu- 
lation. 

In  1837  an  addition  was  made  to  the  settlement 
in  the  persons  of  Jonathan  Davis  and  family,  Ivy 
and  Duty  Buck,  with  their  families,  Jeremiah  Rice, 
Willis  C.  Osborne,  Gregory  McMahan,  Uriah  Cook, 
Thomas  Finch.  The  settlers  continued  to  come  in 
until  the  spring  of  1839 — among  the  last  arrivals 
being  Capt.  W.  S.  Barnes  and  family,  Dr.  John 
Clark  and  family,  and  Benjamin  S.  Quick — when 
the  sickly  season  set  in,  and  emigration  for  a  time 
was  suspended. 

The  first  Postmaster  commissioned  was  Willis  C. 
Osborne,  in  the  winter  of  1837.  The  first  mail  ser- 
vice was  established  the  same  year,  the  route  being 
from  Galena  to  Rock  Island.  It  was  a  pony  mail 
service. 

Ivy  Buck  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He 
also  opened  the  first  store,  which  was  in  the  lower 
end  of  the  town.  This  was  in  1838.  He  had  only 
a  small  stock. 

The  first  man  to  open  up  a  general  store  was 
Capt.  W.  S.  Barnes,  who  was  a  steamboat  Captain, 
and  who  brought  his  goods  from  St.  Louis.  This 
was  in  the  fall  of  1839.  Capt.  Barnes  died  July  20, 
1872,  and  his  wife  Jan.  24,  1885. 

The  first  hotel  was  opened  in  1837,  in  the  lower 
end  of  the  town,  by  Oliver  and  Gregory  McMahan. 
It  was  a  log  building,  but  it  is  reported  to  have  done 
good  service. 

Alfred  Slocum  opened  a  hotel  soon  after  in  the 


v 


-      -- 


upper  end  of  the  town.  It  was  also  a  log  building . 
Mr.  Slocum  subsequently  erected  a  stone  building 
for  his  hotel  service,  which  is  still  standing  on  the 
banks  of  the  river. 

R.  C.  Niblack  and  Amy  Buck,  daughter  of  Ivy 
Buck,  were  the  first  to  unite  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony.  This  interesting  event  occurred  Feb. 
n,  1838. 

The  first  natural  increase  to  the  population  of  the 
town  was  May  18,  1838,  when  Josephine,  daughter 
of  Jonathan  and  Phoebe  Davis,  announced  her  ar- 
rival. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  tfate  Allen,  daughter 
of  E.  Allen,  one  of  the  platters  of  the  village.  This 
was.  in  1838. 

When  the  settlers  came  there  were  several  bands 
of  Indians  around  the  country.  They  were  camped 
mostly  about  the  Marais  d'  Osier.  Prior  to  this 
period,  and  before  the  white  man's  foot  ever  rested 
upon  this  soil,  there  must  have  been  extensive  tribes 
of  Indians  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Albany.  There 
is  every  indication  that  there  was  here  at  some  time 
in  the  past  a  large  Indian  village. 

South  of  the  town  and  along  the  banks  of  the 
Mississipppi  there  are  numerous  mounds,  some  of 
them  quite  large.  These  mounds  were  the  ceme- 
teries of  this  race,  so  rapidly  passing  away,  when 
they  had  a  country  they  could  call  their  own.  As 
the  ground  is  broken  to  meet  the  demands  of  what 
we  are  pleased  to  call  a  more  advanced  civilization, 
bones  of  this  race,  or  one  even  preceding  it,  are  be- 
ing exhumed.  While  the  historian  was  at  Albany, 
one  of  the  citizens,  to  get  some  soil  for  his  garden, 
dug  into  one  of  these  mounds.  In  doing  so,  he 
threw  up  skulls,  bones,  and  implements  peculiar  to 
the  Indian  race.  Thus  the  bodies  of  the  older  race 
have  become  the  means  of  enriching  the  soil  for  the 
use  of  the  new. 

Here,  too,  have  been  found  evidences  of  a  race 
prior  to  the  Indian.  One  of  the  citizens  has  a  relic 
— a  small  bowl — which  was  taken  from  one  of  these 
mounds.  It  is  made  of  finer  material  than  the  In- 
dian ware.  Around  the  outside  of  this  bowl  are 
convex,  or  circular,  designs  in  relief.  Upon  these 
and  all  over  the  sides  of  the  bowl  are  carved  Ma- 
sonic emblems,  and  hieroglyphics.  It  is  probably  a 
censor,  or  an  incense  bowl,  once  belonging  to  the 
Mound-Builders.  Numerous  kinds  of  relics  and 

^ — ^€^ •* 


i 


fossils  have  been  found  along  this  shore  and  in  these 
mounds. 

In  1844  a  regular  line  of  stages  was  started  run- 
ning from  Chicago  to  Albany.  They  were  put  on  by 
those  popular  stage  men,  Frink  &  Walker.  This 
gave  a  new  impetus  to  the  growth  of  the  town.  Af- 
ter the  establishment  of  this  line,  Capt.  W.  S.  Barnes 
converted  his  fine  dwelling-house  into  a  hotel,  which 
he  named  the  Eagle  Hotel.  It  became  a  popular 
resort  for  travelers,  and  was  extensively  patronized. 
Other  hotels  soon  followed,  and  all  were  well  patron- 
ized, for  Albany  was  a  live  town  in  those  days.  The 
Eagle  Hotel  is  stilf  standing,  near  the  waters  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  is  open  for  the  traveling  public. 

A  ferry  was  started  between  Albany  and  Comanche 
as  early  as  1840,  by  the  Mitchell  Brothers.  Horse 
power  was  at  first  used :  afterwards  they  put  on  a 
steam  ferry-boat. 

The  first  saw-mill  was  put  up  in  1838.  It  was  a 
steam  mill  and  was  built  by  C.  S.  Dorsey,  and  was 
located  in  the  lower  end  of  town  on  the  river  bank. 
It  cut  out  a  good  deal  of  lumber  and  was  of  great 
assistance  to  the  building  up  of  the  town.  After 
running  several  years  it  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Several  stores  followed  that  of  Capt.  Barnes,  and 
Albany  became  quite  a  trading  point. 

Another  saw-mill  was  started  in  1853,  by  a  com- 
pany. The  members  of  this  firm  were  E.  H.  Nevitt, 
Francis  R.  Walker  and  John  D.  Mcllvaine.  It  was 
a  large  steam  mill,  with  planing  machinery  attached. 

This  mill  was  destroyed  by  the  tornado  of 
1860.  This  tornado,  reached  Albany  on  Sunday, 
June  3,  1860,  and  from  its  fearful,  destructive  power, 
struck  terror  into  the  hearts  of  all  the  inhabitants. 
It  came  from  the  northwest,  crossing  the  Mississippi 
and  striking  th»  upper  end  of  the  town.  It  passed 
through  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  devastating 
almost  everything  in  its  pathway,  killing  several  citi- 
zens and  injuring  others.  It  is  reported  to  have  been 
one  of  the  most  terrible  tornadoes  ever  witnessed  in 
the  country.  Heavy  stone  and  brick  buildings  were 
leveled  to  the  ground  and  seemed  to  have  no  more 
power  of  resistance  than  the  slightest  frame  structure. 
Nearly  every  building  was  demolished,  and  the 
wrecks  of  many  may  be  seen  to  this  day.  It  was 
very  peculiar  in  its  movements.  Some  buildings  it 
would  tear  all  to  pieces  ;  others  it  would  remove  from 
their  foundations  with  but  little  injury.  Stock  and 


fowls   were  killed,   some  of  the  latter  being  entirely 
denuded  of  their  feathers. 

The  tornado  lasted  only  a  few  moments,  but  its 
devastating  work  wag  sickening  to  behold.  Nearly 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  property  was 
destroyed.  Those  killed  were  Edward  Efner,  Duty 
Buck,  Mr.  Rileyand  Mr.  Sweet.  It  was  many  years 
before  Albany  recovered  from  the  effects  of  this  tor- 
nado. In  fact,  it  is  thought  it  never  did. 

About  the  middle  of  December,  1865,  the  first 
railroad  train  came  into  Albany.  This  road  was  first 
called  the  Western  Union.  It  is  now  called  the 
Southwestern  Division  of  the  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
Railroad. 

Albany  village  was  organized  under  the  incorpora- 
tion act  of  1845,  and  the  amendments  thereto,  in 
1869.  A  meeting  was  held  for  this  purpose  at  the 
office  of  E.  H.  Nevitt,  February  15.  D.  S.  Efner,  H. 
M.  Booth,  W.  D.  Haslet,  A.  Winans  and  R.  H.  Nib- 
luck  were  elected  Trustees.  D.  S.  Efner  was  then 
chosen  President;  E.  H.  Nevitt,  Clerk,  and  H.  M. 
Booth,  Treasurer.  The  vote  for  incorporation  was 
taken  Jan.  25,  1869.  There  were  82  votes  cast,  62 
votes  for,  and  20  against.  The  cor]x>rate  limits  em- 
brace all  of  the  north  half  of  sections  25  and  26,  and' 
all  of  fractional  section  24,  in  town  21  north,  range  2 
east. 

Albany  had  at  one  time  great  hopes  of  securing 
the  outlet  into  the  Mississippi  of  the  Hennepin  Canal. 
A  bill  was  presented  to  Congress  by  the  member 
from  this  district  asking  for  an  appropriation  for  a 
survey  for  a  ship  canal  from  the  Illinois  River  to  the 
Mississippi.  The  bill  was  passed  by  the  Forty- 
seventh  Congress  providing  for  a  survey  and  appro- 
priating $30,000  to  defray  the  expenses.  Three 
routes  were  surveyed,  one  to  Albany,  one  to  Water- 
town  and  one  to  Rock  Island.  The  engineers  re- 
ported in  favor  of  the  Albany  route,  and  estimated 
the  cost  at  a  million  less  than  the  route  to  Rock 
Island.  Political,  as  well  as  moneyed  influences,  how- 
ever, are  in  favor  of  the  latter  route,  and  a  bill  is  be- 
fore Congress  to  this  effect,  which  undoubtedly  will 
pass. 

Could  this  canal  be  brought  into  Albany  it  would 
insure  its  development,  and  make  of  it  a  large,  thriv- 
ing town.  It  has  now  the  local  tradeof  the  township, 
with  some  parts  of  Newton,  and  is  steadily  growing. 
There  are  some  fair  business  houses  here  and  some 


•  - 


1 

<§) 


-•        ' 


attractive  dwellings.  Its  attractive  features  for  resi- 
dences and  for  business  may  yet  be  appreciated  by 
the  business  world,  and  the  tide  set  in  in  its  favor. 

The  census  report  of  1880  gave  the  population  at 
810,  including  the  village;  that  of  the  village,  623. 
The  estimated  population  of  the  village  is  now  700. 
The  present  officers  are,  President,  W.  Hanna ;  Trus- 
tees, David  Byers,  Wm.  Graves,  Charles  H.  Slocum 
and  Joseph  Smith  ;  Clerk,  D.  S.  Efner  ;  Treasurer,  E. 
R.  Beckwith ;  Constable,  James  Beach. 

BUSINESS    INTERESTS. 

Paddock  &  Son,  general  line  of  merchandise,  sta- 
tionery and  wall  paper. 

C.  A.  Olds  &  Co.,  general  merchandise. 

E.  R.  Beckwith,  general  grocery  store. 

S.  E.  Chamberlain  carries  a  line  of  drugs  and 
medicines. 

J.  A.  Eddy  has  a  grocery  store,  with  confectionery 
and  jewelry. 

E.  H.  Nevitt,  general  lumber  dealer. 

George  H.  Colby  deals  in  organs,  and  is  under- 
taker. 

Booth  &  Bros,  are  general  hardware  dealers,  and 
have  a  tinshop. 

J.  W.  Dinneen  deals  in  wagons,  buggies,  agricul- 
tural implements,  and  has  a  blacksmith  shop. 

Nicholas  Freek  manufactures  brick. 

E.  A.  Fassett  has  harness  and  saddlery. 

Graves  &  Son,  wagon-makers,  skiff-builders  and 
blacksmithing. 

Miss  Frances  D.  Barnes  has  millinery  and  fancy 
goods. 

C.  E.  Langford  &  Co.,  of  Fulton,  have  a  saw-mill, 
but  it  is  not  in  operation. 

Beach  &  Bros,  and  A.  Fletcher  keep  meat- 
markets. 

O.  O.  Huggins  has  a  restaurant  and  a  confection- 
ery store. 

L.  G.  Perkins  has  a  boot  and  shoe  shop. 

The  legal  profession  is  represented  by  D.  S.  Efner 
and  C.  P.  Ege,  and  the  medical  profession  by  Drs. 
E.  R.  Robinson  and  M.  M.  Samnis. 

Eagle  Hotel,  W.  H.  Barnes,  proprietor.  This  hotel 
is  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  Albany,  and  has  fur- 
nished accommodations  for  travelers  for  a  generation 
past. 

C.  D.  Paddock  presides  over  the  postoffice. 

>Vg®t|i»- 

ysv**vy*^ 


EDUCATIONAL. 

The  people  of  Albany  have  a  good  graded  school, 
which  is  in  charge  of  a  thorough  and  energetic 
teacher.  The  building  is  constructed  of  brick  and  is 
a  substantial  one,  large  and  roomy. 

D.  F.  Shirk  is  the  Principal ;  Miss  Hattie  Church- 
ill, Assistant.  Kittie  Hawks  has  charge  of  the  Inter- 
mediate, and  Miss  Frances  Olds,  the  Primary  De- 
partment. Average  attendance,  190.  The  school 
has  eight  grades,  with  a  full  English  course  of  study. 
It  has  graduating  classes  and  issues  diplomas.  The 
first  graduating  exercises  were  held  May  14,  1885, 
and  was  attended  with  marked  success.  There  are 
five  institute  divisions  in  the  county.  Albany  and 
Erie  form  one  division.  They  hold  their  meetings 
once  a  month.  It  includes  teachers  in  active  service. 
A  chairman  is  elected  for  one  year.  They  discuss 
questions  that  may  arise,  and  particularly  those 
questions  that  relate  to  teaching. 

PRESS. 

The  Albany  News  was  established  by  F.  C.  and 
W.  G.  Redline.  Its  first  issue  was  cast  before  the 
good  people  of  Albany  Dec.  12,  1884,  and  it  has  fur- 
nished them  with  the  current  news  of  the  day  and 
good  reading  matter  from  that  date.  The  News  is  a 
fouvcolumn  quarto,  and  is  issued  every  Friday.  It 
is  Republican  in  politics,  has  a  good  circulation,  and 
is  ably  conducted. 

The  Albany  Times.  This  paper  was  started  by 
W.  G.  Bleecker  in  the  spring  of  1883,  and  continued 
publication  until  the  summer  of  1884,  when  it  was 
suspended.  The  press  was  moved  to  Clinton,  Iowa, 
and  the  editor  arranged  with  the  Clinton  Weekly 
News  to  fill  out  his  contract  with  his  subscribers  by  i 
sending  them  that  paper. 

SOCIETIES. 

Albany  Lodge,  A.  F.  fy  A.  M.,  No.  566,  was  in- 
stituted May  18,  1867,  under  dispensation  granted 
April  25,  the  same  year.  J.  M.  Eaton  was  the  first 
W.  M.  The  present  W.  M.  is  J.  F.  Hopper.  The 
lodge  has  now  a  membership  of  42.  They  rent  a 
hall,  which  is  commodious  and  well  equipped.  The 
society  is  in  good  working  condition. 

/.  O.  O.  F.,  No.  168,  was  organized  March  16, 
This  lodge  has  a  membership  of  15.  They  meet  in 
the  G.  A.  R.  Hall.  The  first  N.  G.  was  James 
Beach,  who  is  also  the  present  N.  G. 


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The  G.  A.  J?.,  Captain  A.  F.  Knight  Post,  was 
chartered  June  14,  1884.  C.  P.  Ege  was  the  first 
Commander,  and  J.  B.  David  is  the  present.  Their 
membership  numbers  31.  They  have  a  good  hall, 
and  are  prosperous. 

Sons  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Lieut,  James  Elaine  Camp, 
No.  20.  This  society  was  chartered  March  23,  1885. 
They  have  a  membership  of  20,  and  meet  in  the 
G.  A.  R.  Hall. 

Modern  Woodmen  of  America  was  organized  Feb. 
20,  1884,  with  20  members;  Venerable  Consul, 
C.  P.  Ege.  This  society  has  a  good  hall,  which  is 
fitted  up  very  uniquely,  and  after  the  manner  of  their 
order.  The  present  Venerable  Consul  is  G.  A. 
Cobey,  and  their  membership  is  67.  The  Camp 
is  increasing  in  numbers. 

RELIGIOUS. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — This  society  was  or- 
ganized in  1840,  by  Rev.  Philo  Judson.  Previous  to 
this  time  the  members  of  this  church  were  visited 
by  circuit  riders,  and  had  preaching  in  private  houses. 
The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1861,  and 
dedicated  New  Year's  Day,  1862.  Rev.  J.  Frost  was 
in  charge  at  this  time.  The  building  cost  $t,«oo. 
In  1860,  the  tornado  blew  down  their  house  of  wor- 
ship, which  had  been  formerly  used  as  a  school- 
house.  The  latter  part  of  1868,  Rev.  Barton  Cart- 
wright  took  charge,  and  assisted  financially  to  build 
the  parsonage.  A  subscription  was  taken  up  at  the 
time  of  the  dedication,  and  money  enough  was  col- 
lected to  pay  off  the  debt  of  the  Church  and  leave  a 
balance  on  hand.  An  interesting  Sabbath-school  is 
connected  with  the  Church.  Rev.  F.  Lines  is  the 
present  Pastor. 

ALBANY   CEMETERY. 

The  citizens  of  the  village  have  secured  a  good 
site  for  their  last  resting  place.  It  is  located  on  the 
bluff  just  above  the  town,  and  contains  about  seven 
acres.  There  are  some  very  fine  monuments  in  this 
cemetery,  where  rest  the  remains  of  many  of  Alba- 
ny's first  citizens. 

dfgdfj. ^^^ — &* 


CLYDE  TOWNSHIP. 

LYDE  Township  was  organized  April  6, 
1852.  The  first  meeting  for  choosing 
township  officials  was  called  together  and 
Thomas  Exley  was  chosen  Moderator,  and 
Thomas  Milnes,  Clerk.  When  the  polls  were 
closed  the  ballot-box  was  found  to  contain  21 
votes,  and  they  were  cast  with  the  following  result : 
W.  P.  Hiddleson  for  Supervisor;  Thomas  Milnes, 
Clerk ;  Thomas  Exley,  Assessor ;  Ed.  Wick  and 
William  Alldritt,  for  Commissioners  of  Highway; 
John  McKinley,  for  Constable;  and  Ed.  Wick  and 
William  Willson  for  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Clyde  is  in  the  northern  tier  of  townships,  number 
22  north,  range  5  east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian, 
and  is  a  full  Congressional  township. 

Carroll  County  bounds  it  on  the  north,  Genesee 
Township  on  the  east,  Mount  Pleasant  on  the  south 
and  Ustick  on  the  West.  It  formerly  belonged  to 
Union  Precinct. 

Jesse  Hill  is  credited  with  being  the  first  settler 
in  Clyde,  in  the  spring  of  1835.  He  was  followed 
by  William  Wink,  who  made  a  claim  adjoining. 
There  was  but  very  little  done  toward  settling  up  or 
improving  this  territory  until  1838,  when  substantial 
men  began  to  come  in.  During  this  year  Samuel 
Wessell,  who  was  a  native  of  England,  Zachariah 
Dent,  H.  W.  Daniels,  Hugh  Hollinshead  and  Mr. 
Wing  came  in  and  made  settlements. 

In  1839  Mr.  Wing  and  H.  H.  Fowler  put  up  a 
saw-mill  on  Rock  Creek,  and  commenced  cutting 
out  lumber.  It  was  during  this  year  that  Wing, 
who  it  appears  was  a  speculative  genius,  got  up  a 
real-estate  boom,  taking  in  some  Eastern  men.  He 
staked  off  some  lots  at  the  mill,  and  founded  what 
he  would  have  people  believe,  a  future  great  city. 
This  he  called  Genesee  City.  Quite  an  addition 
was  made  to  the  population  this  year,  but  the  "  city  " 
did  not  seem  to  grow  much,  though  there  was  plenty 
of  land  for  it  to  expand  in,  and  Wing  had  it 'for  sale. 
Cabins,  however,  were  put  up,  farms  laid  out,  ground 
broken,  and  farming  begun  in  good  earnest.  They 
had  a  ready  market  for  all  their  products  at  Albany, 
Fulton  and  other  more  distant  towns. 

In  this,  as  in  all  the  other  townships,  the  early 
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settlers,  sspecially  those  coming  directly  from  the 
East,  were  prone  to  locate  about  the  timber,  holding 
the  erroneous  belief  that  here  were  the  best  farming 
lands.  Experience,  however,  soon  taught  them  their 
mistake. 

During  the  early  times,  religious  services  were 
held  by  the  pioneers  at  what  was  called  Genesee 
Grove,  and  at  the  houses  of  the  settlers,  which  were 
conducted  by  some  missionary.  Some,  when  they 
wanted  a  religious  feast,  would  go  down  to  Union- 
ville.  in  Union  Grove  Township. 

Mrs.  Belinda  Beswick,  wife  of  Richard  Beswick, 
won  the  admiration  of  the  settlers  by  presenting  to 
them  a  son,  the  first  child  born  in  the  township. 
This  event  occurred  on  the  toth  of  February,  A.  D. 
1840.  He  was  named  George  Richard. 

Marriages  in  those  days  were  by  no  means  com- 
mon, and  when  Sam.  Currie  and  Julia  Thomas  were 
joined  together  in  holy  bonds  of  wedlock,  it  was  an 
occasion  of  great  interest  and  they  the  recipients  of 
many  blessings.  Tradition  gives  this  important 
event  as  occurring  in  September,  1840. 

The  first  deaths  were  those  of  John  and  Margaret 
Blue,  who  died  in  the  fall  of  1839. 

The  people  were  without  the  advantages  of  schools 
for  several  years.  In  1846  a  summer  school  was 
opened  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Exley,  and  Lucy 
Exley  was  the  teacher. 

The  firs',  grist-mill  started  in  the  township  was  by 
Mr.  Broth  well,  on  section  13,  on  Rock  Creek.  This 
was  on  the  old  saw-mill  site. 

In  1867,  the  Methodists,  having  organized  a  so- 
ciety and  gathered  up  funds  sufficient  for  their  pur- 
pose, erected  them  a  church  edifice.  This  was 
located  on  section  7.  Having  an  organization  and  a 
house  of  worship,  they  secured  the  services  of  Rev. 
L.  C.  Connant.  This  was  a  growing  and  an  active 
society  for  many  years,  and  to  it  was  attached  an 
interesting  Sunday-school.  Services  are  still  held 
in  this  church. 

The  Dunkards  also  have  .an  organization  in  this 
township  and  hold  services  regularly. 

W.  D.  Hayes  secured  the  establishment  of  a  mail 
route  in  the  township  in  1876,  with  a  postoffice  at 
Malvern  village.  He  was  appointed  Postmaster, 
and  has  held  the  position  since  that  time.  There  is 
another  postoffice  now  in  the  township,  located  on 
section  14,  and  known  as  the  White  Pigeon  office. 

®%&^&— 


George  Platt  is  Postmaster.  This  was  first  located 
on  section  i,  with  J.  S.  Reed  as  Postmaster.  Mr. 
Platt  has  in  connection  with  his  office  a  grocery 
store. 

Of  the  first  settlers,  the  only  one  living  now  in  the 
township  is  Zachariah  Dent.  He  still  resides  on 
section  14,  and,  considering  his  age,  is  a  pretty 
hearty  man. 

Clyde  Township  is  very  liberally  watered  and  well 
timbered,  with  many  beautiful  little  groves.  The 
land  is  rolling,  and  in  some  localities  quite  broken 
and  picturesque.  The  soil  is  mostly  clay.  In  the 
bottoms  it  is  a  heavy  loam.  There  are  many 
splendid  farms  in  the  township,  with  fine  farm 
buildings.  The  nearest  railroad  station  is  at  Morri- 
son. The  population  is  estimated  at  1,100. 

S.  B.  Geyer  has  a  grist-mill  on  section  26.  Hiram 
Barthell  has  also  a  grist-mill,  which  is  on  the  old 
Broth  well  mill  site,  section  13. 

T.  R.  King  has  a  creamery  at  Round  Grove. 

There  is  a  good  school  at  Geyer's  mill,  taught  by 
Miss  Emma  Fisk,  and  one  at  White  Pigeon,  taught 
by  Miss  Mattie  E.  Young.  At  this  school  there  is 
an  average  attendance  of  20  pupils. 

The  Assessor's  reports  for  the  last  year  furnishes 
the  following  figures :  number  of  acres  of  improved 
land,  22,023;  value  of  these  lands,  $252,775  ;  total 
value  of  personal  property,  $215,925;  number  of 
horses,  459;  asses  and  mules,  14;  sheep,  238  ;  hogs, 
1,306;  carriages  and  wagons,  204;  watches  and 
clocks,  142;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  too; 
pianos,  4  ;  organs  and  melodeons,  24  ;  total  value  of 
lands,  lots  and  personal  property,  $316,532. 

From  the  annual  report  of  the  County  Superin- 
tendent for  1884,  the  following  statistics  have  been 
obtained:  number  of  school  districts  8,  with  8  frame 
school  buildings;  valuation  of  school  property,  $5,- 
885  ;  of  persons  under  21  years  of  age  there  were 
506,  of  whom  372  were  of  scholastic  age,  and  279 
enrolled;  the  highest  wages  paid  teachers  was  $50 
per  month;  the  lowest,  $23;  the  tax  levy  was 
$2,144. 

Below  is  a  list  of  the  Supervisors  who  have  repre- 
sented the  township  since  its  organization  : 


SUPERVISORS. 


William  P.  Hiildleson. 
Joseph  H.  Hrothwell.. 
Benjamin  West 

'I  lnniiHS  Melnes 

William  Willson 


1852-3 
1854 

'855 


J.  B.  Van  Court 1856 

William  P.  Hiildleson...  1857-8 

Richard   Heswick   1859-72 

Joseph  Milnes 1873-82 

George  Janvrin 1883-5 


-  ' 


- 


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>  844 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


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MALVERN   VILLAGE. 

Malvern  village  is  located  on  section  35,  and  is 
quite  a  stirring  little  hamlet.  S.  E.  Horning  has  a 
wagon-shop,  where  he  puts  up  a  first-class  wagon. 
He  also  does  repairing  and  general  blacksmithing. 

Thomas  D.  Kline  carries  a  good  stock  of  goods — 
dry-goods,  groceries,  hardware,  boots  and  shoes,  etc. 

This  village  is  connected  with  the  telephone 
system. 


COLOMA  TOWNSHIP. 

»LL  that  part  of  Congressional  township 
21  north,  range  7  east,  lying  south  of 
Rock  River,  comprises  the  township  of  Co- 
loma.  The  surface  of  the  township  is  some- 
what broken,  and  the  soil  is  generally  a  sandy 
loam.  Edward  Atkins  and  Isaac  Merrill 
were  the  first  settlers,  locating  here  early  in  1837. 
Noah  Merrill  and  Daniel  Brooks  came  the  same 
year.  Soon  after  came  Samuel  B.,  Frank  and  John 
J.  Gushing,  W.  W.  Durant,  A.  B.  Wheeler,  Ira  Silla- 
man,  Zerah  M.  Chapman,  Herman  Emmons,  L.  H. 
Woodworth,  Artemus  W.  Worthington,  Daniel  F. 
Batcheller  and  Asa  F.  R.  Emmons. 

Edward  Atkins  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  came 
to  this  county  from  Canada.  He  was  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  Rapids  City.  It  is  said  that  in  Can- 
ada he  went  by  the  name  of  Watson,  was  there  mar- 
ried and  had  a  family  of  seven  children.  Leaving, 
his  family  there  he  came  here,  married  again  and  by 
the  second  wife  had  seven  more  children.  While 
he  was  in  California  the  second  wife  obtained  a  di- 
vorce. Returning,  he  went  to  Canada,  was  recon- 
ciled to  his  first  wife,  re-married,  and  lived  with  her 
till  her  death.  In  the  meantime  his  second  wife  se- 
cured a  divorce  from  the  man  she  married,  and  Mr. 
Atkins  sought  her  out,  and  they  were  again  married. 
After  remaining  here  for  a  time  the  family  removed 
to  McDonough  County. 

Noah  Merrill  was  a  native  of  Connecticut.  He 
located  near  the  present  village  of  Rock  Falls,  oppo- 
site Eagle  Island.  The  land  had  been  claimed  by 
Elijah  Worthington,  and  Mr.  Merrill  was  ordered  off 
by  the  Anti-Claim-Jumping  Association,  but  de- 


clined  to  go.  He  afterwards  sold  his  claim,  went  to 
California  in  1850,  returned  and  located  at  Sterling. 
Daniel  Brooks  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Rapids  Precinct  at  an 
early  day.  In  1849  he  sold  out,  went  to  California, 
and  died  in  San  Francisco,  of  Asiatic  cholera,  after 
a  few  hours'  illness. 

L.  H.  Woodworth  was  born  in  Vermont.  He  was 
a  well  educated  man,  and  was  for  a  time  a  teacher 
in  the  military  school  at  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J.,  and 
afterwards  Assistant  Professor  of  Mathematics  in 
Mississippi.  In  1839  he  located  in  this  township. 
He  held  the  office  of  County  Surveyor  from  1863  to 
to  1865,  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
for  a  time,  and  was  also  Swamp  Land  Commissioner. 

Asa  F.  R.  Emmons  is  a  native  of  Canada.  In 
1839  he  settled  at  Sterling,  and  in  1840  removed  to 
this  township,  where  he  yet  resides. 

Ira  Sillaman  located  in  this  township  in  1838.  He 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  generally  es- 
teemed by  all  who  knew  him.  He  has  been  dead 
many  years. 

A.  W.  Worthington  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
and  located  here  in  1840.  He  held  several  township 
offices,  and  died  many  years  ago,  from  the  effects  of 
the  bite  of  a  rattlesnake.  It  is  said  that  he  had 
lost  a  number  of  cattle  from  the  bites  of  the  reptiles, 
and  remarked  that  he  would  rather  have  been  bitten 
himself,  as  he  could  be  cured,  while  the  cattle  could 
not.  He  was  bitten,  but,  unfortunately,  not  cured. 

D.  F.  Batcheller  located  here  in  1840.  A  sketch 
of  his  son  ma.y  be  found  on  page  400. 

The  Cushings  were  from  Rhode  Island.  Samuel 
B.  died  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  1873.  John  J.  re- 
moved to  California. 

Nelson  B.,  son  of  Noah  and  Amanda  Merrill,  was 
born  Nov.  6,  1838,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
first  white  child  born  in  the  township. 

William  Hawkins  and  Lema  Brooks  were  united 
in  marriage  in  1839,  the  first  in  the  township. 

The  first  death  was" that  of  Mrs.  W.  W.  Durant, 
in  October,  1839. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  an  old  store  build- 
ing in  Rapids  City,  in  1845,  by  Miss  Anastatia 
Sturtevant.  The  next  year  an  old  granary  was 
bought  of  L.  H.  Woodworth,  for  $20,  which  was 
fitted  up  for  school  purposes.  It  was  moved  to  the 
site  of  the  present  school  building  in  the  east  dis- 
trict, and  the  first  term  of  school  held  therein  was 


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WHITESWE  COUNTY. 


by  Miss  McLaughlin.     The  schools  of  the  township 
now  are  first-class. 

Colonia  was  originally  a  part  of  Portland  Pre- 
cinct, and  subsequently  part  of  Rapids  Precinct. 
It  was  organized  as  a  township  in  1852,  the  first 
town  meeting  being  held  at  the  house  of  Richard 
Arey,  April  6.  As  a-  township  it  has  "  gone  on  the 
even  tenor  of  its  way  "  to  the  present  time,  the  only 
real  difficulty  which  it  has  had  being  in  relation  to 
the  bonds  issued  in  aid  of  the  Rock  River  Railroad. 
The  township  of  Sterling  had  been  asked  to  assist 
in  securing  the  road,  but  refused,  and  therefore  Co- 
lonia was  required  to  burden  itself  with  a  large 
debt,  it  voting  $50,000  to  the  work.  In  1873  it  was 
charged  that  the  bonds  had  been  issued  illegally, 
and  their  validity  was  contested.  Bennett  &  Sack- 
ett  were  employed  as  counsel,  and  after  expending 
nearly  $1,200  the  suit  was  abandoned,  and  on  the 
nth  of  September,  1876,  at  a  special  town  meeting, 
it  was  voted  to  issue  $25,000  wortli  of  bonds  to  pay 
interest  on  the  railroad  bonds,  together  with  costs. 

From  the  abstract  of  assessments  it  is  learned 
that  there  are  5,986  acres  of  improved  land,  valued 
at  $135,588.  The  town  lots  are  assessed  at  $139,782, 
and  personal  property  at  $78,989, — a  total  of  $356,- 
435.  There  were  subject  to  taxation  398  horses ; 
21  mules  and  asses;  796  cattle;  492  hogs;  6  steam 
engines  ;  189  carriages  and  wagons  ;  5  watches  and 
clocks ;  85  sewing  and  knitting  machines ;  16 
pianos  ;  58  organs  and  melodeons. 
SUPERVISORS. 

The  following  named  have  served  the  township  as 
members  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  : 


Richard  Arey 1852 

L.  H.  Woodworth 1853 

A.  W.  Worthington 1854 

Sidney    Barber 1855-57 

Frank  Gushing 1858-59 


L.  L.  Kmmons 1860-67 

Jas.  A.    Patterson 1868 

L.  L.  Emmons 1869-70 

M.  R.  Adams 1871-73 

H.  F.  Batcheller 1874-85 


Rock  Falls. 

N  1837,  a  portion  of  that  territory  now  occu- 
pied by  the  incorporated  village  of   Rock 
Falls,  was   known   as  Rapids  City.      The 
first  building  was  erected  by  Edward  Atkins, 
who  came  from  Canada,  and  is  the  same  now 
occupied  by  Deacon  Arey  as  a  residence.     It 
fronts  on  Bridge  Street,  and  stands  between  the  river 
and  Main  Street, 


At  this  time  the  State  had  made  an  appropriation 
of  $40,000  for  the  improvement  of  Rock  River,  an 
account  of  which  is  given  in  the  history  of  Sterling; 
and  it.  was  thought  a  large  city  would  eventually 
here  be  built.  A  town  was  laid  out  one  mile  square, 
which  presented  a  beautiful  sight  on  paper.  The 
contractors  for  the  improvement  of  the  river  opened 
a  small  store,  and  Rapids  City  had  a  beginning,  and 
that  is  all  it  ever  had.  The  hard  times  succeeding 
the  panic  of  1837  caused  the  State  to  withdraw  all 
aid  for  internal  improvements,  the  proprietors  of  the 
place  gave  up  all  hope  of  its  future  greatness,  and 
in  1857  the  plat  was  vacated. 

In  1867,  A.  P.  Smith,  of  Sterling,  purchased  an  in- 
terest in  the  water  power,  including  some  65  acres 
of  land  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  including  a 
portion  of  the  old  site  of  Rapids  City,  and  at  once 
had  surveyed  and  platted  a  town  to  which  he  gave 
the  name  of  Rock  Falls.  Mr.  Smith's  intentions  at 
first  were  to  make  the  place  an  addition  to  Sterling, 
but  he  subsequently  thought  best  to  lay  out  a  town 
independent  of  that  place.  In  platting  the  town  he 
was  joined  by  W.  A.  Sanborn  and  the  Sterling  Hy- 
draulic Company,  owners  of  a  tract  of  land  adjoining 
that  of  Mr.  Smith.  The  plat  recorded  in  the  office 
of  the  records  at  the  county  seat  is  dated  Jan.  28, 
1868. 

Aside  from  the  manufacturing  interests,  the  first 
improvements  made  in  Rock  Falls  were  by  A.  D. 
Hapgood,  who  moved  a  house  from  Como,  in  which 
he  opened  up  a  small  stock  of  general  merchandise 
late  in  the  summer  of  1867.  The  venture  was  not 
profitable.  The  house  now  forms  a  part  of  the 
Brewer  House,  and  has  been  used  for  hotel  purposes 
a  number  of  years.  Oliver  &  Saxon  and  Charles 
Hoag  now  represent  the  trade. 

In  November,  1867,  Truman  Culver  erected  a 
building  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  May 
Streets,  in  which  he  opened  a  grocery  store,  the  first 
in  the  place.  His  first  day's  sales  amounted  to  25 
cents,  his  only  customer  purchasing  a  box  of  axle 
grease.  At  the  end  of  three  weeks  the  entire 
receipts  amounted  to  $27.  The  old  adage,  "  A  poor 
beginning  often  has  a  good  ending,"  was  exemplified 
in  his  case,  for,  on  the  expiration  of  the  first  year,  his 
sales  amounted  to,  $35,000.  "The  people  found 
out,"  says  Mr.  Culver,  "  that  it  was  not  necessary 
to  go  over  the  river  to  buy  goods  :  that  the  little  store 
on  the  corner  was  bound  to  do  business." 


i 


-3*k 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


In  the  spring  of  1868  Newton  &  Muckeridge  came 
from  Como  and  opened  a  stock  of  general  merchan- 
dise in  a  building  erected  for  the  purpose,  opposite 
Culver's,  on  Main  Street.  The  copartnership  con- 
tinued but  a  short  time,  Mr.  Muckeridge  taking  the 
dry  goods  and  returning  to  Como,  J.  L.  Newton  re- 
taining the  groceries  and  continuing  the  business. 
Mr.  Newton  still  continues  in  business.  A.  C. 
Stanley,  Enoch  Long  and  C.  K.  Worrell  also  deal  in 
groceries,  in  the  spring  of  1885. 

The  first  drug  house  was  started  in  the  spring  of 

1868.  Mark  Bickford  is  the  present  druggist. 
Andrew  Goodell   and  Charles  Ingalls,  under  the 

firm  name  of  Goodell  &  Ingalls,  commenced  the 
hardware  trade  in  the  summer  of  1868.  Scott  &  Van 
Vleet  and  Joseph  Pennybecker  are  the  present  rep- 
resentatives. 

The  first  harness-maker  was  M.   Hendricks,   in 

1869.  Samuel  Morse  now  represents  that  trade. 
Samuel  Schultz,  in  1872,  was  the  first  shoemaker. 

John  Reiter  and  James  Kelley  are  now  engaged  in 
the  business. 

R.  H.  Sheldon  &  Son  were  the  first  agricultural 
implement  dealers.  They  began  business  in  1874, 
and  yet  continue  in  the  trade.  Scott  &  Van  Vleet 
also  deal  in  that  line  of  goods. 

Joseph  H.  Bachus,  in  1868,  began  blacksmithing 
in  the  village.  George  Adair,  John  Wood  and  Her- 
man C.  Rouse  are  now  in  the  trade. 

James  Rush  opened  a  barber  shop  in  1871.  Ted 
Williams  now  represents  that  trade. 

James  Scott  was  the  first  attorney,  in  1872.  No 
representative  at  present. 

The  first  physician  was  Dr.  J.  L.  Morrill,  in  1868. 
He  still  continues  here,  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. Dr.  W.  M.  Smith  and  J.  W.  Montgomery 
are  also  here. 

The  first  jeweler  was  A.  W.  Erb,  in  1869.  J.  S. 
May  and  A.  N.  Taylor  are  now  in  the  business.  . 

Brown  &  Ryan  were  the  first  liverymen.  W.  B. 
Brown  and  H.  Schofield  are  now  in  the  business. 

The  first  milliner  was  Mrs.  N.  L.  Baldwin,  who 
still  continues  in  the  trade. 

The  first  hotel  was  the  Rock  Falls  House,  opened 
by  Mr.  Doty  in  1868.  The  Rock  Falls  House  and 
the  Brewer  House  now  entertain  the  traveling 
public. 

John  Reiter  is  the  present  boot  and  shoe  dealer. 

*®T       Q v*  < 


The  first  meat  market  was  opened  by  William  L. 
Smith,  in  1868.  The  present  dealers  are  Pipperd  & 
Woodford,  George  Hoffner  and  Mr.  Mansfield. 

Julius  Smith  opened  a  furniture  store  in  1872. 
There  is  no  representative  now  here  in  that  line. 

The  dry-goods  and  notion  trade  is  represented  by 
C.  K.  Brown  and  Mr.  Worth. 

A  bank  was  established  here  in  October,  1874,  by 
Ephraim  Brookfield,  who  came  from  Coleta.  He 
continued  the  business  until  his  death,  in  January, 
1876,  and  was  succeeded  by  George  W.  Nance,  who 
had  been  with  him  since  the  opening  of  the  bank. 
Mr.  Nance  was  succeeded  by  J.  L.  Newton,  who 
still  continues  the  business. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Gideon  Reynolds 
and  Mary  Arey,  in  1867. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  Lenoretta,  daughter  of 
John  Barker. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  B.  C.  Hunt,  Sept. 
15,  1868. 

The  Rock  Falls  Progress  was  the  first  newspaper. 
Its  career  was  short.  The  Whiteside  Times,  Ensign 
of  Liberty  and  Rock  Falls  News  have  likewise  been 
published  here.  The  latter  is  still  in  existence.  A 
history  of  the  press  is  found  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

The  postoffice  was  established  here  in  1868.  Tru- 
man Culver  was  the  first  Postmaster.  He  held  the 
position  until  1872,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  C. 
K.  Brown,  who  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  Dr.  J.  P. 
Ralph  and  James  Pettigrew.  In  July,  1874,  a 
money-order  department  was  attached  to  the  office, 
which  was  and  is  a  great  convenience  to  the  citizens 
of  Rock  Falls  and  vicinity. 

In  1868  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  the  township 
was  held  to  consider  its  educational  interests.  It 
was  voted  to  unite  the  whole  township  in  one  school 
district,  with  the  understanding  that  at  the  village  a 
high  school  was  to  be  maintained.  A  school-house 
was  erected  on  the  corner  of  Elm  and  Bridge  Streets, 
a  two-story  frame  structure,  with  three  rooms.  M. 
R.  Harris  was  the  first  principal.  The  school-house 
remained  on  this  location  until  1875,  when  a  block 
of  ground  was  purchased  fronting  on  Florence,  be- 
tween Grove  and  Marr  Streets,  and  it  was  removed 
to  that  point,  reconstructed  and  a  new  one  built. 
The  schools  are  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Rock  Falls  was   incorporated  as   a  village   under 

9 *^ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


§47 


the  general  laws  of  the  State  in  1869.  Its  first  elec- 
tion for  village  officers  was  held  Feb.  4,  of  that  year. 
The  first  ordinance  passed  was  one  prohibiting  the 
sale  of  malt  liquors  in  the  place.  In  general  the 
affairs  of  the  village  have  been  managed  in  a  man- 
ner satisfactory  to  all  concerned.  The  following 
named  comprise  the  officers  for  1885  :  Trustees — 
R.  M.  Sheldon,  President;  W.  H.  Tuttle,  Joseph 
Wright,  J.  M.  Bickford,  W.  H.  Kadel,  S.  M.  Mingle; 
Clerk,  W.  H.  Cadwell ;  Treasurer,  C.  E.  Doty ;  At- 
torney, C.  L.  Sheldon ;  Street  Commissioner,  H.  N. 
Schaeffer;  Policeman,  H.  L.  Brown. 
SOCIETIES. 

The  secret  and  benevolent  societies  are  not  as 
well  represented  in  Rock  Falls  as  they  would  be  if 
not  in  proximity  to  Sterling.  Probably  every  society 
in  that  city  numbers  among  its  members  citizens  of 
this  place.  The  expense  of  maintaining  separate 
organizations  is  thus  avoided.  The  Odd  Fellows, 
United  Workmen,  and  Women's  Christian  Temper- 
ance Union  are  well  represented  here,  though  the 
latter  must  not  be  classed  among  the  secret  societies. 

Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  Industrial 
Lodge,  No.  5,  was  instituted  June  rr,  1875,  with  28 
charter  members.  It  has  had  a  flourishing  existence 
and  now  numbers  62  members.  One  member  has 
been  removed  by  death  since  its  organization — D.  L. 
McKenzie.  Truman  Culver  was  the  first  Master. 
Palmer  Collins  is  the  present  Master  Workman. 

Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellcnus,  Advance  Lodge, 
No.  sgo,  was  instituted  Sept.  22,  1875,  and  holds  its 
meetings  regularly  each  week.  The  lodge  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition  and  numbers  among  its  mem- 
bers some  of  the  best  citizens  of  Rock  Falls  and 
vicinity.  There  is  no  encampment  here,  those  tak- 
ing the  degrees  of  that  branch  of  the  order  uniting 
with  the  Sterling  Encampment. 
CHURCHES. 

As  in  respect  to  benevolent  societies,  so  it  is  in 
regard  to  the  Churches.  At  present  but  three  of 
the  denominations  are  represented  here,  many  unit- 
ing with  the  Church  of  their  choice  in  Sterling.  The 
Methodist  Episcopal,  Congregational  and  German 
Lutheran  each  have  church  edifices. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — This  Church  was 
organized  in  1868,  and  was  connected  with  the 
Fourth  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  charge  of 
Sterling.  Several  notable  revivals  have  been  held,  re- 

^ff** 


suiting  in  large  accessions  to  the  Church.  The  erec- 
tion of  the  church  edifice  was  commenced  in  1869, 
but  it  was  not  completed  and  dedicated  until  April, 
187  r.  Rock  Falls  embraced  part  of  a  circuit  until 
1872,  when  it  was  made  a  station.  The  Church  has 
had  a  prosperous  career  and  has  accomplished  great 
good  in  the  community  since  its  organization. 

First  Congregational  Church. — This  Church  was 
organized  Dec.  26,  1875,  with  14  members,  and  held 
its  meetings  for  nearly  a  year  in  one  of  the  school 
buildings.  In  August,  1870,  a  house  of  worship, 
40x75  feet,  was  commenced  and  a  portion  of  it 
completed  and  occupied  Dec.  3  of  the  same  year. 
It  was  soon  afterwards  fully  completed  and  is  a 
very  neat  and  commodious  house  of  worship.  The 
Church  now  numbers  65  members,  and  is  in  a  healthy 
condition.  Richard  Arey  and  J.  E.  Durstine  are 
the  Deacons ;  D.  O.  Coe,  Superintendent  of  Sunday- 
school  ;  Rev.  O.  W.  Fay,  Pastor. 

German  Lutheran  Church. — This  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  1877,  and  a  house  of  worship  at  once 
erected.  The  membership  is  small. 

THE  PRESS. 

Rock  Falls  Progress.— In  r87o  Cadwell  &  Tuttle 
commenced  the  publication  of  the  Rock  Falls  Prog- 
ress, a  seven-column  folio  sheet.  This  was  the 
first  paper  established  in  the  village.  After  a  few 
numbers  were  issued  it  was  changed  to  a  five-column 
quarto.  The  paper  was  continued  for  seven  years 
and  then  suspended,  principally  on  account  of  the 
continued  illness  of  Mr.  Cadwell.  A  fair  patronage 
was  received,  the  proprietors  making  no  complaint 
on  that  account. 

The  Whiteside  Times.— In  1876,  A.  J.  Booth  & 
Co.  removed  from  Morrison  to  Rock  Falls  and  com- 
menced the  publication  of  the  Whiteside  Times,  a 
six-column  quarto,  independent  in  politics.  The 
firm  continued  the  publication  of  the  paper  till  May, 
1878,  when  they  leased  the  material  of  the  office  to 
Hyde  &  Searle,  who  continued  the  publication  of  the 
paper  for  one  year,  Booth  &  Co.  refusing  to  longer 
continue  to  lease  them  the  material.  The  paper  was 
consequently  suspended. 

Searle's  Times. — Elmer  Searle,  of  the  firm  of  Hyde 
&  Searle,  not  being  content  with  his  experience  in 
the  newspaper  line,  commenced  the  publication  of  a 
paper  known  as  Searle's  Times,  Cadwell  &  Tuttle 


fa 


3F 

2? 


• 


doing  his  printing.  The  paper  was  short-lived,  dying 
on  the  expiration  of  three  months. 

7%<r  Ensign  of  Liberty. — On  the  25th  of  February, 
1879,  the  first  issue  of  a  paper  under  the  foregoing 
title  made  its  appearance  in  Rock  Falls,  with  J.  M. 
Foley  as  editor  and  proprietor,  though  the  paper  was 
printed  by  Cadwell  &  Tuttle.  It  advocated  the 
principles  of  the  National  Greenback  party,  and  as 
there  were  not  enough  holding  the  peculiar  views  of 
that  party  in  this  vicinity,  within  three  months  it 
died  a  natural  death. 

Rock  Falls  News. — Rock  Falls  had  been  without 
a  newspaper  for  some  time,  the  \Vhiteside  Times 
having  suspended.  The  field  was  a  good  one  and 
must  be  occupied :  so  thought  Wm.  Parker.  Ac- 
cordingly, on  the  5th  day  of  July,  1882,  the  first 
number  of  the  Rock  Falls  News  made  its  appearance, 
with  Wm.  Parker  as  editor  and  proprietor.  In  his 
introductory,  the  editor  said : 

"  We  shall  publish  a  paper  devoted  to  building 
up  and  advancing  every  manufactory,  trade  and 
industry  located  in  our  town,  encourage  a  spirit  of 
public  improvement  and  advocating  a  high  standard 
of  education.  *  Of  politics  we  shall  make 

a  secondary  consideration.  While  we  are  a  working 
Republican  and  a  firm  believer  in  Republican  prin- 
ciples, we  also  believe  there  are  many  of  other  polit- 
cal  parties  who  are  equally  as  sincere  in  their  beliefs 
and  entitled  to  respectful  consideration;  therefore 
our  columns  will  always  be  open  to  give  the  political 
news  of  all  parties,  publish  their  announcements  and 
report  their  proceedings.  On  the  temperance  ques- 
tion we  are  in  harmony  with  the  majority  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Rock  Falls,  having  no  use  for  saloons,  and 
believing  them  to  be  a  detriment  to  the  moral  and 
financial  well-being  of  any  community;  to  be  pro- 
hibited whereverjmblic  sentiment  will  enforce  prohi- 
bition, as  it  seems  to  do  in  Rock  Falls.  Our  business 
we  shall  conduct  on  business  principles.  We  shall 
pay  for  all  we  get  and  expect  pay  for  all  Work  we  do 
for  others.  We  want  every  one  to  understand  that 
he  will  be  expected  to  pay  his  subscription  or  print- 
ing bill  with  the  same  promptness  as  he  does  his 
grocer  or  his  butcher.  "  . 

The  News  was  commenced  as  a  seven-column 
folio  and  continued  as  such  until  Dec.  14,  1882, 
when  it  was  changed  to  an  eight-column  folio.  In 
April,  1884,  it  was  changed  to  a  five-column  quarto, 


which  form  it  yet  retains.  On  the  ist  day  of  Janu- 
ary, 1885,  Miss  Anna  F.  Parker  was  admitted  as  a 
partner  in  the  publication  of  the  paper.  Miss  Parker 
is  the  daughter  of  the  original  proprietor,  and  had 
been  an  assistant  in  the  office  for  some  time.  She  is 
a  young  lady  of  fine  ability  and  wields  a  ready  and 
fluent  pen.  The  News  has  a  fine  advertising  pa- 
tronage, an  increasing  circulation,  and  the  office  has 
a  good  run  of  job  work. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

Rock  Falls  is  noted  for  its  man  ufactories,  there  being 
several  very  extensive  ones  in  the  place.  If  the 
account  which  follows  is  not  as  complete  as  would 
be  desired  by  some,  it  can  be  said  that  neither  the 
publishers  nor  editor  of  this  volume  is  to  blame. 
There  are  some  men  who  possess  such  an  infinitesimal 
amount  of  public  enterprise'  that  they  will  do  abso- 
lutely nothing  toward  advertising  the  business  inter- 
ests of  their  town,  or  placing  them  in  the  best  light 
before  the  public.  Not  only  this,  but  should  they  be 
lucky  enough  to  make  a  little  money  they  become 
arrogant,  selfish,  and  lordly  in  their  bearing. 

The  Keystone  Manufacturing  Co.  is  the  outgrowth  of 
two  distinct  lines  of  business,  in  Sterling,  one  com- 
menced in  1857  by  Geo.  S.  Tracy,  and  the  other  in 
1863  by  Thomas  A.|Galt.  Mr.  Tracy  had  a  planing- 
mill  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sash,  doors 
and  blinds,  while  Mr.  Gait  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  farm  implements.  Shortly  after  Mr.  Gait 
commenced,  the  two  firms  united  under  the  firm 
name  of  Gait  &  Tracy,  and  subsequently  the  name 
of  "  Keystone  Works  "  was  adopted.  The  firm  was 
very  successful  from  the  start,  but  in  1867  met  with 
a  serious  loss  in  the  burning  of  their  manufactory. 
Another  building  was  erected  and  the  works  put  in 
operation  and  soon  moved  to  the  south  side  of  the 
river.  Later  on,  a  joint-stock  company  was  incorpo- 
rated under  the  name  of  the  Keystone  Manufacturing 
Company,  with  a  capital  of  $150,000,  which  was  sub- 
sequently increased  to  $350,000. 

The  Sterling  Manufacturing  Company  dates  its 
commencement  from  the  time  George  S.  Tracy  man- 
ufactured doors,  sash  and  blinds  before  the  war. 
It  was  organized  in  1870,  with  a  capital  of  $30,000, 
a  joint-stock  company,  having  its  works  in  Sterling. 
In  1883  they  moved  to  Rock  Falls,  and  their  works 
there  are  among  the  finest  on  the  water  power, 
the  capac.ty  being  treble  that  of  their  old  works  in 




t 

'*' 

I 


•;    .:. 


--.  .   ;- 


WttlTEtStDE  COUNTY. 


Sterling.  The  plant  comprises  five  acres  of  land, 
with  ample  water  power  and  the  best  of  railroad 
facilities.  The  company  manufacture  various  agri- 
cultural implements.  About  30  men  are  employed. 

The  Enterprise  Works— In.  1859  H.  F.  Batcheller 
commenced  the  manufacture,  on  his  farm,  about  one 
mile  south  of  Sterling,  of  a  hand  corn-planter  of  his 
own  invention,  and  during  the  year  made  12  ma- 
chines, of  which  he  sold  seven.  Making  some 
improvements  in  the  implemeut,  he  exchanged  those 
sold  for  the  improved  ones.  Until  1873  he  con- 
tinued to  make  machines  on  his  farm.  In  that 
year  he  erected  buildings  in  Rock  Falls,  since  which 
time  he  has  continued  their  manufacture  here,  while 
at  the  same  time  he  has  added  other  implements  to 
his  manufactory.  Among  other  articles  manufac- 
tured have  been  churns,  butter-workers,  dog-powers 
and  a  general  line  of  dairy  and  creamery  supplies. 
For  some  tiroe  A.  M.  Batcheller  has  been  a  partner, 
the  business  being  transacted  under  the  firm  name 
of  H.  F.  Batcheller  &  Son.  The  average  sales  of 
the  corn-planters  are  1,500  per  year.  In  1884  the 
company  had  the  misfortune  to  be  partially  burned 
out,  bat  immediately  rebuilt.  In  1883  a  foundry 
was  added  to  the  other  departments  of  the  business. 
The  Enterprise  Works  is  the  name  by  which  the 
institution  is  more  generally  known. 

The  Northwestern  Barb-  Wire  Company,  of  which 
W.  M.  Dillon  is  President  and  Treasurer,  L.  H. 
Dillon,  Secretary,  and  James  Burke,  Superintendent, 
made  during  1884,  400  car-loads,  of  20,000  pounds 
each,  of  the  famous  Kiltleson  Barb  Wire — enough 
to  encircle  the  "wide,  wide  world."  To  do  this  the 
company  employed,  on  an  average,  65  men.  There 
are  35  machines,  which  were  kept  running  continu- 
ously night  and  day  for  six  months.  The  works 
were  not  closed  during  the  year  except  for  repairs. 
Among  the  additions  to  the  plant  made  in  the  past 
year,  are  a  new  fire-proof  warehouse,  75x25  feet, 
and  a  new  brick  building  72x100  feet,  with  a 
twenty-inch  wall,  to  be  used  for  a  warehouse,  but 
built  heavy  enough  for  any  kind  of  manufacturing. 
The  company  is  a  responsible  one. 

The  Rock  Falls  Roller  Mills  of  Dillon,  Bowers  & 
Strock,  is  one  of  the  institutions  of  Rock  Falls. 
The  capacity  of  the  mill  is  100  barrels  per  day,  and 
it  is  run  up  to  its  full  capacity,  making  brands  of 
flour  equal  to  any  made.  L.  H.  Dillon,  M.  C.  Bow- 


ers  and  M.  C.  Strock  are  the  members  of  the  firm. 
They  employ  on  an  average  six  men. 

The  Eureka  Manufacttiring  Company  was  organ- 
ized in  1871,  and  is  engaged  in  manufacturing  vari- 
ous agricultural  implements.  About  50  men  are 
employed.  John  M.  Gait  is  President ;  M.  A. 
Bunn,  Vice-President ;  J.  G.  Crawford,  Secretary; 
Alexander  McCloy,  Treasurer. 

Church,  Utley  6°  Company. — B.  C.  Church,  H.  B. 
Utley  and  Samuel  Patterson  are  the  proprietors  of 
the  Rock  Falls  Mills,  established  in  November, 
1862.  John  E.  West  is  the  Superintendent.  The 
capacity  of  the  mills  is  six  and  a  half  tons  per  day. 
They  make  a  superior  article  of  straw  wrapping- 
paper  for  grocers  and  butchers,  at  the  average  rate 
of  three  car-loads  a  week.  They  run  day  and  night. 
The  product  is  shipped  in  car-loads  only,  over  a 
wide  scope  of  country.  The  company  enjoy  the 
reputation  of  making  an  excellent  quality  of  straw 
wrapping-paper,  and  furnishes  employment  to  about 
40  men. 

The  Creamery  Package  Company,  as  its  name  im- 
plies, are  manufacturers  of  butter  tubs,  creamery 
supplies,  etc.,  and  occupy  rooms  in  the  east  end  of 
the  Industrial  Building.  In  1884  they  manufac- 
tured 400,000  butter  tubs,  in  addition  to  other  sup- 
plies. Employment  is  given  to  about  75  men.  C. 
M.  Gates  is  the  President  and  general  manager. 
The  company  was  organized  in  1882. 

George  W.  Packer  has  for  some  years  been  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  patterns  and  models, 
affording  employment  to  from  three  to  eight  men. 
In  the  spring  of  1885  he  purchased  the  establish- 
ment of  E.  F.  Brock  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  the 
Yankee  hand-sled,  butter-tub  machinery  and  black- 
smith punches.  Some  15  men  are  now  employed. 

Smith  6°  Goodell  are  manufacturers  of  bee-hives 
and  apiary  supplies,  in  the  Industrial  Building. 
They  are  successors  to  Dur  &  Harris,  and  have 
been  in  business  but  a  few  months. 

A.  S.  Todd  manufactures  pruning  shears,  hedge 
trimmers,  barrel  carts  and  barn-door  hangers,  in  one 
of  the  busy  basements  of  that  hive  of  industry,  the 
Industrial  Building. 

Dyer  &"  Keeney  are  manufacturers  of  hand  corn- 
planters,  barb-wire  spools,  step-ladders,  center-tables 
and  flower-stands.  The  business  was  started  in  the 
Industrial  Building  in  1872,  by  Mr.  Dyer.  The 


1^1 
I  «zS  \ 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


i 


company   furnish    employment   to   about   20    men. 
Farwell,  Huling  &  Company  began  the  manufac- 
ture  of  farmers',  miners'  and  mechanics'  garments, 
Dec.  i,  1884.     They  are  at  present  giving  employ- 
riient  to  about  200  women. 


ERIE    TOWNSHIP. 

tf  the  ist  day  of  March,  1852,  notice  was 
given  by  order  of  the  County  Commission- 
ers that  an  election  would  be  held  at  the 
house  of  Samuel  D.  Carr  in  the  town  of  Erie, 
on  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  for  the  purpose 
of  choosing  township  officers  and  perfecting 
the  township  organization  underact  of  Feb.  17, 1851. 
At  this  meeting  James  Early  was  chosen  Modera- 
tor and  Addison  Farrington  Clerk.  There  were  29 
votes  cast,  resulting  in  the  election  of  Charles  R. 
Coborn  for  Supervisor,  Addison  Farrington  for  Clerk, 
M.  G.  Wonsor  for  Assessor,  James  McMillin  for  Col- 
lector, and  John  Freek  for  Overseer  of  the  Poor. 
James  Early  was  elected  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways, and  N.  K.  Chapman,  L.  F.  Crandall  and  James 
McMillin  Constables.  Esquire  Wonsor  swore  the 
Moderator  and  Clerk  in  for  the  faithful  discharge  of 
their  duties. 

This  township  was  formed  from  Erie  Precinct, 
which  was  established  Dec.  i,  1844,  by  order  of  the 
Commissioner's  Court.  It  formerly  composed  a  part 
of  the  territory  of  Albany  and  Lyndon  Precincts.  Its 
present  territory  embraces  all  that  part  of  the  Con- 
gressional township  19  north,  of  range  3  east,  and  so 
much  of  township  19  north,  of  range  4  east,  as  lies 
north  of  Rock  River,  which  winds  around  the  south- 
eastern portion,  containing  in  all  14,392  acres.  On 
the  north  it  is  bordered  by  Newton  and  Fenton  Town- 
ships. 

In  some  portions  of  this  township,  the  land  is 
rolling,  with  occasional  ridges  of  sand.  But  the 
great  body  of  it  is  is  low  and  flat.  When  drained 
and  brought  under  cultivation  it  is  rich  and  very 
productive.  The  land  is  better  adapted  for  dairying 
and  stock-raising,  and  in  this  department  are  the 
farmers  mostly  engaged.  It  is  very  well  watered, 
having  the  Rock  River,  which  skirts  its  southeastern 
border,  and  several  small  streams.  The  township  is 


very  well  timbered,  particularly  that  part  bordering 
on  Rock  River. 

In  the  northwestern  part  of  the  township,  and 
extending  into  Fenton  Township,  lies  in  quiet  re- 
pose a  very  pretty  little  lake.  Beneath  its  clear 
waters,  spotting  about,  are  fish  of  different  species, 
while  its  borders  are  fringed  with  beautiful  trees. 
This  lake  is  over  a  mile  in  length,  and  from  a  quarter 
to  an  eighth  of  a  mile  in  width. 

Rock  River  runs  along  the  eastern  and  southern 
line,  and  Rock  Island  County  lies  on  the  west.  The 
people  of  this  precinct  voted  against  township  organ- 
ization in  November,  1851.  Of  the  29  voters  for  the 
organization  of  the  township  in  1852,  nine  are  still 
living,  five  of  whom  voted  at  the  spring  election, 
April  7,  1885— W.  W.  Hubbart,  N.  K.  Chapman,  A. 
J.  Osborne,  Harvey  Steele  and  L.  F.  Crandall.  Thos. 
Freek  still  resides  in  Erie,  and  the  other  three  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country.  [Since  the  above  was 
written,  Mr.  Freek  has  deceased,  dying  July  4,  1885, 
at  Erie.] 

The  first  settlers  to  occupy  this  territory  were 
Lewis  D.,  John  and  Lafayette  F.  Crandall,  John 
Freek  and  Joseph  Fenton,  David  Hunt  and  Peter 
Giles  in  the  fall  of  1835.  The  Crandalls  came  from 
Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  which  is  bordered  by  Lake  Erie ; 
and,  desiring  to  have  same  associations  of  their  former 
home  around  them,  they  gave  the  name  of  Erie  to 
the  new  settlement.  John  C.  located  on  section  19, 
Lewis  D.  and  Lafayette  on  section  18,  and  David 
Hunt  on  section  25.  George  Steele  located  on  sec- 
tion 7.  The  Crandall  boys  came  with  their  parents, 
.who  located  at  Grand  de  Tour,  on  Rock  River. 
They  all  came  by  wagon  from  New  York.  They 
started  from  their  old  home  April  3,  1835,  and  ar- 
rived at  their  new  home  the  latter  part  of  May.  The 
roads  were  not  the  best  in  those  days,  and  sometimes) 
if  they  diminished  their  journey  by  a  mile  they 
thought  they  were  making  a  good  day's  work. 

Following  the  pioneers  mentioned  above  were 
George,  Henry  and  Harvey  Steele,  from  Connecticut ; 
Samuel  Carr,  Orville  and  Alvin  Brooks,  James  Ham- 
ilton, Charles  R.  Coborn  and  William  Teats,  from 
New  York,  and  Arthur  Putney.  Ernest  Warner, 
from  Massachusetts.  The  pioneers  upon  their  ar- 
rival commenced  the  construction  of  rude  cabins  for 
their  habitations,  Mr.  Hunt's  cabin  being  the  first 
put  up  and  Peter  Giles'  the  next. 


V> 


]( 


A  very  sad  incident  occurred  about  this  time. 
Peter  Giles,  after  getting  his  cabin  ready,  started  back 
to  Dixon  after  his  family  and  goods  by  way  of  Rock 
River.  He  had,  in  which  to  embark  his  precious 
freight,  two  canoes  which  were  lashed  together,  and 
was  accompanied  by  Lewis  D.  Crandall.  Having 
embarked  their  worldly  possessions,  they  started  down 
the  river  in  their  frail  canoes.  The  party  consisted 
of  Mr.  Giles  and  wife,  a  son  of  six  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  three  years,  and  Mr.  Crandall.  The  two  chil- 
dren were  put  into  a  dry -goods  box.  The  current  of 
the  river  was  very  strong  and  they  glided  along  very 
swiftly  and  smoothly  toward  their  future  home. 
Night  had  come  on,  and  they  were  approaching  Rock 
Creek  when  they  ran  into  a  tree-top  which  had  fallen 
over  from  the  banks  of  the  river  and  lay  out  in  the 
stream.  The  suction  here  tipped  the  canoes  over 
and  drew  them  under.  The  dry-goods  box  was 
thrown  out  and,  turning  around  the  tree,  floated  down 
the  river.  The  remainder  of  these  voyagers,  Mr. 
Giles  and  wife  and  Mr.  Crandall,  clung  to  the 
branches  of  the  tree.  Crandall  was  the  only  one 
that  could  swim,  and  he  struck  out  for  the  shore  and 
to  get  a  boat  to  rescue  the  party.  The  children  had 
been  given  up  as  lost. 

Mr.  Crandall  had  to  go  some  distance  for  a  boat. 
Upon  returning  up  the  river  to  the  tree  he  met  the 
dry-goods  box  floating  down.  The  boy  was  on  top, 
and  called  out  to  the  man  in  the  boat  to  take  him  on 
board,  as  his  boat  was  full  of  water.  Mr.  Crandall 
rowed  up  to  the  box  and  took  the  boy  in,  and,  turning 
the  box  over,  found  the  little  baby  girl  inside, 
drowned.  Going  on  to  the  tree,  the  father  and 
mother  were  rescued  and  taken  ashore  in  a  very 
chilled  and  exhausted  condition.  Some  of  the 
goods  were  afterwards  recovered.  Mrs.  Giles,  from 
her  exposure  and  sufferings,  was  thrown  into  a  fever 
from  which  she  died  in  a  few  days,  having  been 
cared  for  and  nursed  by  her  husband,  her  only  phy- 
sician, nurse  and  friend.  She  was  buried  with  her 
little  drowned  child,  which  were  the  first  interments 
in  Erie  Township.  The  boy  was  afterwards  drowned 
in  Rock  River,  three  miles  below  the  town  of  Erie, 
by  the  capsizing  of  a  skiff  in  which  he  was  being 
carried. 

There  were  a  few  Indians  here  when  the  first 
settlers  came  in,  but  they  soon  went  off,  passing  be- 
yond the  Mississippi.  They  were  peaceful,  and 
annoyed  the  settlers  only  by  small  thefts. 


The  first  matrimonial  alliance  was  between  Lewis 
D.  Crandall  and  Phcebe  Hunt,  in  1838.  The  first 
child  born  in  the  township  was  a  daughter  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Arthur  Putney,  in  the  summer  of  1838. 
She  was  named  Louisa,  and  was  a  fair  but  delicate 
flower,  and  died  in  her  fifth  summer.  The  first 
school  taught  was  in  the  summer  of  1842,  by  Marv 
Ann  Sprague,  in  a  log  school-house  erected  where 
Lyndon  Street  now  is  in  the  village  of  Erie.  Horace 
Cole  taught  here  the  following  winter,  and  is  spoken 
of  now  by  the  old  citizens  as  a  good  teacher. 

Of  the  early  settlers,  Lewis  D.  Crandall  died  in 
Colorado,  in  1860.  John  Crandall  died  in  Edgar 
County,  111.  Peter  Giles  moved  to  Oregon,  and  is 
still  living.  Daniel  Hunt  died  in  Erie,  and  is"  bur- 
ied by  the  side  of  his  father  (who  came  to  Erie 
Township  after  him)  in  the  Erie  Cemetery.  John 
Freek,  who  was  an  active  man,  and  aided  very  much 
in  the  establishment  of  school  and  religious  socie- 
ties in  the  new  country,  emigrated  to  Kansas,  where 
he  died.  He  came  from  England,  in  1830,  locating 
for  a  while  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Fenton.  George  Steele  died  in  1872,  at  his  old 
farm  house  on  section  7.  His  widow,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Ann  Pingree,  is  living  on  the  home- 
stead. 

The  first  mail  service  in  the  township  was  from 
Dixon  to  Rock  Island.  A.  L.  Porter  was  the  mail 
carrier.  The  first  postoffice  established  in  the  town- 
ship was  at  Crandall's  Ferry,  two  miles  below  the 
village  of  Erie. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  at  the  house 
of  John  Freek  near  the  sand  ridge,  in  1838,  by  Rev. 
Mr.  McMurtry. 

June  5,  1844,  a  fearful  tornado  swept  over  the 
country,  and  struck  Erie  Township  on  its  devastating 
course.  It  passed  through  the  middle  part  of  the 
township,  coming  from  the  west  across  the  Missis- 
sippi. It  laid  Lewis  Crandall's  house  flat  and  scat- 
tered the  household  goods.  No  lives  were  lost  in 
this  township,  but  stock  and  fowls  were  killed.  One 
of  the  finest  groves  in  the  county,  near  Crandall's 
house,  was  torn  up,  and  large  trees  were  broken 
down.  It  plowed  its  way  through  the  river,  carrying 
fish  and  shells  to  some  distance.  Many  persons 
were  injured,  but  none  dangerously,  which  was  re- 
garded at  the  time  as  miraculous. 

The  St.  Louis  Branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  Railroad,  which  runs  diagonally  through 


11 

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WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


the  township,  affords  means  of  transportation.     The 
trading  point  for  the  people  is  Erie  village. 

The  census  of  1880  gave  a  population  of  778,  and 
it  is  estimated  that  the  increase  from  that  time  will 
not  exceed  100  souls. 

Regarding  schools,  the  County  Superintendent,  in 
his  report  for  the  year  ending  June  '30,  1884, 
furnished  the  following  information :  Number  of 
districts,  eight,  in  all  of  which  there  were  frame 
buildings;  valuation  of  school  property,  $2,100.  Of 
persons  under  21  years  of  age  there  were  339, 
of  whom  269  were  of  scholastic  age,  184  being 
enrolled.  The  highest  wages  paid  teachers  was 
$55,  and  the  lowest  wages  was  $20  per  month. 
The  tax  levy  was  $5,215. 

From  the  Assessor's  report  of  1884  the  following 
information  is  obtained  :  Number  of  acres  of  improved 
land,  4,759;  valuation  of  improved  land,  $45,996; 
total  value  of  town  lots,  $24,365  ;  total  value  of 
personal  property,  $33,588;  number  of  horses,  397; 
asses  and  mules,  u;  cattle,  974;  sheep,  172;  hogs, 
596;  steam  engines,  2;  carriages  and  wagons,  115; 
watches  and  clocks,  125  ;  sewing  and  knitting  ma- 
chines, 79;  pianos,  10;  organs  and  melodeons,  22. 
Total  number  of  lands,  lots  and  personal  property) 
$141,046. 

This  township  has  honored  the  following-named 
citizens  since  its  organization  by  electing  them  to  the 
office  of  Supervisor: 

SUPERVISORS. 


Charles  R.  Coborn 1852 

C.  C  Teats 1853-4 

T.  B.  Whipple 1855 

Ralph  Sage 1856-7 

A.  rarrington 1858-60 

F.  A.  Harrington 1861 

C.  C.  Teats 1862 

W.  H.  Allen 1863-4 

C.  C.  Teats 1865 


Samuel  O  rcutt 1866 

Thomas  Freek 1867 

Wm.  H.  Allen 1868-9 

A.M.  Early 1870-1 

C.  C.   Teats 1872-3 

Milton  H.  Seger 1874 

Wm.  H.  Allen 1875-8 

R.  L.  liurchell 1879-84 

Milton  H.  Segei 1885 


Erie  Village. 

HIS  village  was  incorporated  under  an  act 
of  the  Legislature,  approved  April  10,  1872. 
An  election  was  held  under  the  same  act, 
Sept.  21,  1872,  at  which  the  following  named 
officers  were  elected  :  Joseph  Grover,  Andrew 
J.  Osborne,    Q.   Johnstone,    James    Collins, 
William     L.     Mitchell,  and    John    D.    Trenton,   as 
Trustees.     This  Board,  on   as  sembling  at  Mitchell 


&  Worrell's  building,  elected  Joseph  Grover  for 
President,  John  D.  Fenton,  Clerk,  and  William  L. 
Mitchell,  Treasurer.  Its  location  and  corporate 
limits,  are  described  as  follows  :  The  south  half  and 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  6,  and  the  north 
half  of  section  7,  in  township  19  north,  of  range  4 
east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian. 

This  village  is  prettily  located,  and  surrounded  by 
a  rich  farming  country.  The  first  hotel  opened  here 
was  by  Samuel  D.  Carr,  in  1838.  It  was  located 
near  the  present  site  of  the  St.  Nicholas  House.  It 
was  a  log  building,  simple  and  plain  in  appearance, 
yet  it  was  noted  far  and  wide  for  the  good  cheer 
within  ;  and  for  its  well-filled  larder  and  comfortable 
beds.  The  landlord  of  this  pioneer  died  in  June, 
1 86 1,  and  was  buried  in  Erie  Cemetery,  where  a 
pretty  little  monument  is  erected  for  his  memory. 

M.  G.  Wonser  opened  the  first  store  in  the  village, 
which  was  the  first  in  the  township.  He  opened 
his  store  with  two  wagon-loads  of  goods,  which  in- 
cluded what  was  of  considerable  importance  in  those 
days — a  barrel  of  whisky.  Before  this  store  was 
opened  the  people  used  to  go  across  the  river  to 
Shannon,  in  Portland  Township,  to  do  their  trading. 
Mr.  Wonser  died  in  1883.  His  widow  is  still  living 
in  Erie.  Dr.  Plimpton,  a  Methodist  preacher,  held 
the  first  religious  services  here  in  a  public  building. 
This  was  during  the  summer  of  1842. 

There  is  but  little  manufacturing  carried  on  here. 
For  the  maintenance  and  growth  of  the  town  the 
citizens  depend  on  the  agricultural  industries  sur- 
rounding it.  Its  population  is  estimated  to  be  about 
600.  The  people  are  industrious  and  temperate  in 
their  habits,  and  there  prevails  among  them  a  neigh- 
borly feeling,  which  is  commendable. 

The  beginning  of  the  town  may  be  dated  from  the 
opening  of  Mr.  Wonser's  store,  which  was  in  1850. 
Samuel  Carr's  tavern  was  already  here.  A  black- 
smith shop  for  horse-shoeing  and  repairing  was 
started  by  Henry  Bolton.  This  same  year  (1850) 
Dr.  Fetters  came  in  to  attend  to  the  physical  and  C. 
C.  Teats  to  the  legal  wants.  The  postoffice  had 
been  moved  up  from  Crandall's  Ferry  in  the  spring; 
so  their  mail  facilities  were  satisfactory.  The  relig- 
ious wants  of  the  villagers  were  also  looked  after, 
there  being  preaching  by  the  representatives  of  the 
different  Churches  from  time  to  time  in  the  school- 
house  and  in  private  houses.  But  the  first  church 


-  •   - 


building  was  put  up  in  1854  by  the  United  Brethren. 
Mr.  A.  J.  Osborne  materially  assisted  the  growth 
of  the  town  by  furnishing  the  people  with  lumber 
from  his  saw-mill,  which  he  started  in  1855,  and 
which  was  the  first  in  the  town.  As  the  town  grew 
a  desire  to  have  railroad  communications  became 
uppermost  in  the  minds  of  its  citizens.  They  were 
doomed  to  disappointment,  however,  for  many  years. 
The  Sterling  &  Rock  Island  Railroad  was  per- 
fected in  1855,  and  farmers  and  real- estate  owners 
mortgaged  their  property  heavily  to  assist  the  enter- 
prise ;  but  it  all  ended  in  disaster.  After  several 
years  the  project  was  again  taken  up,  and  in  1869  a 
road  was  constructed  through  this  county  called 
the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad. 
The  first  train  of  cars  came  into  Erie  Jan.  20.  The 
year  before,  anticipating  the  advent  of  the  railroad, 
Messrs.  Simonson  &  Ritchie  put  up  a  steam  flouring- 
mill.  From  this  time  on  the  town  had  a  substantial, 
healthy  growth. 

BUSINESS    INTERESTS. 

R.  L.  Burchell  has  a  large  general  supply  store, 
consisting  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  clothing,  carpets, 
boots  and  shoes,  crockery,  agricultural  implements, 
etc.  Handles  annually  about  $70,000  in  goods. 
Established  in  1862. 

Dickinson  &  Jones  carry  a  large  assortment  of 
general  hardware  and  agricultural  implements. 

Smith  &  Guthrie  have  a  general  hardware  store 
and  tin  shop,  and  also  keep  farming  implements. 

Erie  Flouring  Mills,  C.  T.  Pierce,  proprietor,  with 
four  run  of  stone ;  capacity,  85  barrels  of  flour  per 
day ;  corn  and  feed,  200  bushels.  Established  in 
1874.  Attached  to  the  mill  is  an  elevator  and  corn 
sheller. 

Another  important  industry  of  Erie  is  the  creamery 
owned  by  R.  L.  Burchell.  This  creamery  manu- 
factured last  season  75,000  pounds  of  butter,  and 
this  season  it  is  expected  to  make  100,000  pounds. 
Five  teams  are  employed  in  gathering  in  the  cream, 
from  a  tertitory  embracing  an  area  of  about  ten 
miles. 

S.  Segcr  has  a  windmill  manufactory,  to  which  he 
applies  his  patent  section  wheel. 

M.  J.  Williams  increases  the  industries  of  the 
town  in  the  manufacture  of  good  hand-made  wagons. 

Arthur  McLane  has  an  elevator,  and  is  also  a 
dealer  in  grain. 


A.  A.  Mathews  has  a  furniture  store,  and  is  also 
undertaker. 

Harness  and  saddlery  carried  on  by  C.  W,  Early. 

W.  J.  Gladhill,  jeweler  and  gunsmith. 

George  Echelberger,  general  repaii  shop  and 
coopering. 

F.  E.  Burridge  keeps  a  general  line  of  drugs  and 
stationery. 

J.  M.  Cunningham  has  a  general  line  of  drugs 
and  stationery.  Is  also  the  manufacturer  of  Cunning- 
ham's "  Elixir  "  and  the  "  Good  Samaritan  "  bit- 
ters. 

The  good  ladies  of  Erie  have  a  happy  place  of 
resort  in  the  millinery  stores  of  Mesdames  E.  L. 
Barker  and  Hattie  L.  Blaisdell. 

M.  C.  Cole,  groceries,  confectioneries,  etc. 

Wm.  Smith  does  blacksmithing.  Joseph  Cocking, 
M.  Kroninberg,  boot  and  shoe  makers.  D.  Schriver 
has  a  livery  and  feed  stable.  Mathews  &  Bros,  sup- 
ply the  people  with  a  market.  The  medical  profes- 
sion is  represented  by  O.  J.  Bowers  and  H.  R.  Wells, 
who  are  skilled  physicians.  Legal  matters  of  Erie 
rest  entirely  upon  the  broad  shoulders  of  W.  H. 
Allen.  St.  Nicholas  Hotel,  one  of  the  old  land  marks 
of  Erie,  is  managed  now  by  W.  V.  Timmerman  and 
his  estimable  wife.  The  traveler  always  rejoices 
when  he  is  placed  under  the  care  of  the  landlord 
and  landlady  of  this  hostelry. 

Erie  is  not  behind  in  the  popular  craze  of  roller- 
skating  rinks,  having  a  very  good  one. 

The  postoffice  is  presided  over  by  R.  L.  Burchell, 
who  has  held  the  place  since  1870.  He  succeeded 
W.  R.  Davis. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  citizens  of  Erie  have  taken  special  pains  in 
providing  a  good  school  for  the  education  of  their 
children.  They  have  a  fair  school  building,  with  a 
graded  school,  embracing  nine  grades.  T.  B.  Stan- 
ley is  Principal,  Miss  Saloiue  Fenton,  Intermediate( 
and  Miss  Lucy  A.  Passmore,  Primary.  A  full  En- 
glish course  is  taught.  There  are  oil  the  rolls  162 
pupils. 

CHURCHES. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — The  establishment 
of  this  religious  organization  in  Erie  may  date  back 
to  the  autumn  of  1838,  when  a  few  of  its  members 
gathered  together  at  the  house  of  John  Freek,  near 
the  sand  ridge,  and,  with  Rev.  Mr.  McMurtry  pre- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


siding,  held  divine  service.  Mr.  McMurtry  belonged 
to  the  missionary  service,  and  traveled  about,  hold- 
ing meetings  and  establishing  societies.  A  Method- 
ist class  was  formed  at  this  time,  consisting  of  John 
Freek  and  wife,  Alvin  Brooks,  Mrs.  Hunt  and  James 
Early  and  wife.  John  Freek  was  Class-leader. 
Later  on,  these  pioneers  were  joined  by  Thomas 
Freek,  John  F.  Adams,  Orem  Rook,  Adam  Hoffman 
and  others.  Services  were  held  in  the  school-house, 
which  were  presided  over  by  Rev.  Philo  Judson. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1841,  Rev.  Mr.  Buck  came  and 
took  charge  of  the  Church. 

After  several  unsuccessful  efforts,  a  church  build- 
ing was  finally  erected,  and  dedicated  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Rev.  C.  E.  Smith.  The  dedication 
took  place  Sept.  10,  1871,  Dr.  J.  H.  Balys  preaching 
the  sermon.  The  edifice  was  a  very  substantial  one, 
costing  about  $3,000.  Prior  to  the  construction  of 
this  building,  application  was  made  to  the  Church 
Extension  Society  for  aid,  but  not  a  dollar  was  re- 
ceived, and  the  building  was  put  up  and  paid  for  by 
the  Erie  people.  This  society  is  now  in  a  fair  con- 
dition, and  with  a  membership  of  60.  They  have 
in  connection  a  good  Sabbath-school.  Rev.  Dick 
Hull  is  presiding. 

Christian  Church. — This  congregation  was  organ- 
ized by  Rev.  J.  N.  Smith,  April  20,  1870.  The 
meeting  for  this  purpose  was  held  at  the  school- 
house,  and  A.  A.  Mathews  was  chosen  Elder;  T.  J. 
Henwood  and  James  Cronk,  Deacons  ;  and  L.  E. 
Mathews,  Clerk.  In  the  winter  of  1877,  the  congre- 
gation bought  the  building  belonging  to  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  which  society  had  been  disbanded. 
This  building  was  refitted  and  dedicated  to  their  use 
March  20,  1877.  This  Church  is  in  a  healthy  con- 
dition, with  a  membership  of  55.  They  have  also 
an  interesting  Sunday-school.  The  present  pastor 
is  Rev.  T.  B.  Stanley. 

Erie  Baptist  Church. — This  society  was  organized 
March  26,  1854.  Elder  W.  Rutledge  was  chosen 
Moderator  at  the  meeting,  and  J.  VanVleek,  Clerk. 
Ten  members  were  received  into  the  Church  at  its 
organization.  Rev.  L.  L.  Lansing  was  their  first 
pastor,  who  served  for  five  years.  Services  were 
held  in  a  school-house  until  1870,  when  a  building 
was  erected  and  dedicated  as  a  place  of  worship. 
A  committee  was  selected  by  the  members,  consist- 
ing of  John  F.  Dickinson,  Frederick  Rhodes  and 

iVav/JB.. 

*  .  " 


James  C.  Hubbart,  to  superintend  the  construction 
of  the  edifice;  and  it  was  through  their  efforts  and 
those  of  Rev.  T.  J.  Mason  that  the  building  was 
finally  completed.  The  Church  had  several  pastors, 
serving  short  terms,  until  1880,  when  Rev.  D.  S. 
Donegan's  services  were  secured.  Mr.  Donegan  re- 
mained four  years  and  then  severed  his  connection 
with  this  society,  accepting  a  call  at  Port  Byron, 
Rock  Island  County.  At  present  the  Church  is 
without  a  pastor,  but  it  has  a  large  and  interesting 
Sunday-school,  which  is  presided  over  by  John  F. 
Dickinson,  one  of  its  most  zealous  members. 

• 

THE  PRESS.' 

Erie  has  not  buried  as  many  newspaper  enter- 
prises as  some  other  towns,  there  being  only  one 
death  recorded.  The  first  paper  established  here  was 
called  the  Erie  Plaindealer,  which  was  in  the  spring 
of  1879.  The  editor,  though  evidently  intending  to 
deal  plainly  with  the  people,  became  satisfied  that 
they  would  not  support  his  enterprise,  and  after  a 
brief  existence  closed  his  publication. 

The  Erie  Independent  came  soon  after  the  close  of 
the  Plaindealer.  G.  W.  Gurnsey,  believing  that  the 
people  of  Erie  ought  to  have  a  good  paper,  and  that 
he  could  satisfy  them  on  this  point,  came  forward, 
bought  up  the  office  of  the  late  Plaindealer,  gathered 
up  his  news  matter,  put  it  in  type  and  issued  forth  his 
first  sheet.  This  was  done  July  9,  1879.  It  is  a  five- 
column  quartp,  well  gotten  up  and  newsy,  with  a  cir- 
culation of  about  1,000.  It  is  independent  in  politics. 
The  publisher  has  also  a  job  office  and  is  prepared 
to  do  job  work  in  a  satisfactory  manner. 

SOCIETIES. 

Masonic  Lodge,  No.  667.  —  This  lodge  was  insti- 
tuted Aug.  3,  1871.  First  W.  M.  was  Abbott  M. 
Crary.  There  were  25  charter  members. 

They  have  a  good  large  hall,  60  by  24  feet,  and 
well  equipped.  The  lodge  is  in  good  working  order 
and  prosperous,  with  a  membership  of  45.  Arthur 
McLane  is  the  present  W.  M.  ;  David  Schriver,  Sr. 
W.;  W.  J.  Gladhill,  Jr.  W.  ;  P.  H.  Wilt,  Treasurer; 
Joseph  Cocking,  Secretary  ;  Wm.  Smith,  Sr.  D.  ;  W. 
E.  Carr,  Jr.  D.  ;  S.  Toby,  Tyler  ;  Joseph  Cunning- 
ham, Sr.  Steward  ;  Wm.  Guthrie,  Jr.  Steward.  They 
own  their  hall,  which  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,500. 

In  connection  with  this  lodge  is  the  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star,  Evangeline  Lodge,  No.  52.  This  lodge 


... 


•    • 


was  chartered  Oct.  7,  1880.     Esmath  A.  Orcutt  was 
the  first  Matron  under  the  charter. 

M.  W.  A.,  Rock  River  Camp,  No.  14,  was  insti- 
tuted Aug.  14,  1883,  with  15  charter  members.  They 
have  added  to  this  number  13  new  members.  They 
have  a  hall  and  meet  regularly. 

ERIE  CEMETERY. 

This  cemetery  is  located  at  the  edge  of  the  village 
on  section  6,  and  contains  about  ten  acres.  It  is  on 
a  beautiful  site,  well  laid  out,  and  adorned  with  shade 
trees  and  evergreens.  It  was  platted  by  W.  S.  Wil- 
kinson. It  was  started  first  by  private  parties,  but 
it  is  now  in  the  control  of  the  village.  It  has  a  web- 
wire  fence  in  front,  with  barbed  wire  on  the  other 
sides.  This  cemetery  has  many  pretty  monuments, 
the  avenues  are  shaded  with  trees,  and  the  lots  and 
grounds  are  well  taken  care  of,  which  speaks  well  for 
the  good  people  of  this  village. 


FEN  TON  TOWNSHIP. 

J.ENTON  Township  was  organized  April 
6,  1852.  The  meeting  for  perfecting  the 
organization  and  electing  township  officials 
was  held  at  the  residence  of  James  M.  Pratt, 
on  section  26.  Joseph  Fenton  was  chosen 
temporary  Chairman,  when  the  citizens  pro- 
ceeded to  ballot  for  moderator  and  clerk,  which 
resulted  in  the  election  of  Zena  M.  Emery  as  Moder- 
ator, and  J.  D.  Odell  as  Clerk.  In  the  ballot-box  at 
the  close  of  the  election  for  township  officers  there 
were  26  votes,  and  upon  counting  them  James  M. 
Pratt  was  found  to  be  elected  Supervisor;  J.  D.  Odell, 
Clerk ;  Joseph  Fenton,  Overseer  of  the  Poor ;  Thomas 
W.  Havens  was  chosen  for  Assessor ;  R.  M.  Thomp- 
son, Collector ;  John  A.  King,  D.  C.  Smith  and 
George  H.  Peters,  Commissioners  of  the  Highway  ; 
Hiram  Harmon  and  Martin  M.  Potter,  Justices  of 
the  Peace;  and  R.  M.  Thompson,  Constable. 

Fenton  embraces  all  of  Congressional  township  20 
north,  range  4  east,  except  a  part  of  sections  35  and 
36,  which  are  attached  to  Portland  Township;  and 
a  fractional  portion  of  section  i  in  Portland,  and 
section  6  in  Prophetstown  Township.  Union  drove 
Township  bounds  it  on  the  north,  Lyndon  on  the 
east,  Portland  on  the  south,  and  Newton  on  the 


west.  This  territory  was  originally  included  in  the 
Lyndon  Precinct.  The  Commissioners  of  1849,  who 
were  appointed  to  define  the  territory  and  name  the 
townships,  gave  this  territory  the  name  of  Eden, 
which  name  it  retained  until  the  Commissioners  of 
185  2  changed  the  name  to  Fenton,  in  honor  of  Joseph 
Fenton,  who  was  the  first  settler  in  the  township. 

Joseph  Fenton  located  in  this  township,  with  his 
wife  and  four  children,  Oct.  10,  1835,  taking  up  a 
claim  on  section  33.  He  came  from  New  Jersey, 
where  he  was  born  Sept.  12,  1794.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Durell,  of  the  same  State,  in  April,  1826. 
He  died  at  his  home  in  Fenton,  where  he  first  lo- 
cated, Sept.  28,  1874.  Four  children  were  added  to 
his  family  after  he  located  in  Fenton.  They  had  eight 
children,  born  as  follows  :  Ellwood  W.,  born  Jan.  23, 
1827;  Joseph  R.,  March  27,  1829;  Elizabeth  H., 
July  9,  1831;  John  D.,  Nov.  10,1832;  Robert  S., 
Oct.  6,  1834.  These  were  born  in  New  Jersey 
Alfred  W.,  May  r3,  1837  ;  Mary  E.,  Dec.  18,  1839 
Sylvester  H.,  Aug.  27,  1841,  and  Henry  C.,  July  3, 
1845.  All  of  the  latter  born  in  Fenton.  They  are 
all  still  living  except  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  New 
Jersey.  Mrs.  Fenton  died  Jan.  15,  1879.  The 
Fenton  farm,  which  increased  in  acreage  until  it  em- 
braced 215  acres,  is  owned  by  the  four  sons.  Part 
qf  it  is  on  section  4,  Erie  Township,  the  balance  on 
section  33,  in  Fenton.  The  old  house  was  in  Fen- 
ton. It  has  been  torn  down,  and  on  the  site  is  a 
corn-field.  Mr.  Fenton  came  from  Chicago  with  an 
ox  team.  They  lived  in  tents  until  a  house  could 
be  built,  which  was  the  first  house  put  up  in  the 
township.  Mr.  Fenton,  with  John  Freek,  who  came 
with  him,  and  who  married  Mrs.  Fenton's  sister,  put 
in  the  first  crop  in  the  township.  During  their  first 
winter  they  had  for  neighbors  a  party  of  Winnebago 
Indians,  who  located  there  to  hunt.  There  was 
plenty  of  wild  game  about  in  those  days,  which  at- 
tracted there  these  Indians. 

Lyman  Bennett  came  in  in- 1836,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  John  R.,  William  L.  and  Charles  Clarke, 
Earnest  Warner;  and  Joseph  James,  Robert  G.  Clen- 
denin  and  Theron  Crook  came  in  1838.  From  this 
on  the  population  steadily  increased. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  Alfred, 
son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Fenton,  born  May  13, 
1837.  He  is  now  living  in  Erie  village.  The  first 
couple  to  enter  into  wedlock  were  Daniel  C.  Smith 


I 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


and  Eliza  James,  daughter  of  Thomas  James.  This 
happy  event  occurred  in  1838.  They  are  still  living, 
but  not  in  this  State.  Thomas  James  and  wife  are 
dead. 

Miss  Arminta  Lathe  opened  the  first  school,  in 
1848.  She  occupied  a  log  cabin  owried  by  James 
M.  Pratt,  near  his  residence  on  section  26.  This 
pioneer  teacher  left  this  world  years  ago. 

The- first  sermon  preached  in  the  township  was  in 
a  log  house,  in  1846,  by  Rev.  Hiram  Harmon,  a 
Methodist  clergyman.  At  one  period  they  had  re- 
ligious services  quite  regularly.  Mr.  James  M. 
Pratt  was  a  regular  attendant,  but  was  wont  to  ask 
the  preachers  questions  during  the  delivery  of  their 
sermons,  and  have  disputations  with  them.  This 
considerably  lessened  the  quantity  of  preaching. 
Yet,  after  the  heated,  religious  debate  was  over,  Mr. 
Pratt  would  invite  the  ministers  over  to  his  house, 
which  was  near  by,  and  give  them  a  good  dinner. 
The  members  of  the  Church  did  not  at  all  like  this 
interruption,  and  said  if  it  was  not  for  Pratt  they 
might  have  more  preaching.  Finally  Mr.  Pratt  ab- 
stained from  attending  Church  for  a  few  Sundays, 
which  seemed  to  detract  from  the  usual  interest  of 
the  services,  and  which  finally  resulted  in  the  break- 
ing up  of  the  preaching  altogether. 

The  people  of  Fenton  went  to  Crandall's  Ferry  in 
early  days  for  their  meat.  It  was  not  until  the  atl- 
vent  of  the  railroad,  in  1869,  that  a  postoffice  was 
established  in  the  township.  This  was  at  Pratt 
Station,  and  Mr.  Pratt  was  appointed  Postmaster. 
He  has  been  continued  since. 

A  road  was  made  through  the  township  in  an 
early  day.  It  lead  from  Dixon  to  Rock  Island,  and 
was  traveled  by  the  Frink  &  Walker  stages,  which 
were  a  joy  in  those  days  to  the  traveler.  It  is 
claimed  by  old  settlers  that  this  road  was  one  of  the 
best  in  the  State. 

N.  O.  Hurless  opened  the  first  store  in  the  town- 
ship, which  was  located  at  what  is  now  known  as 
Fenton  Center. 

The  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Branch  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  completed  its 
track  through  the  township  during  the  first  days  of 
January,  1869.  It  enters  the  township  on  section  25 
and  passes  out  on  section  33. 

Pratt  Station,  on  the  line  of  this  road,  was  platted 
and  lots  were  laid  out,  and  great  expectations  were 


iiad  regarding  it.  The  growth  or  the  destiny  of  a 
railroad  station,  or  town,  is  as  uncertain  as  the  action 
or  course  of  a  tornado.  The  company  long  since 
withdrew  its  agent  from  the  place,  and  only  one  build- 
ing stands  to  mark  the  village  site.  The  Clinton 
branch  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  Railroad  laid  its  track 
through  the  township  in  1872.  It  crosses  the  St. 
Louis  branch,  and  enters  the  township  on  section  24, 
running  northwest  and  going  out  on  section  4. 

The  soil  in  Fenton  is  mostly  a  black  sandy  loam. 
A  good  deal  of  the  land  is  low,  and,  until  it  was 
ditched,  was  swampy  and  unfit  for  cultivation.  It  is 
rolling  in  parts,  and  in  the  northwestern  portion  there 
are  high,  sandy  ridges.  Sloughs  are  quite  frequent 
in  the  township.  Rock  River  winds  along  the  south- 
east corner,  and  Rock  Creek  meanders  through  from 
north  to  south.  There  are  several  other  little  streams, 
and  a  pretty  little  lake,  which  the  people  have  been 
pleased  to  call  Lake  Erie,  quietly  reposes  on  the 
southern  border.  About  the  water-courses  there  is  a 
liberal  growth  of  timber,  and,  take  the  township  alto- 
gether, it  is  a  very  attractive  one.  Fruit  does  well 
in  this  township,  and  it  is  cultivated  to  some  extent. 

The  population  of  the  township  is  estimated  at  800. 
The  census  of  1880  showed  752  inhabitants. 

FENTON     CENTER. 

Fenton  Center  is  a  little  hamlet  located  on  section 
10,  on  the  line  of  the  Clinton  branch  of  the  C.  B.  & 
Q.  Railroad.  This  town  was  platted  in  1872,  by 
James  Enson,  who  gave  ten  acres  of  land  here  to  the  . 
railroad  company,  to  induce  them  to  locate  a  station 
at  this  point.  The  road  was  built  through  the  place 
in  1872.  The  company  erected  a  depot  and  also 
put  up  an  elevator. 

Fenton  Center  has  a  good  school  building,  and  a 
fine  school.  Miss  Anna  Mathews  is  the  teacher,  and 
the  school  has  an  average  attendance  of  25  pupils. 

United  Brethren  Church. — This  society  was  or- 
ganized in  1866,  at  Coborn,  on  section  2r,  by  Rev. 
Samuel  Midler.  Joseph  Pinkly  and  wife,  J.  P.  Miller 
and  wife,  and  E.  J.  Ewers  and  daughters  were  the 
original  members.  In  1871  the  society  erected  a 
church  building  in  the  northeast  corner  of  section  17, 
near  Fenton  Center,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.  The  so- 
ciety have  had  regular  services  since  its  organiza- 
tion. They  were  aided  in  the  erection  of  their 
church  by  donation  work.  If  has  a  membership  of 
about  30,  with  a  Sabbath-school.  Rev.  Conrad  Ben- 
der is  the  present  pastor. 


/r) 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


Postoffice. — Was  established  here  in  1872.  L.  S. 
Burritt  was  appointed  the  first  Postmaster.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Wm.  Miller,  and  Miller  by  M.  O. 
Hurless.  R.  M.  Carr  succeeded  M.  O.  Hurless,  and 
is  the  present  Postmaster.  Fenton  Center  has  also  a 
telephone,  which  is  located  in  the  postoffice. 

Business. — There  are  two  creameries  in  the  town, 
one  owned  by  G.  L.  Whipple,  and  the  other  by 
Wright  &  Allen.  R.  M.  Carr  has  a  general  store, 
and  is  also  a  dealer  in  grain.  M.  D.  Allen  also  has 
a  general  store.  R.  M.  Thompson  operates  an  ele- 
vator. Blacksmithing  is  carried  on  by  C.  A.  Gilroy. 
M.  D.  Allen  is  the  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  place. 

From  the  Assessor's  rolls  the  following  informa- 
tion is  obtained  :  Number  of  acres  of  improved  land 
10,736;  value  of  the  same,  $101,730;  total  value  of 
personal  property,  $5  i  ,069  ;  number  of  horses,  488  ; 
asses  and  mules,  16;  cattle,  1,348;  sheep,  211; 
hogs,  1,331;  steam  engines,  2;  carriages  and  wag- 
ons, 174;  watches  and  clocks,  148;  sewing  and 
knitting  machines,  84 ;  organs  and  melodeons,  32 ; 
pianos,  3.  Total  value  of  lands,  lots  and  personal 
property,  $212,071. 

The  County  Superintendent  in  his  annual  report 
ending  June  30,  1884,  gives  the  following  informa- 
tion regarding  schools :  There  were  ten  school  dis- 
tricts, all  with  frame  buildings.  No  graded  schools. 
Two  of  the  schools  had  libraries.  The  school  prop- 
erty was  valued  at  $2,800.  Of  persons  under  21 
years  of  age  there  were  340,  of  whom  235  were  of 
school  age,  and  155  enrolled.  The  highest  wages 
paid  teachers  was  $50  per  month,  the  lowest  $20. 

The  tax  levy  was  $1,038.     The  township  -has  hon- 
ored the  following  named  citizens  as  Supervisors. 
SUPERVISORS. 


James  M.    Pratt 1852-4 

Alfred  Freeman 1855 

JamesM.   Pratt 1856 

Alfred  Freeman 1857 

Hiram  Harmon 1858-9 

Alfred  Freeman 1860 

Joseph  R     Paul 1861-2 

R.M.    Thompson 1863-4 

Arthur  McLane 1865 


James  N.    Bull 1866 

JamesM.   Pratt 1867-8 

Arthur  McLane 1869 

JamesM.   Pratt 1870 

Arthur  McLane 1871-2 

R.M.  Thompson 1873 

JamesM.   Pratt 1874-6 

M.O.   Hurless 1877-81 

Henry  G.  Moss 1882-5 


FULTON  TOWNSHIP. 

TJLTON   Township   was    organized    from 
Fulton  Precinct.     A  meeting  was  held  for 
the  election  of  officers,  under  the  township 
organization    laws,   April    6,    1852.      Charles 
Johnson  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  James  F. 
Booth,  Clerk,  pro  tern.     There  were  41  votes 
cast,  according  to  the  poll-book,  James  McCoy  cast- 


ing  the  first.  This  election  resulted  in  the  selection 
of  the  following  named  officers:  Willson  S.  Wright, 
Supervisor;  James  F.  Booth,  Clerk;  Ephraim  Sum- 
mers, Assessor;  R.  M.  Rockwell,  Collector;  P.  L. 
Wright,  Constable;  Samuel  Garrish,  Orlando  Sprague 
and  Wm.  H.  Knight,  Commissioners  of  the  High- 
way ;  P.  D.  Wright,  Overseer  of  the  Poor  ;  and  Isaac 
Butcher,  Pound  Master.  Of  those  who  voted  at 
this  election  four  still  live  in  Fulton, — James  McCoy, 
Richard  Green,  W.  C.  Green  and  G.  H.  Rice. 

Fulton  is  not  a  full  Congressional  township,  there 
being  only  about  18  sections  in  it. 

The  nature  of  the  land  of  this  township  is  gener- 
ally rolling.  Along  the  Mississippi  it  is  broken,  and 
containing  many  high  points.  A  clay  soil  rests  on 
the  high  lands,  while  in  the  bottom  lands  the  soil  is 
a  rich  loam.  The  township  is  watered  by  the  Cat- 
tail, Otter  Creek  and  the  Great  River. 

The  first  settler  in  this  township  was  John  Baker, 
in  1835,  who  took  up  a  claim  upon  which  the  town 
of  Fulton  was  afterwards  built.  He  was  a  native  of 
Maryland.  He  came  up  the  Mississippi  from  New 
Orleans  in  1833,  settling  first  at  the  Marais  d"  Osier, 
where  he  remained  a  short  time  and  then  pursued 
his  way  northward  and  located  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi,  above  Albany.  Here  he  built  him 
a  cabin  and  remained  about  a  year,  when  he  lo- 
cated in  Fulton  and  put  up  another  cabin,  which 
was  much  larger  than  the  one  he  built  below.  For 
some  time  he  lived  alone,  having  only  Indians  for 
his  neighbors  and  guests,  they  being  quite  numerous 
about  here  at  this  time. 

In  the  fall  of  1836,  his  nephew,  John  W.  Baker, 
wife  and  three  sisters,  came  out  from  the  East.  Mr. 
Baker  was  married  the  same  year,  seeking  his 
bride  in  Rock  Island  County.  His  log  cabin  was  of 
necessity  converted  into  an  inn,  and  became  in  time 
quite  a  famous  hostelry.  His  wife  did  not  survive 
the  hardships  of  frontier  life  very  long.  In  1840  he 
married  Mrs.  Humphreys.  In  1850  he  went  to 
California  for  his  health,  but  returned  in  a  few  years 
to  Albany,  where  he  died,  in  December,  1863. 

Most  of  the  early  settlers  located  in  and  about 
where  Fulton  City  now  is,  and  the  incidents  con- 
nected with  the  early  settlement  will  be  found  in  the 
history  of  that  city. 

Fulton  Township  contains  many  fine  and  well  im- 
proved farms.  The  farmers  are  doing  well,  and 


fa) 


,    . 


•r' <^>  i^s-i 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


most  of  them  are  in  independent  circumstances. 
Good  roads  have  been  constructed  throughout  the 
township,  and  the  traveler  as  he  rides  over  them  is 
presented  with  attractive  homes  and  cultivated  fields. 

Three  great  railway  lines  enter  the  township  and 
have  depots  in  Fulton  city;  one  from  the  north,  the 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul ;  one  from  the  east,  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern;  and  one  from  the  south, 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1880,  accord- 
ing to  the  census  reports,  was  1,994,  including  the 
city  of  Fulton. 

The  County  Superintendent,  in  his  report  for  the 
year  ending  June  30,  1884,  gives  the  following  in- 
formation regarding  the  schools  of  this  township : 
Number  of  districts,  three,  with  one  graded  and  two 
ungraded  schools;  buildings,  two  frame  and  one 
brick;  number  of  libraries,  three.  The  school  prop- 
erty was  valued  at  $17,450.  Of  persons  under  21 
years  of  age,  there  were  1,103,  of  whom  720  were  of 
scholastic  age,  490  being  enrolled.  The  highest 
wages  paid  teachers  was  $125  per  month,  and  the 
lowest  $23.  The  tax  levy  was  $3,950. 

The  Assessor's  report  for  1884  contains  the  fol- 
lowing information:  Number  of  acres  of  improved 
land,  6,206;  valuation  of  improved  land,  $50,696. 
Total  value  of  town  lots,  $118,413.  Total  value  of 
personal  property,  $67,665.  Number  of  horses,  237  ; 
asses  and  mules,  5:  cattle,  477;  sheep,  24;  hogs, 
490;  steam  engines,  i;  carriages  and  wagons,  142  ; 
watches  and  clocks,  109;  sewing  and  knitting  ma- 
chines, 106;  pianos  16;  organs  and  melodeons,  42. 
Total  value  of  lands,  lots  and  personal  property, 
$258,^2. 

The  following  named   citizens   have  represented 
this  township  since  its  organization,  as 

SUPERVISORS  : 


Willson  S    Wright 1852-3 

A.   W.   Benton 1854-5 

Wm.  C.  Snyder 1856 

Henry  C.  Fellows 1857 

C.  N.  Wheeler ..1858-60 

Irving  G.  Gates 1861-2 

Henry  C.  Fellows 1863-4 

.John  Phelps 1865 

Irving  G.  Gates 1866 

John   Dyer 1867 

Bradstreet  Robinson 1868-9 

Henry  C.  Fellows 1870 


Richard  Green 1871 

Henry  C.  Fellows, asVnt  1871 

Henry  C.   Fellows 1872 

A.  R   McCoy 1873-4 

John   Dyer 1875 

N.  Y.  Wetzell ,876-8 

John  Dyer  (assistant) 1878 

John  Dyer ,870-80 

W.  C.  Green ,88, 

C.  A.  Griswold  (assistant)  1881 

C .  A .   Griswold ,882 

C.  B.  Mercereau ,883-5 


The  history  of  the  city  of  Fulton  follows  the  town- 
ship and  village,  under  a  separate  head. 


GARDEN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 

ARDEN  PLAIN  Township  never  had 
any  identity  as  a  precinct,  but  the  terri- 
tory of  which  it  is  now  composed  was 
embraced  in  Van  Buren  Precinct,  and  later 
in  that  of  Albany.  The  County  Commis- 
sioners' Court,  in  1852,  defined  its  boundaries, 
and  gave  it  its  name.  As  at  present  organized,  it 
is  township  21  north,  of  range  3  east  of  the  4th 
principal  meridian.  It  is  not  a  full  Congressional 
township,  unless  those  sections  extending  into  the 
Mississippi  River  are  counted.  Its  organization  was 
completed  at  a  meeting  held  April  6,  1852,  in  the 
school-house  at  Garden  Plain  Corners. 

Samuel  M.  Kilgour  was  called  to  the  chair,  and 
James  A.  Sweet  acted  as  Clerk.  Upon  taking  a 
ballot  Samuel  M.  Kilgour  was  elected  Moderator, 
and  James  A.  Sweet,  Clerk.  The  result  of  this 
meeting  was  the  election  of  Samuel  M.  Kilgour  for 
Supervisor;  Daniel  Kilgour,  Clerk;  David  Miller, 
Assessor;  J.  W.  Baker,  Collector;  Edward  White, 
Overseer  of  the  Poor;  and  E.  Kilgour,  R.  Blean  and 
Francis  Parker,  Commissioners  of  the  Highway. 

Garden  Plain  has  the  Mississippi  River  and 
Fulton  Township  on  the  north,  Union  Grove  on  the 
east,  Newton  on  the  South,  and  Albany  and  the 
Mississippi  on  the  west.  The  topography  of  this 
township  is  varied.  Commencing  near  the  south- 
western portion,  ranging  along  near  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi  for  some  distance,  and  then  coursing  to 
the  eastward,  are  a  line  of  bluffs,  or  perhaps,  more 
appropriately  speaking,  a  Succession  of  hills. 

The  Cattail's  western  outlet  is  through  this  town- 
ship, and  it  is  watered  by  several  other  small 
streams.  In  some  parts  the  land  is  rolling,  in 
others  slightly  undulating,  with  extensive  level 
fields.  The  soil  is  mostly  a  rich  vegetable  mold 
mixed  with  sand ;  the  higher  ground  partakes  more 
of  a  clay  soil.  Corn  is  regarded  as  the  best  crop  in 
the  township,  though  all  cereals  and  vegetables  do 
well. 

David  Parker,  with  his  large  family,  began  the 
settlement  of  Garden  Plain,  in  the  spring  of  1836, 
making  a  claim  in  what  was  afterwards  known  as 
Parker's  Grove.  Here  he  built  a  cabin,  which  was 


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_/~\    A. 


the  first  in  the  township.  A  more  particular  history 
of  this  pioneer,  and  his  large  family,  will  be  found 
in  the  biographical  part  of  this  work. 

Joseph  Bacon,  who  came  in  about  the  same  time 
that  Parker  did,  put  up  the  next  cabin.  Stephen 
Sweet  came  in  1836,  and  made  a  claim  on  section 
8,  called  the  Holland  Farm,  section  4.  He  was  in 
the  War  of  1812.  Mr.  Sweet  married  the  widow  of 
Thomas  Sey,  in  1840.  By  this  marriage  they  had 
one  son,  who  enlisted  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion, 
and  was  killed.  Among  the  early  settlers  coming 
in  and  making  claims  from  this  period  to  1840,  were 
John  Redfern,  Alpheus  Mathews,  Charles  R.  Rood, 
James  A.  Sweet,  Isaac  Crosby,  David  Mitchell, 
William  Minta,  Ira  Burch,  Henry  M.  Grinnold, 
Samuel  Robbins,  Thomas  Sey,  John  Grant,  and 
Samuel  M.  Kilgour.  Most  of  these  pioneers  had 
families. 

This  territory  was,  as  before  stated,  in  the  Albany 
Precinct,  but  when  the  townships  were  surveyed 
and  organized,  and  the  sections  laid  out,  the  loca- 
tions of  the  settlers  became  better  known.  Mathews 
and  Sweet  came  around  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  and 
footed  it  from  there  to  their  new  home.  Samuel 
Robbins  and  John  Redfern  located  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Ham  Farm.  When  the  township 
lines  were  drawn  they  divided  the  farm,  placing 
Mr.  Redfern  in  Fulton  and  Mr.  Robbins  in  Garden 
Plain  Township.  Alpheus  Mathews  settled  on 
section  13,  where  he  made  a  claim,  and  for  some 
time  lived  in  David  Parker's  cabin.  Joseph  Bacon 
located  on  section  T3,  and  Charles  K.  Rood  on 
section  22.  Ira  Burch  located  on  section  12. 
Abel  Parker  and  James  A.  Sweet  planted  the  first 
crop  —  a  sod  crop  — in  the  township,  in  1837,  at 
the  Grove  farm.  Mr.  Parker  did  not  improve  the 
Garden  Plain  Corners  farm  until  1839,  when,  after 
his  house  was  finished,  he  moved  in.  This  after- 
ward became  the  property  of  David  Parker,  the 
oldest  son  of  Abel  Parker.  It  is  now  owned  by 
Charles  D.  Parker,  grandson  of  Abel,  and  son  of 
David  Parker. 

In  the  early  days  this  house  was  opened  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  traveler,  and  was  known  far 
and  wide  as  "  Parker's,"  from  the  name  which  was 
painted  on  a  post  near  by.  It  is  a  two-story  house, 
the  first  part  built  of  walnut,  with  additions  made 
since.  It  id  still  in  good  repair,  especially  the  old 


part,  and  until  recently  was  the  residence  of  Charles 
D.  Parker.  This  celebrated  country  hostelry  was 
loved  by  the  old  pioneer  travelers,  for  its  good  enter- 
tainment ;  for  the  kind,  sympathetic  treatment  and 
warm  greeting  extended  to  them  by  its  host ;  and  for 
the  social,  convivial  hours  spent  there.  The  old 
road  from  Union  Grove,  and  extending  on  to  Dixon 
and  to  Chicago,  passed  by  this  house,  and  thence  on 
to  Albany.  The  Fink  &  Walker  stages  ran  on  this 
road  for  many  years.  The  old  track,  or  wagon  road, 
can  be  seen  now  beneath  the  grass  leading  up  to  the 
front  of  the  house.  The  grounds  in  front  are  shaded 
by  large  trees,  which  were  planted  by  the  Parkers. 
Though  the  doors  of  this  famous  tavern  has  long 
been  closed  to  the  public,  yet  no  man  have  ever  been 
turned  away  from  its  hospitable  roof  hungry  or  with- 
out shelter. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Mary, 
daughter  of  Alpheus  and  Abylene  (Bethea)  Mathews. 
The  date  of  her  birth  was  August  20,  1840.  She 
was  married  to  Samuel  Montgomery  in  1861,  and 
died  at  her  home  in  1872.  The  first  marriage  cele- 
brated was  between  Samuel  Robbins  and  Clarissa 
Parker,  eldest  daughter  of  Abel  Parker.  This  very 
interesting  event,  not  only  to  those  parties  directly 
concerned,  but  to  all  the  Garden  Plain  settlement, 
occurred  in  the  winter  of  1839.  They  were  married 
by  Esquire  Buckingham,  of  Albany.  Alpheus  "Math- 
ews and  Abylene  (Bethea)  were  the  next  couple  to 
enter  into  wedlock.  Miss  Bethea  was  from  Ten- 
nessee. 

The  first  school  taught  in  Garden  Plain  was 
by  Harriet  Boyington,  in  1838,  at  Parker's  cabin,  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  15. 

The  first  postoffice  established  was  in  April,  1846, 
with  Charles  R.  Rood  as  Postmaster. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  that  of  Elijah 
Knowlton,  in  March,  1838. 

The  first  preaching  extended  to  the  good  people 
of  Garden  Plain  was  by  Rev.  Mr.  McKean,  a  Meth- 
odist (mission)  preacher.  Services  were  held  in  the 
school- house. 

Early  attention  was  given  by  the  people  to  their 
wagon  roads,  and  throughout  the  township  now  the 
public  thoroughfares  are  first-class.  The  Clinton 
branch  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  Railroad  completed  its 
line  through  the  township  in  1872,  making  a  station 
at  Garden  Plain,  which  affords  the  people  ample 

_,gA^V 


r 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


i 
• 


and  ready  means  of  transportation.  Their  nearest 
trading  towns  are  Albany  and  Fulton.  There  is  a 
small  store  at  Cedar  Creek,  kept  by  John  Burns,  and 
one  at  Garden  Plain  Corners,  by  E.  W.  Sayre.  R. 
R.  Murphy  has  a  creamery  on  section  27,  where  he 
makes  during  the  season  about  6,000  pounds  of 
butter  per  week.  C.  D.  Parker  is  giving  a  good  deal 
of  attention  to  breeding  Short-horns  and  the  red 
Jersey  pig.  J.  B.  Krames,  on  section  ri,  is  also 
breeding  Short-horns.  Fruit  has  been  cultivated  by 
the  people  here,  and  there  are  many  valuable  or- 
chards throughout  the  township.  The  greater  por- 
tion of  the  roads  are  bordered  with  hedges,  which  are 
generally  well  trimmed.  About  the  farms  and  roads 
shade  trees  have  been  set  out,  which  adds  much  to 
the  adornment  of  the  country. 

To  one  with  a  cultivated  eye,  and  fond  of  pas- 
toral scenes,  no  more  pleasing  country  could  be 
visited  than  Garden  Plain  Township.  The  farms 
are  magnificent,  the  dwellings  good,  and  constructed 
with  taste.  It  was  an  old  saying  by  the  people  of 
New  York,  when  they  wanted  to  express  a  measure 
of  value  for  anything,  that  they  would  not  take  an 
"  interest  in  Goshen  for  it ;  or  it  was  "  worth  an 
interest  in  Goshen  ;*  referring  to  a  township  in  that 
State  noted  for  its  richness  and  beauty.  The  same 
expression,  with  only  the  change  of  the  name,  could, 
with  all  modesty,  be  applied  to  this  township. 

The  old  Grant  school-house  at  the  "  Corners  "  has 
been  carefully  preserved  and  kept  in  good  repair. 
By  its  side  has  been  erected,  to  meet  the  demands  of 
an  increased  population,  a  larger  one — a  two-story, 
building,  with  a  hall  above.  They  have  a  good 
school  here,  with  an  average  attendance  in  the 
winter  of  55  pupils,  while  in  the  summer-  about  37 
pupils  attend.  W.  S.  Ellison  is  the  present  teacher. 
The  old  school-house  is  used  for  town  purposes. 

The  postoffice,  as  has  been  previously  stated,  was 
first  established  in  1846,  with  C.  R.  Rood  as  Post- 
master. Mr.  Rood  resigned  in  1851,  and  James  A. 
Sweet  was  appointed,  who  held  the  place  until  the 
office  was  discontinued  on  account  of  the  withdrawal 
of  the  Fink  and  Walker  stage  line,  which  was  caused 
by  the  completion  of  what  was  then  called  the 
Dixon  branch  of  the  Chicago  &  Galena  Railroad. 
It  was  re-established  in  1862,  with  D.  H.  Knowlton 
as  Postmaster. 

It   was   again   discontinued  in    1864,  and  so   re- 


mained  until  1876,  when  it  was  re-established,  and 
L.  P.  Hill  was  appointed  to  the  office.  Mr.  Hill 
was  succeeded  by  A.  J.  Stowell,  who  is  the  present 
postmaster. 

A.  O.  U.  W.  Lodge  No.  220,  was  organized  June 
7,  1882;  with  26  charter  members.  C.  D.  Parker  was 
chosen  M.  W.  and  J.  B.  Kearnes  P.  M.  W.  They 
have  a  hall  in  the  school  building,  section  22,  which 
is  appropriately  furnished.  The  lodge  is  prosperous. 
Has  had  but  one  death  since  its  organization.  Pres- 
ent M.  W.,  J.  B.  Kearnes;  P.  M.  W.,  J.  Simpson. 

CHURCHES. 

The  Presbyterian  Church. — This  society  was  or- 
ganized March  16,  1850,  in  the  old  Grant  School- 
house,  by  Rev.  J.  J.  Hill.  Francis  Parker,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Samuel  Kilgour,  and  Mrs.  E.  Zorn,  composed 
the  first  membership. 

Rev.  W.  T.  Wheeler  commenced  his  labors  in  the 
Church  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  services  being 
held  in  the  school-house.  Mr.  Wheeler  died  in  the 
fall  of  1851.  Rev.  J.  Walker  was  a  supply  preacher 
until  the  fall  of  1855,  when  Rev.  Nathaniel  Pinne 
was  called  to  take  charge,  remaining  about  two 
years. 

In  Feb.,  1858,  Rev.  Josiah  Leonard  assumed  the 
pastoral  duties.  He  remained  until  September,  1871. 
In  Oct.  of  the  same  year,  the  society  called  Rev.  E. 
E.  Bayless,  who  remained  but  a  short  time,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  M.  D.  Graves,  who  remained 
until  March,  1884,  after  which  Rev.  E.  H.  Sayre, 
the  present  pastor,  assumed  charge.  They  have  a 
neat  little  edifice,  and  also  a  parsonage — all  costing 
about  $7,000.  They  have  at  present  about  60  mem- 
bers, and  a  flourishing  Sabbath-school ;  services  every 
Sunday.  This  church  is  located  on  section  23. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  an  organization 
in  this  township,  with  a  church  building  located  three 
miles  southeast  of  the  "Corners."  Rev.  F.  Lines, 
from  Albany,  holds  services  here  every  Sunday  after- 
noon, and  preaches  to  about  40  members. 

CEMETERY. 

The  inhabitants  of  Garden  Plain  have  provided  a 
place  for  their  departed  friends.  They  have  a 
beautiful  little  cemetery,  situated  upon  a  rising  piece 
of  ground  near  the  Corners,  and  shaded  by  fine  old 
trees.  It  contains  some  fine  monuments.  Abel 
Parker  and  his  son  David  are  buried  here.  The 
first  interment  was  the  body  of  A.  M.  George. 


( 


-..  ..  , 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


The  following-named  citizens  have  been  honored 


by  election  to  the  office  of  Supervisor,  from  the  first 
i  organization  of  the  township  to  the  present  time  : 
SUPERVISORS. 


Samuel  M.  Kilgotir 1852 

J.  C.  V.   H;unl ^853-4 

C.  H  .  Knupp 1855 

James  A  .  Sweet 1856 

A.M.    ( Jeorije 1857-61 

('.  R.  Rood 1862 

A.  M.  licorge 1863 

C-  R     Rood.. 1864 


James  A.  Sweet  .........  1865-6 

C.  R.  Rood  ...............  1867 

1).   B.  Arrcll  .............  1868 

David  Miller  .............  1869 

James  M.  Eaton  ..........  1870-1 

Daniel   Mjller  ............  1872-5 

James  M.  Eaton  ..........  1876-81 

Charles  D.  Parker  ........  1882-85 


GENESEE  TOWNSHIP. 

L  L  of  Congressional  township  No.  22 
north,  range  6  east  of  the  4th  principal 
meridian,  comprises  the  township  of  Gen- 
esee. The  township  was  organized  in  r852, 
previous  to  which  time  it  had  formed  a  part 
of  Crow  Creek,  Elkhorn  and  Genesee  Grove 
Precincts,  in  the  order  named.  Genesee  Grove  lies 
in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township,  and  is  a 
fine  body  of  limber  land.  Among  the  varieties  of 
timber  are  white,  black  and  burr  oak,  hickory  and 
walnut.  With  the  exception  of  this  grove,  the  re- 
mainder of  the  township  is  a  beautiful,  rolling  prairie, 
and  at  this  writing  dotted  over  with  fine  farm  houses 
and  barns,  proving  that  it  has  an  enterprising  and 
thrifty  population.  There  are  no  large  streams  in 
the  township.  Spring  Creek,  which  rises  on  section 
10,  is  the  largest.  Branches  of  Otter  Creek  and 
Rock  Creek  also  water  the  township.  Genesee  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Ogle  and  Carroll  Counties, 
on  the  South  by  Hopkins  Township,  on  the  east  by 
Jordan,  and  on  the  west  by  Clyde. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  Genesee  was  in  the 
spring  of  1834,  by  Jesse  Hill,  Nathaniel  Moxley, 
Adam  and  John  James.  In  1836  and  1837  came 
William  and  John  Wick,  Eli  Redman,  Samuel  Lan- 
dis,  Joseph  Mush  and  Mark  Harrison;  Ivory  Col- 
cord,  Isaac  Brookfield,  James  McMullen,  Pleasant 
Stanley  and  Jacob  Huffman  in  1838;  in  1838  and 
1839,  Edward  Richard,  Levi  Marble,  Harvey  Sum- 
mers, John  T.  Crum,  Martin  D.  McCrea,  William 
Crum,  Mr.  Carr,  Henry  H.  Holbrook,  James  Sco- 
ville,  R.  T.  Hughes,  R.  Baker,  Israel  Reed,  E.  R. 
Huett,  Watson  Parish  and  Marvin  Chappell. 

Jesse  Hill  was  from  North  Carolina.  He  located 
on  the  north  side  of  the  grove,  on  section  6.  The 
family  consisted  of  the  old  gentleman,  his  wife,  and 


nine  children,  five  boys  and  four  girls.  Jesse  Hill 
died  many  years  ago. 

Nathaniel  Moxley  was  also  from  North  Carolina. 
He  moved  to  Oregon  about  1857,  where  he  was  still 
living  when  last  heard  from,  in  the  spring  of  1885. 

Adam  and  John  James  were  brothers,  natives  of 
North  Carolina.  They  settled  on  the  south  side  of 
the  grove,  and,  it  is  said,  made  an  alliance  with  the 
Hill  family,  in  which  they  were  to  divide  the  grove 
and  defend  each  other's  claims.  Adam  James 
returned  to  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  from  which  place  he 
came  to  Genesee.  John  James  moved  to  Mt. 
Pleasant  Township. 

Samuel  Landis  came  from  Virginia,  and  located 
on  section  7,  in  the  spring  of  1836.  He  was  a 
cabinet-maker  by  trade,  and  worked  at  it  occasion- 
ally in  connection  with  his  farming.  In  having  a 
tumor  removed  from  his  body,  chloroform  was 
administered,  and  it  was  successfully  removed,  but 
he  never  recovered,  and  died  soon  after. 

William  and  John  Wick  were  brothers,  natives  of 
Kentucky,  but  reared  in  Ohio.  They  came  to  Gen- 
essee  in  1836,  William  in  June  and  John  in  October. 
Both  were  soldiers  in  the  War  of  1812.  William 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  his  house  was  the  home  of  all  the  pioneer 
preachers.  He  died  in  1858.  John  died  some  two 
years  ago. 

Eli  Redman  was  also  a  Virginian  by  birth,  but 
reared  in  Ohio,  and,  like  the  Wick  brothers,  served 
in  the  War  of  1812.  In  1827  he  moved  to  Taze- 
well  Co.,  111.,  and  from  thence  to  Genesee  Town- 
ship in  1836.  He  was  familiarly  known  to  all  early 
settlers  as  "  Uncle  Eli  Redman."  Mr.  Redman 
died  in  1862,  and  was  buried  in  the  Genesee  Grove 
Cemetery. 

Mark  Harrison  was  of  English  birth,  a  sailor  by 
profession.  He  came  to  this  county  in  1836.  When 
he  married,  it  is  said,  he  had  but  50  cents,  while 
his  wife  had  $15.  When  they  began  housekeeping 
they  had  no  table,  bed  or  chairs;  but  they  managed 
to  get  along,  and  in  the  end  were  rewarded  for  their 
sacrifices. 

Isaac  Brookfield  was  from  New  York.  He  came 
to  Genesee  in  1837,  remaining  six  years,  and  then 
moved  to  Indiana.  In  1858  he  came  back  to  White- 
side  County,  and  settled  in  Sterling,  where  he  died, 
Jan.  23,  1877. 


ft 


•e '« 

Jl1 


James  McMullen  was  born  in  Ireland.  He  set- 
tled in  Genesee  in  1837.  On  the  death  of  his  wife 
he  sold  out  and  went  to  Canada,  but  returned,  and, 
after  living  a  while  in  Carroll  County,  settled  at 
Fulton. 

Jacob  Huffman  was  from  Canada,  and  located  on 
the  north  side  of  the  grove.  He  died  many  years 
ago. 

Ivory  Colcord  came  from  New  Hampshire  in 
1837.  A  sketch  of  him  appears  elsewhere. 

For  several  years  after  the  first  settlement  of 
this  township,  the  Indians  remained  near  to  hunt 
and  fish.  Many  humorous  stories  are  told  of  how 
the  pioneers  were  frightened  by  ill  reports  of  their 
depredations — humorous  to  those  now  living,  but 
quite  serious  to  the  early  settlers.  They  were  gen- 
erally quite  peaceful,  but  would  now  and  then  steal 
a  horse  and  some  provisions.  On  one  occasion, 
after  stealing  some  horses,  they  were  followed  and 
overtaken  on  an  island  of  the  Mississippi,  near  Ful- 
ton, the  horse  recovered,  and  the  guilty  ones  horse- 
whipped. 

Some  trouble  was  occasioned  by  claim-jumpers, 
but  nothing  serious  occurred.  Some  public  whip- 
pings were  administered  to  those  who  violated  the 
claim  law,  but  no  blood  was  shed  by  claimants  or 
those  who  had  jumped  claims. 

The  early  settlers  of  Genesee  were  composed  of 
families  from  various  parts  of  the  country,  New  Eng- 
land, the  South  and  the  Middle  States  contributing 
their  quota.  While  some  might  be  termed  ignorant 
of  knowledge  obtained  from  books,  many  were  well 
educated,  and  all  were  good  citizens,  kind  and  hos- 
pitable. The  "latch  string"  was  always  out  at  the 
cabins  of  these  worthy  pioneers.  No  cabin  was  too 
small,  or  over-crowded  so  much  but  the  weary  trav- 
eler would  receive  a  genuine  welcome,  and  given  "the 
best  the  house  afforded." 

Louisa,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Win.  Wick,  was 
born  in  1836,  the  first  birth  in  the  township. 

Mrs.  James,  the  mother  of  Adam  and  John  James, 
died  in  1838.  Her  death  was  doubtless  the  first  in 
the  township. 

Among  the  early  marriages  was  that  of  Harvey 
Preston  and  Jane  Hall  in  1839. 

Within  two  months  after  his  arrival  in  October, 
'8;?7.  Ivory  Colcord  commenced  teaching  an  evening 
school  at  the  house  of  Wm.  Wick.  This  was  the 


first  in  the  township.  The  second  school  was  taught 
by  Dinsmoor  Barnett  in  the  winter  of  1839-40,  in  a 
log  house  erected  for  the  purpose  on  section  8.  This 
house  was  used  for  some  years,  but  has  since  been 
replaced  by  a  better  one,  the  section  on  which  it  was 
situated  comprising  a  portion  of  District  No.  4. 

The  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools,  in  his  an- 
nual report  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1884,  gave 
for  the  township  ten  school  districts,  with  nine  frame 
school-houses,  valued  at  $11,150.  There  were  710 
persons  under  21,  of  which  number  508  were  above 
the  age  of  six  years,  and  429  of  these  were  enrolled 
in  the  public  schools.  The  highest  wages  paid 
teachers  were  $75  and  the  lowest  $25  per  month. 
The  tax  levy  for  school  purposes  for  the  year  was 

Rev.  Barton  H.  Cartwright  was  doubtless  the  first 
to  proclaim  the  gospel  in  Genesee,  services  being 
held  at  the  house  of  Wm.  Wick  in  1837.  A  class 
was  soon  afterwards  organized,  of  which  Ivory  Col- 
cord was  class-leader.  The  Methodists  now  have 
two  societies  in  the  township,  one  at  Coleta,  the  out- 
growth of  the  first  class,  and  the  other  in  the  south 
part  of  the  township.  The  Christians  were  the  next 
to  organize,  effecting  one  in  1839.  The  first  church 
edifice  was  erected  by  the  United  Brethren,  in  1858. 
SUPERVISORS. 

Ivory  Colcord 1852-3 

AndrewS.  Ferguson 1854-5 

Chas.    I.incroad     1856-7 

C.  W.  Sherwood 1858-9 

Andrew   S.   Ferguson 1860-3 

Kphraitn   lirookfield 1864-6 

l>avid    Anthony ...1867 

Andrew  S.  Ferguson 1868-70 


Village  of  Coleta. 

N  the  fall  of  1854  John  T.  Crum  and  Henry 
Mason  commenced  the  sale  of  merchandise 
in  an  old  log  house  which  was  then  stand- 
ing on  the  southwest  corner  of  section  10.  Mr. 
Mason  continued  but  a  short  time.  After  oc- 
cupying the  store  some  years,  Mr.  Crum  erect- 
ed a.  frame  building  across  the  road  from  his  first 
location,  bringing  it  on  the  southeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion 9.  Around  this  store,  in  time,  grew  up  the  pres- 
ent village  of  Coleta. 

When  the  village  was  laid  out  it  was    proposed   to 
give  it  the  name  of  Clayton,  but  on  making  applica- 


S 

-'  '• 


Wm.  H.  Colcord 1871-2 

Cephas  Hurless 1873-4 

Ira  Scoville 1875-7 

Cephas    Hurless 1878-80 

Kphraim  C.  Winters 1881 

Cephas  Hurless 1882-3 

Win.  H.  Colcord 1884-5 


• 


tion  to  have  the  name  of  the  postoffice  changed,  it 
was  found  there  was  a  Clayton  in  Adams  County. 
Having  experienced  some  difficulty  in  regard  to 
mails,  there  being  a  Geneseo  postoffice  in  the  State, 
when  the  change  was  made  from  Genesee,  it  was  de- 
termined that  a  name  should  be  adopted  that  would 
not  be  similar  to  s.ome  other  in  Illinois.  Accordingly 
a  meeting  was  called  of  those  receiving  mail  at  the 
office,  and  at  the  suggestion  of  Miss  Nora  Porter,  it 
was  called  Co-le-ta. 

For  some  years  Crum's  store  was  the  only  place  of 
business  at  this  point.  A  blacksmith  shop  being  re- 
garded as  a  necessity,  Mr.  Crum  erected  a  shop, 
placed  in  it  the  necessary  tools,  and  engaged  Levi 
Porter  as  smith.  Mr.  Porter  in  due  time  became 
proprietor,  did  an  excellent  business,  and  was  soon 
numbered  among  the  well-to-do  people  of  the  neigh- 
borhood. 

Mr.  Crum,  after  a  number  of  years'  active  business 
life,  sold  out  his  mercantile  interests  to  Ephraim 
Brookfield,  who  had  been  a  clerk  in  his  store.  Mr. 
Brookfield  was  unusually  successful  in  the  business, 
accumulated  considerable  money,  sold  out  and  com- 
menced the  banking  business  at  Rock  Falls  in  1874. 
Failing  health  caused  him  to  try  the  genial  climate 
of  Florida,  but  it  was  without  avail.  He  died  June 
10,  1876. 

In  1865  Cephas  and  Martin  Hurless  started  in  the 
general  mercantile  business  and  soon  built  up  a 
heavy  trade. 

Other  business  enterprises  were  begun  from  time 
to  time,  but  as  each  of  the  lines  of  railroad  running 
into  the  county  passed  the  village  by,  it  has  never 
flourished  as  it  otherwise  would  have  done.  Beauti- 
fully located,  surrounded  by  a  rich  agricultural  coun- 
try, but  for  the  absence  of  a  railroad,  it  doubtless 
would  have  made  :one  of  the  best  towns  in  the 
county. 

Genesee  Grove  (jostoffice  was  started  about  two 
miles  west  of  the  present  village  of  Coleta  in  1839, 
with  Edward  Richardson  as  Postmaster.  M.  C. 
Wood  succeeded  Richardson  and  the  office  was 
changed  to  his  residence.  Win.  Crum  and  John 
Yager  each  held  the  office.  When  the  village  was 
platted  it  was  removed  there,  with  John  Thompson 
Crum  as  Postmaster,  and  the  name  of  the  office 
changed  to  that  of  the  village,  W:  H.  Colcord  is  the 
present  Postmaster. 

$* ^*— 


Coleta  forms  a  part  of  School  District  No.  2.  The 
first  school-house  was  built  in  1850,  about  one-fourth 
mile  south  of  the  village.  It  was  used  until  a  bet- 
ter building  was  erected  in  the  village.  It  was  a 
frame  building,  one  story  in  height,  size  20x28.  It 
was  occupied  until  1875,  when  the  present  building, 
without  the  wing,  was  erected.  The  wing  was  added 
in  1883.  The  estimated  value  of  the  school  prop- 
erty is  $4,000.  The  schools  of  Coleta  are  a  credit 
to  the  place.  For  several  years,  W.  H.  Colcord  has 
been  Principal.  Miss  Mary  Hogan  is  his  assistant. 
During  the  past  winter  there  was  an  enrollment  of 
no. 

CHURCHES. 

At  present  there  are  three  church  edifices  in  the 
place,  occupied  by  the  Methodist,  Christian  and 
United  Brethren  denominations. 

The  Methodist  l-'.piscopal  Church  building  was 
erected  in  1867.  It  is  a  neat  frame,  capable  of 
seating  300.  A  parsonage  is  also  owned  by  the  so- 
ciety. This  Church  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  first 
class  organized  in  the  township  by  Rev.  B.  H.  Cart- 
wright,  and  of  which  Ivory  Colcord  was  the  Class- 
leader  It  has  had  its  seasons  of  prosperity,  and  has 
experienced  trials  peculiar  to  all  who  walk  in  the 
Way.  Rev.  Mr.  Schoonmaker  is  the  present  pastor, 
and  the  Church  has  a  membership  of  64.  There  is 
preaching  every  Sabbath.  A  Sunday-school  is  con- 
nected, with  an  average  attendance  of  40,  with  S. 
H.  Kingery  as  Superintendent. 

The  Christian  Church  dates  back  to  1842,  though 
there  had  been  occasional  preaching  by  Dr.  Nance 
since  1839.  In  the  former  year  six  persons  who  had 
become  obedient  to  the  gospel,  resolved  to  meet  reg- 
ularly each  Lord's  Day  to  commemorate  the  Savior's 
death.  In  1844,  Henry  Howe  came  to  the  neighbor- 
hood, and,  in  a  log  house  one  mile  west  of  the  pres- 
ent village  of  Coleta,  held  a  meeting  of  some  days, 
going  from  thence  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Moxley, 
where  he  continued.  Thirteen  were  immersed  as 
the  result  of  the  meeting  and  an  organization 
effected  of  19  members.  Services  were  held  at  the 
Center  School-house  until  1868,  when  a  neat  house 
of  worship  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  over  $2,000, 
John  Yager  donating  the  greater  part.  This  house 
was  subsequently  sold,  and  the  present  house  of 
worship  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500,  including 
ground.  The  present  membership  is  83.  Elder 


-• 


y 

fa 


<§; 


Hamilton  is  pastor,  with  Thomas  Stanley,  Charles 
Pugh  and  Win.  J.  Stanley,  Elders.  A  Sunday- 
school  is  maintained  by  the  Church. 

United  Brethren  Church  was  organized  in  1854,  at 
the  Hazel  Green  School-house  on  section  4.  In 
1858  a  church  building  was  erected  near  that  point, 
which  was  occupied  until  1868,  when  the  present 
church  edifice  was  erected  in  Coleta.  The  Church 
has  at  present  a  membership  of  125,  and  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  Rev.  John  W.  Baumgardner 
was  sent  to  the  charge  in  the  fall  of  1883,  and  has 
done  good  work  for  the  Church.  A  Sabbath-school, 
with  an  average  attendance  of  75,  is  maintained. 
David  Overholser  is  the  present  Superintendent. 
SOCIETIES. 

The  Order  of  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  is 
represented  in  this  place  by  LaFayette  Camp,  No. 
16,  which  was  instituted  in  December,  1884,  with  u 
charter  members.  Hiram  McCrea  was  President 
and  Fred  Fehrenson,  Clerk. 

During  the  war,  the  Union  League  was  repre- 
sented here  by  a  flourishing  lodge. 

The  Masons  had  a  flourishing  lodge  here  for  a 
lime. 

BUSINESS,   ETC. 

The  business  and  professional  interests  of  the 
place  were  represented  in  May,  1885,  as  follows: 

Crouch  &  Ackerman  and  Brown  Bros,  carry  good 
stocks  of  general  merchandise.  The  hardware,  tin- 
ware and  farm  implement  business  is  carried  on  by 
Meister  &  Neis  and  H.  C.  Ulmer ;  the  latter  is  also 
handling  windmills,  pumps  and  farm  implements. 
The  drug  trade,  school  books  and  wall-paper  sup- 
plies are  handled  by  Colcord  &  Fehrenson.  William 
Reecher  has  a  restaurant  and  hotel,  while  J.  T. 
Meakins  conducts  a  hotel.  The  millinery  and  dress- 
making business  is  represented  by  Miss  Winland  and 
Mrs.  Royer,  likewise  by  Mrs.  W.  E.  Kennedy.  W.  J. 
Howe  and  J.  H.  Becker  are  engaged  in  the  black- 
smith and  wagon-making  business.  W.  H.  Waters 
does  the  painting  and  carpenter  work,  and  Fraser 
Bros,  are  painters  and  paper-hangers.  H.  Conaway 
is  the  contractor  and  builder.  Peter  Ihmels  repre- 
sents the  shoemakers'  trade.  W.  P.  Fraser,  Remage 
&  Beeman  are  the  physicians  and  surgeons.  John 
Hannis  deals  in  live  stock  and  also  conducts  an  in- 
surance agency.  W.  E.  Kennedy  is  a  carpenter. 
Royer  &  Terpeny  do  the  well-digging.  Daniel  Zoll- 

^^ ^X: 


ers  is  a  plasterer  and  calciminer.  Hugh  Shannon 
deals  in  imported  horses.  The  banking  business  is 
represented  by  Crouch  &  Ackerman.  G.  W.  Howe 
is  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  does  a  general  collecting 
business.  W.  H.  Colcord  is  a  Notary  Public  and 
also  engaged  in  general  collecting. 


HAHNAMAN   TOWNSHIP. 

AHNAMAN  Township  is  in  the  extreme 
southeastern  part  of  the  county.  Its 
boundaries  were  defined  by  the  County 
Court  in  1852,  but  the  township  was  not  fully 
organized  until  1860.  Hahnaman  comprises 
all  of  township  19,  range  7  east  of  the  fourth 
principal  meridian.  It  is  largely  made  up  of  what  is 
known  as  swamp  lands,  but  they  are  being  drained 
to  a  considerable  extent.  The  remainder  of  the 
township  is  rolling  prairie,  excepting  a  few  sand 
ridges.  The  county  ditch  commences  about  two 
miles  west  of  the  east  line  of  the  township,  and 
from  the  west  line  enters  Tampico. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  at  Deer  Grove,  in 
1841,  by  Wm.  Renner  and  family,  from  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr.  Renner  died  in  1859,  leaving  a  widow 
and  eight  children.  Among  the  first  settlers  not 
mentioned  in  the  biographical  portion  of  the  work 
are  the  following : 

Lemuel  Scott,  from  Vermont,  was  the  next  to 
make  here  his  home,  arriving  in  1845.  He  died  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Renner,  in  1849. 

In  1854,  Mrs.  Ryder,  a  widow  lady,  and  her  fam- 
ily arrived  in  the  township.  During  the  following 
three  or  four  years  a  number  of  families  came  in. 
Among  the  arrivals  were  James  Chambers,  W.  M. 
Halsted,  Benj.  Ackley,  Martin  Clark,  Wm.  Hum- 
phrey, Wm.  Johnson,  John  J.  Van  Valkenburg, 
Wm.  Brakey,  Geo.  Brakey,  Wm.  McNickel,  Thomas 
Langan,  Peter  Ford,  Amos  Reeves  and  Dr.  Reuben 
Davis. 

James  Chambers  was  from  Indiana.  He  located 
on  section  4,  where  he  remained  a  number  of  years, 
and  then  moved  to  Kansas. 

Benj.  Ackley  was  also  from  Indiana.  He  located 
on  section  4,  and  likewise  moved  to  Kansas,  some 
years  ago. 

Martip  Clark  came  from  the  same  State.     Cham- 


' 

: 


bers,  Ackley  and  Clark  were  brothers-in-law.  Mr. 
Clark  located  on  section  2.  He  also  moved  to 
Kansas,  where  he  has  since  died. 

William  Johnson,  from  Rutland,  Vermont,  came 
in  1855,  and  located  on  section  2.  He  now  resides 
in  Rock  Falls. 

William  Humphrey,  was  from  Ohio.  He  located 
on  section  1 8,  where  he  died,  some  years  ago. 

John  J.  Van  Valkenlmrg  was  a  native  of  New 
York.  He  located  on  section  18,  spending  his  time 
either  in  working  his  farm  or  at  his  trade  of  carpen- 
ter. A  few  years  ago  he  moved  to  Valley  Center, 
Kansas,  where  he  now  resides. 

William  and  George  Brakey  were  from  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  came  to  this  township  in  1856.  Some 
years  ago  they  moved  West,  where  William  has 
since  died. 

John  McNickel  was  also  from  Pennsylvania. 
He  located  here  and  died,  on  his  homestead,  some 
years  ago. 

Peter  Ford  came  from  Ireland  in  18=56,  and 
located  on  section  12,  where  he  is  still  living. 

Thomas  Langan  was  also  from  Ireland.  He 
located  in  1856  on  section  24,where  he  is  still  living. 

Isaiah,  son  of  DeWitt  and  Catherine  Ryder,  was 
the  first  white  child  born  in  the  township. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Ryder,  in  1855. 

H.  V.  Hinman  and  Jane  L.  Brakey  were  united  in 
marriage  in  1859, — the  first  event  of  the  kind  in  the 
township. 

The  first  school-house  was  built  on  section  4,  in 
1856,  and  subsequently  moved  to  section  3.  This  is 
District  No.  i.  The  house,  though  a  small  one,  was 
used  for  some  years,when  a  larger  and  more  conven- 
ient one  was  erected  on  section  3,  a  part  of  Dr. 
Reuben  Davis'  farm.  It  has  since  been  moved  to 
the  original  site  on  section  4.  A  house  was  built  in 
District  No.  2,  in  1856. 

For  the  year  ending  June  30,  1884,  the  County 
Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  gave  the  following 
items  pertaining  to  educational  matters  in  the  town- 
ship. There  were  six  school  districts  and  frame 
school-houses,  with  369  persons  under  23  years  of 
age,  of  which  number  274  were  of  school  age  and 
233  enrolled  in  the  public  schools.  The  highest 
wages  paid  teachers  was  $50  and  the  lowest  $25  per 
month.  The  tax  levy  for  school  purposes  was 
$2,232. 

The  first  religious  services   in  the  township  were 


probably  at  the  school- houses  in  Districts  No.  i  and 
No.  2.  In  1876  regular  services  were  established  by 
the  Methodists  at  Deer  Grove.  No  church  edifices 
have  been  built. 

In  the  war  for  the  Union  Hahnaman  Township 
did  her  part  nobly,  considering  its  limited  resources. 
Every  call  was  responded  to  but  one,  when  a  draft 
was  ordered  for  thiee  men,  the  only  one  in  the 
county.  The  township  had  but  few  men  able  to 
go  .that  could  be  spared,  but  every  effort  was  put 
forth  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  General  Govern- 
ment. At  one  time  $500  was  raised  and  placed  in 
the  hands  of  a  committee  to  provide  men  in  answer 
to  a  call.  The  committee  expended  the  amount, 
but  with  little  benefit  to  the  township.  The  last  «all 
made  by  the  President  was  in  December,  1864. 
Thirteen  men  were  apportioned  lo  this  township. 
Of  the  number  six  had  been  secured,  when  a  meet- 
ing was  called  to  devise  means  for  securing  the 
number.  The  county  had  offered  a  bounty  of  $500, 
and  it  was  pressed  to  supplement  this  amount  by 
$100  more  to  each  volunteer.  Nearly  every  voter  in 
the  township  was  present  at  the  meeting,  when  Dr. 
Davis  and  some  others  agreed  to  advance  the 
amount,  provided  those  present  would  agree  to  vote 
the  amount  back  to  them  from  the  township  funds. 
On  the  6th  of  February,  1865,  this  was  done. 

On  the  3oth  day  of  September,  1869,  a  special 
election  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  voting  on  the 
question  of  the  township  subscribing  $10,000  to  the 
capital  stock  of  the  Illinois  Grand  Trunk  Railway, 
now  the  Clinton  &  Mendota  Branch  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad.  The  terms  on  which 
the  township  agreed  to  subscribe  for  the  stock  were 
that  one-fifth  should  be  paid  in  five  years  and  one- 
fifth  annually  thereafter  until  the  whole  amount  was 
paid,  the  interest  to  be  at  the  rate  of  10  per  cent, 
per  annum.  The  company  refused  to  accept  the 
proposition,  demanding  that  five  per  cent,  should  be 
paid  down,  and  the  balance  when  sufficient  stock 
was  subscribed  to  grade,  bridge  and  tie  that  part  of 
the  road  between  Prophetstown  and  Mendota.  An- 
other special  election  was  held  June  25,  1870,  to  see 
if  the  township  would  accept  the  terms  of  the  rail- 
road company.  The  proposition  was  defeated,  when 
the  railroad  company  acceded  to  the  proposition  of 
the  township.  Accordingly,  in  i87r,  the  bonds  were 
issued.  The  entire  amount  has  since  been  paid. 

The    township   of    Hahnaman    was    named    in 

A    r~~, 


Vx 

I 


• 


-:->••  X- 


• 


honor  of  the  founder  of  the  homoeopathic  school  of 
medicine,  the  renowned  Dr.  Hahnemann.  A  mistake 
was  made  by  the  commissioners  in  the  spelling,  but 
as  the  name  has  been  made  a  matter  of  record  as 
spelled  it  was  permitted  to  stand.  The  first  election 
for  township  officers  was  held  April  3,  1860,  at  the 
school-house  in  District  No.  2.  The  following  men 
were  chosen  :  Wm.  M.  Halsted,  Supervisor  ;  Amos 
Reeves,  Clerk  ;  George  S.  Brakey,  Assessor;  Reuben 
Davis,  Collector;  George  S.  Brakey  and  Reuben 
Davis,  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

SUPERVISORS. 

The  supervisors  from  1860  to  the  present  time 
have  been  as  follows : 

Wm.  M.  HalsuH 1860 

O.  H.  McNickcl* 1861 

Wm.  Johnson 1862 

M.  A.  Meyers 1863 

Reuben  Davis 1864-65 

Amos  Reeves 1866 

Reuben  Davis 1867-68 

*Mr.  MoNickel  resigned  in  September  anil  Win.  John- 
son was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

DEER  GROVE. 

Iii  1873,  W.  H.  Wheeler  opened  a  store  on  the 
line  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad 
at  Deer  Grove,  and  soon  after  secured  the  appoint- 
ment of  Postmaster  for  a  new  office  to  be  established 
at  this  point,  to  be  known  as  Deer  Grove.  Mr. 
Wheeler  continued  the  store  about  two  years,  when 
he  sold  out  to  Charles  L.  Dewey.  Several  families 
soon  after  located  here,  and  a  village  of  about  a 
dozen  houses  was  built  up.  In  1875  an  elevator 
was  erected.  For  some  cause  the  town  has  never 
thrived,  and  to-day  has  no  more  inhabitants  than  it 
had  ten  years  ago.  There  is  one  store,  owned  by 
Martin  Coleman,  a  blacksmith  shop,  school-house, 
postoffice,  and  some  12  or  15  houses. 


Edward   Perkinson 1869-72 

John  Conlon   1873 

John  McCabe '874-75 

Amos  Reeves 1876-78 

Munson  Robhins 1879 

Edward  Devine 1880-85 


HOPKINS  TOWNSHIP. 

of   township   21,  range  6  east  of  the 
4th    principal   meridian,   together   with   a 
small  fraction  of  section    2,  township  20, 
range  6,  lying  north  of  Rock  River,  comprises 
the  township  of  Hopkins.     It  is  well  watered 
by  the  Elkhorn  Creek,  which  enters  the  town- 
ship on  section  13  and  empties  into  Rock  River  from 


section  35  ;  and  Spring  Creek,  which  rises  in  Genesee 
and  enters  Hopkins  on  section  3,  flowing  southward 
and  uniting  with  the  Elkhornon  section  14.  Round 
Grove  lies  wholly  within  this  township,  and  there  is 
much  timber  along  the  banks  of  the  streams.  The 
remainder  of  the  township  is  a  beautiful  rolling 
prairie,  which  is  highly  productive. 

Jason  Hopkins,  for  whom  the  township  is  named 
and  Isaac  H.  Brittle,  have  the  honor  of  being  the 
pioneers  of  the  township,  effecting  a  settlement  in 
1835,  where  the  village  of  Como  was  subsequently 
located.  Mr.  Hopkins  passed  through  this  section 
in  1832,  during  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  was 
charmed  with  the  country.  At  that  time  he  made  a 
"jack-knife  claim,"  by  cutting  his  name  in  the  bark 
of  the  trees.  He  said  the  location  was  as  "  beautiful 
as  the  Garden  of  Eden."  When  he  returned  with 
his  family  in  1835,  he  surveyed  the  claim  and 
marked  its  boundaries  in  the  customary  manner  of 
running  furrows  through  the  prairies  and  marking 
the  trees  in  the  timber. 

In  1836  settlements  were  made  by  Joseph  Jones, 
William  Pilgrim,  Clement  C.  Nance,  Frank  Adams, 
James  Cleveland,  James  Brady,  Jacob  Benjamin, 
and  Anthony  Sells.  Between  1836  and  1840  many 
others  came  in,  among  whom  were  James  D.  Bing- 
ham,  Mrs.  Martha  Adams  and  family,  William  Beebe, 
Thomas  Matthews,  Joel  Harvey,  W.  F.  Hopkins, 
Simon  Sampson,  H.  H.  Perkins,  Horatio  Wells, 
Frederick  Simonson,  Thompson  Brothers,  Elijah 
Wallace,  H.  B.  Sampson,  W.  S.  Wilkinson,  Jesse 
Scott,  G.  H.  Kirby,  N.  A.  Sturtevant,  Geo.  Sturte- 
vant,  A.  C.  Merrill,  E.  C.  Whitmore,  J.  M.  Dow,  S. 
P.  Breed,  Wm.  Sampson  and  J.  M.  Burr. 

Jason  Hopkins  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  born 
Dec.  26,  1786.  On  coming  to  this  State  he  first  lo- 
cated at  Belleville,  from  which  place  he  went  to 
Peoria,  and  was  there  on  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War.  Enlisting  in  a  cavalry  regiment, 
he  was  appointed  Quartermaster,  and  as  such  served 
during  the  war.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker  and 
worked  at  his  trade  until  he  came  to  this  county. 
An  intimate  friend  of  Gen.  Jackson,  he  was  a  great 
admirer  of  the  old  hero.  Mr.  Hopkins  was  a  true 
pioneer,  a  man  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  He 
died  at  his  home  in  Coino,  Aug.  19,  1853. 

Henry  B.  Sampson  was  born  in  Duxbury,  Mass., 
July  15,  1787,  and  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1836,  lo- 


*G> 

I 


eating  at  Tremont.     In    1839  he  came  to  Hopkins 
and  located  at  Como.     Ho  died  here  in  1865. 

Wm.  Sampson  was  also  born  in  Duxbury,  Mass., 
and  came  to  this  township  in  1839.  He  died  in 
Chicago,  in  185  r. 

Jesse  Scott  came  from  Ohio,  though  born  in  Lu- 
zerne  Co.,  Pa.  He  made  the  trip  by  way  of  the 
Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Rock  Rivers,  in  a  keel-boat 
propelled  by  horse-power,  lantfing  at  Como,  June  i, 
1839.  With  this  boat  he  made  trading  trips  for 
several'years  after  coming  to  Como. 

Joel  Harvey  was  a  pioneer  of  1837,  a  native  of 
New  York  and  a  wagon -maker  by  trade.  He  lo- 
cated at  Round  Grove,  purchasing  the  claim  of 
Caleb  Plummer,  and  was  the  first  Postmaster  at  that 
point.  It  is  said  that  he  did  more  in  opening  up 
farms,  laying  out  roads,  building  mills,  stores  and 
factories  than  any  man  in  Whiteside  County.  The 
artesian  well  in  Sterling  was  his  work.  Mr.  Harvey 
died  in  Sterling,  Sept  3,  1875. 

Elijah  Wallace  came  in  1838  from  Cumberland 
Co.,  Pa.,  locating  near  Empire.  He  improved  a 
farm,  on  which  he  died  many  years  ago. 

Wm.  Pollock  was  from  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was 
numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of  Como.  He 
was  County  Surveyor  several  terms  and  also  held 
other  offices  of  public  trust. 

James  D.  Bingham  came  from  Connecticut,  and  is 
numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  1837.  He  moved 
to  Sterling. 

Frank  Adams  came  to  Como  in  company  with 
Jason  Hopkins,  and  located  on  the  bank  of  the  river 
near  the  ferry  landing.  His  wife  was  the  first  white 
woman  in  the  place,  and  for  a  time  the  only  one. 

Frederick  Simonson  came  in  1838  from  New  York, 
and  died  on  the  homestead  in  1869. 

Horatio  Wells  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
came  to  Hopkins  in  1838,  in  a  wagon,  from  his  na- 
tive State.  He  died  many  years  ago. 

Capt.  Simeon  Sampson  was  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  followed  the  sea  for  some  years,  or 
until  he  came  West.  He  returned  to  Massachusetts 
some  years  ago  and  now  resides  at  Boston. 

William  Pilgrim,  Joseph  Jones  and  Clement  C. 
Nance  were  from  Indiana,  and  located  at  Round 
Grove.  They  all  married  sisters.  Pilgrim  and  Jones 
returned  to  Indiana  after  a  time,  but  Nance  re- 
mained, studied  and  practiced  medicine,  and  also 


preached  the  gospel  as  the  opportunity  was  afforded 
him. 

Ira  Silliman  located  here  at  an  early  day,  residing    *,".•" 
in  Como,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in  the 
winter  of  1872-3.  .&) 

Anthony  Sells  located  his  claim  west  of  the  Elk- 
horn  Creek,  but  subsequently  sold  it  to  .Elijah  Wal- 
lace, went  West  and  died  many  years  ago. 

Benjamin  Sells  sold  his  claim  to  John  Gait,  moved 
to  Rock  Island  County  and  there  died. 

Jacob  Sells  sold  his  claim  to  Edward  Vernon  and 
Frank  Adams,  moved  to  Bureau  County,  laid  out  the 
village  of  Tailholt,  and  ran  a  hotel  there  some  years. 

In  all  settlements  marriages,  births  and  deaths 
occur,  and  Hopkins  Township  was  no  exception  to 
the  rule. 

The  first  marriage  occurred  in  1840,  Isaac  H. 
Brittle  and  Jane  Scott  being  the  contracting  parties. 
On  the  toth  day  of  November,  1841,  a  double 
weddin  g  occurred — Win  field  S.  Wil  kinson  and  Frances 
E.  Sampson,  and  Frank  dishing  and  Mary  D.  Breed. 

William  Tell,  son  of  Jason  Hopkins,  who  was  born 
Feb.  22,  1837,  was  the  first  born  in  the  township, 
and  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  male  child  born  in 
the  county. 

By  whom  the  first  religious  services  were  held  is 
unknown,  but  it  is  quite  probable  that  Rev.  B.  H. 
Cartwright  was  among  the  first.  Clement  C.  Nance 
also  preached  at  an  early  day.  The  first  house  of 
worship  was  erected  at  Como  by  the  Congregational- 
ists  in  1854. 

Miss   Higby   has   the  honor  of  teaching  the  first 
school  in    1840  at  Round  Grove.     The  first  school- 
house  was  erected  at  Como,  in  1842.     The  educa-    ^ 
tional  interests  of  the  township  have  kept  pace  with 
its  improvement  in  other  respects. 

From  the  report  of  the  County  Superintendent  of 
Public  Schools  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1884,  it 
is  learned  that  there  were  six  school  districts  in  the 
township,  each  having  a  good  frame  school  house. 
The  total  value  of  which  were  $8,500.  There  were 
544  persons  under  the  age  of  21,  of  which  number 
there  were  390  of  school  age,  320  of  whom  were 
enrolled  in  the  public  schools.  The  highest  wages 
paid  teachers  were  $60  and  the  lowest  $30  per  month. 
The  levy  for  school  purposes  was  $2,816. 

Brink  &  Cushman  commenced  the  erection  of  a 
saw-mill  near  Empire  in  1837  and  completed  it  the 


following  year.  Elijah  Wallace,  in  the  summer  of 
1838,  erected  another  on  Spring  Creek,  and  in  1839 
Joel  Harvey  built  one  on  Deer  Creek. 

Hopkins  Township  was  organized  in  1852,  its  first 
election  being  held  in  April  of  that  year.  The  fol- 
lowing officers  were  chosen  :  Simeon  Sampson,  Su- 
pervisor; Henry  B.  Sampson,  Town  Clerk;  Simeon 
Sampson,  Assessor;  Nelson  R.  Douglass,  Collector; 
Grant  Conklin,  Overseer  of  the  Poor;  Henry  B. 
Sampson  and  Walter  Harmon,  Justices  of  the  Peace ; 
Ira  Silliman,  Wm.  Manahan  and  Fred.  Simonson, 
Commissioners  of  Highways;  Nelson  R.  Douglass 
and  Porter  J.  Harmon,  Constables;  Poor  Masters, 
Chas.  Holmes,  O.  C.  Stolp,  Fred  Simonson.  Jesse 
Scott,  Joel  Harvey,  P.  J.  Harmon  and  Josiah  S.  Scott 
were  appointed  Overseers  of  Highways.  There  were 

7 1  votes  cast  at  this  election. 

SUPERVISORS. 


Simon  Sampson, 1852-54 

Geo.  Wilson, 1855-56 

Fred  Simonson '857 

Washington   Loomis 1858-6} 

W.  M.  Law 1864 

James  Dinsfnoor 1865-71 

B.R.Watson 1872-73 

Henry  Keefer 1874  75 


James  Buyars 1876 

S.  J.  Baird 1877-78 

Henj.J.   Watson i87Q-8o 

Fred  Simonson 1881-82 

James   Dinsmoor 1883 

Roland  C.  Wharficld...  1884 

Omer  E     Fanning 1885 


Village  of  Como. 

i  S  this  history  is  being  compiled,  in  the  spring 
of  1885,  the  village  of  Como  presents  another 
grand  illustration  of  "  what  might  have  been.  " 
Located  upon  the  north  side  of  Rock  River, 
with  a  beauty  of  location  second  to  none,  and 
surrounded  by  an  agricultural  country  of  great 
fertility,  it  would  seem  that  nothing  more  could  have 
been  desired  to  make  of  it  one  of  the  best  inland 
towns  in  the  State. 

The  site  of  the  village  of  Como  was  a  part  of  the 
original  claim  of  Jason  Hopkins,  and  about  1837 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Peter  Menard  and  Judge 
Bigelow,  of  Peoria.  Dr.  Harding,  a  son-in-law  of 
the  latter,  came  about  that  time  and  settled  upon  the 
claim.  Soon  afterwards  the  claim  was  purchased  of 
Bigelow  and  Menard  by  a  colony  formed  in  Taze- 
well  County,  and  in  July,  1838,  a  village  was  platted 
to  which  was  given  the  name  of  Como,  from  the  fact 
that  the  expanse  of  the  river  just  above  the  town  was 
said  to  resemble  Lake  Como,  in  Italy. 

No  village  in  the  West   started  out  with  brighter 


prospects.  Settled  by  an  intelligent,  enterprising 
people,  with  a  determination  to  build  up  a  thriving 
city,  no  one  would  have  dared  to  predict  failure.  It 
is  said  that  among  the  original  proprietors  of  the 
town  were  six  civil  engineers  and  surveyors,  three 
ship  captains,  one  clergyman,  one  editor,  one  printer, 
one  physician,  one  miller,  one  merchant,  three  shoe 
and  leather  dealers  :and  two  farmers.  The  greater 
number  of  them  were  from  Massachusetts  and  New 
Hampshire,  and  were  well  educated,  hospitable  and 
moral  people. 

In  the  spring  of  1840  a  ferry  was  built  across  the 
river  at  this  point,  bridges  were  built  and  roads 
opened,  so  that  trade  would  flow  in  this  direction.  A 
tavern  had  been  opened  the  year  previous  by  Henry 
Sampson,  the  first  in  the  place  and  which  Was  exten- 
sively patronized  by  the  traveling  public,  especially 
after  Frink  &  Walker  began  running  their  stage 
coaches  through  the  place,  making  Capt.  Sampson's 
house  a  point  where  the  passengers  could  be  pro- 
vided with  good,  wholesome  meals. 

The  first  store  was  opened  in  1840,  by,  Alfred  and 
James  Dow.  About  the  same  time  a  postoffice  was 
established  here,  with  Dr.  Harding  as  Postmaster. 
In  1841  William  Pollock  opened  the  second  store, 
and  was  followed  soon  after  by  Wm.  Nurritt.  In 
1845  Aaron  W.Pitts  began  the  manufacture  of  plows, 
and  did  a  thriving  business  for  several  years. 

Among  other  business  interests,  Lorenzo  Hapgood 
and  Charles  Holmes  opened  a  store,  in  1844,  and  in 
1845  Smith  &  Weber  opened  a  store,  and  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  grist-uiill.  The  mill  was 
built  at  a  cost  of  $42,000,  and  was  the  first  of  its 
kind  in  the  county.  For  many  years  it  did  an  ex- 
tensive business,  supplying  the  people  witli  flour  for 
miles  around.  Como  at  this  time  was  the  best  busi- 
ness point  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  even 
Sterling  being  tributary  to  it. 

While  the  business  interests  were  being  developed, 
the  educational  was  not  neglected  In  1842  a  school- 
house  was  erected,  the  first  in  the  township.  Among 
the  early  teachers  were  Maria  Sampson,  now  Mrs. 
A.  E.  Merrill,  and  Mary  D.  Breed,  who  subsequently 
married  Frank  dishing.  Good  schools  have  al- 
ways been  mrintained  at  this  point. 

When  the  railroad  agitation  commenced,  it  was 
thought  that  beyond  any  possibility  of  doubt  Como 
would  be. made  a  station  on  the  road,  but  "  the  best 


®? 


- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


869 


2 


laid  schemes  of  mice  and  men  gang  aft  agley,"  and 
the  town  was  left  a  mile  and  a  half  one  side,  and  its 
glory  immediately  began  to  wane.  One  by  one  the 
merchants  of  the  place  closed  their  doors,  removed 
the  remnants  of  their  stock  to  more  fortunate  places, 
and  in  some  instances  removed  their  store  buildings 
also.  The  old  mill  has  ceased  to  run,  the  fires  have 
gone  out  of  the  forges,  and,  as  stated  in  the  begin- 
ning of  this  article,  another  illustration  is  given  of 
"  what  might  have  been."  Only  the  postoffice  re- 
mains, in  which  a  small  stock  of  goods  is  carried  by 
the  postmaster. 

Village  of  Gait. 

'N  the  southwest  quarter  of  section    24,  in 
January,  1855,  John  Gait   and  others   had 
platted  a  village   to  which   was   given   the 
name  of  Gait.     It  is  the   first  station  west  of 
Sterling,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  fine  farming 
country.     For  a  time  the  village  seemed   to 
flourish,  but  its   proximity  to  Sterling  and  Morrison 
has  tended  to  retard  .its  growth. 

Village  of  Empire. 

HIS  village  was  laid  out  in  1855,  by 
Elijah  Wallace,  G.  S.  Fraser,  O.  C.  Stolp 
and  Wm.  M.  Sutton,  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  13.  Hezekiah  Brink  had 
here  erected  a  saw-mill,  and  Joel  Harvey  soon 
afterwards  erected  a  large  grist-mill,  a  woolen 
factory  and  a  store.  He  also  built  several  dwelling- 
houses.  The  mill  burned  down  some  years  ago,  and 
has  not  been  re-built.  This  place,  like  Como,  was 
virtually  killed  by  the  railroad  running  within  a  short 
distance  of  it,  but  too  far  away  for  the  citizens  to 
reap  the  benefits  of  its  construction.  The  Luther- 
ans have  a  good  church  edifice  in  the  place,  and 
there  is  also  a  fine  school  building. 

HUME  TOWNSHIP. 

K.UME  Township  comprises   all  of  township 
20    north,  of  range   6    east   of  the   fourth 
principal    meridian,   lying   south   of   Rock 
River.     When   the  township   organization  law 
was  adopted,  in  rS52,  the  territory  was  set  off, 
but   not   fully  organized   as  a   township    until 
1857,  the  east  half  being  attached   to  Hopkins  and 
the  west  half  to  Prophetstown. 


This  is  a  prairie  township,  there  being  no  tatural 
groves  in  it.  The  soil  is  rich  and  highly  productive, 
and  every  acre  is  susceptible  of  cultivation.  Rock 
River  forms  the  greater  part  of  the  northern 
boundary,  but  there  are  no  streams  in  the  township. 
Water  is  easily  obtained  from  wells  sunk  to  not  a 
very  great  depth. 

Leonard  Morse  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first  to 
reside  within  the  township.  He  came  from  Lee 
County,  in  1 836,  erected  a  log  cabin  on  section  16, 
and  for  several  years  resided  there,  his  house  being 
used  to  entertain  travelers,  it  being  on  the  old  State 
Road  from  Rock  Island  to  Beloit,  and  which  virtually 
followed  the  Indian  trail.  On  account  of  his  being 
on  the  school  section,  no  title  could  be  secured  for 
the  land  claimed.  As  was  customary,  the  Govern- 
ment gave  him  a  certificate,  called  by  the  early 
settlers  a  "  float,"  entitling  to  enter  any  unoccupied 
Government  land.  The  certificate  he  sold  to  Fred 
Dutcher,  and  then  moved  to  McHenry  County. 

Uriah  Wood  came  next,  in  1839.  He  erected  a 
sod  house  but  a  short  distance  from  Morse,  on  the 
same  section.  In  this  house  he  lived  with  a  family 
of  seven  children,  until  the  fall  of  1840,  when  he 
removed  to  Lee  County. 

William  Ramsay  was  the  next  to  locate  in  the 
township,  and  it  may  be  said  was  the  first  permanent 
settler  in  the  township.  He  came  to  the  county  in 
1839,  and  on  the  24th  day  of  March,  1840,  took  up 
his  residence  in  Hume,  pre-empting  a  tract  of  160 
acres,  and  for  which  he  secured  a  title,  signed  by 
John  Tyler.  A  sketch  of  Mr.  Ramsay  may  be  found 
on  page  283. 

Charles  Wright  came  in  June,  1840,  and  located 
on  the  west  line  of  the  township  on  the  Prophets- 
town  Road.  Mr.  Wright  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
but  came  here  from  Canada,  where  he  had  resided  for 
some  years.  He  was  a  man  universally  esteemed,  a 
loving  father  and  husband,  and  a  kind  neighbor. 
He  died  Jan.  24,  1875,  on  the  old  homestead. 

David  Ramsay  and  Lyman  Baker  came  in  1840, 
as  also  did  L.  B.  Ramsay. 

David  Ramsay  was  the  father  of  William  and  L. 
B.  Ramsay.  He  was  born  in  Londonderry,  N.  H., 
in  1787;  married  in  Vermont,  in  1812,  after  which 
he  removed  to  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  from  whidi  place 
he  came  to  Whiteside  County.  Locating  on  section 
10,  he  built  a  frame  house,  which,  though  not  in- 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


tended  for  a  tavern,  was  used  for  that  purpose  for 
some  years.  Men  going  to  and  from  the  land 
office  often  availed  themselves  of  the  privilege  of 
stopping  at  Ramsay's.  A  good  many  anecdotes  of 
hotel  life  at  this  place  are  related.  On  one  occasion 
a  traveler  called  at  the  house  after  all  had  retired 
and  asked  permission  to  stop,  Mr.  Ramsay  replied : 
"  Friend,  my  house  is  but  16  X22,  and  we  now  have 
21  lodged  here."  "  Well,  I'll  make  the  number  22," 
said  the  traveler,  as  he  dismounted  from  his  horse. 
He  was  cared  for. 

Upon  another  occasion  a  party  was  returning 
from  the  land  sales,  where  they  had  secured  titles 
for  their  land,  and,  in  consequence,  was  in  good 
spirits.  They  brought  along  with  them  a  jug  of 
whisky,  which  they  had  purchased  as  a  preventive 
of  chills,  fever  and  snake-bites.  One  of  the  num- 
ber was  a  bald-headed  man,  and  as  in  those  days 
bald-headed  men  were  rare,  he  was  made  the  butt 
of  a  good  many  jokes.  Not  knowing  but  snakes  and 
other  "  varmints  "  might  abound  about  the  premises, 
the  contents  of  the  jug  were  sampled,  and  enough 
partaken  of  to  make  them  feel  happy.  The  bald 
head  of  their  friend  shone  forth,  and  as  whisky 
was  good  for  so  many  "  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to,"  it 
was  thought  it  might  make  a  good  hair  restorative. 
Despite  the  struggles  of  the  man,  his  head  was 
deluged  with  the  rum,  and  vigorously  shampooed, 
amid  the  laughter  of  all  but  the  victim.  David 
Ramsay  lived  upon  the  homestead  which  he  located 
till  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1852. 

Lyman  Baker  came  from  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  located  on  section  1 1. 

L.  B.  Ramsay  is  a  son  of  David  Ramsay.  He 
now  resides  in  Prophetstown. 

Hume  Township  did  not  rapidly  settle  up,  in  con- 
sequence of  their  being  no  timber.  Among  those 
who  came  in  at  an  early  period,  or  before  the  adop- 
tion of  the  township  organization  law,  in  addition  to 
those  already  named,  were  J.  S.  Scott,  David  Cleave- 
land, R.  F.  Stewart,  J.  G.  Peckham,  J.  D.  Beaji,  Mr. 
Chas.  S.  D.  Perry,  Austin  Morse  and  G.  W.  Curtis. 

David  Cleaveland  was  from  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  located  on  sections  19  and  30. 

J.  S.  Scott  is  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  came  to  this 
county  with  his  parents,  resided  in  Hopkins  till  his 
marriage,  in  1846,  when  he  removed  to  Hume.  He 
is  now  living  a  retired  life  at  Rock  Falls. 

jypY^-n  ^>jaq.<^          ^\   i^  j 


The  first  resident  of  Hume  Township  to  be  united 
in  marriage  was  William  Ramsay.  He  went  to  Lee 
County  for  his  wife,  and  was  there  married,  Feb.  3, 
1845. 

Ann  Maria  Ramsay  died  in  the  fall  of  1842.  Her 
death  was  the  first  in  the  township. 

The  first  birth  was  that  of  a  child  of  Leonard 
Morse,  in  1838. 

James  Griffith  is  said  to  have  taught  the  first 
school  in  the  township,  in  18157.  A  school-house 
had  just  been  completed  in  the  Cleaveland  neigh- 
borhood, and  in  this  house  was  held  the  first  school. 
According  to  the  report  of  the  Superintendent  of 
Public  Schools,  the  township  is  divided  into  six 
school  districts,  with  one  brick  and  five  frame 
school-houses,  valued  at  $6,400.  There  were,  in 
June,  1884,  under  the  age  of  21  years,  356  persons, 
of  whom  257  were  over  six,  with  an  enrollment  of 
196.  The  wages  paid  ranged  from  $25  to  $50  per 
month.  The  tax  levy  for  school  purposes  was 

There  is  no  village  in  the  township.  A  postoffice 
was  established  in  1874,  under  the  name  of  South 
Hume,  with  J.  D.  Perry  as  Postmaster.  It  was 
continued  but  about  two  years. 

SUPERVISORS. 

The  following-named  have  served  the  township  as    ( 
members  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors : 


Charles  Wright 1857-65 

S.  M.  Elliott 1866 

John  C.  Paddock 1867 

Austin  Morse 1868-70 

John  H .    Plutnley 1871 

John  C.  Paddock 1872-74 

M.  C.  McKenzie 1875-76 


R.  C.  Crook 1877 

John  H.  Phimley 1878-70 

S.  F.  Wheelock 1880 

W.  A.  Cleaveland 1881-3 

Samuel  Wetzel   1884 

W.  A.  Cleaveland 1885 


JORDAN    TOWNSHIP. 

HIS  township  is  situated  in  the  northwest- 
ern part  of  the  county,  and  comprises  all 
of  township  22  north,  range  7,  east  of  the 
fourth  principal  meridian.  Timber  is  found 
along  the  banks  of  the  principal  streams,  the 
remainder  of  the  township  being  an  undulat- 
ing prairie.  Inexhaustible  stone  quarries  are  found 
here. 

Jordan  was  one  of  the   earliest  settled  townships 
in  thecQunty.     On  the  roth,  day  of  April,  1835,  S. 


l( 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


vx 

* 


Miles  Coe*  located  a  claim  upon  sections  33  and  34, 
and  immediately  commenced  the  erection  of  a  log 
cabin,  into  which  he  moved  a  few  days  after  his  ar- 
rival. He  broke  about  20  acres  of  prairie,  sowed 
oats  and  planted  corn  and  vegetables. 

James  Talbott  was  the  next  to  locate  here,  arriv- 
ing some  weeks  later  than  Mr.  Coe,  but  in  time  to  do 
a  little  breaking  and  plant  some  sod  corn  and  vege- 
tables. 

Joseph  M.  Wilson  arrived  in  the  township  and  lo- 
cated on  Buffalo  Creek,  on  section  4.  He  was  a  man 
ot  fine  ability,  a  member  of  the  society  of  Friends. 
He  died  here  some  years  ago. 

The  foregoing  were  all  the  settlers  of  1835.  In  the 
following  five  years  many  others  came  in,  among 
whom  were  Vernon  San  ford,  James,  Garrett,  Jacob 
and  Howard  Deyo,  Becker  Miller,  James  Wood, 
Harry  Burlingame,  Capt.  Manoah  Hubbard,  Simeon 
M.  Coe,  the  father  of  the  first  settler,  John  Brookie, 
Henry  Bolton,  Mr.  Bush,  Mr.  Goodchild,  John, 
Thomas  and  Caleb  Plummer,  Jabez  Gilbert,  Geo. 
Suill,  Benj.  Davis,  Charles  H.  Miles,  Horace  R. 
Mack  and  Chas.  S.  Lunt. 

James  Talbott  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  by  trade  a  carpenter  and  joiner.  In  1834  he 
removed  West  to  Peoria,  111.,  and  in  1835,  as  stated, 
to  Whiteside  County.  In  this  county  he  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer. 

Garrett  Deyo  came  with  his  family  to  Whiteside 
County  in  1836.  He  raised  a  family  of  13  children, 
and  died  Aug.  18,  1859. 

Vernon  Sanford  was  born  in  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  located  in  Whiteside  County  in  1836,  his  selec- 
tion being  a  portion  of  section  7,  Jordan  Township. 
In  1841  he  built  the  first  frame  house  in  the  town- 
ship. The  village  of  Sanfordville,  which  lies  mostly 
in  Ogle  County,  derives  its  name  from  him. 

Becker  Miller  came  in  1837,  and  yet  resides  in 
the  township.  A  sketch  of  him  will  be  found  else- 
where in  this  volume. 

Simeon  M.  Coe,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn., 
Oct.  29,  1784,  but  in  early  life  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  New  York.  He  married  Mary  Miles  in 
that  State.  In  1838  he  came  to  this  county  and 

*  Better  known  as  Simeon  M.  Coo,  the  former  manner  of 
writing  it,  having  been  adopted  by  Ml'.  Coe  because  bis 

father  was  of  the  same  name.  On  the  death  of  the  lat- 
ter Miles  began  writing  it  as  now — Simeon  INI.  Coe. 
_See  page  41!). 


township,  and  settled  upon  section  33,  at  a  grove  to      or^ 
which  was  given  the  name  of  Coe's  Grove.    Here  he      j\ 
erected  a  saw-mill  and  for  some   years  did  a  good 
business.     Mr.  Coe  died  in  1848,  and  Mrs.   Coe  in 


Jabez  Gilbert  was  from  Connecticut  and  settled 
here  in  1839.  He  died  on  his  homestead  in  1844. 

Horace  Mack  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  but 
was  reared  in  Pennsylvania.  He  came  to  this  town- 
ship in  1839,  where  he  remained  till  1847,  when  he 
moved  to  Sterling.  He  died  there,  many  years  ago. 

The  pioneers  of  Jordan,  in  common  with  all  others, 
experienced  the  hardships  incidental  to  the  settle- 
ment of  a  new  country.  Wild  animals  were  abund- 
ant in  an  early  day,  and  Indians  were  frequent 
visitors  to  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  All  this  has 
now  been  changed,  and  to-day  Jordan  is  one  of  the 
best  townships  in  the  county,  settled  with  a  thrifty 
people,  with  fine  dwelling-houses,  large  barns  and 
every  convenience  that  could  be  desired.  The  town- 
ship is  now  largely  represented  by  Germans  and 
Irish. 

Joseph  M.  Wilson,  as  stated,  located  in"  this 
township  in  1835,  making  a  claim  on  section  4.  On 
Buffalo  Creek,  which  runs  through  a  part  of  his  farm, 
he  erected  a  grist-mill  in  the  fall  of  1836,  and  had 
it  in  running  order  early  in  the  spring  of  1837.  It 
was  the  first  and  only  mill  in  the  county,  and  drew 
custom  for  miles  around.  The  structure  was  of  logs 
and  Wilson's  old  log-mill  was  a  popular  place  for  the 
pioneer.  At  this  place  Col.  S.  M.  Bowman  laid  out 
a  town  about  the  time  the  mill  was  being  construct- 
ed. Several  houses  were  built  and  a  store  opened 
by  Mr.  Wilson  and  also  one  by  Mr.  Brookie.  A 
postoffice  was  also  established  here,  known  as  Ber- 
wick postoffice,  which  continued  in  existence  several 
years.  The  town  plat  of  Berwick  was  never  recorded, 
and  the  place  has  long  since  ceased  to  have  a  habi- 
tation and  a  name. 

Simeon  M.  Coe,  Sr.,  built  his  saw-mill  in  1840, 
continuing  it  until  his  death  in  1848.  The  mill  was 
subsequently  owned  by  several  persons,  and  finally 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Benj.  Bressler,  and  was 
long  known  as  Bressler's  Mill. 

Manoah  Hubbard  erected  a  saw-mill  on  Elkhom 
Creek  in  1841,  which  was  operated  for  many  years, 
doing  a  large  business. 

In  addition  to  the   Berwick   postoffice,   two   others 


•e  '• 
ffl 


*- 


"24. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


have  had  an  existence  in  the  township.  Jordan 
postoffice  was  established  during  the  administration 
of  James  Buchanan,  and  continued  about  four  years. 
Mr.  Alexander  was  Postmaster  An  office  was  es- 
tablished at  Jordan  Center  in  1881,  under  the  name 
of  Penroi?e. 

Among  the  early  births  in  the  township  was  John, 
a  son  of  Jabez 'Gilbert,  in  1839.  About  the  same 
time  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benj.  Davis  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gilbert  had  each,  a  child  born  to  them. 

Simon  Fellows  and  Elizabeth  Deyo  were  united  in 
marriage  July  10,  1836,  the  first  in  the  township. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  in  private 
houses.  Rev.  Barton  H.  Cartwrighl  was  doubtless 
the  first  to  conduct  the  exercises.  There  are  now 
three  church  edifices  in  the  township,— Lutheran,  in 
the  southern  part;  the  Friends,  at  Jordan  Center, 
and  a  union  church  in  the  northeastern  part. 

The  first  school  was  held  in  a  house  erected  for 
the  purpose  about  one  mile  north  of  Simeon  M. 
Coe's,  some  time  during  the  first  decade  of  the  set- 
tlement of  the  township.  The  house  was  built  by 
the  citizens  before  the  days  of  public-school  funds, 
under  the  school  law. 

In  relation  to  educational  affairs  in  the  township 
at  the  present  time,  the  Superintendent  of  Public 
Schools,  in  his  annual  rqwrt  for  the  year  ending 
June  30,  1884,  says  there  are  seven  school  districts 
in  the  township,  with  six  frame  and  one  stone  school- 
house,  the  total  value  of  which  is  $7,550.  There 
are  536  persons  under  21  years  of  age,  of  whom  392 
are  of  school  age,  and  27 1  enrolled  in  the  public 
schools.  The  highest  wages  received  by  any  teacher 
was  $60  per  month,  the  lowest,  $27.  The  tax  levy 
for  school  purposes  was  $2,693  for  the  year. 

The  first  blacksmith  was  Samuel  Detweiler,  who 
erected  a  shop  in  1847. 

Thomas  Plummer,  in  1839,  commenced  carding 
wool  at  his  cabin  on  Sugar  Creek.  The  house  in 
which  he  did  business  was  too  small  to  accommo- 
date his  patrons  with  lodgings,  and  many  camped 
out  on  the  prairie  while  waiting  for  their  wool  to  be 
carded. 

In  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  Jordan  did  its  part 
nobly,  filling  each  quota,  and  thus  avoiding  a  draft. 

Jordan  Township  was  organized  in  1852.  The 
name  was  suggested  from  the  fact  that  a  certain 
citizen  of  the  township  would  frequently  go  to  Ster- 


ling and  other  places,  and,  after  imbibing  freely  of 
the  "flowing  bowl,"  would  sing  the  song  of  "Jordan 
am  a  hard  road  to  travel,"  and  in  answer  to  the 
question  where  he  lived,  would  invariably  reply, 
"  On  the  other  side  of  Jordan." 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Isaiah  C.  Worrell.  At  the  election  then  held,  the 
following  officers  were  elected :  James  Talbott, 
Supervisor;  James  Woods,  Clerk  ;  Lemuel  Sweeney, 
Assessor;  M.  H.  Snavely,  Collector ;  Charles  Diller, 
S.  M.  Coe,  Justices  of  the  Peace.  The  Supervisors 
from  that  time  to  this  are  as  follows  : 
SUPERVISORS. 


James  Talbott 1852 

S.  M.  Coe 1853-4 

J.F.  Coe 1855-6 

James  Talbott 1857 

J.  F.  Coe 1858 

S .  M .  Coe 1859-60 

U.  N.  Foster 1861 

James  Talbott 1862 


J.  F.  Coe 1863 

Keeker  Miller 1864-5 

James  Talbott 1866 

Lot  S.  Pennington 1867-76 

Chalklcy  John 1877-80 

Osborne  Williams 1881 

Chalkley  John 1882-5 


H.  L.  John  opened  a  general  store  at  what  was 
called  John's  Corners,  near  the  center  of  the  town- 
ship, June  23,  1874.  He  still  continues  the  busi- 
ness and  has  enjoyed  a  good  trade.  On  the  241)1  of 
March,  1881,  a  postoffice  was  established  at  the 
Corners,  with  H.  L.  John  as  Postmaster.  The  office 
is  called  Penrose,  in  honor  of  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  county.  A  wagon  and  blacksmith  shop  was 
started  here  about  1860,  by  John  G.  Detweiler,  who 
subsequently  sold  it  to  Elida  John,  who  rented  it  till 
Oct.  12,  1882,  when  it  was  sold  to  John  GroflT,  who 
still  carries  on  the  business.  The  place  is  now  known 
as  Penrose. 

A  weekly  indulged  meeting  of  Friends  for  worship 
was  held  at  the  residence  of  Joseph  M.  Wilson,  for 
a  number  of  years  prior  to  the  regular  establishment 
of  a  Friends'  meeting  in  Whiteside  County.  The 
first  regularly  established  or  organized  meeting  of 
Frionds  in  the  county,  was  held  on  the  151)1  day  of 
the  6th  month,  1872,  at  what  is  now  Penrose,  and 
was  known  as  East  Jordan  Preparative  Meeting  of 
Friends.  The  first  established  First-Day  meeting 
for  worship  was  held  on  the  following  day.  The 
first  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  in  the  county 
was  on  the  igth  day  of  the  4th  month,  1873.  The 
first  Clerks  of  the  Monthly  Meeting  were  Edwin 
John  and  Sarah  E.  HufF.  The  first  Elders  were 
Elida  John,  Mark  Penrose,  Sarah  H.  John,  Frances 
P.  Wilson  and  Lydia  K.  Penrose.  The  ministers, 
whose  names  are  on  record  as  such,  in  the  Monthly 
Meeting,  are  Jonathan  W.  Plummer  and  Reuben. 


yr» 


gA.Ov.VNA 

• 


John.  The  present  Clerks  of  the  Meeting  are  Ed- 
win John  and  Mary  S.  Wilson.  The  present  Elders 
are  Sarah  H.  John,  Edwin  John,  Nathan  P.  Wilson, 
Martha  A.  John,  Lydia  K.  Pen  rose  imd  Elmira  K. 
Worrell.  A  First-Day  school  is  held,  with  N.  P. 
Wilson,  Superintendent;  Geo.  1).  |ohn,  Assistant 
Superintendent;  Maggie  M.  John,  Secretary;  Man- 
rice  D.  John,  Librarian. 


son 


LYNDON  TOWNSHIP. 

MEETING  was  held  for  the  organization 
of  this  township  April  2,  1852,  at  the 
school-house.  Augustus  Smith  was  chosen 
Moderator  and  W.  Anderson,  Clerk.  There 
were  94  votes  cast,  resulting  in  the  election  of 
R.  G.  Clendennin  for  Supervisor ;  W.  Ander- 
Clerk ;  Justus  Rew,  Assessor;  Amos  Cady, 
Collector;  James  Coborn,  Overseer  of  the  Poor; 
Henry  Dudley,  W.  S.  Boardman  and  Eli  Upton, 
Commissioners  of  the  Highway;  D.  P.  Moore,  A. 
Smith,  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  Amos  Cady,  Con- 
stable. 

Lyndon  Township  embraces  all  that  part  of  Con- 
gessional  township  20  north,  range  5  east,  and  town- 
ship 20  north,  range  6  e.isl,  lying  north  of  Rock 
River,  and  contains  16,799  acres  of  land.  The  ter- 
ritory of  which  it  is  composed  originally  belonged  to 
Crow  Creek  Precinct.  Later  on  it  was  connected 
with  Little  Rock  Precinct,  and  afterward  it  formed, 
with  a  part  of  the  territory  now  belonging  to  Fen  ton 
Township,  the  Lyndon  Precinct.  The  land  is  roll- 
ing, with  a  good  deal  of  prairie.  Some  parts  of  the 
township,  it  is  quite  broken.  Along  Rock  River, 
and  extending  back  some  distance,  there  is  a  good 
deal  of  bottom  land  which  is  very  fertile  and  unex- 
celled for  production.  With  the  exception  of  a  few 
groves,  and  on  the  borders  of  the  river,  there  is  but 
little  original  timber  in  the  township.  The  early 
settlers  in  this  country  were  rather  alx>ve  the  aver- 
age pioneer. 

Adam  R.  Hamilton  and  family,  William  D.  Dud- 
ley and  family,  and  Chauncy  G.  Woodruffand  family, 
were  the  first  settlers  in  what  is  now  known  as  Lyn- 
don Township,  which  was  early  in  the  summer  of 
1835,  locating  on  section  19.  They  came  together 


from  New  York,  traveling  by  land,  and  were  a  month 
on  their  journey. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  Oct.  12, 
1791.  He  married  Nancy  Miller,  of  the  same  State, 
April  13,  1813.  Mrs.  Hamilton  died,  and  Mr. 
Hamilton  married  Miss  Annie  Woodward.  By  his 
first  wife  he  had  eight  children,  and  by  his  second 
wife  three,  all  of  whom  came  with  him  except  Mary, 
who  died  in  1823.  Mr.  Woodruff,  who  was  born  in 
New  York,  in  1797,  had  three  children,  who  came 
with  him.  Mr.  Dudley  was  born  in  Massachusetts, 
Nov.  23,  1786.  He  married  Miss  Tryphena  Fitch, 
Feb.  n,  1817.  By  this  marriage  there  were  five 
children,  three  of  whom  died  before  they  came  West, 
the  other  two,  William  C.  and  Louisa,  came  with 
them.  Mr.  Hamilton  died  Aug.  28,  1865  His 
wife  died  several  years  previous.  Mr.  Woodruff  died 
April  25,  1875,  living  many  years  after  the  death  of 
his  wife.  W.  D.  Dudley  died  at  his  old  home  in 
Lyndon,  Jan.  25,  1857.  His  wife  is  still  living,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  72,  and  for  her  age  is  quite 
active.  Many  of  their  children  and  grandchildren 
live  in  Lyndon ;  the  rest  are  scattered  all  about  the 
western  country. 

In  1836,  quite  an  addition  was  made  to  the  set- 
tlement from  the  East.  During  this  year  came  Rev. 
Elisha  Hazard,  William  O.  Dudley,  Dr.  Augustus 
Smith,  John  Ray.Theron  Crook,  William  Farrington, 
E.  Fitch,  August  us  Rice,  Perry  Jeffers  and  W.  W. 
Gilbert. 

Dr.  Smith  practiced  his  profession  in  Lyndon  until 
185  i.  He  was  the  first  physician  in  the  town,  and  a 
great  comfort  he  was,  too,  to  those  early  settlers,  who 
had  come  from  an  older  civilization  into  a  new  and 
strange  country. 

Mr.  Gilbert  farmed  for  several  years.  In  1839, 
he  was  elected  Recorder  of  the  county. 

John  Ray  opened  the  first  store  in  the  township, 
which  was  in  1837.  He  brought  his  goods  from 
Ohio.  Mr.  Ray  also  opened  the  first  tavern  in  Lyn- 
don. The  building  was  put  up  by  Phylarman  Dag- 
gett.  It  was  a  frame  building,  and  is  still  standing. 
Elisha  Hazard  located  on  a  farm  near  the  "  bluff"." 
Among  those  coming  in  in  1837,  were  David 
Hazard,  John  C.  Pratt,  Harry  Smirh,  Phylarman 
Daggett,  Solomon  and  Alexis  Hubbard,  Ambrose  I. 
Maxwell,  Wesley  Anderson,  Alpheus  Clark,  Brainard 
Orton,  Benjamin  Coburn,  D.  F.  Millikan  and 


=1 

1 

ETT 
& 

I 


.  .  >< 


874 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Thomas  C.  Gould.  Miss  Artimesia  Hulce,  who 
afterwards  married  Mr.  Maxwell,  also  came  this  year 
will)  the  Coburn  family.  In  1838-9  and  '40,  large 
additions  were  made  to  this  settlement,  and  it  began 
to  look  more  neighborly.  Most  of  these  early  set- 
tlers were  men  of  marked  character,  and  became 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  country,  and  did 
much  towards  its  advancement. 

The  first  wedding  in  the  township  was  between 
Theron  Crook  and  Nancy  A.  Hamilton,  daughter  of 
Adam  R.  Hamilton.  This  marriage  occurred  March 
3,  1836,  and,  according  to  the  report  of  the  early  set- 
tlers, it  was  made  quite  a  lively  affair. 

The  first  child  born  is  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Augus- 
tus Smith.  The  second  was  Elisha  H.,  son  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs  David  Hazard,  born  Dec.  8, 1837.  He  was 
drowned  in  a  slough  on  his  way  to  a  sugar  camp  at 
Rock  Creek,  March  27,  1847.  Mr.  Hazard  died  in 
in  November,  1881.  Mrs.  Hazard  is  still  living  in 
Lyndon.  The  first  death  in  the  township  was  that 
of  Liberty  Walker,  April  29,  1837.  He  was  buried 
on  a  mound  near  the  residence  of  P.  A.  Brooks. 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  Dr.  Augustus  Smith,  was  the  first 
female  to  die.  Her  death  occurred  July  16,  1837. 
Mrs.  Lydia  Coburn,  who  died  July  31,  1837,  was  the 
first  person  interred  in  the  Lyndon  Cemetery. 

William  O.  Dudley  taught  the  first  singing-school, 
which  was  in  the  winter  of  1836-7.  His  class  met 
around  at  the  neighbors'  houses.  The  first  school 
taught  was  by  Miss  Lucia  B.  Hamilton,  in  her 
father's  cabin,  in  the  spring  of  1836.  The  first 
school  taught  by  a  male  teacher  was  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  Mr.  Hamilton's  house,  in  the  winter  of 
1837-8.  Mr.  Knowlton  was  the  teacher.  The  first 
school  building  put  up  was  a  log  one,  near  A.  R. 
Hamilton's  residence,  at  the  Corners. 

The  first  blacksmith-shop  set  up  was  at  the 
"  bluff,"  by  Hamilton  &  Dudley.  They  had  pur- 
chased in  Chicago,  on  their  way  out,  an  outfit  for 
this  purpose.  Mr.  Hubbard  did  the  work. 

These  early  settlers  had  a  good  many  privations 
to  endure.  They  had  then  to  go  to  Chicago  for 
their  supplies.  For  their  mail  they  went  to  Dixon  ; 
and  then  if  they  were  fortunate  enough  to  find  a 
letter  there  for  them,  they  were  unfortunate  enough 
to  have  to  pay  25  cents  before  they  could  take  it  out 
of  the  postoffice. 

John  C.  Pratt  was  an  active  and   leading  man  in 


Lyndon  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  was  in 
December,  1843. 

When  the  Hazards  (David  and  Elisha,  with  their 
families),  came  to  Lyndon,  there  was  but  one  house 
finished,  and  none  other  nearer  than  Union  Grove. 
David  Hazard  located  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
old  town  of  Lyndon,  in  October,  1837.  Elisha  Haz- 
ard, who  had  come  the  year  previous,  joined  them 
here  with  his  family.  They  fitted  up  their  cabin, 
which  contained  one  room,  14  x  14  feet,  and  the  two 
families — 14  in  number — lived  there  through  the 
winter,  and  also,  as  Mrs.  Hazard  says,  took  in  a 
boarder,  a  man  who  clerked  for  Mr.  Ray  and  slept 
in  the  store.  In  the  spring  the  main  part  of  their 
house  was  finished,  which  gave  them  more  room. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  in  a  cabin 
12  feet  square,  covered  with  bark,  and  owned  by  W. 
D.  Dudley.  It  was  built  by  him  for  a  dwelling.  A. 
R.  Hamilton  officiated  at  this  meeting,  by  reading  a 
sermon.  The  first  sermon  really  preached  was  also 
in  this  cabin,  in  June,  1836,  by'Rev.  Elisha  Hazard. 

C.  G.  Woodruff  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  W.  D.  Dudley  was  the  first  United  States 
officer  in  the  township,  holding  the  position  of  Post- 
master and  mail-carrier. 

The  first  County  Court  was  held  in  the  spring  of 
1839,  at  the  Dudley  cabin.  Elijah  Worthington, 
John  Dodge  and  N.  G.  Reynolds  were  the  Commis- 
sioners, and  Guy  Ray  was  Clerk. 

James  M.  Goodhue  was  the  first  attorney  to  settle 
in  Lyndon  Township.  He  was  an  able  lawyer  and 
a  man  of  fine  ability.  He  emigrated  to  Minnesota 
at  an  early  day,  and  become  quite  prominent  in  the 
political  affairs  of  that  State.  He  has  been  dead 
some  years. 

The  first  Fourth-of-July  celebration  was  at  Lyn- 
don, and  it  was  celebrated  by  a  dance  at  Samuel 
Willson's  tavern.  The  dances  were  held  in  those 
good  old  days  in  the  day-time.  Liquor  was  in- 
cluded in  the  bill  of  fare,  and  it  was  "  set  up"  at  the 
conclusion  of  every  sett.  Mr.  Willson  had  supplied 
himself  quite  liberally,  as  he  thought,  with  liquors 
and  wines,  having  purchased  one  barrel  of  whisky, 
five  gallons  of  brandy,  and  two  gallons  of  rum,  and 
the  wine,  which  was  intended  more  for  the  ladies. 
He  had  some  doubts,  however,  as  to  his  ability  to 
manage  the  affair  successfully,  and  accordingly 
sent  for  J.  D.  Odell,  and  asked  him  to  help  him 


•f^ 


V® 


: 


through.  On  looking  over  the  stock  of  drinkables, 
and  having  a  good  knowledge  of  the  guests,  Mr. 
Odell  at  once  saw  that  the  brandy  would  not  hold 
out.  He  therefore  asked  the  landlord,  who  reluc- 
tantly gave  his  consent  to  allow  him  to  increase  the 
quantity  of  brandy  at  the  expense  of  the  whisky. 
Mr.  Odell  then  drew  out  two  gallons  of  the  brandy, 
arid  put  in  its  place  the  same  quantity  of  whisky. 
They  thought  the  brandy  was  splendid.  The  dance 
went  on,  and  the  mirth  increased.  A  heavy  drain 

(  was  made  on  the  favorite  brandy  cask,  and  Mr. 
Odell  was  becoming  alarmed  lest  it  should  give  out. 

I  He  had  the  daring  to  again  draw  on  the  whisky 
barrel,  and  took  from  it  two  more  gallons,  and  put  it 
into  the  brandy  cask.  The  celebraters  then  thought 
it  was  the  best  brandy  they  had  ever  drank  in  the 
West.  This  enhanced  the  popularity  of  that  par- 
ticular cask,  and  increased  the  draft  on  it  as  the 
dance  went  on,  and  made  Mr.  Odell  very  nervous. 
As  a  last  resort  he  put  in  two  more  gallons  of 
whisky.  When  they  came  again  to  drink,  they  all 
declared  it  was  the  best  brandy  they  had  ever  drank, 
East  or  West. 

This  township  is  pretty  well  under  cultivation, 
and  it  is  dotted  all  over  with  fine  farms  and  good 
dwellings.  At  one  time  it  bid  fair  to  become  the 
most  populous  township  in  the  county.  It  had  the 
agricultural  advantages,  the  water  facilities,  and  the 
location.  The  scenery  is  very  picturesque,  particu- 
larly that  portion  which  lies  adjacent  to  Rock 
River,  which  meanders  along  its  southwestern  border. 
Another  stream  waters  this  township,  which  rises  in 
section  2  and,  coursing  southward,  empties  into  the 
river.  The  people  do  their  trading  mostly  at  the 
village  of  Lyndon,  which  is  also  their  nearest  rail- 
road station  and  postoffice. 

This  township  is  rather  remarkable  for  the  pro- 
duction of  snakes.  Mr.  G.  R.  Hamilton  has  an  old 
well  which  was  dug  at  the  "  bluff's,"  in  1835.  For 
many  years  it  has  been  dry,  and  has  been  taken  pos- 
session of  by  snakes.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1882  a 
neighbor  asked  Mr.  Hamilton  if  he  knew  his  old 
well  had  become  a  den  for  snakes;  but  he  thought  it 
was  a  joke  his  friend  was  playing  upon  him.  Upon 
examination,  however,  he  says  he  did  find  a  few. 
He  procured  a  hook  and  took  out  131  snakes,  from 
2  to  iYz  feet  long;  in  1883  he  took  out  160,  from  2 
to  7  feet  long;  in  1884  he  took  out  HI, from  2  to  6^ 

_     -^.Ha^tr'  t-\    A. 


feet  long;  and  in  1885  he  took  out  8g,  from  2  to 
feet  in  length,  making  in  all  491  snakes,  mostly  the 
horned  adder,  some  blue  racers,  a  few  water-snakes 
and  one  small  rattlesnake.. 

The  Rock  Island  Branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton &  Quincy  Railroad  completed  its  track  through 
the  township  in  January,  1869.  It  enters  on  section 
i,  and,  passing  diagonally  through  the  township,  goes 
out  on  section  30.  The  Clinton  Branch  of  (he  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  passes  through 
the  southwest  part  of  the  township  on  section  30,  in 
a  northwesterly  and  southeasterly  direction.  This 
track  was  completed  in  1872. 

The  census  reports  of  1880  gave  the  population  of 
Lyndon  Township  at  1,157,  including  the  village. 
It  is  not  thought  to  have  increased  in  population 
since  that  time. 

The  County  Superintendent's  report  for  the  fiscal 
year  ending  June  30,  1884,  furnishes  the  following 
school  statistics :  There  are  nine  school  districts, 
each  one  having  frame-  school-houses,  and  one 
graded  school,  which  is  at  Lyndon  village.  The 
value  of  school  property  was  $8,300.  Of  persons 
under  21  years  of  age  there  were  513,  of  whom  350 
were  of  scholastic  age,  278  being  enrolled.  The 
highest  wages  paid  teachers  was  $70  per  month,  and 
the  lowest  $20.  The  tax  levy  was  $2,073.57.  There 
has  been  a  school  library. 

SUPERVISORS. 

Robert  O.  Clendennin.. .  .  1852-55 

Justus   Rew 1856-62 

Lucius  R.  Rice 1863 

John  Whallon 1864 

Henry  Dudley 1865-69 

John  Whallon 1870-72 

Justus    Rcw i?73 


J  oh  n  W  h  al  Ion 1874-77 

John    Lathe 1878 

John    Whallon 1870-80 

F.  M.    Brewer 1881 

Samuel  A  .  Langdon 1882-84 

John  W.  Hazard 1885 


Lyndon  Village. 

HIS  village  is  situated  on  the  western 
banks  of  Rock  River.  Its  site  is  one  of 
exceeding  beauty,  with  superior  natural 
advantages;  and  had  the  business  affairs  of 
this  town  gone  on  as  they  had  been  planned, 
it  would  now  be  the  foremost  town  in  the 
county.  But  men  may,  with  commendable  judg- 
ment, map  out  the  future  of  a  town,  yet,  after  all, 
there  is  a  higher  power  that  determines  its  desti- 
nies. The  first  house  put  up  in  the  old  town  of 
Lyndon  was  by  Dr.  Augustus  Smith,  in  1836.  It 
was  occupied  afterwards  for  a  store  and  dwelling. 


3s 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Iii  the  winter  of  1837-8  John  Roy  opened  the 
store,  bringing  his  goods  all  the  way  from  Ohio.  It 
v&  was  not  a  very  large  stock,  as  might  be  expected,  yet 
the  people  felt  happy  and  jubilant  over  the  event. 

John  Roy  must  have  been  an  enterprising  man, 
for  we  find  him  in  1838  opening  a  "tavern/'speaking 
after  the  manner  of  those  days.  This  was  in  a 
frame  building,  which  is  still  standing. 

The  old  part  of  Lyndon  was  platted  in  1836,  on 
the  fractional  40  acres  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
f  section  21.  It  was  laid  out  by  Mr.  Rood,  a  surveyor. 
William  D.  Dudley,  A.  R.  Hamilton,  C.  G.  Wood- 
^  ruff,  Dr.  Augustus  Smith  and  Mr.  Lusk  were  the 
projectors.  An  addition,  called  Sperry's,  was  laid 
out  on  section  16,  southeast  quarter,  in  1848.  The 
next  was  the  railroad  addition,  laid  out  when  the 
railroad  came  through,  in  1869.  The  "mill  "addi- 
tion, which  was  platted  in  1872,  was  the  next.  This 
was  followed  by  Fitch  &  Wilkins'  Addition. 

In  1839,  the  question  came  up  for  selecting  the 
county  seat  of  Whiteside  County.  Chauncy  G. 
Woodruff  and  Adam  R.  Hamilton  were  appointed 
under  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  passed  in 
1839,  to  superintend  an  election  to  determine  this 
question.  There  were  several  aspiring  towns  which 
desired  to  be  selected.  The  election  was  held  the 
first  Monday  in  May,  1839,  and  Lyndon,  Albany, 
Fulton,  Prophetstown,  Union  Grove  and  Sterling 
were  voted  for,  but  no  choice  was  made.  The  act 
provided  that  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  should 
determine  the  place  for  the  seat,  and  that  an  elec- 
tion should  be  held  every  month  until  such  a  major- 
ity was  given.  Three  other  elections  were  held,  with 
no  better  result,  the  minority  towns,  however,  drop- 
ping out.  By  the  time  the  September  election  came 
the  vote  had  narrowed  down  between  Lyndon  and 
Sterling.  The  election  was  held,  and  the  important 
issue  was  decided  in  favor  of  Lyndon,  and  the 
county  seat  was  accordingly  located  at  this  place. 
The  town  agreed  to  give,  for  county  purposes,  the 
southwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
1 6, on  condition  that  the  county  seat  be  located  here; 
which  was  done. 

The  first  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  held  in  Lyndon 
and  the  first  in  the  county  was  in  April,  1840,  in  a 
partially  finished  house,  which  was  owned  by  T.  C. 
Gould.  Hon.  Daniel  Stone  presided.  R.  L.  Willson 
was  Clerk,  and  J.  W.  McLemore  Acting  Sheriff. 


Three  terms  of  Court  were  held  here,  when  (he 
county  seat,  by  order  of  the  County  Commissioners, 
was  removed  to  Sterling,  and  the  Circuit  Court  and 
Commissioners' Court  was  ordered  to  be  holden  there. 
A  recount  of  the  vote  taken  for  the  removal  of  the 
county  seat,  upon  application,  was  granted  by  the 
County  Commissioners'  Court.  Upon  an  examina- 
tion of  the  poll-books  it  was  found  that  the  vote  of 
Sterling  Precinct  had  been  rejected,  and  with  this 
vote  the  election  would  place  the  county  seat  at 
Sterling ;  and  this  was  the  reason  given  by  the 
County  Commissioners  for  their  action.  Further 
history  of  this  Court  and  county-seat  affairs  is  given 
in  the  general  history  of  the  county. 

The  Indians  were  quite  numerous  around  and 
about  Lyndon  during  the  first  years  of  its  settlement. 
Having  large  camps  across  the  river  toward  Proph- 
etstown, they  would  come  over  in  squads,  begging 
and  picking  up  what  they  could  get.  They  were  not 
troublesome,  however. 

In  1869,  the  track  of  the  Rock  Island  Branch  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  was 
completed  and  a  depot  made  near  the  town.  This 
gave  new  hope  to  the  people,  and  they  looked  for  a 
rapid  development  of  the  place.  The  line  ran  along 
outside  of  the  limits  ;  and  in  order  that  their  corpora- 
tion might  b_>  within  a  railroad,  or  the  railroad  be 
within  their  corporation,  they  laid  out  a  new  addi- 
tion, taking  in  the  station. 

In  April,  1872,  the  citizens  met  to  organize  into  a 
village  corporation,  under  the  organization  act.  The 
election  for  selecting  village  officials  was  held  that 
month,  at  the  Town  Hall,  and  the  following  citi- 
zens were  chosen  Trustees  :  John  W.  Hazard,  A. 
M.  McKery,  C.  C.  Sweeney,  Leander  Church  and  J. 
L.  Bates.  The  village  Board,  composed  of  these 
gentlemen,  met  May  2  following,  at  the  residence  of 
Dr.  A.  P.  Holt,  to  complete  their  village  organiza- 
tion. J.  W.  Hazard  was  chosen  President,  E.  W. 
Hazard,  Clerk,  and  Wm.  M.  Burkitt,  Treasurer. 

During  this  year  the  Lyndon  Hydraulic  Manu- 
facturing Company  was  organized,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $60,000.  Its  object  was  to  furnish  water 
power  for  manufacturing  purposes.  They  con- 
structed a  dam  across  Rock  River,  a  short  distance 
above  the  town,  with  a  head  of  about  eight  feet,  and 
giving  a  large  water-power.  A  large  flouring-mill 
was  also  erected  by  this  company,  called  the  Lyndon 


x 


. 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


Mills.  The  following  year  a  paper-mill  was  com- 
pleted near  the  dam.  It  was  an  extensive  estab- 
lishment, and  should  have  been  a  success.  It'had  a 
capacity  of  manufacturing  2,000  tons  of  paper  per 
year.  Following  this,  and  located  near,  was  another 
flou ring-m ill,  which  was  erected  by  Putman  & 
Willson. 

In  1875,  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Manufactur- 
ing Company  was  organized.  Their  establishment 
was  completed  in  1876.  They  erected  a  large  brick 
building,  and  had  in  it  a  full  set  of  machinery  for 
manufacturing  agricultural  implements. 

It  is  sad  to  write  of  wrecks,  and  we  pass  over 
these  grand  prospects  of  man's  brain.  They  were 
like  the  house  that  was  built  on  the  sand.  They 
differ  only  in  this:  they  still  stand  as  monuments  of 
failure.  Failure  of  plans  badly  executed,  however 
well  they  have  been  conceived,  rise  up  before  you. 
They  stand  like  ghosts  of  departed  hopes.  The 
dam  in  the  first  place  was  poorly  constructed,  and 
inadequate  to  resist  for  any  length  of  time  the  power 
behind  it.  In  an  evil  hour  a  break  was  made ;  it  was 
not  mended ;  the  dam  went  down  the  river,  and  with 
it  the  hopes  of  Lyndon. 

The  estimated  population  of  Lyndon  now  is  about 
300. 

Good  fortune  does  not  always  fall  to  the  worthy, 
yet  sometimes  it  visits  thrm,  which  it  did  in  the  case 
of  a  very  worthy  young  lady  of  this  town,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  W.  M.  Patrick,  publisher  of  the  Advocate. 
A  humorous  paper  in  New  York,  known  as  the 
Tid-JBits,  offered  a  reward  of  a  thousand-dollar  up- 
right piano  for  the  best  story,  selected  or  original,  to 
be  decided  by  a  committee  appointed  especially  for 
the  purpose.  Miss  Mary  L.  Patrick  selected  a  story 
and  sent  it  on,  merely  writing  her  name  on  the 
piece.  She  thought  no  more  about  it  after^a  few 
days  had  passed,  until  she  received  a  notice  from  the 
paper,  stating  that  she  had  won  the  prize,  and 
asking  how  and  where  to  send  it. 

She  received  the  piano  in  due  time,  and  it  proved 
to  be  a  very  beautiful  one,  with  an  excellent  tone. 
The  design  of  the  case  is  very  artistic,  and  is  made 
of  bur-walnut  and  butternut  wood.  There  were 
2,241  pieces  sent  in.  Miss  Mary  justly  feels  proud 
of  her  success. 

B  USINESS. 

C.  L.  Parkhurst  has  a  general  store,  deals  in  hard- 


ware  and  agricultural  implements,  and  runs  a  tin- 
shop.  Parmenter  &  Bros,  are  general  dealers  in 
merchandise,  grain  and  coal.  M.  A.  McKerg  manu- 
factures and  deals  in  harness  and  saddlery.  Mrs.  M. 
J.  Steward  deals  in  millinery,  fancy  goods,  and  has 
a  dressmaking  establishment.  Blacksmithing  is  done 
by  A.  S.  Hazard  and  James  Roach.  W.  H.  Robinson 
has  a  restaurant  and  confectionery  store.  Ira  Sher- 
wood supplies  the  boots  and  shoes  for  the  people 
and  does  repairing.  The  meat  market  is  run  by  Gris- 
wold  &  Hamilton.  G.  R.  Cady  conducts  the  livery 
and  feed  stable.  John  Whallon  represents  the  Bar. 
The  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  place  are  O.  H. 
Bartlett  and  F.  W.  Cannon.  The  Lyndon  Hotel  is 
conducted  by  S.  Zimmers.  He  and  his  lady  are  al- 
ways ready  to  give  the  weary,  or  the  unweary  trav- 
eler, good  entertainment.  For  good  beds  and  table, 
and  careful  attention  to  the  wants  of  its  guests,  the 
Lyndon  House  ranks  among  the  best  hotels  in  ihe 
county.  Lyndon  is  supplied  with  two  mails  each 
way  daily.  C.  W.  Parmenter  is  the  genial  Postmas- 
ter. 

PRESS. 

The  people  of  Lyndon  have  a  good  organ  to  rep- 
resent their  interests  in  the  Lyndon  Advocate,  which 
is  published  by  W.  M.  Patrick.  The  first  issue  of 
this  paper  appeared  July  7,  1883.  Mr.  Patrick 
moved  his  paper  from  Mendota,  where  it  was  pub- 
lished and  known  as  the  Mendota  Index.  He  is  an 
old  newspaper  man  and  knows  how  to  conduct  a 
paper  in  a  manner  quite  satisfactory  to  his  patrons. 
The  Advocate  is  independent  in  politics,  is  published 
every  Saturday,  and  has  a  good  circulation. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Lyndon  has  a  good  graded  school,  of  which  W.  W. 
Noyes  is  the  Principal,  and  Miss  Dolly  Scott  teacher 
in  the  intermediate  department,  and  Miss  Agnes 
McNeil,  of  the  primary  department.  This  school 
has  enrolled  140  pupils.  A  full  English  course  is 
taught,  and  also  vocal  music.  The  Principal's  sys- 
tem is  to  use  text-books  as  little  as  possible.  The 
school  buildings  of  the  place  are  fair. 
RELIGIOUS. 

The  Congregational  Church. — This  society  was  or- 
ganized June  27,  1836,  at  the  residence  of  Wm.  D. 
Dudley,  by  Rev.  Elisha  Hazard.  Adam  R.  Hamil- 
ton and  wife,  John  M.  Hamilton,  Adam  R.,  Jr., 
Nancy  A.,  Lovica  H.  and  Mary  E.  Hamilton,  W.  D. 


c 


878 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


Dudley  and  wife,  Louisa,  his  daughter,  Liberty 
Walker,  C.  G.  Woodruff  and  wife  and  daughter  Julia 
Ann,  Ephraim  A.  Hubbard  and  Orem  L.  Turner 
formed  the  first  organization.  They  held  their  ser- 
vices in  private  houses  and  in  the  school-house.  In 
1848  the  church  building  was  commenced  and  the 
following  year  finished  and  dedicated,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wilcox  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon.  This  was 
a  grout  building,  and  was  burned  April  8,  1883. 
Soon  after  a  subscription  was  started  to  raise  means 
for  a  new  edifice.  The  town  hall  was  in  the  mean- 
time used  for  holding  meetings.  The  new  church 
slrucUue  was  completed,  and  dedicated  Dec.  27, 
1883,  Rev.  S.  S.  Mitchell,  of  Iowa,  preaching  the 
dedicatory  sermon.  The  first  Sunday  service  was 
held  on  Dec.  30  following,  and  in  the  evening  a 
Sunday-school  concert  was  given.  It  is  a  very  neat 
and  attractive  edifice,  and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$2,600  They  have  a  fine  Sunday-school.  The 
Church  has  about  60  members. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in 
1841,  by  Revs.  W.  Buck  and  G.  L.  S.  Stuff,  in  an 
old  store  building.  Leanora  Hazard  and  Chauncy 
G.  Woodruff  were  the  first  members.  Mr.  Stuff  is 
still  living  and  preaching.  This  society  was  attached 
to  the  Union  Grove  Circuit.  Services  were  held  at 
first  in  private  residences.  When  the  town  hall  was 
completed,  they  held  their  meetings  in  it.  Their 
first  building  was  a  grout  structure.  It  was  burned 
in  1882.  Their  present  church  building  was  com- 
pleted in  1884,  in  the  spring.  Services  were  held  in 
the  town  hall  until  their  building  was  finished.  Their 
new  building  is  a  large,  substantial  frame  structure, 
40x60,  and  cost  2,500.  The  congregation  has  a 
membership  of  50.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Ed- 
ward Brien.  A  Sabbath-school  is  connected  with 
the  society. 

The  Baptist  Church. — This  society  was  organized 
in  September,  1839.  Meetings  were  held  in  private 
residences  until  the  Town  Hall  was  built,  when  it 
met  there.  They  had  quite  a  following  for  some 
years,  but  never  erected  a  church  building.  The 
society  disbanded  about  20  years  ago,  there  being  so 
few  members,  nearly  all  those  active  in  its  organiza- 
tion having  moved  away  or  died. 

SOCIETIES. 
Masonic  Lodge  No.  750. — This  lodge  was  insti- 


tuted July  18,  1876,  with  12  charter  members.  John 
J.  Hurlbert  was  Master.  It  was  prosperous  after  its 
organization,  largely  increasing  its  original  number. 
They  have  a  good  large  hall  for  holding  their  ses- 
sions, which  is  well  furnished  and  equipped. 

The  Modern  IVoodmen  of  America  have  a"  branch 
camp  in  Lyndon,  which  was  organized  recently. 
They  have  already  a  large  membership.  They  hold 
their  meetings  regularly,  in  their  hall,  and  are  in  a 
flourishing  condition. 

The  young  people  at  one  time  had  a  literary  so- 
ciety here,  and  held  meetings  every  two  weeks, 
when  original  literary  articles  would  be  read  by  its 
members.  J.  D.  Odell,  now  of  Morrison,  was  a 
prominent  member  of  this  society.  Time  has  wrought 
its  changes  with  this  society  as  well  as  with  many 
others,  and  it  may  be  recorded  now  as  among  the 
things  of  the  past. 


MONTMOBENCY  TOWNSHIP. 

t 

Y)NTMORENCY  was  set  oft  as  a  township 
by  the  committee  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose on  the  adoption  of  the  township 
organization  law  in  1852,  but  its  organiza- 
tion was  not  completed  until  1859.  It  is  com- 
posed exclusively  of  prairie  land,  nearly  all  of 
which  is  susceptible  of  cultivation  and  the  greater 
part  being  well  improved. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  the  township  was  in 
1847,  when  Asa  Scott,  a  native  of  Ohio,  but  who 
had  been  living  for  some  years  in  Hopkins  Town- 
ship, entered  a  portion  of  section  7.  For  nearly  five 
years  he  was  the  only  settler  in  the  township.  In 

1852  S!  Russell  located  on  the  same  section,  and  in 

1853  Edwin  Scott  located  on  section   12.     Between 
1853  and   1856  a  number  of  families  came   into  the 
township,   among  whom    were   those  of  Tyler  Mc- 
Whorter,  J.  G.  Barnes,  Geo.  Murray,  Herman  Sturtz, 
Robert  Adams,  Robert  Clay,  Joel  Wood,  Dr.   Davis, 
Alonzo  and  Joseph  Colder,  and  William  Hall. 

Asa  Scott  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Ohio,  and 
came  to  Whiteside  County,  locating  at  Como,  in 
1839.  There  he  remained  until  1847,  when  he 
moved  to  this  township,  and,  as  stated,  became  its 

*^ 


•x 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


first  settler.  Mr.  Scott  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  Taylor,  Feb.  22,  1838,  and  16  children 
were  born  to  them.  He  was  a  great  hunter,  and 
went  every  year  to  Deer  Grove  to  shoot  deer. 

Tyler  McWhorter  is  a  native  of  Indiana.  He 
came  he-re  in  1854,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a 
prominent  figure  in  political  and  township  affairs. 
A  full  sketch  of  him  will  be  found  on  page  526. 

Alonzo  Colder  is  from  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  In 
1844  he  moved  to  McHenry  Co.,  111.,  from  which 
place  he  came  to  Whiteside  in  1855,  locating  on  sec- 
tion ro,  Montmorency  Township.  He  has  been  a 
representative  man  among  the  farmers  for  years  and 
was  the  first  Master  of  the  State  Grange,  Patrons  of 
Husbandry.  (See  page  485.) 

Addie  B.,  daughter  of  Asa  and  Elizabeth  Scott, 
was  born  Aug.  6,  1848.  She  was  the  first  born  in 
the  township.  Growing  to  womanhood,  she  married 
Nathaniel  Wood  and  subsequently  moved  to  Iowa. 

John,  son  of  Asa  and  Elizabeth  Scott,  died  Feb. 
26,  1856.  This  was  the  first  death  in  the  township 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Geo.  C.  Calkins 
and  Mary  T.  Scott,  the  ceremony  taking  place  at  the 
house  of  the  bride's  parents.  The  couple  subse- 
quently removed  to  Iowa. 

The  first  school-house  was  on  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  section  9,  almost  opposite  the  residence  of 
Alonzo  Colder.  It  was  erected  in  1856,  at  a  time 
when  the  settlement  was  small,  indeed.  In  the  fol- 
lowing winter,  Alfred  Snell  taught  a  term  of  school 
therein.  This  was  the  first  in  the  township.  The 
school-house  was  but  a  temporary  structure,  the  de- 
sign being  to  remove  it  in  due  time  and  erect  on  its 
site  a  larger  and  better  building.  The  great  tornado 
of  June  3,  1860,  which  passed  over  this  county, 
saved  the  citizens  the  trouble  of  removing  it.  By 
that  tornado  it  was  quickly  removed  and  completely 
destroyed.  The  next  year  the  district  erected  an- 
other building,  which  yet  stands.  Other  school- 
houses  were  built  from  time  to  time. 

The  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  of  the 
county,  in  his  annual  report  for  the  year  ending 
June  30,  1884,  reported  six  school  districts,  with  six 
frame  school -houses,  in  the  township,  valued  at 
at  $4,400.  There  were  318  persons  under  21  years 
of  age,  217  of  whom  were  of  school  age,  and  128  en- 
rolled in  the  public  schools.  The  highest  wages 
paid  teachers  per  month  was  $60,  and  the  lowest 
$25.  The  tax  levy  for  the  year  was  $560. 


The  first  religious  service  held  in  the  township  is 
said  to  have  been  in  the  McWhorter  School-house, 
in  1860,  Rev.  Zadoc  Paddock,  a  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  conducting  the  exer- 
cises. The  first  Sunday-school  was  organized  in  the 
same  house,  in  the  summer  of  1860,  by  Miss  Sarah 
Robinson.  Its  proximity  to  various  towns  that  are 
well  supplied  with  good  churches,  has  prevented  any 
house  of  worship  being  erected  in  the  township. 

In  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  Montmorency  per- 
formed her  part,  every  call  of  the  President  being 
responded  to  in  sufficient  numbers  to  avoid  a  draft. 
Wm.  Macomber,  of  this  township,  was  promoted  to 
a  staff  officer  under  Gen.  McClellan.  Alonzo  Colder, 
a  son  of  Joseph  Colder,  died  in  the  service. 

There  was  an  old  Indian  trail  which  entered  the 
township  near  the  northeast  corner,  and  running  in 
a  southwesterly  direction,  passed  out  a  little  west  of 
the  center  of  the  south  line.  This  was  the  first 
traveled  road  through  the  township.  The  old  stage 
route  from  Dixon  to  Rock  Island  was  another  early 
traveled  road.  It  ran  through  the  northwest  part  of 
the  township.  The  "  lone  tree  "  was  a  prominent 
object  on  this  line.  It  stood  on  section  7 ,  near  the 
house  of  Asa  Scott.  It  is  related  that  at  the  root  of 
the  tree  a  jug  or  bottle  of  liquor  used  to  be  kept  by 
the  stage-drivers  to  "  wet  their  whistles  "  as  they 
passed,  going  to  or  returning  from  Rock  Island.  It 
was  understood  that  whoever  emptied  the  bottle 
must  take  it  with  him,  have  it  filled  and  put  it  in  the 
accustomed  place  on  his  return.  The  tree  was  also 
known  as  the  "  grocery  tree  "  from  this  fact. 

Montmorency  Township,  notwithstanding  its  late 
settlement,  is  now  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  town- 
ships in  the  county,  and  has  an  enterprising  and 
thrifty  class  of  people  within  its  borders.  The  farm 
houses  and  barns  are  generally  of  a  superior  char- 
acter. Of  late  years  much  attention  has  been  given 
to  the  raising  of  fine  stock,  and  several  farmers  have 
turned  their  attention  almost  entirely  to  this  branch 
of  industry.  The  dairy  interests  are  also  repre- 
sented, C.  C.  Buell  devoting  much  of  his  time  to  this 
industry. 

The  Rock  River  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  Railroad  passes  through  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  township,  but  has  no  station  within  its 
borders.  In  building  this  road,  the  township  was 
asked  for  aid  to  the  amount  of  $50,000.  At  a  special 
town  meeting,  held  Aug.  28,  1869,  at  the  school- 


I 


*  '• 
I 


x  • 


_ 


i 


house  in  District  No.  2,  the  question  of  subscribing 
that  amount  of  stock  was  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  There  were  43  votes  cast  for  and  34  against 
subscription.  Bonds  were  to  be  issued  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  stock.  Soon  after  the  election  the  rail- 
road company  applied  to  Tyler  McVVhorter,  who  was 
then  Supervisor,  to  subscribe  in  behalf  of  the  town- 
ship. Mr.  McWhorter  declined  doing  so.  An  ap- 
plication was  made  to  Judge  Heaton  for  a  wiit  of 
mandamus  compelling  him  to  do  so,  but  the  Judge 
refused  to  grant  the  writ.  On  the  completion  of  the 
road,  the  company  again  requested  Mr.  McWhorter 
to  subscribe,  and,  on  his  refusal  to  do  so,  sued  out  a 
writ  of  mandamus  before  Judge  Pleasants.  The  town- 
ship appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  on  the  ground 
that  at  the  election  held  Aug.  29,  1869,  a  majority  of 
all  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  had  not  voted  to 
subscribe  for  the  stock.  The  appeal  was  sustained 
and  the  writ  was  dismissed.  No  stock  was  ever 
subscribed  by  the  township. 

As  already  stated,  the  township  was  not  fully  or- 
ganized until  1859.  The  first  election  was  held 
April  5,  of  that  year,  and  resulted  in  the  election  of 
the  following  named  officers  :  Joseph  Colder,  Super- 
visor; A.  L.  Burdett,  Clerk;  Asa  Scott,  Assessor; 
Win.  C.  Payson,  Collector;  Alonzo  Golder,  Benjamin 
Gushing,  Justices  of  the  Peace.  Only  20  votes  were 
cast  at  this  election.  It  was  voted  at  this  first  town 
meeting  that  the  name  of  the  township  be  changed 
from  Montmorency  to  Arcade,  but  on  reflection  the 
vote  was  rescinded  at  the  next  annual  town  meeting. 
The  following  named  have  served  the  township  on 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  ;  Joseph  Golder,  1859-64  ; 
George  M.  Sawyer,  1865-7  ;  Tyler  McWhorter, 
1868-74;  C.  C.  Buell,  1875-7;  Tyler  McWhorter, 
1878-9;  C.  C.  Buell,  1880-2  ;  A.  A.  Church,  1883-4  ; 
Herman  SUirtz,  1885. 

MOUNT  PLEASANT  TOWNSHIP. 

'OUNT    PLEASANT    Township,   during 
the  days  of  the  County  Commissioners' 
rule,  formed  a  part  of  Union  Grove  Pre- 
cinct, which    was    among  the   first   of  the 
precints  to  be  settled.     The  territory  of  which 
it  is  now  composed  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Ustick,  and   on    the  east  by  Hopkins,  on  the  south 


by  Lyndon,  and  on  the  west  by  Union  Grove  Town- 
ship. It  is  numbered  21  north,  range  5  east,  and  is 
a  full  Congressional  township. 

The  credit  of  the  first  settlement  is  given  to  Felix 
French,  James  J.  Thomas,  J.  D.  Pashcal,  Wm.  H. 
Pashcal  and  George  O.  James,  who  came  in  the  spring 
of  1835.  Felix  French  located  on  section  19;  W. 
H.  Pashcal  on  section  17  ;  J.  D.  Pashcal  on  section 
16;  James  J.  Thomas  on  section  16,  and  George  O. 
James  on  section  7.  George  W.  Thomas  came  in  a 
little  later,  and  made  a  claim  on  section  9,  and 
one  for  his  brother,  W.  C.,  on  section  8.  John 
W.  Stakes,  with  Joshua  T.  Atkinson,  made  the  first 
claims  in  Union  Grove  Precinct,  on  both  sides  of 
Rock  Creek,  in  1835.  They  made  a  division  of 
their  property  in  1836,  Mr.  Atkinson  taking  the  west 
side  of  the  creek  and  Stakes  the  east  side,  which 
is  now  embraced  by  Mt.  Pleasant  Township.  He 
should  be  regarded  as  a  settler  in  this  township. 
During  the  summer  of  1836  he  broke  up  the  ground 
and  planted  a  crop  where  Morrison  now  stands. 

These  pioneers,  with  their  families,  and  the  Indi- 
ans, made  up  the  settlement  of  this  territory  for  1835. 

The  Pashcals  were  born  in  North  Carolina — \V. 
H.  in  1804,  and  J.  D.  in  1805.  James  J.  Thomas 
was  born  in  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.,  in  1801,  and  George 
W.  in  1820;  George  O.  James  was -born  in  South 
Carolina  in  1 806.  The  Pashcals  served  in  the  In- 
dian War  of  1831-2  ;  so  also  did  James  J.  Thomas. 
The  Pashcals  came  from  Morgan  Co.,  111.  They 
built  a  log  cabin,  which  was  used  as  common  prop- 
erty by  all  the  settlers  that  season  and  the  following 
winter.  In  the  spring  a  corn  crop  was  planted, 
which  was  the  first  in  the  township.  Other  cabins 
were  soon  built,  and  the  settlers  began  to  feel  more 
comfortably  "fixed."  Jonathan  Haines,  Horace  Hea- 
ton, Samuel  Lane  and  John  B.  Dodge  came  in  this 
year.  Heaton  and  Lane  located  on  section  4,  and 
Dodge  on  section  6. 

Jonathan  Haines  put  up  a  saw-mill  on  Rock  Creek, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  above  Unionville.  He  had 
only  cut  a  few  feet  of  lumber  when  a  freshet  came 
and  took  his  mill  down  stream.  It  was  hauled  back 
and  set  up  again,  but  not  in  time  to  cut  any  lumber 
that  season.  In  the  spring  of  1837  it  was  again 
started,  and  with  better  success.  During  this  season 
two  stones  were  put  in  for  grinding  corn  and  wheat. 
This  mill  site  was  in  what  was  afterward  called 


'    . 


...  '  1  ~ 


Jacqbstown.  Mr.  Haines  became  quite  a  prominent 
and  useful  citizen,  doing  much  toward  advancing 
the  township.  He  afterward  moved  to  Pekin,  111, 
where  he  died,  Feb.  22,  1868.  William  H.  Fashcal 
accumulated  considerable  property,  and  was  a  much 
respected  citizen.  He  died  on  his  farm  home, 
March  12,  1875.  He  was  a  son-in-law  of  Anthony 
M.  Thomas.  J.  D.  Pashcal  died  during  the  winter 
of  1885.  J.  B.  Dodge  died  at  his  farm  in  January, 
1843. 

In  1837  the  settlement  was  increased  by  the  arri- 
val of  Pardon  Dodge,  Anthony  M.  Thomas  and 
family,  William  Heaton,  Sr.,  and  family,  Aaron  C. 
Jackson  and  family,  and  James  Knox,  Sr.,  and  fam- 
ily. These  were  soon  followed  by  many  of  their 
friends,  and  others  who  had  heard  and  read  of  the 
glowing  accounts  of  this  fair  country. 

From  this  tfme  on  the  township  increased  in 
population  rapidly.  Mr.  Jackson  made  his  purchase 
on  section  17,  where  a  part  of  the  city  of  Morrison 
is  no  AT  located.  He  reared  a  large  and  respectable 
family  of  children,  most  of  whom  are  still  living. 
He  died  June  10,  1879.  The  first  wedding  in  the 
territory  now  embraced  by  Mt.  Pleasant  Township, 
was,  according  to  Mr.  D.  B.  Young's  recollections, 
between  Horace  Heaton  and  Sally  Chamberlain, 
in  1838.  Miss  Chamberlain  came  out  with  Mr. 
Young's  family.  Mr.  Heaton  died  Sept.  16,  1867. 
Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  John  W.  Stakes,  was  the  first 
child  bom  here,  which  event  occurred  Oct.  15,  1855. 
The  first  death  occurred  in  1837,  and  was  that  of 
James  Heaton,  son  of  William  Heaton,  Sr.  Oliver 
Hall  was  the  first  teacher  to  instruct  the  youths 
of  this  primitive  settlement  in  book-learning.  His 
school  was  opened  in  1838,  in  a  rudely  constructed 
log  house,  on  William  H.  Pashcal's  claim.  He  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts.  For  his  services  he  re- 
ceived $10  per  month,  which  was  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion, and  he  was  also  boarded  by  the  settlers.  The 
first  School  Board  elected  was  on  Jan.  i,  1846. 
A.  M.  Thomas,  William  Knox,  A.  C.  Jackson  and 
Jonathan  Haines,  were  the  Trustees  chosen.  A.  P. 
Young  was  the  first  teacher  appointed  by  a  board 
of  school  trustees.  He  taught  in  District  No.  i. 

In  1836,  a  Methodist  class  was  formed,  consisting 
of  James  J.  Thomas  and  wife,  and  George  O.  James 
and  wife.  Meetings  were  held  in  Mr.  Thomas' 
cabin.  This  was  the  nucleus  from  which  the  present 


Methodist  Church  of  Morrison  was  formed.     This 
class  was  formed  by  Rev.  James  McKean.     He  was 
a    circuit    "  rider,"  belonging   to   the     Rock  River    « 
Conference. 

The  pioneers  in  those  early  days  had  a  pretty 
hard  time  to  secure  supplies  for  their  winter  wants. 
About  this  locality,  the  Indians  had  killed  or  driven 
off  nearly  all  the  wild  game.  They  had  to  depend 
on  Chicago,  Galena  and  the  Mississippi  landings  for 
supplies,  and  as  markets  for  their  products.  The 
distance  to  Chicago  was  long,  and  the  roads  bad. 
They  could  not  afford  to  put  up  at  the  taverns,  so 
they  took  food  along  for  themselves  and  feed  for 
their  teams.  They  would  leave  feed  along  the  road 
on  their  way,  in  order  to  lighten  their  load,  for  use 
on  their  return  trip.  It  would  often  take  them  ten 
and  twelve  days  to  make  a  trip.  If  they  got  back 
home  with  a  few  supplies  in  exchange  for  their  hard- 
earned  products,  they  thought  themselves  lucky,  and 
were  satisfied.  The  lands  were  not  then  surveyed ; 
and  it  was  not  until  January,  1843,  that  they  came 
into  market.  They  were  held  then  at  $1.25  per 
acre.  While  the  pioneers  had  awaited  with  no  little 
expectancy  this  order  of  the  Government,  yet  it  was 
received  by  most  of  them  with  trepidation,  and  by  som 
with  consternation.  The  question  was,  as  to  how 
they  were  going  to  meet  the  first  payments,  as  they 
were  all  poor.  They  had  some  grain  and  a  few  head 
of  stock,  but  no  money.  They  must  make  their  pay- 
ments or  lose  their  claims.  Many  sold  everything 
they  had  at  a  great  sacrifice  to  do  this.  It  was  dur- 
ing this  period  that  claims  were  jumped.  But  this 
proceeding  was  very  hazardous  to  the  jumper,  as 
the  farmers  generally  would  stand  by  each  other.  ^ 

Ml.  Pleasant  was  organized  under  the  township 
system,  April  6,  1856.  The  meeting  for  this  pur-  f 
pose  was  held  at  Mt.  Pleasant  school-house.  Ward 
P.  Lewis  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  John  W. 
Stakes,  Clerk,  pro  tern.  After  these  officers  were 
sworn  in  by  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  who  was  acting, 
the  polls  were  declared  to  be  open.  The  meeting 
resulted  in  the  election  of  Aaron  C.  Jackson  for 
Supervisor;  Ward  P.  Lewis,  Clerk;  Alfred  Haines, 
Assessor;  Cyrus  P.  Emery,  Collector;  John  James, 
Overseer  of  the  _Poor;  William  H.  Paschal,  R.  K. 
Hiddleson  and  Horace  Hinton,  Commissioners  of  the 
Highway;  G.  H.  Deniick,  R.  K.  Hiddleson,  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  and  Cyrus  I".  Emery  and  A.  C.  Pratt, 
Constables. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


The  surface  of  the  land  in  this  township  is  quite 
varied,  some  parts  of  it  prairie,  some  undulating, 
some  rolling,  and  some,  particularly  the  western 
part,  bluffy,  or  broken.  Its  topography  is,  indeed, 
very  attractive.  It  is  watered  by  Rock  Creek,  and 
smaller  streams,  on  the  borders  of  which  are  fine 
groves  of  timber.  The  soil  is  mostly  a  clay  loam, 
which  is  very  fertile.  Considerable  attention  is  being 
paid  to  the  raising  of  stock,  and  in  this  department 
the  township  ranks  third.  The  farms  are  well  culti- 
vated, and  many  of  them  are  adorned  with  beautiful 
dwellings.  The  farm  buildings  throughout  the  town- 
ship are  above  the  average,  and  the  roads  good. 

In  1855,  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  com- 
pleted its  track  through  the  township,  which  gives  to 
the  people  ample  means  of  transportation.  It  enters 
the  township  on  section  28,  and,  running  west  by 
north,  passes  out  on  section  18. 

The  principal  trading  place  for  the  people  is  Mor- 
rison, which  has  grown  up  since  the  completion  of 
the  railroad. 

Before  this  town  started  the  trading  was  done  at 
Unionville,  which  was  the  principal  town,  not  only 
for  this,  but  Union  Grove  Township.  There  was 
also  another  hamlet  where  the  people  were  wont  to 
trade  and  get  their  smithing  done,  called  Jacobstown. 
There  were  a  mill,  a  supply  store,  and  some  shops 
there.  This  only  exists  now  in  the  memory  of  the 
old  settler.  There  is,  also,  a  station  on  the  Chicago 
&  Northwestern,  called  Round  drove.  At  this 
place  there  is  a  postoffice.  The  farmers,  mostl  , 
have  adopted  the  creamery  system,  and  send  their 
cream  to  those  places  where  it  is  converted  into 
butter. 

According  to  the  census  report  of  1880,  the  pop- 
ulation of  Mt.  Pleasant,  including  the  city  of  Mor- 
rison, was  3,048.  It  is  estimated  that  the  popula- 
tion has  increased  500  since  that  time.  The  County 
Superintendent  in  his  annual  re|X>rt  ending  June  30, 
1884,  makes  the  following  report  regarding  school 
statistics:  Value  of  school  property,  $39,900.  In 
the  nine  school  districts  there  are  eight  frame  and 
one  brick  building.  Of  persons  under  21  years  of 
age,  there  were  1,227,  of  whom  880  were  of  scho- 
lastic age,  and  758  enrolled.  The  highest  wages  paid 
teachers  was  $130  per  month,  and  the  lowest,  $25. 

Below  are  the    names  of  the   citizens  who  have 

s*^       Q/< 


represented   the  township    as  Supervisors  since    its 
organization: 


Addison  Farrington  . . . 

W.  S.  Wilkinson 

D.  S.  Spoflfbrd... 
A.  C.  McAllister. 
Oscar  Woods 


1871-73 

...1874 

.  -.1875-78 
1879-80 
1881-85 


f 


Aaron  C.  Jackson 1852-56 

Ward  S-  Lewis...., 1857 

H.  P.  Roberts 1858 

S.  H.  McCrea 1859-63 

Henry  I\.    Sampson 1864-69 

Cyrus  Reynolds 1870 


NEWTON  TOWNSHIP. 

EWTON  Township  in  its  first  precinct 
government  belonged  to  Crow  Creek  Pre- 
cinct. It  was  afterwards  attached  to  the 
Albany  Precinct.  With  many  other  precincts, 
the  people  of  this  township  voted,  in  1849,  in 
favor  of  township  organization.  It  was  during 
this  year  that  the  Commissioners  fixed  the  present 
IxMindary  lines,  and  gave  to  the  township  the  name 
of  Greenfield.  The  election  in  1849  was  invalid, 
and  in  1851  the  citizens  again  expressed  themselves 
at  the  polls  as  favorable  to  the  township  system. 
Accordingly,  on  the  6th  of  April,  1852,  the  citizens 
met  to  consummate  their  organization.  The  meeting 
was  held  at  Greenfield,  but  no  record  is  made  of  the 
preliminary  officers.  Joseph  Miller  was  elected  Su- 
pervisor; S.  B.  Slocumb,  Clerk;  John  Thompson, 
Assessor;  John  Mitchell,  Collector;  Luke  Abbey, 
Overseer  of  the  Poor;  George  Rowe,  William  G. 
Nevitt  and  Oliver  Root,  Commissioners  of  the  High- 
way; Win.  W.  Slocumb  and  Arthur  Hoffman,  Con- 
stables;  and  Wm.  Payne  and  S.  B.  Bliss,  Justices  of 
the  Peace. 

Newton   is  nearly  a  full  Congressional   township, 
sections  31  and  32  being  fractional. 

Jeremiah  Pearson,  a  Georgian,  has  the  honor  of 
making  the  first  settlement  in  Newton.  He  made  a 
claim  on  section  21,  in  1835,  and  put  up  a  log  cabin, 
which  was  the  first  in  the  township.  Adam  Stall- 
naker,  from  Virginia,  came  in  next,  and  located  on 
section  16.  These  two  pioneers  did  not  seem  to  like 
Newton  very  well,  for  they  soon  sold  out  their  inter- 
est, the  former  going  beyond  the  Marais  d' Osier, 
and  the  latter  to  Albany  Township,  where  he  after- 
wards died.  John  and  William  Piercy,  who  came  in 
in  1836,  l>ought  Pearson's  claim,  and  the  following 
year  sold  out  to  Joseph  and  John  Miller.  Stallnaker 
sold  his  claim  to  Alexander  Thompson  and  Samuel 
Miller.  In  1837,  W.  G.  Nevitt,  S.  B.  Slocumb  and 


I 

& 


<V 


*:'* 


-; 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


Luke  Abbey  made  claims  here.  Mr.  Nevitt  located 
on  section  6.  Luke  Abbey  located  on  section  24, 
and  Slocuinb  on  section  6.  There  were  no  roads  in 
the  township  at  this  time,  and  Mr.  Nevitt  did  not  like 
the  idea  of  living  in  a  country  without  roads,  or  even 
a  cow-path,  so  he  went  into  the  timber,  cut  down  a 
tree  and  then,  hitching  a  couple  of  yokes  of  oxen  to  it, 
he  started  out  for  Albany.  When  he  returned  home 
with  his  tree  he  thought  he  had  a  pretty  fair  road ; 
at  least,  he  could  find  his  way  out  to  a  settlement 
then.  Settlers  came  in  rather  slowly  during  the 
early  years,  the  land  in  this  township  not  coming 
into  market  until  1845,  and  after  this  the  population 
increased  more  rapidly. 

There  were  Indians  al>out  here,  as  there  were  in 
most  of  the  townships,  in  the  pioneer  times,  but  they 
were  peaceable,  doing  nothing  beyond  stealing  When- 
ever they  had  a  good  opportunity. 

Henty  Rexroad  and  Eliza,  daughter  of  Luke  Ab- 
bey, were  the  first  to  enter  into  matrimonial  alliance. 
The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  William, 
son  of  Luke  Abbey.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  war  he  enlisted,  and  was  mustered  into  the  341)1 
Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  but  died  before  goingintbany  ac- 
tive service.  The  first  death  was  that  of  John 
Winchell's  child,  who  died  near  Mineral  Springs. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  a  log  house,  put  up 
by  W.  (r.  Nevitt,  on  section  6.  Miss  Witt  was  the 
teacher. 

The  few  Methodists  who  were  here  in  the  early 
days  went  to  Albany  for  worship.  Afterwards  they 
held  services  around  ^in  the  houses  of  the  settlers. 
John  Freek,  a  religions  devotee  who  lived  by  the 
sand  ridge,  in  Erie,  used  to  come  on  foot  to  preside 
at  these  meetings.  This  gentleman  organized  a 
Sunday-school  here,  and  would  be  punctually  on 
hand  every  Sunday  to  preside  over  his  flock.  Later 
on,  Mr.  Nevitt  put  up  a  building  near  his  home,  in 
which  the  people  worshiped.  When  the  school- 
house  was  completed,  meetings  were  held  there. 
Other  school-houses,  as  soon  as  built,  were  appro- 
priated on  Sunday  for  divine  services.  Through  the 
efforts  of  W.  G.  Nevitt  and  S.  B.  Slocumb,  a  church 
building  was  finally  erected.  It  was  afterwards  used 
lor  a  school-house. 

Between  the  years  1855  and  1860,  the  people  of 
Newton  Township  were  greatly  exhilarated  over  the 
prospect  of  having  a  railroad,  which  was  to  run  from 


Mendota  through  their  township  to  Albany,  thence 
across  the  Mississippi  to  Comanche.  They  em- 
barked in  this  project  eagerly,  mortgaging  their 
farms  to  help  on  the  enterprise.  Nothing  was  done 
further  than  partially  grade  the  line,  and  the  farmers 
lost  heavily  by  this  swindle.  If  all  the  men  who  have 
been  directly  instrumental  in  robbing  the  farmers 
under  the  plea  of  constructing  a  railroad  were  to  get 
their  just  deserts,  it  would  require  a  larger  factory 
than  that  now  used  for  manufacturing  the  bicycle  to 
make  the  gallows. 

Newton  Township  did  nobly  during  the  late  Re- 
bellion, sending  into  the  field  nearly  150  volunteers. 
They  also  contributed  liberally  in  aid  of  the  war. 

The  topography  of  this  township  is  exceedingly 
beautiful.  The  land  is  mostly  rolling,  and  suffi- 
ciently timbered.  While  it  has  no  large  rivers  or 
streams  of  water,  there  are  several  pretty  little  creeks 
that  meander  through.  There  are  some  splendid 
farms  within  its  borders,  and  many  fine  dwellings; 
and  most  of  the  farmers  are  in  independent  circum- 
stances. 

The  first  and  the  only  murder  committed  in 
this  township  was  that  of  William  Andrews,  by  his 
son,  May  5,  1884.  The  father  and  son  did  not 
agree  very  well,  and  finally  the  father  ordered  the 
son  to  leave  the  premises,  which  order  he  obeyed. 
Subsequently  the  father  went  away  on  some  busi- 
ness, and  when  he  returned  home  he  found  his  son 
there.  He  said  nothing,  but  allowed  him  to  remain. 
One  day  the  father  was  correcting  a  younger  son, 
when  the  elder  son,  whose  name  was  John,  inter- 
fered, telling  his  brother  not  to  mind  what  the  old 
man  was  saying.  This  angered  the  father,  and  he 
reprimanded  the  John,  whereupon  he  drew  a  revol- 
ver and  fired  at  his  father,  who  ran  out  and  around 
the  house.  John  followed  him,  firing  all  the  time, 
until  he  fell,  as  was  supposed,  dead.  John  imme- 
diately left  the  farm  and  the  country,  and  has  never 
been  heard  of  since.  A  reward  was  offered  for  his 
capture,  but  it  was  of  no  avail.  Mr.  Andrews  died 
one  month  after  he  was  shot,  and  was  buried  in  Erie 
Cemetery. 

A  postoffice  is  established  in  the  township,  called 
Kingsbury.  It  has  no  special  locality,  or  fixed  place, 
but  is  transferred  wherever  the  Postmaster  happens 
to  live.  Paul  Burke  is  the  present  incumbent  of  this 
office. 

There  are  good  school  buildings  and  good  schools 


- 


- 


884 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


in  all  the  districts  of  the  township,  and  careful  atten- 
tion is  given  to  the  education  of  the  children. 

CHURCHES. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church— Have  a  very 
substantial  church  building  in  the  northeast  part  of 
the  township.  This  is  called  Zion's  M.  E.  Church. 
The  building  is  24  by  40  feet  and  cost  $r,ooo.  They 
have  about  forty  members.  Rev.  F.  Lines,  of  Al- 
bany, holds  service  here  every  two  weeks. 

Presbyterian  Church.—  This  is  known  as  the 
Kingsbury  Church.  They  have  a  prosperous  soci- 
ety, with  sixty -four  members,  and  a  large  and  inter- 
esting Sabbath-school.  A  very  neat  little  church 
structure,  which  was  erected  some  fifteen  years  ago, 
at  a  cost  of  about  a  thousand  dollars,  affords  this 
society  a  pleasant  place  of  worship.  A  good  organ 
is  provided,  which  is  used  in  connection  with  con- 
gregational singing.  Rev.  J.  Lafferty  is  the  present 
pastor  in  charge. 

The  Dunkards  and  the  River  Brethren  have  quite 
a  following  in  Newton.  In  their  religious  simplicity, 
however,  they  do  not  go  so  far  as  to  construct  church 
buildings,  but  confine  their  places  of  worship  chiefly 
to  barns  and  groves. 

SUPERVISORS. 

J.  H.  Marshall 1863-5 

William   1'rothrow 1866-7 

J.  H.  Marshall   1868-71 

Jesse  K.    HI  can 1872 

Joseph  H.   Marshall 1873 


Joseph   Miller 1852 

William  1'rothrow 1853 

James    HIean 1854 

S.  11.  I'.liss. 


.1855 

William  Prothrow 1856-8 

S.  I!.  Bliss 1859 

K.    L.  Cane 1800-1 

William  Prothrow 1862 


j .  n.  iviarsnaii  ieoo- 

Jesse  K.    HI  can 1872 

Joseph  H.  Marshall 1873 

Jesse  K.  HIcan 1874-83 

13.  P.  Echelberger.., 1884-5 


PORTLAND  TOWNSHIP. 

p  ORTLAND  Township  was  organized  under 
the  township  organization  laws  of  April  6, 
1852.  The  meeting  for  this  purpose  was 

held  at  the  residence  of  Horace  Burke.    D.  F. 

Cole   was   chosen    as    Moderator,  and   S.  M. 

Seely  Clerk.  The  following  named  officers 
were  elected  to  represent  the  new  township:  George 
Paddock  for  Supervisor;  D.  D.  Dickinson,  Clerk;  J. 
S.  Logan,  Assessor ;  Levi  Fuller,  Collector ;  A.  T. 
Brackin,  Overseer  of  the  Poor;  D.  Underhill,  Rich- 
ard Brown,  H.  Burke,  Levi  Fuller,  R.  M.  Besse, 
Constables ;  and  J.  T.  Welding,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Paddock  and  Dickinson  served  but  a  short  time  and 


then  resigned.  A  special  election  was  called  to  fill 
their  places,  July  8,  1852.  Bacchus  Besse  was 
elected  Supervisor,  and  Alphonzo  Brook,  Clerk. 

When  Whiteside  County  was  attached  to  Ogle 
County,  this  territory  formed  a  part  of  the  Crow  Creek 
Precinct.  In  1837,  the  Commissioners'  Court  of  Ogle 
County  formed  it  into  the  Precinct  of  Prophetstown, 
which  embraced  all  the  territory  in  the  county  lying 
south  of  Rock  River.  The  following  year  the  name 
was  changed  to  Portland.  In  1840  it  was  subdi- 
vided into  three  Precincts,  a  part  taking  the  old 
name  of  Prophetstown,  a  part  that  of  Rapids,  and 
the  remainder  Portland.  As  now  organized  the 
township  of  Portland  embraces  all  that  part  of  Con- 
gressional township  19  north,  range  4  east,  lying 
south  of  Rock  River,  and  also  that  portion  of  Con- 
gressional township  19  north,  range  3  east,  lying 
south  of  Rock  River,  containing  in  all  22,243  acres 
of  ground.  Its  surface  is  generally  level,  though  in 
the  northeastern  part  there  are  some  high  lands. 
The  soil  is  a  sandy  loam  in  the  main.  There  are 
many  sloughs,  and  what  is  called  the  Big  Slough  ex- 
tends up  into  the  township.  It  is  well  timbered  and 
quite  liberally  watered.  It  is  better  adapted  for 
stock-raising  than  for  agricultural  purposes.  In  In- 
dian times  it  was  a  favorite  hunting  ground.  Nor- 
man B.  and  Alexander  J,  Seely,  brothers,  were  the 
first  settlers  in  the  township,  coming  about  the  ist  of 
June,  1834.  They  came  from  Genesee  County,  N. 
Y.,  and  located  on  section  i.  Ebenezer,  an  elder 
brother,  who  had  been  living  with  his  parents  in  Cat- 
taraugus  County,  N.  Y.,  joined  them  in  September. 
He  first  went  to  Michigan,  expecting  to  find  his 
brothers  there,  but  they  had  pushed  on  Westward. 
Leaving  their  location,  he  hurried  on  to  the  Prairie 
State  to  find  them.  Mitchell  Ruxton  came  in  about 
this  time,  and  this  quartette,  it  might  be  said,  made 
up  the  population  of  this  township  for  this  year.  They 
put  up  some  cabins  in  the  grove,  which  gave  them 
shelter  through  the  winter.  Glowing  accounts  had 
gone  back  East  oi  the  grand  Western  Empire,  which 
brought  a  large  immigration  the  following  year  to 
Illinois.  Among  those  settling  in  Portland  were 
Horace  Burke,  Wm.  H.  Cushman,  Simon  Fuller, 
Simon  Chaffee,  Alphonzo  Brooks,  Horace  G.  Seely 
and  Bacchus  Besse. 

In  1836  some  20  families  came  in,  among  them 
Levi  Fuller,  Sr.,  with  a  family  often  children.  From 
this  time  on  the  population  of  Portland  Township 


« 
& 


-  •"-.-. 


rapidly  increased.  Simon  Fuller  located  on  section 
15,  Horace  Burke  on  section  16.  Ebenezer  Seely, 
more  familiarly  known  as  Col.  Seely,  made  a  claim 
afterwards  on  section  6,  in  what  is  now  Prophetstown 
Township,  in  the  history  of  which  more  particular 
mention  will  be  made.  Norman  Seely,  in  1835, 
planted  the  first  crop. 

During  the  first  years  of  the  settlement  the  people 
had  to  go  to  Chicago  to  do  their  trading.  They 
would  drive  their  hogs  there,  and  often  sell  them  at 
the  rate  of  $2  a  hundred.  They  felt  quite  happy 
when  a  trading  place  was  opened  to  them  at  Albany, 
on  the  Mississippi. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  township  was  by  D. 
F.  Cole,  at  the  house  of  Simon  Fuller,  on  section 
15,  in  the  winter  of  1836-7.  The  first  death  is  re- 
ported to  be  that  of  a  son  of  Alonzo  Brooks,  who 
died  in  1837.  The  first  birth  was  a  daughter  to  the 
wife  of  Norman  B.  Seely,  in  the  fall  of  1834.  She 
was  named  Mary.  The  second  birth  was  a  daughter 
of  Alexander  J.  and  Philena  Seely,  a  year  later. 

The  first  religious  society  organized  was  that  of 
the  Presbyterians,  in  1839,  at  Sharon,  on  section  29. 
It  was  in  a  school-house,  Rev.  Mr.  Wilcox  presiding. 
The  Church  rapidly  increased,  and  in  1841  a  build- 
ing was  erected,  which  was  the  first  church  structure 
put  up  in  the  township.  A  parsonage  was  after- 
wards added.  The  first  mail  came  through  in  1836, 
but  no  postoffice  was  established  until  1852,  which 
was  at  Jefferson  Corners,  with  Benj.  Dow  as  post- 
master. 

In  1840  there  were  voters  enough  in  Portland  to 
make  the  Presidential  campaign  quite  lively.  Whig 
whisky,  as  well  as  Democratic  whisky,  was  plenty 
during  that  campaign,  but  the  Whig  whisky,  or  Gen- 
eral Harrison's  popularity,  prevailed. 

In  1838  a  road  was  laid  out,  running  from  Fulton 
City  through  Parker's  Grove,  in  Garden  Plain  Town- 
ship ;  thence  along  by  Winchell's  Grove,  and  cross- 
ing at  Crandall's  Ferry  on  Rock  River;  thence  into 
Portland.  The  first  nursery  planted  in  Portland 
Township,  and  the  first  in  Whiteside  County,  is  cred- 
ited to  Nathaniel  Norton,  in  1837.  This  enterprise 
was  a  succsss,  and  many  of  the  early  settlers  are  in- 
debted to  Mr.  Norton's-  happy  foresight  for  their 
early  fruit. 

The  tornado  of  1844  was  one  of  the  events  that 
the  people  of  Portland  never  forgot.  It  came 


through  the  township  in  the  afternoon  of  June  the 
5th,  crossing  Rock  River  in  the  vicinity  of  Cran- 
dall's Ferry.  It  demolished  everything  along  its 
pathway,  tearing  up  trees  and  plowing  up  the 
ground.  Its  course  was  through  Mr.  Rowe's  farm. 
His  house  was  demolished  and  two  of  his  sons  killed, 
and  his  daughter  was  so  seriously  injured  that  she 
never  fully  recovered.  He  was  also  badly  injured. 
A  stake  from  a  fence  killed  one  of  his  sons,  being 
thrown  with  such  force  as  to  pass  entirely  through 
his  body.  Many  of  Rowe's  cattle  were  also  killed. 
John  P.  Fuller  was  at  Horace  Burkes  house  when 
the  tornado  struck  it.  The  house  was  nearly  leveled 
to  the  ground,  and  he  was  carried  some  six  rods  and 
thrown  against  a  sapling,  and  badly  hurt.  The  phy- 
sicians tried  to- bleed  him,  but  it  was  six  hours  be- 
fore they  could  get  any  blood.  He  says  he  never 
has  recovered  from  that  ride.  Mr.  Burke  also  re- 
ceived injuries,  but  his  family  escaped,  except  a  son, 
who  received  a  severe  kick  from  a  cow  that  had  been 
transported  about  half  a  mile  from  Rowe's  farm,  and 
set  down  on  Mr.  Burke's  hot  cook-stove.  He  lost 
several  head  of  cattle,  horses  and  hogs.  A  new  barn, 
which  he  had  but  recently  completed,  was  taken  up 
and  carried  some  distance,  passing  over  his  house 
and  scattering  the  grain  all  about.  The  tornado  was 
not  at  all  selfish  in  its  visitations,  but  called  at 
Daniel  Blaisdell's,  tearing  down  almost  everything, 
and  at  A.  T.  Brackin's  and  Robert  Mead's  ;  but  no 
further  bodily  injury  was  done  to  the  people  than 
mentioned  above. 

Col.  Seely  started  the  first  saw-mill  in  the  township, 
which  was  located  on  section  i.  He  organized  a 
company,  consisting  of  himself,  R.  M.  and  P.  B. 
Besse,  A.  Adams,  D.  D.  Dickinson  and  George  Pad- 
dock. This  was  a  steam-power  mill,  and  their  en- 
gine was  purchased  at  Springfield,  Mass.  A  stone  was 
afterwards  put  in  and  grists  were  ground.  This  mill 
commenced  sawing  lumber  in  1852.  An  effort  was 
made  to  start  a  town  here,  which  was  called  Port 
land ;  and  when  the  route  for  the  Clinton  Branch  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  was  be- 
ing laid  out,  strong  exertions  were  made  to  secure 
the  line  through  this  town,  but  Prophetstown  got  it, 
and  the  road  then  deflected  to  the  northward.  The 
trading  place  now  is  chiefly  at  Spring  Hill  and 
Prophetstown.  Portland  is  a  good  agricultural  town- 
ship, and  is  among  the  first  in  raising  stock. 


^>  ,v. 


886 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Many  of  the  early  settlers  are  still  living  in  the 
township;  some  of  them  have  moved  away,  and 
some  have-  died.  Norman  B.  Seely  died  at  his 
home,  in  1874,  at  the  age  of  65.  Alexander  J. 
Seely  left  for  Texas  at  an  early  day,  having  had  a 
difficulty  with  an  Indian,  which  resulted  in  the  kill- 
ing of  the  latter.  He  went  into  the  Mexican  War 
and  was  killed.  Levi  Fuller  died  in  1856,  at  his 
home. 

The  population  of  the  township  is  estimated  at 
1,200,  being  a  gain  of  nearly  300  since  the  census  of 
1880. 

Col.  Seely  speaks  of  an  elephant's  tusk  which 
his  son  David  found  at  an  early  day  in  the  sand 
on  the  shore  of  Rock  River.  It  was  over  four  feet 
long,  five  feet  in  diameter,  and  weighed  32  pounds 
The  Colonel  had  it  sent  to  Barnum's  Museum. 

From  the  County  Superintendent's  annual  report 
for  the  year  ending  June,  1884,  the  following  infor- 
mation regarding  schools  has  been  gathered  :  There 
are  ten  school  districts  in  the  township,  in  one  of 
which  there  is  a  graded  school.  The  school  prop- 
erty was  valued  at  $7,900.  In  the  ten  districts 
there  are  nine  frame  and  one  brick  building;  of  per- 
sons under  21  years  of  age  there  were  543,  of  whom 
482  were  of  scholastic  age,  332  being  enrolled.  The 
highest  wages  paid  teachers  per  month  was  $90,  the 
lowest  $25.  The  tax  levy  was  $2,230. 
SUPERVISORS. 


George  Paddock 1852 

Bacchus  Hesse 1853-8 

Alphenzo  Brooks 1859-60 

Daniel  F.  Cole 1861 

A.  T.   Brackin   1862 

Homer  B.  Col« 1863-4 

Peter  B.  Besse 1865 

Levi   Fuller   1866 

Henry  Keinster 1867 

Peter  B.  Besse 1868-9 


I).  F.  Cole 1870-1 

John  1,.  Marvel 1872-3 

P.  B.  Besse 1874-6 

A.  J.  Seely '877 

John  L.  Marvel 1878 

K.  J.  Talcott 1879 

I).  F.  Cole 1880 

Horace  B.    Cole 1881-2 

Frank  Brooks 1883 

Horace  B.  Cole 1884-5 


Sprang 


Hill. 


PHIS  village  is  located  in  Portland  Township, 
on  sections  21  and  28,  the  section  line 
dividing  the  town.  Atone  time  it  was  quite 
a  flourishing  town,  but  latterly  it  has  not  been 
so  prosperous,  as  the  trade  from  the  township 
has  gone  elsewhere.  It  was  founded  by  Levi 
and  Horace  Fuller,  who  opened  a  general  supply 
store  in  1850.  They  carried  on  the  business  here 
for  several  years,  when  they  closed  up.  In  1852  a 
mail  route,  running  from  Rock  Island  to  Princeton, 
by  way  of  Spring  Hill,  was  established,  and  Lewis  D. 


Crandall  was  the  mail-carrier.  Levi  Fuller  received 
his  appointment  as  Postmaster  for  this  place  in  1853. 
E.  W.  Clapper  is  the  present  Postmaster. 

Spring  Hill  has  telephone  connections  with  the 
different  towns  of  the  county,  and  this,  with  a  daily 
mail  service  by  stage,  makes  up  to  a  great  extent  for 
the  loss  of  a  railroad.  The  town  is  located  in  thu 
midst  of  a  rich  farming  country,  and  it  is  possible 
that  it  may  take  on  a  new  growth. 

BUSINESS    INTERESTS. 

A.  D.  Booth  &  Co.  carry  quite  a  large  stock  of 
general  merchandise,  and  have  also  agricultural  im- 
plements. They  have  been  in  business  here  since 
1875.  W.  H.  Fuller  &  Co.  keep  a  stock  of  general 
merchandise.  J.  L.  Fuller  has  a  general  store.  C. 
C.  Fuller  keeps  the  hotel,  and  is  ready  at  all  times 
to  welcome  his  guests  and  make  them  feel  at  home. 

The  citizens  have  provided  for  the  education  of 
their  children  by  erecting  a  good  school  building  and 
procuring  the  services  of  competent  teachers.  Miss 
Mary  Dolan  is  the  present  teacher.  She  has  an 
average  attendance  of  40  pupils. 

The  Lutheran  Society  hold  religious  services  every 
two  weeks  in  the  school-house. 

The  Masons  have  an  organization  here — Bollen 
Lodge,  No.  412.  It  was  chartered  Oct.  5,  1864, 
with  twelve  charter  members.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  about  30.  They  have  a  good  hall,  which 
they  own.  It  is  well  fitted  up,  pleasant  and  commo- 
dious. 


PROPHETSTOWN  TOWNSHIP. 

i 

HE  territory  that  is  now  embraced  by  this 
township  during  the  earlier  division  of  the 
county,  belonged  to  Crow  Creek  Precinct. 
In  1837,  when  Whiteside  County  was  by  the 
County  Commissioners  of  Ogle  County  at- 
I  t ached  to  the  territory  of  that  county,  this 
territory  was  formed  into  Prophetstown  Precinct, 
embracing  all  the  territory  in  this  coiiiity  south  of 
Rock  River.  The  name  was  afterwards  changed  to 
Portland.  In  1840  this  territory  was  divided  into 
three  precincts,  which  were  named  Prophetstown, 
Portland  and  Rapids.  This  arrangement  gave  to 
Prophetstown  its  present  territory  and  the  western 


-        '         - 


.av^vy^  tJ?&£ 

•%t&&v$L/^m 


-  .    - 


. 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


yx 

I? 

•   ' 


' 


. 


half  of  that  territory  now  embraced   by    Hume   and 
Tana  pi  co  Townships. 

After  the  election  for  township  organization,  in 
185 1,  the  Commissioners  appointed  to  give  names 
and  boundaries  to  townships,  retained  the  name  of 
Prophetstown  for  the  territory  lying  in  town  20  north, 
range  5  east,  south  of  Rock  River;  and  the  name  of 
Volney  to  that  part  in  township  19  north,  range  5 
east.  The  latter  name  was  afterwards  dropped,  and 
the  entire  district  was  known  only  as  Prophetstown. 
This  township  was  organized  under  the  township 
organization  law  April  6,  1852,  when  the  following 
named  officers  were  chosen  :  Obadiah  W.  Gage, 
Supervisor;  J.  W.  Gage,  Assessor;  Wm.  R.  Cox, 
Clerk ;  R.  W.  Smith,  Collector ;  and  N.  G.  Reynolds, 
Overseer  of  the  Poor.  Commissioners  of  the  High- 
way were  P.  D.  Beardsley  and  E.  S.  Gage. 

This  is  the  largest  township  in  the  county.  The 
nature  of  the  land  is  mostly  rolling,  and  but  very 
little  of  it  broken.  The  soil  is  a  sandy  loam  and 
very  productive.  It  is  watered  by  Rock  River  and 
Coon  Creek.  A+ong  these  water-courses  there  is 
more  or  less  timber.  Back,  or  south  from  Rock 
River,  there  is  quite  a  forest.  There  are  several 
pretty  groves  in  different  portions  of  the  township. 
One  of  the  county  ditches  runs  along  the  west  part 
of  the  township,  emptying  into  Coon  Creek. 

The  first  settler  to  locate  in  the  territory  now  em- 
braced by  Prophetstown,  was  Asa  Crook,  with  his 
family,  which  consisted  of  his  wife  and  nine  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  five  daughters,  and  a  hired  man 
by  the  name  of  Brown.  They  came  about  the  first 
of  June,  1834,  and  located  near  the  mouth  of  Coon 
Creek,  and  were  accompanied  by  Norman  B.  and 
Alexander  J.  Seely,  who  located  in  what  is  now 
Portland  Township.  Mr.  Crook  constructed,  for 
their  use  through  the  summer,  a  wickeup. 

Samuel  A.  McClure  came  in  a  few  days  later  than 
Mr.  Crook  and  made  a  claim,  but  did  not  stay  long, 
selling  out  his  claim  to  that  stirring  pioneer,  John 
W.  Stakes,  who  came  in  with  his  family,  and  John 
Bowman,  along  in  September. 

Before  Stakes  and  family  came  in,  however,  Col. 
Ebenezer  Seely  had  arrived,  and  made  a  claim  on 
what  is  now  section  6.  Col.  Seely  came  from  Cat- 
taraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  went  first  to  Michigan,  ex- 
pecting to  find  his  brothers,  Norman  and  Alexander, 
there.  On  arriving  in  Michigan  he  found  they  had 


pushed  on  West  to  Illinois,  and  so  he  followed  them. 
Mail  facilities  were  not  so  good  in  those  days  as  now, 
and  the  family  at  home  had  not  been  advised  of  the 
brothers'  change  of  base.  He  put  up  a  cabin  on  his 
claim  and  wintered  there  and  about  the  settlement. 
Mr.  Crook  also  built  a  cabin,  which  made  them  more 
comfortable  winter  qimrters.  In  March,  1836,  Col. 
Seely  went  back  for  his  family,  and  returned  with 
them  in  June.  They  had  a  farm  in  New  York  and 
also  a  saw-mill,  which  they  sold,  and,  constructing  a 
raft,  put  all  their  household  effects  aboard  and  started 
down  the  Alleghany  River.  He  brought  with  him 
his  family,  his  father  and  mother,  John  Reed  and 
family,  and  'Henry  Bower  and  family  ;  also  a  large 
supply  of  provisions. 

Leaving  the  Alleghany  Rivsr,  they  .gassed  down 
the  Ohio  to  Louisville,  where  he  disposed  of  his  lum- 
ber and  then  took  a  steamboat  for  St.  Louis.  From 
St.  Louis  they  came  up  the  river  to  Rock  Island. 
At  Rock  Island  he  hired  a  ferry-boat,  upon  which 
they  all  embarked  with  their  goods  and  supplies,  and 
poled  it  up  Rock  River  to  Prophetstown,  where  they 
all  safely  arrived  after  a  journey  of  two  months  and 
20  days.  He  brought  with  him  among  the  rest  of 
his  cargo,  lumber,  door  and  window  frames.  More 
particulars  concerning  this  pioneer  and  his  family 
will  be  found  in  his  biography,  on  page  189. 

The  settlement  was  increased  this  year  by  the  ar- 
rival of  Amos  Gordon,  N.  G.  Reynolds,  HarrySmith, 
Charles  Atkinson,  Marvin  Frary,  Edward  Wright, 
William  Hill,  Alonzo  Davis,  J.  S.  Johnson,  and  a 
few  others.  In  1836-7,  considerable  addition  was 
made,  and  from  this  on  immigration  set  in  quite  lib- 
erally. 

The  first  child  born  in  this  township,  and  the  first 
female  child  in  the  county,  was  Anna  Stakes,  daugh- 
ter of  John  W.  Stakes,  in  1835,  on  section  22.  Col. 
Seely  says  that  the  first  male  child  born  in  the 
county  was  William  Hopkins,  at  Como.  The  first 
death  was  that  of  Jeduthan  Seely,  Sr.,  in  the  fall  of 
1836.  Col.  Si;ely  was  the  first  Postmaster,  getting 
his  commission  in  the  fall  of  1836.  Solomon,  his  son, 
carried  the  mail,  receiving  it  at  Dixon,  to  which 
place  it  was  brought  by  mail  contractors.  Col.  Seely 
was  Postmaster  until  1856,  a  period  of  twenty  years, 
and  then  the  office  was  given  to  Farmer  Adams,  who 
lived  on  section  13,  Mr.  Adams  had  it  about  four 
years,  when  it  was  removed  to  Spring  Hill,  in  Port- 
land Township. 


ty 

v  :) 


888 


WH1TES1DE  COUNTY. 


Lovica  Hamilton  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
township,  in  the  summer  of  1836.  It  was  on  sec- 
tion 3,  in  a  log  school-house.  Miss  Hamilton  was 
afterwards  married  to  John  C.  Swarthout,  and  raised 
a  large  and  respectable  family.  Daniel  Crocker 
brought  the  first  stock  of  goods  into  the  township 
from  Galena,  in  the  spring  of  [836.  He  located  on 
the  banks  of  the  river  in  a  log  house,  near  the  ferry. 
It  is  said  by  some  that  this  was  the  first  stock  of 
goods  opened  in  the  county.  This  ferry  was  run 
by  John  Knox,  and  was  the  oldest  ferry  in  the 
county  except  the  Crandall  Ferry,  and  was  located 
abjut  twomiles  from  Lyndon. 

In  the  early  part  of  1835,  Asa  Crook  opened  the 
first  tavern.  It  was  a  double  log  cabin,  located  on 
section  3,  and  became  quite  famous  in  those  days  for 
its  hospitality. 

About  this  time  there  were  about  300  or  400  In- 
dians (mostly  Winnebagoes)  camping  near  the 
mouth  of  the  creek,  and  Asa  Crook  used  to  trade 
with  them  a  good  deal,  and  was  a  great  favorite  with 
them.  In  the  fall  of  1835  a  Winnebago  Indian  was 
killed  by  a  Pottawatomie,  in  a  quarrel.  The  mur- 
derer fled,  and  a  reward  of  two  ponies  was  offered  for 
his  capture,  or  for  his  head,  by  the  Chief.  Some  In- 
dians went  in  pursuit,  and  finally  captured  the  fugi- 
tive at  the  mounds,  in  Wisconsin,  near  where  Racine 
is  located.  They  killed  and  decapitated  him,  and 
returned  to  camp  with  the  head,  which  was  buried  in 
the  grave  of  the  murdered  Winnebago. 

The  Prophet,  and   Black  Hawk,  whose  home  was 
at  Rock  Island,  had  left  the  country  before  the  set 
tiers  came.       The    Indians    soon    followed    them, 
passing  beyond  the    Mississippi,  to    fade    away  at 
last. 

Col.  Seely,  in  1836,  sowed  the  first  handful  of 
wheat  in  the  township,  and  said  to  be  the  first  in  the 
county.  In  1837,  he  went  to  Aurora,  and  had  the 
first  grist  ground.  He  saw,  as  he  was  passing 
through  Chicago  on  his  way  to  Whiteside  County, 
in  1834,  the  first  two-story  building  that  was  erected 
in  that  city.  It  was  being  built  for  a  hotel,  and  was 
located  upon  the  site  of  the  present  Briggs  House, 
corner  Randolph  and  Fifth  Avenue.  Col.  Seely,  in 
early  days,  started  the  building  of  a  town  in  Port- 
land Township,  on  section  i,  which  was  called  Port- 
land. He  erected  here  quite  a  large  hotel  and  other 
buildings,  laying  out  considerable  money.  But 


there  were  other  interests,  which  were  directed  to- 
wards Prophetstown.  When  he  railroad  came 
it  passed  through  1'rophetstown  and  then  turned 
northward,  leaving  Portland  some  two  miles  to  the 
south,  and  Col.  Seely's  project  was  unsuccessful. 
This  contest  was  rather  spirited  and  bitter,  leaving 
some  unpleasant  reminiscences  behind.  One  of  the 
results  of  the  contest  was  the  petition  of  Col.  Seely 
to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  to  have  his  farm,  his 
home  of  80  acres,  set  off  to  Portland  Township, 
which  was  granted,  and  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
he  is  a  citizen  of  that  township.  He  is  still  living 
at  his  home,  in  his  eighty-third  year,  and  is  hale  and 
hearty.  (See  page  189.) 

Those  pioneers  had  but  few  sources  of  amuse- 
ment in  the  early  days,  but  were  very  fond  of  a 
little  sport  now  and  then.  Once  on  a.  lime,  and  a 
very  good  time  it  was,  they  say  they  had  a  Fourlh- 
of-July  celebration.  It  was  the  first  held  in  the 
township,  being  at  no  later  date  than  1836.  Noth- 
ing aroused  those  old  pioneers  like  a  Fourth-of-July 
celebration.  They  could  not  have  grand  processions 
then  with  gay  uniforms,  brass  bands,  roaring  of 
cannon  and  the  display  of  fireworks,  but  they  could 
have  a  dance;  and  this  they  did,  and  Asa  Crook's 
tavern  was  the  place  where  it  was  held.  Col.  Seely 
was  a  prominent  and  important  factor  in  this  cele- 
bration, and  he  wanted  it  to  go  off  well,  which  he 
thought  it  could  not  do  unless  there  was  a  little 
something  to  drink.  But  just  at  this  time  the  art- 
icle of  drink  was  a  very  scarce  commodity.  Deacon 
Crocker  had  some  wine,  but  he  kept  it  for  sacra- 
mental purposes,  and  would  not  sell  it  for  any 
other,  being  inclined  to  temperance  principles. 

Col.  Seely  finally  prevailed  upon  the  Deacon  to 
let  him  have  a  gallon  for  the  use  of  the  ladies  who 
were  to  participate  in  the  celebration,  some  of 
whom,  he  stated,  were  not  very  well.  Having  ob- 
tained permission  to  enter  the  cellar,  the  Colonel 
saw  his  way  clear.  He  secured  the  services  of  a 
boy  and  two  patent  pails,  entered  the  cellar  by  the 
back  way,  filled  his  pails,  and  returned  to  the  tav- 
ern. They  had  a  grand  time.  The  wine  was 
drank,  and  the  ladies  went  home  well  and  happy. 

Prophetstown  is  one  of  the  best  improved  town- 
ships in  the  county,  and  has  a  larger  per  cent,  of 
its  lands  under  cultivation  than  any  other.  It  ranks 
the  first  in  stock-raising,  and,  is  a,  large  producer  of 


I 


<& 


•s  !• 


1 


grain.  Its  roads  are  good,  and  the  buildings  through- 
out the  township  are  substantial,  many  of  them  be- 
ing very  attractive.  The  Clinton  branch  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  was  completed 
through  ihe  township  in  1871.  It  passes  through 
the  northeast  corner,  entering  on  section  12,  and 
going  out  on  section  5.  The  people  do  their  trad- 
ing mostly  at  Prophetstown.  The  population  now 
is  estimated  at  2,200.  The  census  of  1880  retried 
1,709.  Special  attention  has  been  given  from  the 
first  by  i  he  people  of  this  township  to  the  education 
of  their  children.  The  result  has  been  that  they 
have  good  school  buildings  in  all  their  districts. 


SUPERVISORS. 


Obadiah  W.  Gage 

Mark  R     Averill 

II  .  S    Cahholt 

Mark  R.  Averill. 


Andrew  J.  Fuller. 186) 

William  Hill 1868 


.1852-8 

•"859 

.1860-1 

862 


Leandcr  W.  Lewis 

George    H.  Quigley  .  .  . . 

I.eander  W.  Lewis 

P.  B.  Reynolds 

S.  (1.  Baldwin 

Gilbert  Rogers. 


.1869-71 

.1872 

•1873-5 

.1876-9 

.1880-4 


Prophetstown  Village. 

HIS  beautiful  and  somewhat  noted  town  is 
located  on  the  picturesque  banks  of  Rock 
River,  and  surrounded  by  a  rich  agricul- 
tural country.  It  was  incorporated  by  act  of 
the  Legislature  March  10,  1859,  and  the  terri- 
tory now  embraced  by  it  may  be  more  particu- 
larly described  as  the  southeast  fractional  quarter  of 
section  32  in  township  20,  range  5  ;  the  southwest 
half  of  the  southwest  fractional  quarter  of  section 
33,  same  range  and  township;  the  northwest  frac- 
tional quarter  of  section  4,  township  19,  range  5, 
and  the  northeast  fractional  quarter  of  section  5, 
township  19,  range  5,  east  of  the  fourth  principal 
meridian.  This  was  declared  to  be  the  limits  of  the 
village  of  Prophetstown. 

The  first  election  was  held  for  selecting  village 
officers  April  4,  1859.  Andrew  J.  Fuller,  Elias  C. 
Hutchinson,  John  H.  Warner,  Albert  G.  Porter, 
Edward  S.  Dickinson,  were  elected  Trustees,  and 
VV.  T.  Minchen,  Clerk  ;  Andrew  J.  Fuller  was  chosen 
President  of  the  Hoard  of  Trustees. 

The  town  is  well  laid  out,  with  wide  streets,  which 
nre  shaded  by  fine  large  trees.  This  village  was 
originally  platted  in  1838,  and  was  distinguished 
by  having  among  its  proprietors  the  great  Webster. 
Its  platters  were  George  W.  Campbell,  Daniel  Web- 
ster, Asa  Crook,  Dixon  B.  Morehouse,  James  Craig, 


Erastus  Nichols  and  Jabez  Warner.  This  plat  in- 
cluded that  of  the  present  village  lying  north  of 
Main  Street.  It  is  not  remembered  by  any  of  the 
early  settlers  that  the  great  American  statesman- 
ever  visited  the  village,  or  that  he  was  ever  pecuni- 
arily benefited  for  the  use  of  his  name.  It  was 
undoubtedly  put  in  to  give  the  town  a  "  send-off," 
and  create  what  would  now  be  called  a  real-estate 
"boom." 

This  town  was  called  in  eirly  days  the  Prophet's 
Village,  and  it  was  here  that  Wa-bo-Kies  Shiek,  or 
White  Cloud,  commonly  called  the  Prophet,  had  his 
home  with  his  tribe.  He  was  a  son  of  a  chief  of 
the  Sac  and  Fox  tribes,  but  was  connected  with  the 
Winnebagoes  by  marriage,  having  two  of  their 
women  for  his  wives.  He  is  reported  to  have  been 
a  splendid  specimen  of  the  Indian  race.  He  was 
tall  and  dignified  in  his  movements,  possessing  an 
intelligence  far  beyond  his  race.  His  face  had 
something  of  the  Grecian  cast,  and  his  mind  and 
character  was  more  that  of  a  student  than  that  of 
an  uncivilized  Indian  warrior.  He  became  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  chiefs  of  the  Winnebagoes 
and  was  the  right  arm  of  Black  Hawk  during  the 
Black  Hawk  War  of  1832,  being  constantly  with 
him  until  its  close,  which  ended  at  the  battle  of  Bad 
Ax.  It  is  hard  to  realize  that  this  pleasant,  quiet 
village  was  the  theater  of  hostile  operations  during 
this  war.  It  was  to  this  place  that  Black  Hawk, 
after  organizing  at  Sac  Village,  marched  with  all  his 
forces  and  formed  his  camp.  The  Prophet,  through 
his  marriage  with  a  friendly  tribe,  and  his  associa- 
tions with  the  early  settlers — particularly  with  Col. 
Henry  Gratiot,  Agent  of  the  Winnebagoes,  and  his 
family — was  disposed  to  be  on  amicable  relations 
with  the  white  settlers.  He  had  not  that  bitter, 
vindictive  spirit  in  his  heart  against  the  white  man 
that  Black  Hawk  had  ;  but  when  the  war  broke  out 
he  did  all  in  his  power  to  make  the  Indian  cause 
successful.  He  was  in  reality  an  enemy  in  war  and 
in  peace  a  friend.  (See  biography  and  iwtrait  of 
White  Cloud  in  the  biographical  portion  of  this 
book.) 

Daniel  Crocker  opened  the  first  store  in  Prophets- 
town,  which  was  in  the  spring  of  1836.  It  was  in  a 
log  cabin  near  the  bank  of  the  river.  He  did  a 
thriving  business,  selling  to  Asa  Crook  alone  $1,000 
worth  of  goods  in  one  year.  Alanson  Smith  has  the 


•' 


*     '* 


x4 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


credit  of  erecting  the  first  frame  building,  which  was 
in  the  summer  of  1838,  and  was  located  near  the 
river.  It  remained  there  until  1875,  when  it  was 
removed.  Asa  Crook  opened  the  first  tavern  in 
1836.  It  was  a  double  log  cabin,  but  it's  roof  gave 
shelter  to  many  a  pioneer  who  otherwise  would  have 
had  nothing  but  the  canopy  of  heaven  above  him. 
A.  J.  Mattson  started  the  second  store,  and  was  the 
first  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  is  still  honored  by  his 
fellow  townsmen  with  this  position.  The  first  wed- 
ding in  this  village  was  the  marriage  of  Isaac  C. 
Southard  and  Almira  B.  Hill. 

Settlement  was  made  on  the  site  of  this  village 
when  it  was  in  the  precinct  of  Prophetstown  with  a 
view  of  forming  a  town.  About  the  year  1845  an 
attempt  was  made  by  Col.  Seely  and  others  to  es- 
tablish the  town  on  what  is  now  section  i,  Portland 
Township.  Quite  a  number  of  buildings  were  put 
up  there,  and  among  these  was  a  hotel  building. 
This  project  was  a  failure,  and  Prophetstown  grew 
right  along.  The  hotel  building  that  was  put  up  in 
the  prospective  village  of  Portland  was  afterwards 
moved  over  to  Prophetstown.  and  forms  now  a  part 
of  the  Seely  House. 

After  repeated  failures  to  have  a  railroad  to  put 
the  town  in  communication  with  the  railway  world, 
a  road  was  finally  constructed  by  the  aid  of  the 
towns  along  the  line,  which  was  called  the  Mendota 
&  Clinton  Railroad,  and  is  now  a  branch  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy.  The  first  train  of 
cars  came  into  the  village  March  8,  1871.  The 
town  has  since  steadily  grown,  and  now  has  a  popu- 
lation of  about  1,000  souls.  There  are  many  beau- 
tiful dwelling-houses  in  the  village  and  substantial 
business  blocks.  Where  the  savage  once  pitched 
his  tent,  and  held  his  council  of  war;  where  the  In- 
dian war-whoop,  with  its  ominous  piercing  cry,  was 
once  heard,  there  is  now  a  thriving  village,  the  in- 
habitants of  which  are  devoted  to  industrial  pur- 
suits and  the  arts  of  civilization. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  people  of  Prophetstown  have  secured  for  the 
education  of  their  children  a  good  graded  school 
with  a  very  excellent  corps  of  teachers.  In  1882 
they  erected  a  new  school  building,  at  a  cost  of  $r2,- 
ooo,  furniture  $300.  It  is  a  large  two-story  building 
constructed  of  brick,  with  four  apartments,  which 
are  heated  by  a  furnace.  Seating  capacity,  about 


(b 


240.  Total  enrollment  of  pupils  for  the  past  year 
was  220;  average  enrollment,  168;  average  attend- 
ance, 143.  The  school  is  divided  into  eleven  grades, 
each  representing  one  year's  work.  The  school  has 
a  regular  course  of  study,  embracing  all  the  English 
branches  and  the  natural  sciences.  The  pupils  in 
general  are  superior  in  intelligence  and  earnest  in 
their  studies.  The  progress  made  in  the  primary 
department  in  writing,  maping  and  drawing  was  re- 
markable. This  school  is  under  good  discipline. 
There  appears  to  be  a  sympathy  between  teacher 
and  pupil,  which  is  the  basis  of  government.  Will  J. 
Johnston  is  Principal ;  Grammar  Department,  Miss 
Anna  L.  Bastian ;  Intermediate,  .Miss  Mary  E. 
Cabot;  Primary,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Johnston. 
PRESS. 

Prophetstown  has  an  excellent  newspaper  to 
represent  its  interests.  The  Prophelstmvn  Spike  is 
an  eight-column  folio  paper,  published  every  Sat- 
urday by  A.  I).  Hill,  who  is  editor  and  proprietor. 
It  was  established  in  September,  1871,  by  A.  D. 
Hill  and  Charles  Bent.  The  former  bought  out  Mr. 
Bent's  interests  in  1872.  In  1878  he  sold  out  to  J. 
W.  Olmstead,  who  published  it  a  while  and  then 
sold  to  another  party.  In  May,  1883,  Mr.  Hill  re- 
purchased the  paper,  and  has  since  been  sole  owner. 
In  politics  the  Spike  is  Republican,  and  has  a  good 
circulation.  It  is  a  well  edited,  bright  and  newsy 
paper. 

CHURCHES. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — This  society  was 
formed  in  1836,  at  the  residence  of  Nathaniel  G. 
Reynolds.  There  were  only  five  members  at  the 
first  organization,  and  only  class  services  were  held 
for  some  time.  Later  on  they  had  preaching  from 
the  mission  service,  and  held  their  meetings  in  the 
school-house.  In  1860  they  erected  a  church  build- 
ing, which  was  the  first  in  the  town.  It  was  erected 
under  the  administration  of  Rev.  M.  Lewis,  to  whom 
its  final  completion  was  due.  This  society  has  con- 
tinued its  services  regularly  since  its  building  was 
completed.  A  pastor  is  at  present  in  charge,  and 
the  church  is  fairly  prosperous. 
SOCIETIES. 

Prophetstanm  Lodge  No.  293,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. — 
Dispensation  was  granted  for  the  organization  of  this 
lodge  Oct.  7,  1858.  Win.  T.  Minchen  received  from 
the  Grand  Lodge  the  appointment  as  Master.  The 


I 

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1 

& 

^ 


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I 

N  S 

<x 


first  meeting  was  held  Oct.  16,  1858.  In  1868  the 
lodge  bought  a  lot,  and  in  September  following  they 
voted  in  favor  of  building  a  hall.  This  was  com- 
pleted, and  Dec.  10,  1868,  was  dedicated.  Deputy 
Grand  Master  James  C.  Luckey  was  master  of  cere- 
monies, assisted  by  Past  Masters  John  Rugles,  Jr., 
Win.  Frasier  and  I.  G.  Burbank.  The  building  cost 
about  $3,000,  and  the  furniture  and  equipments 
i|  1,000.  This  society  has  an  elegant  hall,  and  is  in  a 
prosperous  condition.  In  connection  with  the  hall 
they  have  a  dining-room  and  kitchen,  with  all  the 
necessary  cooking  utensils,  and  also  table  furniture 
for  an  extensive  banquet.-  The  logde  is  out  of  debt, 
and  lias  money  at  interest.  Present  Master,  H.  A. 
Stuttevant,  with  a  membership  of  87. 

Prophctstown  Chapter,  No.  174,  R.  A.  M.,  was  or- 
ganized under  dispensation  Dec.  23,  1875,  and  was 
chartered  Oct.  26,  1876.  It  was  constituted  Nov.  9, 
1876,  by  M.  S.  Bowman,  of  Sterling.  Silas  Sears  was 
the  first  High  Priest,  and  H.  R.  Kent  is  the  present. 
This  chapter  has  6t  members  and  is  prosperous. 

Sinnissippi  Lodge,  No.  508,  /.  O.  O.  F.,  was  in- 
stituted in  1873,  with  Silas  Sears  as  N.  G.  This 
society  has  a  good,  large  hall,  which  they  own.  The 
hall  is  very  neatly  furnished  and  equipped.  The 
walls  are  decorated  with  emblematic  representations, 
denoting  the  different  degrees  and  their  significance. 
These  were  made  by  C.  N.  Stevens,  and  are  very 
artistic  as  well  as  ingenious  in  their  construction. 
The  lodge  also  has  a  good  organ.  A  fine  engraving 
of  Schuyler  Colfax  (who  established  the  Rebekah 
order)  hangs  at  the  head  of  the  hall.  They  hold 
regular  meetings  and  are  in  a  prosperous  condition. 
Present  N.  G.,  C.  H.  Gould. 

Tidal  Wave  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  ng. — This  so- 
ciety was  organized  Nov.  20,  1883.  Mrs.  Alice 
Daily  was  the  first  N.  G.  They  have  50  members, 
and  meet  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Hall.  The  present  N. 
G.  is  Mrs.  Cora  L.  Emory. 

STERLING    TOWNSHIP. 

TERLING    Township    comprises    all    that 
part  of  Congressional   township   2t    north, 
range  7  east,   lying   north   of  Rock    River. 
Originally  it  formed  part  of   Harrisburg    Pre- 
cinct,   then    F.lkhorn     Precinct,    where   it    re- 
mained until  organi/.ed   as  a  civil  township  in 
185.2.  .  Along  the  banks  of  the   Rock  River  east   of 


the  city  of  Sterling,  the  land  is  somewhat  bluffy ;  back 
from  the  river  it  is  a  rolling  prairie,  except  along 
Elkhorn  Creek,  which  is  broken  in  places  and  more 
or  less  covered  with  timber.  The  township  is  wa- 
tered by  Rock  River  and  Elkhorn  Creek.  Stone  of 
a  good  quality  for  building  purposes  is  quarried  at 
the  foot  of  the  bluffs  in  the  upper  part  of  Sterling 
and  in  the  rapids  of  the  river. 

The  finest  permanent  settlement  of  the  township 
was  made  by  Hezekiah  Brink  in  1834.  He  located 
in  what  is  now  the  eastern  portioto  of  the  city  of 
Sterling.  At  that  time  his  nearest  neighbor  was 
Samuel  A.  McClure,  at  Prophetstown. 

In  1835  John  J.*and  Isaac  .H.  Albertson  came  and 
made  a  claim  on  section  23,  just  east  of  Mr.  Brink. 

Hezekiah  Brink,  the  pioneer,  was  from  Vermont. 
He  is  yet  an  honored  citizen  of  Sterling.  A  good 
sketch  of  him  will  be  found  on  page  264. 

Luther  Bush,  an  old  pioneer  of  the  township,  was 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  but  came  to  this  county  in 
1836  from  New  York.  He  was  a  plasterer  by  trade, 
well  respected  and  a  sincere  Christian.  Mr.  Bush 
died  in  October,  1870. 

Jesse  Penrose,  one  of  the  first  to  locate  here,  was 
from  Northumberland  Co.,  Pa.  Samuel  Geer  came 
early.  He  was  from  Indiana.  His  wife  was  the 
mother  of  Hezekiah  Brink. 

John  W.  McLemore,  an  old  pioneer  of  this  county, 
came  in  1836.  He  was  a  native  of  Tennessee.  In 
1839  he  was  Deputy  Sheriff  and  subsequently  held 
the  office  of  Sheriff.  He  died  at  Sterling  in  187  r. 

John  W.  Chapman,  another  old  settler  of  1835, 
was  a  native  of  New  Vork. 

Wright  Murphy  came  with  Mr.  Chapman  and  lived 
with  him.  He  was  one  of  the  first  school-teachers 
in  the  county.  During  the  war  he  enlisted,  served 
three  years,  contracted  disease  while  in  the  service, 
and  died  shortly  after  his  return  home  to  Fox  River, 
where  he  had  moved. 

Elijah  Worthington  came  in  1836  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, though  he  was  a  native  Connecticut.  Pur- 
chasing part  of  Mr.  Brink's  claim,  he  became  inter- 
ested with  that  gentleman  in  the  future  growth  of 
Harrisburg,  but  did  not  live  long  enough  to  witness 
its  growth,  dying  in  December,  1839. 

John  Ogle,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  was  from  In- 
diana, and  a  brother-in-law  of  He/.ekiah  Brink.  He 
died  many  years  ago. 

Isaac  H.  and  John  J.  Albertsdn  were  twin   broth- 


V§) 


VV.HHOHH.~yV    ^ 

WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


(®J 


ers,  natives  of  New  York.  They  located  upon  sec- 
tion 23.  Isaac  H.  died  in  1845,  and  John  J.  in 
1872. 

Van  J.  Adams  was  from  Ohio,  arriving  here  in 

1836,  and  making  a  claim  two  miles  east  of  Sterling. 
He  served  the  county  in  the  General  Assembly   of 
the  State  for  two  years.     Mr.  Adams  died  in   April, 
1871,  from  the  effects  of  a  kick  of  a  vicious  horse. 

Henry  Brewer  first  located  in  Portland  Township 
in  1836.  In  1837  he  moved  to  this  township.  He 
was  a  native  of  New  York.  Mr.  Brewer  died  in 
1848. 

Hugh  Wallace,  a  prominent  pioneer,  came  in  1837. 
A  sketch  of  Mr.  Wallace  will  be*  found  elsewhere. 
Jonathan  Stevens,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  came 
to  Sterling  in  1838  and  died  on  the  homestead  that 
he  then  claimed  in  "1870. 

Jacob  VVhipple  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and 
came  to  this  county  in  1838,  locating  a  little  west  of 
Sterling.  He  died  in  1872. 

Luther  B.  Wetherbee  came  in  1837  from  Massa- 
chusetts. He  located  on  section  12,  where  he  died 
in  1873. 

Geo  W.  and  James  C.  Woodburn  were  brothers, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  in  1837.  The 
latter  was  the  first  Sheriff  of  the  county.  He  died 
in  1848.  The  former  lived  till  1872. 

Hiram   Platt  was  from  New  York,  arriving  here  in 

1837,  locating  two  miles  north  of  Sterling.     He  died 
in  1869.     John  Platt  came  in   1838.     Henry  Tuttle 
came  to  Sterling  in  1837.     Martin   Montgomery  was 
from  New  York.     He  died  about  1862. 

Ezekiel  Kilgour  came  from  Pennsylvania  in  1837. 
He  was  quite  a  noted  man  in  the  early  days,  a  strong 
temperance  man,  one  always  true  to  his  convictions. 
He  died  Jan.  16,  1848. 

Nelson  Mason  was  from  Vermont,  though  a  native 
of  Scotland.  He  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors 
of  Chatham,  and  was  instrumental  in  effecting  the 
union  between  that  village  and  Harrisburg.  For  a 
number  of  years  past,  he  has  resided  in  Chicago. 
John  1).  Barnett,  who  came  to  Chatham  with  Mr. 
Mason,  remained  only  until  1841,  when  he  returned 
East. 

Robert  L.  Wilson,  a  well-known  pioneer,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  came  to  this 'county  in  1839. 

The  first  marriage  solemnized  in  the  township  is  a 
matter  of  doubt. 


Margara, daughter  of  Hezekiah  and  Martha  Brink, 
was  born  Feb.  25,  1836,  and  was,  without  doubt,  the 
first  white  child  born  in  what  is  now  Sterling  Town- 
ship. She  grew  to  womanhood,  and  in  1855  married 
A.  B.  Crandall. 

A  son  was  born  to  John  and  Sarah  Ogle  in  May, 
1837.  He  was  doubtless  the  first  male  child.  Chas. 
M.  Worthington  has  usually  been  said  to  be  the  first. 
The  birth  of  the  Ogle  boy  is  given  on  the  authority 
of  Mrs.  E.  B.  Worthirigton. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  occurred  in  1838. 
Elijah  Worthington  had  a  claim  on  the  south  side  of 
the  river,  on  which  another  person  was  a  trespasser. 
Although  frequently  warned,  he  still  persisted  in  his 
lawlessness,  until  it  was  determined  by  citizens  of 
Harrisburg  and  Chatham  to  teach  him  a  lesson.  As 
the  party  proceeded  on  the  way,  an  accidental  dis- 
charge of  a  gun  in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  party 
struck  a  young  man  in  the  leg,  inflicting  a  serious 
wound,  which  rendered  amputation  necessary  some 
weeks  after,  from  which  operation  the  patient  died. 
His  funeral  occurred  at  Harrisburg. 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Worthington  taught  the  first  school,  at 
her  residence  in  Harrisburg,  in  the  spring  of  1 838. 
L.  Whipple,  William  H.  Andrews,  John  W.  Chap- 
man and  Rev.  Mr.  Stebbins  were  among  the  early 
teachers  of  the  township.  At  present  the  schools  of 
the  township,  which  include  those  of  the  city,  are 
classed  among  the  best  in  the  State,  as  well  as  in  the 
county. 

The  minister  of  the  gospel  follows  steadily  in  the 
wake  of  the  pioneer  as  he  proceeds  westward,  and  in 
the  rude  log  cabins  first  erected  he  proclaims  the  un- 
searchable riches  of  Christ.  This  was  true  in  Ster- 
ling as  in  every  oilier  section  of  the  West.  Hezekiah 
Brink,  Luther  Bush  and  others  opened  their  cabins  to 
the  followers  of  the  meek  and  lowly  one,  and  the 
praise  therein  offered  were  from  hearts  filled  with 
gratitude  for  the  blessings  received.  Rev.  Barton  H. 
Cartwright,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  was 
probably  the  first  ordained  minister  to  officiate,  and 
in  the  cabin  of  Hezekiah  Brink  the  first  class  was 
organized.  In  the  history  of  the  cily  of  Sterling  the 
various  organizations  are  treated  more  at  length. 

About  one  mile  east  of  the  cily  of  Sterling  is  situ- 
ated the  farm  of  Samuel  Alberlson.  For  years  it  was 
known  that  abundant  springs  of  water  were  there, 
but  of  their  medicinal  qualities  nothing  was  known 


v-.l 


i 


) 


Finally  a  test  was  made  and  the  water  analyzed  by 
an  expert  chemist,  proving  that  it  contained  the  fol- 
lowing qualities :  Bi-carbonates  of  soda,  lithia, 
potassa,  iron  and  magnesia,  sulphate  and  bi-car- 
bonate  of  lime,  and  traces  of  the  chlorides  and  silica. 
When  the  medicinal  qualities  of  the  water  were  fully 
determined,  Mr.  Albertson  erected  bath-houses,  a 
large  hotel  and  other  buildings  for  the  convenience  of 
guests.  The  grounds  were  laid  out  in  walks  and 
drives,  and  the  place  assumed  the  appearance  of  a 
fashionable  watering  resort.  Physicians  have  been 
constantly  employed  and  everything  done  that  was 
possible  to  promote  the  comfort  and  restore  the  health 
of  those  who  sought  the  health-giving  waters.  Dr. 
Hannah  Pettigrew  was  in  charge  for  six  years.  Dr. 
E.  S.  Hoag  is  now  in  charge,  although  the  works  are 
personally  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Albertson. 
Hundreds  of  testimonials  have  been  secured  from 
those  benefited.  The  springs  are  situated  in  a  beau- 
tiful grove,  and  the  drive  to  it  from  Sterling  is  over  a 
well  graveled  road.  Picnic  parties  find  it  a  pleasant 
resort. 

Sterling  Township  was  organized  in  1852,  and  at 
the  first  meeting  the  following  named  were  elected : 
Jesse  Penrose,  Supervisor;  Norton  J.  Nichols, Clerk ; 
Henry  Tuttle,  Assessor;  Henry  Aument,  Collector  ; 
Joseph  Colder,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
SUPERVISORS. 


iesse   Penrose 1852-55 
:dward  N.   Kirk 1856 

DeciusO.  Coe 1857-58 

Frederick   Sackett 1859 

S jinuel  S .  Patterson 1860 

Daniel  Richards 1861-62 

Marcus  L.  Coe 1863 

Nelson  Mason 1864 

A.  A.  Terrell 1865-66 

Decius   O.  Coe 1867 

Joscrh  M  .  Patterson 1868 

Joseph  M.  Patterson 1869-73 

Wm.  M.  Kilgour 1869-73 


JohnG.    Manahan 1874 

Samuel  G.  Harvey ^74 

Joseph  M.  Patterson 1875-76 

James  M  .  Wallace 1875~76 

W.    A .  Sanborn 1877 

W.  C.  Robinson 1877 

Chas    C.  Johnson 1878 

Adam  Smith 1878 

W.  A.  Sanborn ^79 

G.  W.  Brewer 1879 

W.A.    Sanborn 1880 

R.  Smith 1880 

A.   Sanborn 1881-85 


TAMPICO    TOWNSHIP. 

j1  HIS  township  lies  on  the  south  line  of  the 
county,  with  Bureau   County   forming    its 
southern    boundary.     It   is    exclusively    a 
3*  prairie  township,  a  portion  of  it  being  rolling 
and  well  drained,  while  the    remainder  is  flat, 
and  much  of  it  originally  covered  with  water. 
The  big   slough,   north  of  the  village  of  Tampico, 
was  for  years  almost  impassable.     For  a  large  por- 


tion of  the  year  it  was  covered  with  water  from  one 
to  two  miles  in  width.  In  1862  the  slough  was 
piked,  and  in  1863-4  the  county  ditch  was  dug, 
draining  this  land  to  a  considerable  extent. 

Being  prairie  land,  and  much  of  it  covered  with 
water,  prevented  the  early  settlement  of  the  town- 
ship. The  first  to  make  this  section  their  home 
were  Hiram  Tompkins,  John  and  Nicholas  Lutyens, 
and  Jacob  Barney,  in  1852.  A  beginning  having 
been  made,  others  came  in  from  time  to  time:  among 
those  denominated  as  pioneers  were  Geo.  W.  Curtis, 
Aaron  S.  Miller,  Rev.  Wm.  Gray,  Wm.  Aldrich, 
Rufus  Aldrich,  James  Conroy,  Daniel  Foy,  J.  C. 
Aldrich,  John  W.  and  T.  A.  Glassburn,  J.  P.  Badgley 
and  A.  M.  Smith. 

Nicholas  Lutyens  doubtless  erected  the  first  house 
in  1852,  on  section  27.  John  Lutyens  located  on 
section  28.  They  were  from  the  State  of  New  York, 
but  of  German  descent.  John  long  since  moved 
away,  but  Nicholas  yet  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead. See  page  705  for  sketch  and  portrait  of  Mr. 
Lutyens. 

Hiram  Tompkins  was  also  from  New  York.  He 
located  on  section  33,  where  he  remained  until  about 
1857,  when  he  moved  away  and  his  whereabouts  are 
unknown. 

Jacob  Barney  came  from  Canada  and  located  on 
section  26.  He  remained  in  the  township  some 
years  and  then  moved  to  Sheffield,  Bureau  Co.,  111., 
where  he  has  since  died. 

Geo.  W.  Curtis  came  to  this  township  from  the 
Fox  River  Valley,  but  was  originally  from  New  York. 
After  remaining  here  some  years  he  moved  into 
Hume  Township,  where  he  yet  resides. 

Aaron  S.  Miller  was  from  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y. 
He  yet  resides  in  the  county. 

Rev.  Wm.  Gray  was  a  Protestant  Methodist  min- 
ister from  Bradford  Co.,  Penn.  He  yet  resides  about 
two  miles  south  of  the  village. 

Daniel  Foy  was  originally  from  Cattaraugus  Co., 
N.  Y.,  but  came  to  this  county  from  McDonough 
Co.,  111.,  locating  first  in  Prophetstown,  but  moving 
into  Tampico  in  1855,  and  locating  on  section  29. 
He  was  Supervisor  several  years,  and  also  held  the 
office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  some  years.  In  1884 
he  moved  to  Kansas. 

The  Aldriches  were  from  Bradford  Co.,  Pa. 
William  came  in  1854,  Rufus  in  1855,  and  J.  C.  in 


V> 

4* 


1856.  They  are  yet  excellent  citizens.  See  sketch 
on  page  742. 

John  W.  and  T.  A.  Glassburn  were  brothers  from 
Ohio.  They  are  yet  well-known,  enterprising  citi- 
zens of  the  township,  biographical  sketches  of  whom 
are  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  Emma, 
daughter  of  Rufus  and  Mary  A.  Aldrich,  born  Oct. 

*3,  i855- 

Mrs.  Baker,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Barney,  died  in 
the  summer  of  1856,  the  first  in  the  township. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Eleary  C.  Brown 
and  Susan  Gray,  in  1857,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed by  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Gray,  the  father  of  the 
bride. 

In  1866,  when  there  were  but  few  people  yet  re- 
siding here,  a  school-house  was  erected  in  the  Aid- 
rich  neighborhood,  in  which  Orlando  McNickel 
taught  the  first  term  of  school.  The  township  was 
subsequently  divided  into  districts  and  school-houses 
were  erected  at  various  points.  There  are  now  six 
whole  and  three  joint  districts,  with  seven  good 
school-houses  in  the  township,  the  estimated  value 
of  which  are  $8,900.  For  the  year  ending  June  30, 
1884,  there  were  348  persons  of  school  age,  with  an 
enrollment  of  264.  During  the  year  $2,672  were 
paid  out  to  teachers.  The  highest  wages  paid  was 
$70  per  month,  and  the  lowest  $22.50.  The  tax 
levy  was  $2,550.  School  is  held  in  each  district 
from  seven  to  nine  months  in  the  year.  The  town- 
ship fund  amounts  to  $14,480.88. 

Rev.  Mr.  Pinkney,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  min- 
ister, was  the  first  to  preach  the  gospel  in  this  town- 
ship. The  first  services  were  held  in  the  Aldrich 
School-house  shortly  after  its  erection.  Rev.  Wm. 
H.  Gray,  a  Protestant  Methodist,  came  next.  There 
are  now  three  Church  organizations,  all  in  the  village 
of  Tampico. 

Tampico  was  behind  no  other  in  sending  her  sons 
forth  to  fight  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Every 
call  was  responded  to  and  its  quota  promptly  filled. 

The  township  in  1870  voted  to  subscribe  for  stock 
in  the  Grand  Trunk  Railway,  to  the  amount  of  $20,- 
ooo.  Bonds  were  issued  in  March,  1871,  and  of  the 
amount  $4,000  was  to  be  paid  in  five  years,  the  re- 
mainder in  equal  installments  annually  thereafter, 
the  whole  to  be  paid  in  ten  years.  The  amount  was 


all  paid  several  years  ago,  and   the  township  is  now 
out  of  debt. 

When  the  township  organization  law  was  adopted 
Tampico  was  given  its  name,  but  the  eastern  half 
was  attached  to  Hopkins  and  the  west  half  to  Proph- 
etstown  until  such  time  as  it  would  have  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  inhabitants  to  organize  a  separate 
government.  This  was  not  until  1861.  The  first 
election  was  held  April  2,  1861,  resulting  in  the 
election  of  the  following  named  :  Daniel  Foy,  Super- 
visor; E.  C.  Brown,  Clerk;  Rufus  Aldrich,  Assessor; 
John  P.  Badgley,  Collector  ;  Joseph  Rainer,  Justice 
of  the  Peace. 

SUPERVISORS. 


Daniel  Foy 1861-63 

J .  C .  Aldrich 1864 

Daniel  Foy 1865 

G.  A.  Stilson 1866-69 

J .  C .  Aldrich   1870-73 

M.H.  Brewer "874-75 


Village  of  Tampico. 

HEN  the  Grand  Trunk,  now  the  Mendota 
•Branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad,  was  surveyed  through 
the  township,  it  was  decided  to  locate  a  sta- 
tion upon  the  farm  of  John  W.  Glassburn. 
The  first  building  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
present  village  after  the  station  was  determined  on, 
was  that  of  S.  B.  Winter,  in  the  fall  of  1870.  This 
building  was  used  by  him  as  a  store  and  dwelling. 
The  second  was  that  of  Levi  Renner,  and  used  by 
him  as  a  saloon.  Fisher,  Thompson  &  Bryant,  dur- 
ing the  same  fall,  erected  scales,  put  up  an  office 
and  built  cribs  for  storing  corn  until  the  railroad 
should  be  completed.  Tampico  thus  had  its  begin- 
ning. 

The  railroad  was  completed  in  the  spring  of  1871, 
and  few  towns  grew  more  rapidly  than  Tampico. 
Almost  every  line  of  business  was  soon  represented, 
and  a  bright  future  for  the  village  seemed  assured. 
While  the  first  business  interests  were  being  secured, 
in  the  spring  of  1871,  a  fire  occurred,  destroying  the 
hotel  of  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  which  then  stood  where 
the  building  of  the  Tampico  Bank  now  stands,  and 
the  store  of  J.  H.  Cain,  entailing  a  loss  of  over 
$5,000.  Mr.  Fitzgerald  at  once  commenced  the 


'•, 


T.   M.    Wylie... i876-77 

S.  W.   Sheldon 1878 

I.  W.  White 1879 

Daniel  McMillan 1880 

J.  W.   White 1881-83 

U.S.  Brewer 1884-83 


4) 
f 

I 


ife 


WHITEST DE  COUNTY. 


895 


erection  of  the  present  Tampico  House,   and  soon 
had  it  ready  for  the  reception  of  guests. 

But  this  was  not  the  only  fire.  On  the  5th  of 
January,  1874,  the  second  fire  occurred,  destroying 
property  to  the  amount  of  $35,000,  including  the 
general  merchandise  stores  of  James  Conroy  and  E. 
W.  High,  the  grocery  store  and  dwelling  of  P. 
Burke,  and  the  store  building  of  A.  W.  Bastian,  oc- 
cupied by  Case  &  Davis,  clothiers. 

On  the  night  of  Saturday,  June  6,  1874,  the  vil- 
lage was  visited  by  a  most  destructive  tornado, 
totally  destroying  21  buildings,  severely  injuring  a 
number  of  persons,  and  causing  a  loss  of  many 
thousands  of  dollars.  During  the  day  there  were 
indications  of  a  storm  approaching,  though  nothing 
serious  was  anticipated.  About  half-past  ten  o'clock 
p.  m.,  some  who  had  not  retired  noticed  the  rising  of 
the  wind  and  endeavored  to  prepare  for  it.  The 
wind  at  this  time  was  from  the  southwest,  and  in- 
creased in  velocity  until  about  1 1  o'clock,  when  a 
heavy  black  cloud  was  seen  coming  from  an  oppo- 
•'•  site  direction.  Within  ten  minutes  the  two  clouds 
met  just  above  the  devoted  village,  and  in  their  con- 
tact hurled  down  to  the  earth  a  terrible  current, 
striking  the  village  on  the  western  side,  sweeping 
\f  through  it,  utterly  ruining  everything  found  in  its 
path,  and  then  rebounding  into  the  air.  The  whole 
destruction  was  done  in  an  instant.  In  the  track  of 
the  storm,  half  a  mile  long  by  40  rods  wide,  21 
buildings  were  totally  destroyed  and  20  others  badly 
injured,  and,  at  the  highest  estimate,  the  storm  did 
not  extend  over  a  minute  of  time.  The  greater 
number  of  the  buildings  destroyed  were  dwelling- 
houses,  and  that  so  many  were  destroyed  and  no 
lives  lost,  seems  almost  miraculous. 

In  the  house  of  Mr.  Banes  were  six  persons,  two 
being  in  the  upper  story.  These  escaped  without 
injury.  Mrs.  Banes  had  a  limb  broken,  and  one  of 
her  daughters  had  her  face  badly  bruised.  Mr. 
Banes  and  another  daughter  received  slight  bruises. 
They  were  blown  out  of  the  house  they  occupied, 
and  covered  with  the  debris  of  another  building. 

In  the  house  of  Mr.  Dow  were  1 1  persons,  all  of 
whom  escaped  uninjured.  A  little  child  of  Mr. 
Dow's  was  buried  in  the  ruins,  and  was  not  found 
for  half  an  hour  after  the  storm,  when  its  cries  re- 
vealed its  position.  A  pump  on  the  side  of  his 
house  was  left  standing,  the  house  being  blown  over 
the  top  of  it. 

/~\ 


Mr.  Gates'  house  was  completely  demolished.  In 
it  were  eight  persons.  Mrs.  Gates  was  found  some 
50  feet  from  the  house,  with  a  fractured  shoulder. 
Mr.  Gates  was  buried  in  the  ruins  of  the  house, 
but  was  little  injured.  Two  of  his  children  were 
buried  in  the  ruins  and  two  were  blown  some  dis- 
tance away,  but  escaped  uninjured  ! 

A  wagon  shop  containing  three  carriages  and  sev- 
eral hundred  dollars'  worth  of  stock,  was  blown  away, 
not  a  vestige  of  it  remaining,  and  little  of  the  stock 
was  ever  recovered. 

The  Methodist  Church  was  lifted  from  its  founda- 
tions and  utterly  destroyed,  everything  in  and  about 
it  being  torn  into  kindling  wood,  yet  within  six  rods 
of  where  it  stood  not  enough  could  be  collected  to 
build  a  fire.  Four  rods  to  the  north  of  it  there  was 
no  disturbance,  not  even  the  lightest  thing  being 
moved  from  its  place. 

The  two  elevators  were  entirely  destroyed.  The 
sills  of  the  larger  one,  12  inches  in  diameter,  were 
torn  into  splinters.  In  this  elevator  were  two 
horses,  one  of  which  was  buried  in  the  ruins,  yet 
when  extricated  not  a  bruise  could  be  found  on  it ! 

Of  the  depot  building,  one-half  was  taken,  the 
other  left.  The  storm  cut  it  in  two  almost  as  well 
as  a  carpenter  would  have  done  it ! 

A  2  x  4  scantling  was  blown  through  a  window  of 
Mr.  Glassburn's  residence,  through  the  head  of  a 
bed  on  which  his  two  children  were  sleeping,  and 
into  the  partition  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  room. 
The  children  were  not  injured ! 

Among  others  injured,  Mrs.  Piersall  was  badly 
bruised;  Mr.  O'Conner,  hurt  by  flying  timber; 
Luther  Piersall,  bruised ;  many  others  were  slightly 
hurt.  The  storm  was  a  terrible  one,  indeed,  and 
those  witnessing  it  will  have  a  distinct  recollection  of 
it  till  their  dying  hour. 

A  committee,  consisting  of  E.  W.  High,  A.  Smith, 
T.  M.  Wylie,  J.  S.  Kimball  and  William  Camper, 
was  appointed  to  receive  aid  for  the  sufferers.  The 
response  to  their  appeals  was  promptly  made  by  the 
citizens  of  the  county,  and  soon  store  buildings  and 
dwelling-houses  were  erected,  and  all  signs  of  the 
terrible  tornado  disappeared. 

But  the  village  was  not  yet  left  to  continue  unin- 
terruptedly its  career.  On  the  lyth  of  May,  1876, 
another  fire  occurred,  which  was  undoubtedly  the 
work  of  an  incendiary.  Six  buildings  were  destroyed. 
One  was  James  Conroy 's  store  and  dwelling  ;  loss, 




$ 

>& 

4* 


j 
9 


1 

\l 

f 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


tfAi.   /-^Vas? i£, 

s^v  (s^s^f8 

/  896 


$2,000.  Nelson  Mason's  store;  loss,  $6,600.  Peter 
Burke's  store;  loss,  $3,600.  George  Dee's  store 
building;  loss,  $2,500.  E.  W.  High,  merchandise  in 
Dee's  building ;  loss,  $6,000.  John  Price,  store  and 
dwelling ;  loss,  $2,300.  Case  &  Adams,  billiard 
hall ;  loss,  $1,500.  Total,  $23,500. 

The  postoffice  was  established  here  in  1871,  J.  S. 
Kimball  being  the  first  Postmaster.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded in  a  short  time  by  S.  B.  Winters.  The  latter 
was  succeeded  in  turn  by  J.  W.  Mosshart,  Albert 
Berry  and  F.  H.  Richardson,  the  incumbent.  Mr. 
Richardson  has  been  Postmaster  now  for  about 
eight  years,  and  has  given  satisfaction  to  the  patrons 
of  the  office. 

Tampico  was  incorporated  as  a  village  in  1875,  its 
first  election  being  held  Feb.  26.  D.  McMillan,  E. 
W.  High,  Alfred  Smith,  J.  W.  Glassburn,  J.  H.  Cain 
and  H.  L.  Denison  were  elected  Trustees.  The 
present  officers  are :  Board  of  Trustees — President, 
G.  A.  Stilson ;  Trustees — Geo.  Forward,  Frank  M. 
Palmer,  W.  H.  Harrison,  Fred  W.  Smith,  Joseph 
Pinkley ;  Clerk,  Herman  Sheldon ;  Treasurer,  A.  E. 
Jacobs;  Attorney  J.  W.  White;  Street  Commis- 
sioner, H.  Cummings;  Constable,  T.  A.  Sanders; 
Police  Magistrate,  T.  Hogue ;  Pound  Master,  Geo. 
Breckinridge;  School  Directors — Alf.  Smith,  J.  F. 
Leonard  and  Charles  R.  Aldrich. 

Storms  and  fires  could  not  destroy  the  interest  of 
the  citizens  of  Tampico  in  the  cause  of  education, 
and  the  public  schools  of  the  place  are  the  pride  of 
all.  The  school-house  in  the  district  of  which  the 
village  forms  a  part,  was  first  built  in  1869,  one  mile 
south,  but  when  the  railroad  was  built  through  the 
place,  in  r87i,  it  was  removed  here.  In  less  than 
one  year  the  building  became  too  small  to  accommo- 
date the  increased  attendance.  A  room  over  Geo. 
Guffey's  store  was  rented  and  the  primary  depart- 
ment moved  thereto.  In  1874  the  present  school 
building  was  erected.  It  is  a  two-story  frame  struc- 
ture, 32  x  56  feet  in  size,  with  a  wing  for  halls  and 
stairway,  and  with  four  comfortable  school-rooms. 
The  cost  of  the  building  was  $4,000.  A.  W.  Bastian, 
now  of  the  Fulton  Journal,  was  the  first  Principal 
in  this  building,  continuing  in  charge  until  the  spring 
of  r88o.  He  made  an  excellent  teacher,  and  under 
his  administration  the  Tampico  school  took  rank 
second  to  none  in  the  county.  G.  S.  Lowe  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Bastian  as  Principal,  and  served  one 


year.  Abram  Myers  then  served  two  years  and  was 
succeeded  by  F.  S.  Johnson,  in  the  fall  of  1883. 
Mr.  Johnson  is  still  the  Principal.  Few  schools 
have  turned  out  as  many  teachers  as  that  of  Tam- 
pico. 

CHURCHES. 

There  are  at  present  three  church  edifices  in  the 
place,  with  as  many  Church  organizations. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in 
the  village  in  1871.  Previous  to  this  time,  meetings 
were  held  one  mile  south,  once  a  fortnight.  On  re- 
moving to  the]village,  meetings  were  first  held  in  Shel- 
don's Hall,  Rev.  L.  A.  Sanford,  of  Sterling,  officiat- 
ing. During  the  fall  of  1872,  the  society  erected  a 
house  of  worship,  at  a  cost  of  $1,300.  On  the  6th 
of  June,  1874,  the  house  was  totally  destroyed  by 
the  great  tornado.  No  regular  services  were  "held 
during  the  remainder  of  the  year,  the  pastor  being 
engaged  in  soliciting  aid  in  rebuilding.  The  present 
building  was  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1874  and 
completed  in  1875,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  The  church 
has  had  a  fairly  prosperous  condition,  but  has  been 
much  weakened  in  the  past  two  years  by  removal  of 
many  of  its  members.  In  1879  a  parsonage  was 
purchased.  Rev.  J.  A.  J.  Whipple  is  the  present 
pastor,  with  T.  M.  Wylie,  J.  P.  Badgley,  L.  K. 
Brainard  and  A.  T.  Glassburn,  Class-leaders.  T. 
M.  Wylie  is  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 

The  St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  1875,  by  a  committee  of  four,  consisting 
of  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  Geo.  Dee,  Thomas  Burden 
and  Peter  Burke.  They  were  authorized  by  Rt. 
Rev.  Bishop  Foley  to  raise  subscriptions  to  build  a 
church.  In  a  short  time  an  amount  sufficient  for 
the  purpose  was  secured,  $2,520  of  which  was  raised 
by  a  fair  held  in  the  village.  The  church  edifice 
was  commenced  June  26,  1875,  and  completed  Sept. 
18,  1875.  Rev.  O'Gara  Shean  was  the  first  pastor 
of  the  parish.  Rev.  R.  H.  McGuire  is  now  in 
charge. 

The  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  was 
organized  in  May,  1874,  with  a  membership  of  45 
heads  of  families.  In  1875  a  house  of  worship  was 
erected,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  After  struggling  along 
for  some  years,  the  organization  disbanded,  the 
members  residing  in  this  neighborhood  taking  mem- 
bership with  other  societies  in  neighboring  towns. 

The  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  November, 


V> 


J   -;.-, ^ 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


1877,  at  which  time  some  26  persons  covenanted 
together  to  observe  the  commandments  and  ordi- 
nances of  the  Lord.  The  first  Deacons  were  E.  A. 
Hovey,  R.  M.  Bullock,  Samuel  Johnson  and  Alfred 
Smith.  The  society  rented  for  five  years  the  Luth- 
eran church  building  in  which  to  hold  its  services, 
but  in  January,  1880,  purchased  the  same  for  $1,200. 
Rev.  H.  A.  Smith  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  Church, 
serving  four  years,  and  being  succeeded  by  Rev.  F. 
M.  Smith,  who  remained  until  December,  1884. 
During  the  winter  of  1878-9  a  revival  was  experiencd 
in  which  there  were  100  conversions  and  baptisms. 
A  Sunday-school  was  organized  at  the  same  time 
with  the  Church.  Alfred  Smith  is  the  present  Su- 
perintendent. It  has  an  average  attendance  of  60. 
The  Church  numbers  about  100  active  members. 

SOCIETIES. 

The  Masons,  Good  Templars,  Woodmen  and  G. 
A.  R.  are  represented  with  lodges,  post  and  camp  in 
this  place. 

Yorktown  Lodge,  No.  633,  was  organized  at  York- 
town,  Bureau  Co.,  111.,  by  dispensation  of  the  Grand 
Master,  June  4,  1870,  and  a  charter  was  granted 
Oct.  4,  of  the  same  year.  On  the  24th  day  of  July, 
1875,  the  lodge  was  removed  to  this  place.  Here  it 
has  a  well  furnished  hall  and  is  meeting  with  a 
reasonable  degree  of  success,  having  a  membership 
of  32.  The  officers  in  1885  are  Job  E.  Greenman, 
W.  M.  ;  J.  W.  White,  S.  W.  ;  A.  E.  Jacobs,  J.  W.; 
J.  F.  Leonard,  Treas. ;  Jesse  Van  Bibber,  Sec. 

Tampico  Camp,  No.  p,  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  was  instituted  June  15,  1883,  with  ten 
charter  members.  E.  E.  Wheelock  was  the  first  Con- 
sul, and  C.  R.  Aldrich,  Clerk.  The  camp  has  been 
very  successful,  now  having  a  membership  of  32. 
Since  its  existence  it  has  lost  none  by  death.  E.  E. 
Wheelock  is  the  present  Consul,  and  C.  F.  Gilford, 
Clerk. 

Tampico  Lodge,  No.  298,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  was  organ- 
ized April  9,  1884,  with  30  charter  members.  Abram 
Myers  was  the  first  W.  C.  T.;  Lottie  Sanders,  W.  V. 
T.;  Herman  Sheldon,  W.  Sec.  The  lodge  holds  its 
meetings  every  Tuesday  evening,  in  Masonic  Hall. 
It  has  a  prosperous  existence  and  now  numbers  45, 
with  H.  E.  Brown,  W.  C.  T.;  Ellen  Denison,  W.  V. 
T.;  Lizzie  Kenley,  W.  Sec. 

Samuel  G.  Steadman  Post,  No.  491,  G.  A. 


organized  in  December,  1884,  with  23  charter  mem- 
bers. T.  M.  Wylie  was  the  first  Commander;  Abram 
Myers,  V.  Com.;  Joseph  Reeves,  Adj.  The  Post 
now  has  a  membership  of  30.  Samuel  G.  Stead- 
man, for  whom  the  Post  is  named,  was  a  private  in 
Co.  D,  75111  111.  Inf.,  now  deceased.  He  lived  in 
Prophetstown  and  was  highly  esteemed  by  all. 

THE  PRESS. 

The  Tampico  Tornado  was  established  in  the  cen- 
tennial year,  the  first  issue  bearing  date  May  4,  1876. 
A.  D.  Hill  and  Charles  F.  Gifford  were  the  publish- 
ers and  proprietors.  During  the  first  year  the  paper 
was  printed  at  Prophetstown.  Mr.  Gifford  at  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  became  sole  proprietor,  pur- 
chased an  outfit  and  commenced  its  publication  at 
Tampico.  The  paper  met  with  good  success  from 
its  commencement,  securing  a  good  paying  list  of 
subscribers  and  being  well  patronized  by  the  busi- 
ness men  of  the  place.  While  probably  not  being 
able  to  destroy  with  its  breath  like  the  physical  mani- 
festation of  the  tornado,  it  is  yet  a  power  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  it  exists,  Mr.  Gifford  being  a  born 
newspaper  man. 

TAMPICO   BANK. 

The  Tampico  Bank  was  organized  May  28,  1882, 
with  John  W.  Glassburn  as  President ;  W.  W.  Crad- 
dock,  V.  P.;  Delos  Craddock,  Cashier.  The  present 
bank  building  was  erected  at  this  time  by  the  com- 
pany. This  was  the  first  regular  banking  institution, 
though  previous  to  this  time  Mr.  Glassburn  kept  an 
account  with  a  bank  in  Chicago  and  accommodated 
merchants  and  others  with  exchange.  In  January, 
1885,  A.  T.  Glassburn  purchased  the  interests  of  the 
Craddocks,  the  bank  now  being  conducted  by  J.  W. 
Glassburn,  President,  and  A.  T.  Glassburn,  Cashier. 
A  satisfactory  business  has  been  done  since  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  bank.  The  Glassburns  are  pleas- 
ant and  accommodating  men  and  the  bank  is  re- 
garded as  a  safe  institution. 

CEMETERY. 

The  Tampico  Cemetery  Association  was  organ- 
ized in  1 883.  Land  was  purchased  a  few  rods  north 
cf  the  village  and  a  cemetery  laid  out,  which  is  rap- 
idly being  improved  by  planting  evergreen  trees, 
flowers  and  shrubs.  Previous  to  this  time,  the  re- 
mains of  those  who  died  in  the  village  were  interred 
in  the  burying-ground  one  mile  south. 


•6V£H«Hfi> 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


UNION  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 

NION  GROVE  Township,  under  the  origin- 
al division  of  the  county,  formed  a  part  of 
Union  Grove  Precinct.  This  precinct  was 
known  abroad  before  much  of  the  territory 
that  now  forms  Whiteside  County  was  settled. 
Pursuant  to  a  public  notice,  the  citizens  of  this 
township  met  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1852,  at 
the  residence  of  John  A.  Robertson,  in  the  village  of 
Unionville,  to  organize  under  the  new  township  laws. 
Stephen  Jeffers  was  appointed  Moderator,  and  J.  N. 
Vennum,  Clerk.  After  the  polls  were  opened  the 
citizens  proceeded  to  cast  their  votes,  the  result  of 
which  was  the  election  of  W.  C.  Snyder  for  Super- 
visor;  A.  P.  Young,  Clerk ;  Benj.  Burns,  Assessor; 
Collector,  Allen  Graves ;  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  Jacob 
Baker;  Commissioners  of  the  Highway,  John  A. 
Robertson,  "Edwin  Vennuni  and  Stephen  Jeffers; 
Constables,  A.  A.  Richmond  and  J.  N.  Vennum ; 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  D.  B.  Young  and  Reed  Wil- 
ber. 

The  first  settler  in  the  territory  now  embraced  by 
Union  Grove  Township  was  Joshua  T.  Atkinson,  who 
was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1810.  He  first  came 
to  Whiteside  County  in  the  fall  of  1834,  settling  in 
Prophetstown,  and  occupying  a  cabin  with  J.  W. 
Stakes.  The  following  spring  he  and  Stakes  made 
claims  in  what  was  then  Union  Grove  Precinct,  on 
both  sides  of  Rock  Creek,  and  commenced  their  im- 
provements. These  claims  were  made  in  what  is 
now  Union  Grove  and  Mount  Pleasant  Townships, 
and  were  situated  in  the  northern  portions.  They 
afterwards  divided  their  interests,  Atkinson  taking 
the  west  side  and  Stakes  the  east.  He  had  put  up  a 
cabin,  which  was  the  first  built  in  the  township.  It 
was  located  where  Unionville  now  is,  sections  i  and 
12.  Along  in  the  spring  (1836)  Daniel  B.  Young 
came  in.  He  was  born  Sept.  16,  1800,  in  New  Jer- 
sey. He  went  from  there  to  Ohio,  and  from  Ohio 
he  came  to  Union  Grove.  He  remained  for  a  while, 
looking  around,  and  finally  purchased  Mr.  Atkin- 
son's claim  on  section  i,  which  consisted  of  640  acres 
of  land  with  improvements.  After  making  some 
further  preparations,  he  returned  to  Ohio  for  his  fam- 
ily. In  the  fall  he  came  back,  bringing  his  family, 
and  settled  down  on  his  purchase.  The  following 


year  he  planted  the  first  crop  of  corn,  wheat  and 
potatoes. 

Mr.  Young  married  Betsey  Jackson  in  1824.  They 
came  to  Union  Grove  with  seven  children.  Five 
children  were  born  to  them  in  Union  Grove.  All  are 
living  except  two,  Tryphena  and  Abigail.  Mrs. 
Young  died  Jan.  13,  1872.  Mr.  Young  sold  his 
farm  to  H.  M.  Teller,  and  is  now  living  in  Morrison. 
John  Richards  and  family  came  in  1836,  locating 
on  section  34.  He  came  around  the  lakes.  The 
vessel  in  which  they  took  passage  was  wrecked  and 
they  lost  all  their  money  and  most  of  their  goods, 
and  came  very  nearly  being  drowned.  Mr.  Richards 
died  several  years  ago,  but  his  wife  is  still  living. 

Benj.  Burns  and  John  A.  Robertson  came  in  1837 
and  commenced  the  erection  of  a  saw-mill  on  the 
ground  now  occupied  by  William  Annan's  flouring 
mill.  This  mill  was  of  great  assistance  to  the  early 
settlers  in  furnishing  them  with  lumber  to  build 
their  houses,  and  for  other  purposes.  Henry  Ustick, 
Elisha  Hubbart,  John  A.  King,  John  Kent  and  M. 
L.  Atkinson  came  in  and  made  claims  in  1838. 
Henry  Boyer  settled  on  the  Mt.  Pleasant  site  in 
1836,  where  he  lived  until  1840,  when  he  moved  to 
Union  Grove.  The  start  having  been  made,  the  set- 
tlement increased  quite  rapidly. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  township  was  by 
Miss  Mary  Jeffers,  in  the  summer  of  1838,  in  a  log 
cabin  owned  by  Henry  Boyer.  Miss  Jeffers  was 
afterwards  married  to  John  Kent,  which  was  the  first 
wedding  in  the  township.  The  first  death  was  that 
of  James  Heaton,  son  of  William  Heaton,  who  lived 
in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township.  He  died  in  1840,  and 
was  buried  in  the  woods  in  the  Heaton  neighborhood. 
The  body  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  Heaton 
burying-ground. 

Mrs.  Phoebe  Vennum,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
here,  is  still  living,  residing  with  her  son  Edward, 
who  is  now  quite  an  old  man.  She  was  101  years 
old  on  the  23d  of  June  last.  She  is  in  reasonably 
good  health,  bright  and  active,  and  gives  promise  of 
remaining  with  her  friends  many  years  longer.  Mrs. 
Vennum  remembers  very  well  when  George  Wash- 
ington was  President  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
political  events  following  in  the  eighteenth  century. 
The  War  of  1812  is  a  new  event  to  her.  She  has 
witnessed  during  her  life  a  nation's  birth  and  growth, 
a  growth  which  places  it  ahead  of  all  the  nations  of 
the  earth;  and  one  for  grandeur  and  great  achiev- 


fa) 


^.fflgu 


ments  is  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  the  world. 
For  personal  sketch  and  portrait  of  Mrs.  Vennum, 
see  page  386. 

The  good  people  of  Union  Grove  were  early  sup- 
plied with  religious  services,  from  mission  preachers 
and  others,  but  its  religious  history  is  so  intimately 
connected  with  that  ofMt.  Pleasant  Township,  it  has 
been  thought  best  to  include  it  with  the  latter. 

About  three-fourths  of  the  land  in  this  township 
is  good ;  the  balance  is  composed  of  swamps  and 
bluffs.  This  is  the  portion  taken  in  by  the  Cat-tail. 
The  latter  runs  from  the  Mississippi  to  Rock  River. 
About  midway  between  these  streams  the  ground  is 
high  and  the  water  runs  each  way  to  the  two  rivers. 
The  center  or  high  point  is  in  Union  Grove  Town- 
ship. Some  of  this  land  has  been  reclaimed,  which 
makes  excellent  meadows.  In  this  Cat-tail,  or  slough, 
lie  large  deposits  of  peat,  which  is  said  to  be  of  a 
good  quality.  Geologists  claim  that  over  this  part 
of  the  country  at  one  time  rested  a  body  of  water. 
The  people  along  the  borders  of  this  bed,  or  slough, 
have  used  this  peat  for  fuel,  and  say  that  it  burns 
well.  Several  efforts  have  been  made  to  convert 
these  deposits  of  peat  into  marketable  shape,  but  so 
far  they  have  not  been  attended  with  success.  Some 
portions  of  the  township  is  undulating,  and  in  others 
there  are  broad  prairie  fields.  The  soil,  generally,  is 
clay  loam,  and  very  productive.  It  is  watered  by 
Rock  Creek  and  its  tributaries,  the  Cat-tail  and  sev- 
eral brooks.  Along  these  streams  there  is  a  liberal 
growth  of  timber. 

The  township  is  well  improved,  having  good  roads, 
many  beautiful  farms,  and  fine  dwellings.  Some 
attention  is  being  paid  to  fine  stock.  Elias  Williams 
&  Son,  who  live  on  section  8,  are  breeding  Short- 
horn Durhams.  James  Willson,  on  section  16,  has 
an  imported  Holstein,  and  is  breeding  grades.  On 
section  21  T.  R.  King  has  a  good  creamery,  where 
he  makes  during  the  season  about  1,000  pounds  of 
butter  daily. 

The  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  completed 
its  track  through  the  township  in  October,  1855. 

(Jnionville,  now  a  pretty  little  hamlet  for  dwell- 
ings, located  on  section  12,  was  once  quite  a  business 
town, — so  much  so,  that  it  was  platted,  in  1841. 
There  were  here  mills,  shops,  stores,  churches,  a 
postoffice,  etc.,  and  the  citizens  looked  forward  to 
the  time  when  their  town  would  assume  the  propor- 


/JNA/S3&/* 

^/yXV®^ 


tions  of  a  city ;  but  on  an  unlucky  day  a  railroad 
line  came  through  and  made  its  station  across  the 
creek  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township.  A  town  sprang  up, 
known  since  to  the  world  as  Morrison,  and  Union- 
ville  was  doomed.  Many  of  the  people  moved  over, 
and  all  the  business  houses  were  transferred,  and  the 
churches  soon  followed. 

Unionville  Mills  is  owned  by  William  Annan,  Jr. 
It  has  four  run  of  stone,  with  two  sets  of  rollers,  and 
a  capacity  of  75  barrels  of  flour  per  day  of  24  hours. 
It  is  water  wheel,  with  three  turbine  wheels,  and 
located  on  tha  bank  of  Rock  Creek.  The  building 
is  a  good,  solid  stone  structure,  and  is  one  of  the  old 
landmarks  of  Unionville.  It  was  built  in  1860,  by 
William  Annan,  Sr.,and  John  A.  Robertson.  There 
was  formerly  a  saw-miH  on  this  site. 

Unionville  has  a  fine  school,  which  is  taught  by 
S.  A.  Maxwell.  The  town  hall  and  the  school 
building  is  combined,  and  was-  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$2,000.  It  is  one  lot  west  of  the  old  school-house 
site. 

Union  Grove  was  the  home  of  the  late  Hon.  Rob- 
ert E.  Logan,  Member  of  the  Legislature,  who  died 
at  his  post  in  the  Capitol  at  Springfield,  Feb.  26, 
1885.  He  had  a  farm  on  section  15,  which  he  had 
cultivated  for  many  years.  He  was  for  several  years 
Supervisor  of  Union  Grove  Township,  and  a  prom- 
inent and  honored  citizen.  (See  page  358.) 

Union  Grove  had  a  population  in  1880,  according 
to  the  census,  of  1,091.  It  has  gained  but  little  since 
that  time. 

SUPERVISORS. 


W.  C.  Snyder 1852-4 

John   Kent 1855 

C.  J.  Goodwin 1856-7 

Daniel  B.  Young 1858 

J.  T.  Atkinson 1859-64 

William  Annan 1865 

E.V.Latham     1866-7 


H.  C.  Fellows 1868 

G.  L.  Hough 1869 

A.  M.  Teller 1870 

G.  L.  Hough 1871 

I .  C.  A .  Bennett 1872-4 

Robert  E.  Logan 1875-84 

SamuelR.Hall 1885 


USTICK  TOWNSHIP. 

HE  territory  that  is  now  embraced  by  this 
township  originally  belonged  to  Union  and 
Albany   Precincts,   and    subsequently   the 
whole  was  attached  to  Fulton    Precinct,  and 
so  remained  until  the  township  system   was 
adopted.     Notice  having  been  given  that  there 
would  be  an  election  on  the  sixth  day  of  April,  1852, 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY 


? 


for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  township  under  the 
organization  act,  the  citizens  of  this  territory  accord- 
ingly assembled  together  at  the  Franklin  School- 
house,  in  what  is  now  School  District  No.  2,  to 
perfect  said  organization.  Henry  Ustick  was  chosen 
Moderator,  and  A.  M.  Abbott  Clerk.  A  committee 
of  five  were  appointed  to  draft  by-laws — Benjamin 
Abbott,  S.  W.  Goff,  Oliver  Baker,  Reuben  Baker  and 
Joseph  Hollinshead.  One  of  the  by-laws — the  first 
— was  that  the  township  should  be  known  as  Hemlo. 

There  were  26  votes  cast  at  this  election,  with  the 
following  result:  John  McKenzie  was  chosen  for 
Supervisor;  A.  M.  Abbott,  Clerk;  Henry  Ustick, 
Assessor ;  Ira  E.  Baker,  Collector,  and  Jesse  O. 
Johnson,  Overseer  of  the  Poor ;  Hiram  Ingham  and 
Reuben  Baker  were  elected  as  Commissioners  of  the 
Highway  ;  N.  M.  T.  Ustick  and  Ira  E.  Baker, "Con- 
stables ;  and  Henry  Ustick  and  Oliver  Baker,  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace. 

Ustick  Township  is  quite  diversified  in  its  to- 
pography, having  extensive  plains,  high  bluffs  and 
undulating  surfaces.  It  has  a  fine  growth  of  young 
timber,  with  many  old  forest  groves.  It  is  liberally 
watered  by  the  Otter  and  numerous  small  creeks. 

The  soil  is  a  clay  loam,  underlaid  with  sand.  On 
the  ridges  there  is  a  good  deal  of  sand.  It  drains 
and  works  well,  and  is  very  productive. 

This  township  was  not  settled  as  early  as  some  of 
the  others.  W.  Y.  Ives  was  the  first  pioneer  to 
come  in  and  enter  a  claim,  which  was  in  June,  1837. 
He  located  on  section  19.  Had  the  elements  been 
in  his  favor  he  would  have  taken  possession  of  a 
piece  of  Uncle  Sam's  dominions  a  year  earlier.  He 
left  New  Haven,  Conn.,  in  the  spring  of  1836,  with 
the  intention  of  going  around  the  lakes  to  Illinois, 
but  was  wrecked  on  Lake  Erie.  After  repeated 
efforts  to  complete  his  journey,  he  arrived  as  far  as 
Detroit.  It  then  being  pretty  late  in  the  season,  he 
turned  his  back  on  the  "  Great  West"  and  returned 
to  New  Haven.  The  next  spring  he  took  a  different 
route,  coming  to  Pittsburg,  thence  down  the  Ohio 
River,  and  up  the  Mississippi  to  Albany,  where  he 
staid  two  months,  and  then  went  into  Ustick.  Soon 
after  his  arrival  he  put  up  a  log  cabin,  which  was  the 
first  house  built  in  Ustick  Township.  He  broke  his 
ground  and  put  in  a  crop  the  same  year,  which  was 
the  first  in  the  township.  Ives  was  a  great  hunter, 
and  used  to  travel  far  and  wide  in  his  hunting  expe- 


_r  ".v 


ditions.  Soon  after  Mr.  Ives  located  his  claim,  Ed- 
ward Corbin  came  in  and  made  a  claim  adjoining. 
He  did  not  work  his  claim  long,  but  sold  out  to  Mr. 
Ives.  Ives  is  now  living  at  Fulton,  and  is  in  his  75th 
year.  (See  page  241.)  During  the  latter  part  of  1837 
Amos  Short  and  Edward  Ralph  came  in  from  In- 
diana. Mr.  Short  located  on  section  18.  He  after- 
wards emigrated  to  Oregon,  and  was  drowned  in  the 
Columbia  River.  Henry  Bond,  Allen  and  Louis 
Graves,  Henry  Cone  and  Jesse  Johnson,  from  New 
York,  came  in  1838.  The  Graveses,  Bond  and  Cone 
located  on  section  18,  and  Johnson  on  section  8. 
The  following  year  added  quite  a  large  number  to 
the  pioneer  list,  and  each  succeeding  year  increased 
the  population.  Louis  and  Allen  Graves,  Henry 
Bond  and  Jesse  Johnson  are  all  dead. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  Ro- 
setta,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Louise  (Ingham) 
Patrick,  in  1840.  Rosetta's  parents  were  the  first 
couple  married  in  the  township,  which  event  oc- 
curred in  the  spring  of  1839. 

Amos  Short's  little  child  fell  into  a  deep  spring 
near  his  house  and  was  drowned,  which  was  the  first 
death  occurring  in  the  township. 

Miss  Armenia  Ingham  has  the  credit  of  opening 
the  first  school,  which  was  in  the  summer  of  1841. 
There  was  no  school  buildings  then,  and  no  surplus 
room  of  any  other  kind.  Mr.  Short,  however,  had  a 
log  cabin,  above  which  was  an  attic,  and  here  a 
school-room  was  improvised,  and  the  ambitious 
Armenia  presided  over  her  little  charge.  As  years 
passed  by  they  improved  on  this  system,  and  a  stone 
school-house  was  erected  on  seceion  8,  and  after- 
wards located  as  District  No.  i.  This  was  in  1844, 
and  Sarah  Jenks  was  employed  as  the  teacher. 

At  a  meeting  of  some  of  the  citizens  of  Ustick, 
at  Fulton,  for  the  purpose  of  petitioning  the  general 
Government  for  a  mail  route  and  a  postoffice,  the 
question  came  up  about  the  name  to  be  given  to  the 
office.  Finally  they  decided  to  put  some  letters  in  a 
hat,  and  then  draw  them  out.  This  was  done,  and 
the  letters,  as  they  were  drawn  out,  spelled  the  name 
of  "  Hemlo."  This  petition  was  granted,  and  a 
route  was  established,  running  from  Sterling  to  Ful- 
ton. A.  M.  Abbott  was  appointed  Postmaster,  and 
the  office  located  at  his  house,  which  was  on  section 
32.  Mr.  Abbott's  appointment  dated  Nov.  19,  1850, 
and  he  was  the  first  postmaster  of  the  township.  It 


¥ 


i 
ci) 


was  known  as  the  Hemlo  postoffice.  After  the 
Northwestern  Railroad  came  through,  the  mail  was 
brought  only  from  Fulton  up  to  Hemlo. 

The  name  of  Ustick  was  given  to  the  township 
upon  its  organization,  against  the  wishes  of  most  of 
the  citizens.  It  was  named  after  Henry  Ustick,  who 
came  to  the  township  in  1845,  settling  on  section  34. 
The  people  did  not  like  the  name,  and  petitioned  the 
County  Commissioners  to  have  it  changed  to  that  of 
Hemlo,  but  their  wishes  were  not  respected.  They 
then  petitioned  the  Legislature,  but  with  like  re- 
sult. The  office  was  removed  from  Hemlo  to  Clif- 
ton in  1858,  and  Mrs.  Francis  Martin  was  appointed 
to  the  place.  It  was  abolished  a  few  years  later, 
upon  the  establishment  of  an  office  at  Union  Grove. 
Ustick  has  no  town  within  her  borders  for  a  market, 
or  trading  purposes,  and  the  people  either  go  to  Ful- 
ton or  Morrison  to  sell  their  products  and  do  their 
trading. 

The  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  crosses  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  township,  entering  on  sec- 
tion 33,  running  up  into  section  29,  and  deflecting 
southward  again,  passes  out  along  the  lower  line  of 
section  30. 

The  school  section  (16)  was  regarded  by  the  citi- 
zens as  of  little  value,  and  efforts  were  made  with 
the  General  Land  Office,  at  Washington,  to  assign  a 
more  available  section,  so  that  it  could  be  sold  and  a 
respectable  fund  raised  for  school  purposes ;  but  the 
request  was  not  listened  to.  Mr.  Ives  proposed  to 
buy  it  at  one  time  for  a  deer  park,  and  offered  as 
high  as  $800  for  it.  This  proposition  was  not  ac- 
cepted. It  was  finally  sold  for  $2,600,  and  the 
money  was  appropriated  for  school  purposes. 

The  people  have  given  especial  attention  to  their 
public  highways,  and  the  result  of  this  has  been 
that  they  have  now  good  roads  throughout  their 
township. 

The  citizens  of  Ustick  showed  great  patriot- 
ism during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  All  the  able- 
bodied  men  of  the  township  turned  out  to  save  the 
Union.  In  this  they  deserve  great  credit.  There 
were  not  at  the  close  of  the  war  half  a  dozen  men 
liable  to  duty. 

The  massacre  of  the  Oatman  family,  who  lived  in 
Ustick,  deserves  a  special  mention  in  this  work. 
Roys  Oatman  came  from  Hancock  County,  111., 
with  his  wife  and  children  in  1842,  and  located  in 


Ustick  Township,  on  section  32.     He  remained  here 
cultivating  his  farm  until    1849,  when,  getting  the 
California  fever,  he  sold  his  farm  to  Henry  Bond,  and 
commenced  his  preparations  for  the  new  Eldorado. 
Having  completed  his  preparations,  he  moved  out 
one  April  morning,  in  1850,  with  his  family,  consist- 
ing of  a  wife  and  seven  children,  three  boys  and 
four   girls.     His   outfit  consisted  of    three   wagons, 
three  yokes  of  oxen  and  two  spans  of  horses.  These 
wagons   contained    household   goods,   clothing   and 
provisions.     They   joined  other  emigrant  trains  on 
the  way    and   traveled   with  them   for   some   days, 
when,  having  better   teams,  they  went   on    ahead, 
leaving'the  others  behind.     They  journeyed  on  very 
pleasantly   until   they  passed   into  the  Territory  of 
Arizona, — the  Indian  country, — where  they  became 
subjected   to   constant    annoyances.      The    first   of 
these  was  the  want  of  feed  for  their  teams.     Soon 
the  Indians   began    pestering   them,    stealing   their 
horses  or   cattle,   goods,  and   their  provisions.     At 
last  they  reached  a  long  hill,  about  150  miles  from 
Fort    Yuma,  and  stopped  for   a  short  rest.     They 
were  reduced  now  to  one  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  wagon. 
The  oxen  were  mere  skeletons,  and  were  nearly  worn 
out  and  starved.     They  had  unloaded  the  wagon  pre- 
paratory to  carrying  the  goods  up  the  hill,  leaving 
the  oxen  to  haul   up   the   empty  wagon.     At  this 
juncture,  Dr.  John  Le  Conte,  a  scientist  and  geol- 
ogist, came  upon  the  party.     He  was  traveling  to 
California  with  an  attendant,  each    mounted  on  a 
horse.     The  Dr.  tarried  for  a  while,  talking  with  Mr. 
Oatman  and  family,  and  before  he  left  was  fully  ap- 
prised  of    their   perilous    condition.     Mr.    Oatman 
urged  him  to  hurry  on  to  Fort  Yuma  and  send  troops 
back  to  his  rescue.     Dr.  Le  Conte  promised   to  do 
this,  and  immediately  started  forward.     Arriving  at 
the  fort  he  made  known  the  condition  of  the  Oat- 
man family,  and  their  eminent  danger  of  being  at  any 
moment  murdered  by  the  Indians.     Gen.  Samuel   P. 
Heintzelman,  who  was  then  in  command  of  the  fort, 
immediately  sent  out  a  force  for  their  rescue.     The 
troops  on  their  way  came  upon  the  massacred  party 
but  a  few  miles  west  of  the  hill  where  Le  Conte  had 
parted  from  them  !     The  bodies    of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Oatman  and  four  of  their  children  lay  about  on  the 
ground  in  a  fearfully  mutilated  condition.     The  fate 
of  the  other  three  remained  a  mystery.    A  grave  was 
dug  by  the  soldiers  large  enough   to  receive  all  the 


- 


•6s 


i'^r^ 


902 


^T'ViMH'C&'HH'y'V^^ 
WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


bodies,  victims  to  the  rapacity  of  the  savages,  into 
which  they  were  deposited  and  covered  up.  This 
done,  the  troops  returned  to  the  fort. 

The  boy,  Lorenzo,  aged  14  years,  who  had  been 
left  as  dead  by  the  savages,  recovered-  sufficiently  to 
walk,  and,  taking  the  road  his  fated  parents  had  so 
recently  passed  over,  soon  came  upon  the  emigrants 
they  had  left  in  the  rear.  They  took  up  the  poor 
orphan  boy,  and  carried  him  through  with  them  to 
California. 

The  Indians  committing  the  massacre  were  the 
Apaches.  They  carried  Olive  and  Mary  Ann,  aged 
respectively  twelve  and  seven  years,  off  with  them, 
and  afterwards  sold  them  to  the  Mohaves  and 
Yumas,  who  made  slaves  of  them.  After  being  two 
years  in  captivity  Mary  Ann  died  of  starvation. 
Olive  was  rescued  in  1856,  by  the  late  Gen.  Saml.  P. 
Heintzelman,  who  was  then  in  command  of  Fort 
Yuma.  A  Yuma  Indian  coming  into  the  fort  re- 
ported that  there  were  two  white  girls  with  the  Mo- 
have  tribe.  Steps  were  at  once  taken  to  get  them. 
Trusted  officers  were  sent  to  the  Mohave  tribe.  It 
was  discovered  that  only  one  white  girl  was  with 
them,  and  this  was  poor  Olive  Oatman,  her  sister 
Mary  having  died,  as  before  stated.  Her  freedom 
was  obtained  from  the  Indians  by  giving  in  exchange 
ponies,  and  she  was  taken  into  the  fort.  It  was 
many  days  before  she  could  speak  the  English  lan- 
guage. Her  mother  tongue,  however,  in  time  came 
back  to  her.  She  then  gave  a  full  account  of  her 
sad  captivity,  the  fate  of  her  sister,  and  the  massa- 
cre, the  horrible  impressions  of  which  had  never 
been  erased  from  her  mind.  She  had  fortunately 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  chief,  who  adopted  her  as 
his  daughter.  She  was  never  molested,  but  retained 
her  chastity  during  her  long  captivity,  though  she 
was  made  to  work.  She  remained  in  California  a 
year  going  to  school,  when  she  returned  to  the 
States.  In  1860  she  was  married  to  John  B.  Fair- 
child.  They  moved  to  Sherman,  Texas,  where  they 
are  still  living.  Olive  was  a  niece  of  A.  M.  Abbott, 
of  Ustick.  She  had  been  tattooed  after  the  manner 
of  the  Indians,  and  still  carries  the  marks  on  her 
chin. 

There  are   first-class   country    schools  in    Ustick. 


The  Franklin  School  has  an  average  attendance  of 
35  pupils. 

The  Presbyterians  have  a  society  at  Spring  Val- 
ley, where  they  have  a  neat  little  church.  This  was 
organized  in  1860,  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Lackey.  There 
were  at  the  organization  some  twenty  members. 
They  worshiped  in  a  school-house  until  they  com- 
pleted their  building,  which  was  in  1866,  at  a  cost  of 
over  $2,000.  The  ministers  serving  this  Church  are 
Revs.  J.  B.  McClure,  A.  Keigwin,  A.  H.  Lackey, 
A.  W.  Colver,  A.  W.  Hanna,  W.  D.  Lummis,  and 
F.  J.  Prichert. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — A  meeting  was  held 
by  the  members  belonging  to  the  Methodist  Church 
at  the  Franklin  School-house  March  5,  1871.  John 
O.  Odlin  was  made  chairman,  and  John  Lawton 
clerk.  It  was  moved  and  carried  that  they  organ- 
ize a  society,  and  that  it  be  called  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  It  was  also  decided  to  erect  a 
church  building,  and  a  site  was  selected  adjoining 
and  south  of  the  school  grounds.  The  building  was 
completed,  and  dedicated  in  August,  1872.  It  is  a 
very  neat,  substantial  building,  costing  $1,800. 

About  half  a  mile  distant  from  the  Franklin 
Church  is  the  Franklin  Cemetery,  which  belongs  to 
this  society.  It  is  a  very  pretty  little  cemetery,  and 
beautifully  located ;  and  what  is  worthier  still,  well 
taken  care  of.  Ustick  is  a  pleasing  township  to  look 
at.  It  is  dotted  all  over  with  grand  and  beautiful 
farms,  which  are  well  fenced  and  skillfully  cultivated. 
The  farm  buildings  are  good,  the  dwellings  first-class, 
many  of  them  having  been  constructed  with  artistic 
skill. 

The  census  of  1880  showed  a  population  of  1,066, 
and  it  is  estimated  that  there  has  been  an  increase 
since  that  time  of  about  150  souls. 

SUPERVISORS. 


John  McKinzie 1852-53 

A  .  M .  I  ves 1854 

A.M.Abbott 1855 

John  A.  Crouch 1856 

Oliver  Baker 1&57-59 

Warren  Bond 1860 

A.  M.  Abbott 1861 

Meril  Meade 1862 

Oliver  Baker 1863-66 

Warren  Bond 1867-68 


D.  W.  McKinzie 
James  O.  Gridley 
Warren  Bond.. . . 

A.  E.  Smith 

B.  G.    Baker 
Warren    Bond 
Joshua  Hollinshcad 
Robert  (J.  Barber 
Hiram  Worthington 
John  Lawton 


:^L. 


JVS'v} 


4HKGI13 


'•-'irXr^HHKTXHM^X^V^ 

WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


i 


EW  cities  in  the  West  present 
more  natural  advantages  than 
Sterling.     Situated  upon  the 
north    side    of    Rock  River, 
it  extends    along    its    banks 
over  two  miles  and  back  from 
the  river  from  one-half  to  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile.     The  land  is 
high    enough    above    the    river 
bank  to  prevent  it  being  over- 
flowed, even  in  high  water. 

In  June,  1834,  Hezekiah  Brink 
made  a  settlement  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  22,  and 
commenced  its  improvement. 
His  house,  constructed  of  logs  and  rifted  lumber,  stood 
upon  what  is  now  block  34.  At  this  time  he  had 
probably  no  thought  that  around  him  would  spring 
up  a  thriving  city,  with  manufactories  affording  em- 
ployment to  hundreds  of  men  and  a  mercantile 
trade  second  to  no  city  of  its  size  in  the  State. 

In  the  spring  of  1835,  William  Kirkpatrick  made 
a  claim  a  little  west  of  Mr.  Brink's.  Mr.  Kirkpatrick 
was  then  the  owner  of  a  mill  on  Yellow  Creek,  near 
Freeport,  Stephenson  County,  and  also  had  a  large 
claim  in  that  vicinity.  His  claim  here  was  consid- 
ered made  for  speculative  purposes  by  the  settlers, 
who  were  not  favorable  to  "  land  sharks,"  as  they 
were  called.  They  made  known  to  him  their  views 
and  he  asked  a  conference.  After  several  meetings 
were  held  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  entered  into  bond  in  the 
sum  of  $1,000,  by  which  he  agreed  to  lay  out  a 
town  at  the  Rapids  of  Rock  River  within  one  year. 
The  bond  was  made  and  executed  Nov.  16,  1835, 
to  Isaac  H.  Albertson,  Simeon  M.  Coe,  Wyatt  Can- 
trell,  Solomon  Whitman,  Ward  Storer,  Nathaniel 


Morehouse,  John  J.  Albertson,  Harvey  Morgan 
and  John  Simonson.  The  conditions  of  the  bond 
were  duly  complied  with  by  Mr.  Kirkpatrick,  and  the 
prospective  village  given  the  name  of  Chatham. 

In  1837,  it  was  found  that  the  original  survey 
made  by  Joseph  Crawford  was  incorrect,  and  there- 
fore a  re-survey  was  made  by  Charles  R.  Rood. 
About  500  lots  were  platted.  The  village  of 
Chatham  was  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  street 
now  known  as  Cherry  Street  in  the  city  of  Ster- 
ling, on  the  north  by  the  city  limits,  and  the  west  by 
what  is  now  A  Street,  and  on  the  south  by  the 
river. 

In  the  meantime  Hezekiah  Brink  determined  to 
lay  out  a  village  upon  his  claim,  and  says  he  had  the 
survey  and  platting  done  before  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  had 
that  of  Chatham. 

•On  the  isth  day  of  May,  1836,  the  steamer  Pio- 
neer, Capt.  D.  S.  Harris,  came  up  the  Rock  River, 
and  with  the  aid  of  the  settlers  and  their  oxen  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  over  the  rapids,  effecting  a  land- 
ing near  the  residence  of  Mr.  Brink.  The  steamer 
was  loaded  with  groceries  and  provisions,  which 
were  disposed  of  to  the  settlers,  Mr.  Brink  taking 
the  greater  portion  in  payment  for  a  part  of  his 
claim,  which  he  deeded  to  Capt.  Harris,  it  being  un- 
derstood between  them  that  jointly  they  would  lay 
out  a  town.  Accordingly,  a  few  months  after,  Israel 
Mitchell,  of  Jo  Daviess  County,  made  a  survey  and 
platted  a  v,llage,  to  which  was  given  the  name  Har- 
risburg,  in  honor  of  Capt.  Harris. 

A  meeting  was  held  on  the  boat,  while  it  was 
being  taken  over  the  rapids,  and  it  was  decided 
to  petition  the  Postoffice  Department  to  establish 
here  a  postoffice,  under  the  name  of  Rock  River 
Rapids,  with  Hezekiah  Brink  as  Postmaster.  The 


© 


Department  granted  the  request,  but  Mr.  Brink 
declined  to  accept,  and  it  was  not  until  the  following 
year  that  the  office  was  established. 

With  the  stock  of  goods  purchased  of  Capt.  Harris, 
Mr.  Brink  opened  the  first  store  in  the  new  town.  In 
the  summer  of  1837  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Elijah  Worthington,  and  under  the  firm  name  of 
Brink  &  Worthington  continued  the  business,  adding 
dry  goods  and  notions,  purchasing  the  stock  of  a 
dealer  at  Sugar  Grove,  in  Lee  County.  The  firm  of 
Brink  &  Worthington  continued  in  business  until 
1839,  when  they  closed  out.  Theodore  and  Elijah 
Winn  were  the  next  merchants  in  Harrisburg.  They 
continued  in  business  but  a  short  time,  Brown- 
shields  &  Fuller  were  the  next  to  engage  here  in 
business. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  in  Harrisburg 
the  proprietors  of  the  rival  village  of  Chatham  were 
not  idle  and  were  using  every  exertion  to  build  up 
thatplace.  In  the  winter  of  1836-7,  Mason  &  Bar- 
nett  opened  a  general  stock  of  merchandise,  the  first 
general  stock  in  Whiteside  County.  Several  dwell- 
ing houses  were  erected,  and  the  "  future  great  "  of 
Whiteside  County  started  on  its  way  rejoicing. 

Between  the  two  villages  was  a  space  of  ground 
which  was  known  as  neutral  territory.  When  the  or- 
ganization of  the  country  had  been  determined  upon, 
the  villages  of  Chatham  and  Harrisburg  were  each 
anxious  to  secure  the  county  seat.  Being  rivals, 
neither  would  be  willing  the  other  should  have  it;  so 
they  determined  to  make  common  cause.  The  neu- 
tral ground  was  surveyed  and  platted,  thus  uniting 
the  two  towns,  and  after  much  discussion  the  name 
of  Sterling  was  adopted.  The  choice  of  a  name  was 
left  to  Hezekiah  Brink  and  E.  B.  Worthington,  rep- 
resenting Harrisburg,  and  Nelson  Mason  and  Hugh 
Wallace,  repiesenting  Chatham.  Not  being  able 
readily  to  agree  on  a  name,  it  was  determined  to 
throw  up  a  copper,  the  winning  party  to  bestow  the 
name,  and  also  to  have  the  county  buildings  placed 
upon  that  side  of  Broadway  which  they  represented. 
Mason  and  Wallace  won,  the  latter  naming  the  town 
in  honor  of  an  old  friend,  Col.  Sterling,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. At  the  election  held  in  1839,  for  the  location 
of  the  county  seat,  it  was  finally  determined  that 
Sterling  had  a  majority  of  the  votes,  and  the  coveted 
prize  was  secured,  and  the  county  buildings  were  in 
due  time  erected,  upon  block  57,  west  of  Broadway. 




For  a  detailed  history  of  the  county-seat  contests 
which  followed,  Sterling  finally  losing  the  prize,  the 
reader's  attention  is  called  to  page  815. 

Notwithstanding  the  two  towns  had  united,  the  ri- 
valry between  the  upper  and  lower  towns,  as  the  two 
extremes  were  called,  continued  to  exist,  and  every 
effort  was  made  by  the  friends  of  either  to  build  up 
their  respective  sections,  even  if  done  at  the  expense 
of  the  other.  This  rivalry  retarded  the  growth  of 
Sterling  materially,  and  it  has  been  but  a  few  years 
since  the  contest  was  abandoned,  the  lower  town,  by 
reason  of  securing  the  railroad  depots,  water  power 
and  manufactories,  being  victorious. 

Until  the  completion  of  this  railroad,  in  1855,  the 
growth  of  Sterling  was  very  slow,  many  of  the  sur- 
rounding towns,  like  Dixon,  Fulton  and  Albany,  be- 
ing far  more  prosperous  and  with  apparently  a  much 
brighter  career  before  them.  But  the  advent  of  the 
railroad  infused  new  life  into  the  business  men  and 
capitalists  of  the  place,  and  from  the  moment  the 
sound  of  the  steam  whistle  was  heard  till  the  present 
time,  Sterling  has  had  a  steady,  sterling  growth. 

The  railroad  was  completed  to  this  place  in  June, 
1855,  and  the  dam  soon  afterwards  completed.  Man- 
ufactories in  due  time  began  to  be  built,  palatial 
stores  and  elegant  dwelling-houses  erected,  and,  as 
has  been  said,  few  cities  of  its  size  present  more  at- 
tractions to  the  stranger,  as  well  as  the  citizens  of 
the  place,  as  Sterling. 

INCORPORATION. 

Sterling  was  incorporated  as  a  city  under  a  special 
charter,  granted  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  ap- 
proved Feb.  1 6,  1857.  Previous  to  this  time,  it  had 
been  an  unincorporated  village.  The  first  election 
under  the  charter  was  held  in  April,  and  the  first 
meeting  of  the  new  council  was  held  April  23,  1857. 
An  adjourned  meeting  was  held  on  the  25th,  when 
L.  King  Hawthorne  was  elected  City  Clerk  ;  Edward 
N.  Kirk,  City  Attorney;  Winfield  S.  Wilkinson,  City 
Surveyor.  Tne  first  ordinance  was  passed  and  ap- 
proved by  the  Mayor  May  2,  1857,  and  related  to 
the  duties  and  salary  of  the  City  Surveyor.  The  fol- 
lowing named  have  served  the  city  in  the  office  of 
Mayor:  Lorenzo  Ha  pgood,  1857-59;  Nelson  Maxson, 
1860;  John  L.  Price,  1861  ;  Nelson  Maxson,  1862  ; 
Fred  Sackett,  1863;  Samuel  S.  Patterson,  1864; 
Nelson  Maxson,  1865  ;  Thomas  A.  Gait,  1866;  Ben- 
jamin C.  Coblenz,  1867-68;  C.  D.  Sanford,  1869; 


v§> 


John  G.  Manahan,  1870-72;  Wm.  H.  Bennett,  1873; 
Joshua  V.  McKinney,  1874;  B.C.  Church,  1875-76; 
f^    Joseph  M.  Patterson,  1877. 

POSTOFFICE. 

As  early  as  1836  an  attempt  was  made  to  estab- 
lish here  a  postoffice,  with  Hezekiah  Brink  as  Post- 
master, but  that  gentleman  refused  the  proffered 
honor.  In  1837  John  D.  Barnett  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  Postmaster,  and  the  Rock  River  post- 
office  was  established  here.  The  postoffice  was  kept 
in  Mason  &  Barnett's  store,  a  small  frame  building 
standing  on  the  river  bank,  in  what  was  then  the  vil- 
lage of  Chatham.  Mr.  Barnett  was  Posrmaster 
about  one  year,  when  Daniel  D.  Guiles  received  the 
appointment  and  moved  the  office  to  Harrisburg, 
keeping  it  in  a  frame  building  south  of  the  present 
Lincoln  Park.  In  1841  E.  B.  Worthington  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster,  keeping  the  office  at  his  house, 
on  Main  street,  in  Harrisburg.  Subsequently  he 
purchased  some  lots  lying  between  the  two  villages, 
where  he  built  a  house  and  moved  the  postoffice  into 
it.  This  was  satisfactory  to  the  citizens  of  both  vil- 
lages, and  Mr.  Worthington  was  permitted  to  retain 
the  office  for  about  1 2  years.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Bradley  Nichols,  who  removed  the  office  to  a  build- 
ing on  the  north  side  of  Third  Street,  but  west  of 
Broadway. 

Joseph  Hutchinson  was  the  next  Postmaster.  He 
was  a  strong  Democrat,  an  adherent  of  Buchanan, 
and  received  his  appointment  from  that  gentleman. 
The  citizens  of  the  place  were  not  consulted  in  the 
matter  and  were  angry ;  and  their  anger  was  in- 
creased when  Mr.  Hutchinson  removed  the  office  to 
his  store,  known  as  the  ''  stone  front,"  situated  on 
Third  Street.  This  was  then  some  distance  west  of 
the  business  portion  of  the  town.  The  excitement 
that  followed  was  great  and  did  not  easily  subside, 
but  grew  in  intensity  until  it  got  so  hot  that  some  of 
the  dissatisfied  in  the  upper  part  of  Sterling,  to- 
gether with  sympathizers  from  the  country,  would 
not  mail  or  receive  letters  at  the  Sterling  postoffice, 
but  sent  them  to  Nelson  or  Como.  One  day,  after  a 
heavy  fall  of  rain,  and  when  the  streets  were  a  sea 
of  mud,  almost  without  bottom,  about  50  of  the  citi- 
zens of  the  upper  town,  including  some  from  the 
country,  headed  by  merchants,  lawyers  and  doctors, 
rolled  up  their  trousers,  arranging  them  to  carry  as 
much  mud  as  would  naturally  deposit  itself  in  the 


roll,  started  for  their  mail  through  the  middle  of  the 
street.  Arriving  at  Hutchinson's  store,  where  the 
office  was  kept,  they  must  pull  down  their  trousers, 
of  course,  and  stamp  off  the  mud.  Being  somewhat 
noisy  and  demonstrative  in  that  performance,  L.  D. 
Crandall,  who  was  then  Sheriff,  was  suddenly  im- 
pressed with  the  idea  that  it  was  his  duty  to  com- 
mand the  peace.  Climbing  upon  the  counter  for 
that  purpose,  he  left  his  deposit  of  real  estate  greatiy 
to  the  detriment  of  the  dry  goods  there  on  sale.  The 
office  was  soon  after  moved  a  little  farther  up  town. 
L.  King  Hawthorne  was  Hutchinson's  successor, 
receiving  his  appointment  from  Abraham  Lincoln. 
He  served  until  his  death,  about  three  years  after. 
Mrs.  E.  J.  B.  Bushnell  was  next  appointed.  Her 
petition  was  presented  to  Lincoln  by  E.  B.  Wash- 
burne.  After  reading  it,  and  examining  the  accom- 
panying documents,  Mr.  Lincoln  entered  upon  it  the 
following  endorsement :  ''  Mr.  Washburne  has  pre- 
sented to  me  the  papers  in  this  case.  Finding  Mrs. 
Bushnell  as  well  recommended  as  any  other,  and  she 
being  the  widow  of  a  soldier  who  fell  in  battle  for  the 
union,  let  her  be  appointed."  Mrs.  Bushnell  held 
the  office  about  eight  years,  when  she  resigned  to  be 
united  in  marriage  with  Major  M.  S.  Henry.  Under 
the  administration  of  Mrs.  Bushnell,  the  office  was 
removed  to  No.  90  Mulberry  Street,  between  Second 
and  Third  Streets.  Mrs.  Electa  E.  Smith  was  ap- 
pointed to  succeed  Mrs.  Bushnell.  She  served  until 
the  present  incumbent,  Chas.  M.  Worthington,  was 
appointed.  The  office  was  removed  to  the  corner  of 
Fourth  and  Locust  Streets,  where  it  yet  remains  in  a 
neatly  furnished  room. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  various  religious  denominations  are  well  rep- 
resented in  this  city,  some  of  which  have  handsome 
church  edifices.  The  first  services  by  a  minister  of 
the  gospel  were  held  at  the  house  of  Hezekiah  Brink, 
in  1836,  Rev.  Barton  H.  Cartwright,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  officiating.  For  some  years  ser- 
vices were  held  in  private  houses  by  such  ministers 
as  were  passing.  When  the  Court-House  was  built, 
the  court-room  was  used  for  such  purposes.  The  old 
stone  school-house  was  also  used  for  a  time. 

Broadway  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — In  1 838 
Rev.  B.  H.  Cartwright  organized  a  class  of  six  mem- 
bers, consisting  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hezekiah  Brink,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Luther  Bush,  Mrs.  Pratt  and  Mrs.  Geer. 


Ik"-  > . 


/~N      A^^. 


906 


WHITES1DE  COUNTY. 


From  this  small  beginning  grew  the  present  Broad- 
way Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  is  the  par- 
ent of  the  Fourth  Street  Church.  Of  the  original 
membership,  Hezekiah  Brink  yet  remains  to  worship 
with  the  congregation.  The  others  have  passed 
"  over  the  other  side."  '  The  Church  has  had  its  sea- 
sons of  prosperity  and  seasons  of  adversity,  but  has 
continued  on  its  way  trying  to  serve  the  Mascer  as 
best  it  could,  and  in  the  old  church,  erected  in  1855, 
the  faithful  assemble  each  Sabbath-day,  and  in  true 
Methodistic  style  worship  the  living  God.  In  1855 
the  Church  was  made  a  station,  previous  to  which 
time  it  had  been  attached  to  the  Buffalo  Grove  Cir- 
cuit. The  Church  numbers  at  present  100  members, 
with  Rev.  J.  S.  David  as  pastor.  Wm.  Lightcap  is 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school,  which  has 
an  average  attendance  of  100. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  dates  its  existence 
from  Nov.  4,  1844,  when  it  was  organized  by  a  com- 
mittee from  the  Schuyler  Presbytery.  Ten  persons 
comprised  the  original  membership.  John  Gait  was 
the  first  ruling  elder,  serving  until  his  death  in  1866. 
In  1848  a  church  edifice  was  commenced,  but  not 
fully  completed  until  1852.  The  Church  has  had  a 
very  prosperous  existence,  and  in  point  of  numbers 
outranks  any  Protestant  Church  in  the  city.  In  1884 
the  erection  of  a  new  house  of  worship  was  com- 
menced, the  finishing  touches  on  which  are  being 
done  as  this  history  is  compiled.  The  building  will 
be  the  handsomest  one  for  religious  purposes  in  the 
city,  and  will  cost,  when  completed,  $25,000.  Rev. 
N.  H.  G.  Fife  is  the  present  pastor.  J.  G.  Mana- 
han  is  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school. 

St.  John's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  December,  1854,  under  the  pastoral  care 
of  Rev.  Wm.  Uhl,  with  a  membership  of  n,  which 
has  been  increased  to  118.  A  house  of  worship  was 
erected  in  1856.  Rev.  E.  Brown  has  been  pastor  of 
the  Church  since  1873.  Frederick  M.  Eyster  is 
Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school,  which  has  an 
average  attendance  of  about  100. 

First  Baptist  Church  was  organized  June  i,  1856, 
with  1 1  members.  Meetings  were  first  held  in  the 
school-room  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  then 
in  Crandall's  Hall,  and  subsequently  in  Boynton's 
Hall,  until  the  erection  of  their  church  edifice.  The 
membership  of  the  Church  grew  rapidly,  and  soon  a 
larger  building  was  required;  therefore,  in  1873,  the 


present  building  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $20,000. 
This  building  is  45  x  82  feet  in  size.  Rev.  J.  T. 
Mason  was  the  first  regular  pastor,  beginning  his  la- 
bors in  November,  1856,  and  serving  until  November, 
1883,  when  he  resigned  and  removed  to  Montana. 
Rev.  A.  J.  Brown  is  the  present  pastor,  and  the 
Church  has  a  membership  of  240.  A  Sunday-school 
is  maintained,  with  an  average  attendance  of  135,  A. 
S.  Todd  being  the  Superintendent. 

Congregational  Church. — A  meeting  was  held  in 
the  Second  Ward  School-house,  April  15,  1857,  to 
consider  the  question  of  the  organization  of  a  Con- 
gregational Church.  An  adjourned  meeting  was 
held  at  the  Boynton  House,  April  17.  At  this  meet- 
ing it  was  voted  unanimously  to  organize,  and  on 
the  2ist  of  June  the  organization  was  completed,  30 
persons  uniting  in  forming  it.  The  first  meetings 
of  the  Church  were  held  in  the  Commercial  Hall, 
and  then  a  room  was  rented  in  the  Central  Block, 
where  services  continued  to  be  held  until  the  erec- 
tion of  their  church  edifice,  in  the  spring  of  1864. 
The  congregations  increasing,  it  became  necessary 
to  enlarge  their  house  of  worship,  which  was  accord- 
ingly done  in  1870.  The  Church  has  occupied  a 
leading  position  in  the  community  from  the  begin- 
ning. The  present  membership  is  150.  Rev.  Mar- 
tin Post  is  the  present  pastor.  He  began  his  labors 
in  July,  1884.  The  Sunday-school  is  under  the 
superintendency  of  J.  K.  Chester  and  has  an  average 
attendance  of  130.  A  pipe  organ  is  being  con- 
structed, at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  The  Church  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition. 

St.  Patricks  Catholic  Church. — The  parish  was 
organized  in  1860,  previous  to  which  time  it  had 
been  connected  with  Dixon.  A  church  building, 
together  with  the  priest's  residence,  was  erected  in 
1865.  Rev.  Mr.  Herbert  was  the  first  priest  in 
charge,  being  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  Daly  in  June, 
1863.  Father  Daly  served  for  12  years,  and  did 
much  in  building  up  the  cause  in  this  place.  Rev. 
M.  J.  Byrnes  succeeded  Father  Daly,  and  in  turn 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  C.  J.  O'Callaghan. 

Evangelical  Association. — This  society  was  organ- 
ized in  1864.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  M.  Lind- 
linger.  The  membership  at  that  time  was  but  small 
and  scattering.  A  church  building  was  soon  after- 
wards erected,  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Pine 
Streets,  at  a  cost  of  $3,500.  In  size  it  is  36  x  54. 

4 


<k) 


*'•'•* 


- 


The  membership  of  the  Church  is  now  55.  Rev.  H. 
Moser  is  the  pastor.  John  Curfurs  is  Superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school,  which  has  an  average  attend- 
ance of  65. 

Grace  Church  {Episcopal). — The  parish  was  or- 
ganized in  1864,  and  a  house  of  worship  erected  in 
1865,  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  Previous  to  this  time 
services  were  held  in  Wallace's  Hall.  Rev.  O.  B. 
Thayer  was  the  first  rector.  The  present  rector  is 
Rev.  A.  A.  Joss,  who  has  served  about  four  years. 
The  Church  has  a  membership  of  70.  A  Sunday- 
school  is  maintained,  having  an  average  attendance 
of  40  scholars.  Lorenzo  Hapgood  is  the  present 
Senior  Warden;  Fayette  Dyer,  Junior  Warden  ;  Wm. 
A.  Sanborn,  John  Miller,  W.  H.  Bennett,  James 
Ingelson,  S.  T.  Osmer,  James  McKim,  Alfred  Sleep, 
Wm.  Davis,  Vestrymen. 

Fourth  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — This 
Church  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  Broadway  Methodist 
Episccpal  Church,  and  was  organized  in  1867. 
Worshipping  for  a  time  in  Union  Hall,  they  then 
moved  to  Wallace  Hall,  where  services  were  held 
until  1869,  when  the  basement  of  their  present 
church  edifice  was  occupied.  Two  years  after,  the 
main  audience-room  was  completed  and  dedicated  to 
the  service  of  Almighty  God.  The  entire  cost  of  the 
building  was  $16,000.  It  is  located  on  the  corner  of 
Fourth  and  A  Streets.  Rev.  J.  H.  Ailing  was  the 
first  pastor.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  R.  S.  Can- 
tine.  The  Church  has  had  a  prosperons  career  and 
now  numbers  190  members,  with  a  Sunday-school 
numbering  140,  on  an  average,  under  the  superin- 
tendency  of  J.  P.  Overholser. 

German  Catholic  Church  was  originally  a  part  of 
St.  Patrick's,  its  separation  taking  place  in  1869. 
The  next  year  a  house  of  worship  was  erected,  cost- 
ing $2,000,  and  in  size  24  x  50  feet.  The  Church  is 
in  a  flourishing  condition  and  has  in  process  of  erec- 
tion a  new  and  handsome  church  edifice,  costing 
$15,000.  It  is  55  x8s  feet  in  size.  There  are  now 
120  families  connected  with  the  parish.  Rev.  H.  M. 
Fegers  is  the  priest  in  charge.  A  day  school  is 
maintained,  with  an  attendance  of  65  to  70  pupils. 

Swedish  Lutheran  Church  was  organized  in  1 87  i 
and  erected  a  house  of  worship  the  following  year, 
at  a  cose  of  $3,000.  Rev.  J.  P.  Neander  is  the 
present  pastor.  The  Church  numbers  43  persons. 
The  Sunday-school  has  an  average  attendance  of  20 


and  is  under  the  superintendency  of  G.  A.  Anderson. 
Reformed  Mennonite  Church  was  organized  about 
20  years  ago  and  has  a  membership  of  75,  with  John 
Weaver  as  the  minister.  A.  B.  Spies  and  H.  M. 
Zendt  are  the  present  Deacons.  A  house  of  worship 
was  erected  in  1867  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.  Baptism 
is  administered  by  sprinkling,  and  none  but  adults 
are  admitted  to  the  rite. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  beginning  of  the  educational  work  in  Sterling 
dates  back  to  1838.  The  first  teacher  was  Mrs.  E. 
B.  Worthington.  As  an  inducement  for  her  to  open 
a  school  the  proprietors  of  Harrisburg  gave  her  a 
city  lot.  There  were  but  few  pupils  in  attendance, 
and  the  remuneration  was  not  large.  Mrs.  Worth- 
ington relates  how  that  a  lady  residing  some  distance 
from  the  place,  hearing  of  her  intention  to  start  a 
school,  visited  her  for  the  purpose  of  making  ar- 
rangements for  board  and  instruction  of  her  four 
children.  Mrs.  Worthington  asked  her  $i  per  week 
for  each  pupil,  but  it  was  thought  to  be  too  much  by 
the  lady,  as  her  children  were  delicate  eaters,  and 
"  never  had  much  appetite  for  breakfast."  Among 
Mrs.  Worthington 's  pupils  were  Gen.  W.  M.  Kilgour, 
then  a  lad  of  six  years,  Mrs.  John  Crawford,  George 
W.  Brewer  and  two  sisters,  Andrew,  John  and  Esther 
Bush,  Elijah  and  Helen  Worthington,  Miss  Arathusa 
Barnett,  later  Mrs.  J.  Coe.  Norton  J.  Nichols  is 
said  to  have  been  the  first  male  teacher  in  the  place. 

The  schools  of  Sterling  are  a  matter  of  pride 
with  its  people.  The  city  is  divided  into  three 
school  districts,  and  there  seems  to  be  a  generous 
rivalry  between  each.  The  schools  are  known  as 
the  First,  Second  and  Third  Ward  Schools,  though 
the  wards  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  boundaries  of 
the  district;  but  the  school-houses,  being  originally 
built  in  each  of  these  districts,  they  naturally  took 
the  name  of  the  ward  in  which  they  were  located. 

The  First  Ward  School  District,  No.  7,  was  organ- 
ized in  1856.  A  stone  house,  erected  by  Hezekiah 
Brink,  was  used  for  school  purposes  until  1860,  when 
the  present  building,  facing  on  Spring  Street,  between 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Streets,  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of 
$3,000.  A  whole  block  of  ground  is  owned  by  the 
District  on  which  the  building  is  located,  affording 
ample  play-ground  for  the  pupils. 

The  Second  Ward  School  is  in  District  No.  3. 
The  school-house  was  erected  in  1867,  at  a  cost  of 


-'-' 


y^§£@ 


WHITESTDE  COUNTY. 


© 

if 


$65,000,  and  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  State  used  for 
public-school  purposes.  It  is  of  the  Grecian  style 
of  architecture,  combining  the  Ionic,  Doric  and 
Corinthian,  the  latter  being  the  predominating  fea- 
ture. It  is  located  on  Sixth  Street,  between  Walnut 
and  Pine,  and,  together  with  its  walks  and  play- 
grounds, occupies  a  square.  Prof.  C.  C.  Buell  was 
the  first  Principal  in  this  house,  which  was  occupied 
April  i,  1867.  The  first  class  was  graduated  in 
1873,  since  which  time  120  pupils  have  received 
certificates  from  the  institution,  many  of  whom  are 
now  occupying  responsible  positions  throughout  the 
West.  Of  the  14  teachers  employed  for  the  year 
1885-6,  seven  are  graduates  of  the  school.  Alfred 
Bayliss,  now  editor  of  the  Sterling  Standard,  was 
Principal  of  the  school  for  ten  years,  from  1874  to 
1884,  and  to  him  much  credit  is  due  for  the  effici- 
ency of  the  school.  C.  H.  Crandall  succeeded  Mr. 
Bayliss,  and  is  the  present  Principal. 

The  Third  Ward  School  is  in  District  No.  8, 
which  was  organized  in  1866.  The  school-house  is 
situated  on  the  block  between  Fourth  and  Fifth 
Streets,  E  and  F  Streets  being  the  east  and  west 
boundaries.  It  was  erecteH  "in  1874,  at  a  cost  of 
$28,000.  The  building  is  three  stories  in  height 
and  80x82  feet  in  size.  The  work  done  in  this 
school  will  compare  favorably  with  that  of  any 
school  in  the  State. 

PUBLIC    LIBRARY. 

The  Sterling  Public  Library  is  an  institution  in 
which  the  citizens  take  a  just  pride.  It  was  or- 
ganized April  27,  1878,  under  the  State  law,  with  ]. 
E.  McPherran,  T.  A.  Gait,  A.  Bayliss,  R.  B.  Witmer, 
G.  W.  Brewer,  W.  H.  Bennett,  R.  B.  Colcord,  B.  C. 
Church  and  M.  H.  Kreider  as  Directors.  These 
gentlemen  were  all  interested  in  the  work,  and  devo- 
ted much  time  in  promoting  the  interests  of  the 
library.  Mr.  Church  and  Mr.  Kreider  have  since 
died.  On  the  organization  of  the  Library  Associa- 
tion, the  Christian  Association  made  a  donation  of 
their  books,  on  condition  a  free  public  library  should 
be  maintained  by  the  city.  Agreeable  to  the  statutes, 
the  City  Council  each  year  appropriates  from  $1,200 
to  $1,500  to  maintain  the  library.  In  addition  to 
this,  the  Library  Lecture  Association  have  for  some 
years  annually  raised  and  donated  for  library  pur- 
poses from  $300  to  $500.  There  are  now  3,880 
bound  volumes  in  the  library,  together  with  a  large 


number  of  pamphlets,  and  unbound  magazines  and 
newspapers.  In  one  month  of  this  year  there  were 
2,900  visits  made  to  the  library  and  2,200  volumes 
loaned,  showing  that  the  library  is  appreciated  by  the 
people.  Miss  C.  E.  Bowman  was  the  first  librarian. 
She  was  succeeded  by  Miss  S.  M.  Hubbard  and  Miss 
Belle  Hubbard,  the  latter  having  served  since  1883. 
There  has  never  been  a  book  lost  from  the  library, 
which  certainly  speaks  well  for  the  faithfulness  of 
the  librarians.  The  present  Directors  are  J.  E. 
McPherran,  President;  A.  Bayliss,  Secretary;  W. 
H.  Bennett,  W.  W.  Davis,  Thos.  Diller,  George  S. 
Tracy,  E.  W.  Edson,  E.  L.  Gait  and  Walter  Stager. 
The  Christian  Church  of  Sterling  is  the  result  of 
earnest,  faithful  missionary  work.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  Sixth  District  Illinois  Christian  Missionary  Con- 
vention, held  in  Coleta,  in  May,  1874,  the  Board  of 
Directors  were  instructed  to  select  some  new  point 
for  missionary  efforts.  Sterling  was  selected  as  that 
point.  There  were  1 1  Disciples  known  to  be  livinn 
in  that  city  or  vicinity,  and  it  was  their  earnest  desire 
that  the  cause  should  be  established  in  their  midst. 
In  the  spring  of  1875  Knowles  Shaw,  the  evangelist, 
was  engaged  to  come  here,  hold  a  meeting  of  some 
days,  and  organize  a  Church.  A  large  tent  was 
secured  in  which  to  hold  the  meetings,  and  on 
Friday,  June  18,  Elder  Shaw  commenced  the  work. 
Previous  to  this  time  Elder  J.  J.  Moss  preached  one 
discourse  in  the  Baptist  Church,  the  first  ever  de- 
livered by  a  recognized  minister  of  the  Christian 
Church.  As  a  result  of  the  meeting  an  organization 
was  effected  with  75  members.  George  W.  Nance, 
R.  B.  Colcord  and  J.  S.  Detweiler  were  elected 
elders.  A  Sunday-school  was  organized  at  the  same 
time,  with  W.  F.  Eastman  as  Superintendent.  Elder 
J.  N.  Smith  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  and  began 
his  labors  Oct.  3,  1875,  and  served  one  year.  He 
was  succeeded  by  J.  H.  Wright,  who  remained  until 
September,  1879.  The  Church  was  then  for  a  time 
without  a  pastor.  Previous  to  this  time  meetings 
were  held  in  public  halls,  the  congregation  mean- 
while anxious  to  secure  a  permanent  house.  In  the 
fall  of  1879  Turner  Hall  was  purchased  and  fitted 
up  for  a  house  of  worship;  and  on  Lord's  Day,  Feb. 
i,  1880,  it  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty 
God,  Prof.  B.  J.  Radford  preaching  the  sermon.  A 
protracted  meeting  immediately  followed,  George  F. 
Adams  doing  the  preaching.  There  were  39  addi- 


4eSXQ 


. 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


tions.  In  May,  1880,  M.  L.  Blaney  was  called  to 
the  pastorate,  and  served  a  little  over  one  year.  J. 
H.  Wright  returned,  and  served  one  year,  and  was 
succeeded  by  T.  W.  Grafton,  who  remained  until  the 
spring  of  1885,  when  W.  H.  Cannon,  the  present 
pastor,  was  employed.  The  Church  is  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition,  with  a  membership  of  198  in  May, 
1885.  A  Sunday-school  is  maintained,  and  is  like- 
wise prospering,  with  an  average  attendance  of  175. 
The  prayer-meetings  are  well  attended,  many  taking 
part  in  the  exercises. 

The  German  Lutheran  Church  was  organized  in 
1874.  Rev.  F.  Luskey  was  the  first  pastor.  The 
house  of  worship  was  erected  in  i88r,  at  a  cost 
of  $800,  previous  to  which  time  the  congregation 
met  in  Bethlehem  Lutheran  Church.  There  are 
now  55  families  connected  with  the  congregation. 
Rev.  John  Merkel  is  pastor,  and  also  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Sabbath-school.  Rev.  F.  Luskey  is 
now  located  with  the  church  at  Round  Grove,  in 
Hopkins  Township. 

THE  PRESS. 

The  Sterling  Gazette. — In  July,  1856,  the  publi- 
cation of  the  Sterling  Republican"  was  commenced, 
William  Caffrey  being  editor  and  proprietor.  In  the 
winter  of  1857-8,  H.  G.  Grattan,  who  had  previously 
purchased  the  press  and  materials  of  the  Times, 
commenced  the  publication  of  the  Sterling  Gazette. 
The  Times  referred  to  was  the  first  paper  published 
at  Sterling.  It  first  appeared  Dec.  12,  1854.  It 
was  edited  by  Chales  Boynton.  This  paper  had  a 
hard  struggle  for  existence,  and  in  1857  was  obliged 
to  suspend.  Subsequently  the  proprietors  of  the 
Republican  and  Gazette  united  the  two  papers  under 
the  name  of  Republican  and  Gazette,  continuing  as 
joint  proprietors  until  Mr.  Grattan  sold  his  interest 
to  Walter  Nimocks,  when  the  firm  became  Caffrey  & 
Nimocks.  The  partnership  continued  but  a  short 
time,  when  Mr.  Caffrey  became  the  sole  proprietor, 
and  shortly  after  the  name  of  Republican  was  drop- 
ped, the  paper  since  being  continued  under  its 
present  name — the  Sterling  Gazette.  In  1861  Mr. 
Caffrey  sold  out  to  C.  M.  Worthington  &  Co.,  Mr. 
Worthington  soon  becoming  sole  proprietor,  and 
continuing  as  such  until  he  sold  to  George  Terwill- 
iger,  in  September,  1870.  Mr.  Terwilliger  did  not 
long  retain  control,  but  sold  the  establishment  back 
to  Mr.  Worthington, 


In  1873  W.  F.  Eastman  became  associated  in  the 
publication  of  the  paper,  the  firm  being  C.  M.  Worth- 
ington &  Co.  In  March,  1876,  Mr.  Eastman  became 
sole  proprietor,  but  in  July  of  that  year  associated 
with  himself  in  the  publication  of  the  paper  D.  J. 
Jenne.  The  partnership  of  Eastman  &  Jenne  con- 
tinued until  March  12,  1880,  when  the  Sterling  Ga- 
zette Company  was  organized,  with  W.  F.  Eastman 
President,  D.  J.  Jenne,  Treasurer,  and  W.  R.  Cobb, 
Secretary.  In  September,  1882,  C.  John  was  elected 
President  of  the  company,  and  W.  R.  Cobb,  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer. 

The  Gazette,  from  its  commencement,  has  been  a 
growing  paper,  its  growth  during  the  past  12  years 
being  unsurpassed  by  any  newspaper  published  in  a 
town  of  Sterling's  size.  The  office  at  present  is  one 
of  the  best  equipped  west  of  Chicago,  having  three 
cylinder  and  three  job  presses,  power  paper-cutter, 
and  other  material,  making  it  first-class  in  every 
respect.  Twenty  hands  are  constantly  employed  in 
the  office.  In  addition  to  the  newspaper  and  job 
office,  the  company  have  a  complete  book-bindery. 
In  1878  the  publication  of  a  small  daily  was  com- 
menced, but  it  was  short-lived. 

On  the  i6th  of  February,  1882,  another  attempt 
was  made  to  establish  a  daily,  and  with  greater 
success.  It  was  commenced  as  a  five-column  folio, 
and  published  the  regular  Associated  Press  dis- 
patches. In  consequence  of  a  violation  of  agree- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
Company,  the  publication  of  the  dispatches  were 
discontinued  after  a  few  months,  and  more  attention 
was  given  to  local  news.  In  June,  1883,  on  account 
of  pressure  on  its  advertising  columns,  the  paper 
was  enlarged  to  a  seven-column  folio,  which  size  and 
form  is  yet  retained.  The  daily  Gazette  is  now  a 
permanent  fixture,  with  a  circulation  of  over  1,000 
copies  per  day.  The  weekly  Gazette  is  a  seven- 
column  quarto,  and  has  a  large  circulation.  Both 
the  daily  and  weekly  are  well  edited  and  interesting 
papers,  worthy  of  the  support  received. 

The  Sterling  Standard. — On  the  i  ith  day  of  June, 
1868,  the  first  issue  of  a  new  seven-column  folio, 
under  the  name  of  the  Whiteside  Chronicle,  made 
its  appearance,  with  Theo.  H.  and  Charles  M.  Mack 
editors  and  proprietors.  In  June,  1870,  Theo.  H. 
Mack  purchased  the  interest  of  his  brother,  and  be- 
came sole  proprietor.  He  changed  the  size  and  form 
— S*£3*£  -* 


910 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


of  the  paper  to  a  five-column  quarto.  In  January, 
1872,  he  changed  the  name  to  the  Sterling  Standard, 
giving  as  a  reason  that  in  so  doing  it  brought  into 
more  prominence  the  city  in  which  it  was  printed. 
One  or  two  changes  were  made  in  its  size  by  Mr. 
Mack,  who  continued  alone  in  its  publication  till 
October,  1883,  when  he  sold  a  half  interest  in  the 
office  to  J.  W.  Newcomer.  In  January,  1884,  the 
size  and  form  was  changed  from  a  seven-column 
folio  to  a  six-column  quarto.  In  June,  1884,  Alfred 
Bayliss  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Mack,  the 
paper  being  continued  by  the  new  firm  of  New- 
comer &  Bayliss.  A  power  press  has  been  added 
by  the  new  firm,  and  the  paper  improved.  Its  cir- 
culation has  been  rapidly  increasing,  and  it  now  has 
attained  a  circulation  and  influence  second  to  none. 
Mr.  Newcomer  is  a  practical  printer,  and  a  news- 
paper man  of  experience,  while  Mr.  Bayliss,  in  edi- 
torial harness,  works  as  if  he  had  always  been  used 
to  the  business.  In  politics  the  Standard,  as  in  the 
past,  is  a  fearless  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party.  Mr.  Bayliss'  biography  appears 
on  page  289. 

The  Sterling  Beobachter. — -This  is  the  only  Ger- 
man newspaper  in  the  county.  Its  publication  was 
commenced  in  1877  by  Charles  Strock,  and  con- 
tinued by  him  until  1881,  when  he  disposed  of  the 
paper  to  H.  Mathey.  In  February,  1883,  Louis 
Oltmanns  became  sole  editor  and  proprietor.  (See 
page  285.)  The  Beobachter -is  an  eight-column  folio, 
Democratic  in  politics,  has  a  good  circulation,  and  a 
good  paying  business. 

The  Sterling  Blade. — A.  J.  Booth,  in  June,  1881, 
commenced  the  publication  of  the  Daily  Blade,  a 
four-column  folio  sheet,  independent  in  politics.  In 
March,  1882,  it  was  enlarged  to  a  six-column  folio, 
and  otherwise  improved.  The  paper  met  with  a  fair 
degree  of  success,  but  for  certain  reasons  suspended 
publication  in  December,  1883.  In  December, 
1884,  Mr.  Booth  revived  the  paper  as  a  weekly,  under 
the  name  of  the  Sterling  Blade.  It  is  a  six-column 
quarto,  in  politics  Democratic,  and  is  edited  with 
vim  and  ability  by  Mr.  Booth. 

A  special  farmers'  edition  is  issued  each  week  and 
distributed  gratuitously  to  the  patrons  of  the  Blade. 
A  job  office  is  conducted  in  connection  by  Mr. 
Booth,  who  is  a  practical  printer  of  many  years' 

gyVgrg;/*-,  >niPS|^  ^  .^f-'.nn*' 

.^/Av^vjp*-  ^>Qr  srV     V*U.4'^ 


experience.     For  personal    sketch   of  the  editor,  see 
page  328. 

SOCIETIES. 

The  various  temperance,  secret  and  benevolent 
societies  are  well  represented  in  this  city,  each  hav- 
ing a  large  membership. 

Temperance  Societies. — Sterling  has  a  large  num- 
ber of  vigorous  and  efficient  temperance  workers, 
and  the  fight  against  King  Alcohol  and  his  evil  in- 
fluences is  made  with  undaunted  bravery  and  a  de- 
termination to  conquer.  •  There  are  the  following 
well  organized  and  active  temperance  societies  in 
Sterling  : 

The  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union  of 
Sterling  is  the  outgrowth  of  an  organization  known 
as  the  Ladies'  Temperance  Association,  which  was 
organized  June  23,  1874.  On  the  23d  of  July,  1875, 
the  association  adopted  its  present  name.  Among 
those  active  in  its  organization  were  Mrs.  Dr.  Gor- 
don, Mrs.  C.  B.  Rutlege,  Mrs.  T.  E.  Bye,  Mrs.  J. 
T.  Mason.  Meetings  were  first  held  in  the  lecture- 
room  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  subsequent- 
ly in  the  parlors  of  some  of  its  members,  and  in  the 
reading-room  on  Mulberry  Street;  also  in  a  room  on 
Third  Street,  occupied  jointly  by  the  Union  and  the 
Reform  Club.  When  the  Academy  of  Music  was 
built  meetings  began  to  be  held  in  the  rooms  of  the 
Christian  Association,  where  meetings  are  still  held 
each  Tuesday  afternoon  at  three  o'clock.  The 
present  officers  of  the  Union  are  Mrs.  E  L.  Cham- 
plin,  President;  Mrs.  R.  B.  Witmer,  Mrs.  J.  Harp- 
ham,  Mrs.  Wiley,  Mrs.  Homer  and  Mrs.  Pearl, 
Vice-Presidents ;  Miss  Lottie  B.  Le  Fever,  Record- 
ing Secretary ;  Mrs.  S.  E.  Huff,  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary. 

The  Prohibition  Christian  Temperance  Union,  of 
Sterling,  was  organized  June  23,  1874,  and  known  as 
the  Ladies'  Temperance  Association.  It  changed  to 
its  present  name  July  23,  1875.  Its  first  officers 
were:  President,  Mrs.  Dr.  Gordon ;  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  C.  B.  Utley;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  T. 
E.  Bye;  Chaplain,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Mason.  The  meet- 
ings were  first  held  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  and  in  the  parlors  of  the  differ- 
ent members;  later  in  the  reading-room  on  Mulberry 
Street;  then  a  room  on  Third  Street  was.  fitted  up  and 
used  by  them  and  the  Ribbon  Club  for  a  time.  Since 
the  Academy  of  Music  was  built,  they  have  used  the 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


present  officers 

are:  President,  Mrs.  E.  L.  Champlin;  Vice-Presi- 
7a  dent,  Mrs.  R.  B.  Witmer;  Mrs.  J.  Harpham,  Mrs. 
Wiley,  Mrs.  Deacon  Homer  and  Mrs.  Pearl ;  Record- 
ing Secretary,  Miss  Lottie  B.  LeFever ;  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Huff. 

The  line  of  the  work  now  pursued  is  the  juve- 
nile, superintended  by  Mrs.  E.  S.  Huff,  who  has 
charge  of  the  "  Band  of  Earnest  Workers,"  which 
numbers  about  150.  Miss  Lottie  B.  LeFever  is  su- 
perintendent of  scientific  temperance  instruction  in 
public  schools,  whose  chief  duty  is  to  introduce  tem- 
perance text-books  in  the  same.  Mrs.  L.  F.  Jen- 
nings, superintendent  of  literature.  Mrs.  E.  L. 
Champlin,  superintenpent  of  newspaper  work.  She 
keeps  three  columns  of  temperance  matter  in  the  city 
papers.  Mrs.  Anna  Williams  is  chairman  of  the  re- 
lief committee.  Large  quantities  of  food,  clothing 
and  coal  have  been  given  to  the  poor.  Meetings  are 
held  every  Tuesday  afternoon  at  3  o'clock. 

The  Sterling  Christian  Association  was  organized 
in  the  spring  of  1873.  Among  those  who  were 
active  in  its  organization  were  Revs.  Mason,  Lipe 
and  Moon,  and  R.  B.  Witmer,  D.  J.  Jenne  and  W. 
F.  Eastman.  J.  T.  Mason  was  the  first  President; 
W.  F.  Eastman,  Secretary;  R.  B.  Witmer,  Treas- 
urer. The  object  of  the  association  was  to  promote 
Christian  fraternity,  union  in  evangelical  labors,  and 
the  circulation  of  good  and  pure  literature.  For 
some  time  rooms  were  occupied  on  Mullberry 
Street.  In  1878  a  lease  for  ten  years  was  secured 
for  the  rooms  on  Locust  Street,  where  the  meetings 
are  now  held.  An  old  library  was  donated  to  the 
association  on  its  organization,  and  $1,000  was  sub- 
scribed to  maintain  a  free  library  and  reading-room. 
In  1878  the  City  Council  agreed  to  maintain  a  free 
public  library,  and  the  books  of  the  associatian  were 
donated  to  it.  For  several  years  regular  services 
were  maintained,  and  the  association  took  charge  of 
all  temperance  work  in  the  city.  The  Good  Tem- 
plar Lodge  was  organized  and  fostered  by  it,  as  was 
•\  also  the  prohibitory  movement. 

Masonic. — The  Masonic  fraternity  in  Sterling  oc- 
,•  ..  cupy  a  prominent  position,  having  a  blue  lodge,  chap- 
)  ter,  council  and  commandery,  with  a  total  member- 
'  ship  of  321,  and  all  in  fine  condition.     The  order 
occupies  a  hall  in  Ingersoll's  Block,  which  has  been 
fitted  up  in  splendid  style,  the  main  lodge  room  be- 


ing  covered  with  fine  Brussels  carpet  and  the  furni- 
ture being  truly  elegant.  The  waiting  rooms  and 
library  room  are  also  fitted  up  nicely. 

Rock  River  Lodge,  No.  612,  was  instituted  Nov. 
21,  1868.  The  meetings  were  for  several  years  held 
in  Boy  n ton's  Block,  but  the  lodge-room  becoming  too 
small,  a  removal  was  made  to  Hull  &  Ingersoll's 
Block.  The  lodge  now  numbers  134  members,  and 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  John  W.  Niles  is  the 
present  W.  M. ;  H.  C.  Ward,  S.  W. ;  V.  S.  Ferguson, 
J.  W.;  W.  A.  McCune,  Treas. ;  H.  S.  Street,  Sec. 

Sterling  Chapter,  No.  57,  R.  A.  M.,  was  instituted 
Oct.  3,  1859,  and,  like  the  blue  lodge,  has  had  a 
prosperous  existence,  numbering  at  the  present  time 
77  members,  and  meeting  once  each  month.  The 
officers  for  1885  are :  S.  T.  Osmer,  M.E.H.P.;  J.  R. 
Deyo,  E.  K. ;  G.  E.  Wilson,  E.  S.;  G.  B.  Kitel 
Treas. ;  J.  W.  Niles,  Sec. ;  Rev.  A.  A.  Joss,  Chap. 

Rock  River  Council,  No.  33,  R.  &  S.  M.,  was  re- 
organized in  1884,  and  have  now  50  members. 
Meetings  are  held  once  in  three  months.  The  prin- 
cipal officers  for  r88s  was  S.  T.  Osmer,  T.  I.  G.  M. ; 
J.  W.  Niles,  D.  I.  G.  M.;  A.  Sleep,  I.  P.  C.W. ;  H.  B. 
Amring,  Rec. 

Sterling  Commandery,  No.  57,  was  organized  under 
dispensation  in  February,  1884,  receiving  its  charter 
in  October  following.  There  were  30  charter  mem- 
bers. The  membership  has  since  been  increased  to 
60.  Among  the  officers  for  1885  were  C.  C.  John- 
son, E.  C. ;  G.  E.  Rogers,  G. ;  J.  M.  Martin,  C.  G. ; 
C.  L.  Shelton,  Prel. ;  H.  S.  Street,  Treas. ;  A.  H. 
Hershey,  Rec. 

Odd  Fell<nvs.—1\&  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  is  represented  with  a  subordinate  lodge, 
encampment,  uniformed  degree  and  Rebekah  degree. 

Sterling  Lodge,  No.  174,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  organized 
Oct.  12,  1855.  The  lodge  met  first  in  Boynton's 
Block,  subsequently  removing  to  a  room  over  Stam- 
baugh's  paint  and  wall-paper  store,  where  meetings 
were  held  for  some  years.  The  lodge  now  meets  in 
the  Academy  of  Music  building,  where  they  have  one 
of  the  finest  lodge  rooms  in  the  State.  From  the 
start,  the  lodge  has  had  a  prosperous  existence,  num- 
bering among  its  members  the  best  citizens  of  the 
place.  The  Present  membership  is  140. 

Abraham  Encampment,  No.  49,  was  instituted 
March  21,  1860.  Like  the  subordinate  lodge,  it  has 
had  a  prosperous  existence.  Two  of  its  members 


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912 


WHITES  IDE  COUNT*. 


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have  been  honored  with  offices  in  the  Grand  En- 
campment— Nelson  Maxson  having  served  as  Grand 
Senior  Warden,  and  Benjamin  Gurtisen  as  Grand 
Patriarch.  The  encampment  has  a  present  member- 
ship of  63,  of  which  number  16  were  initiated  in 
1884. 

Rebekah  Degree  Lodge,  No.  26,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Jwas 
instituted  July  28,  1870,  and  holds  its  meetings  in 
the  hall  of  Sterling  Lodge,  twice  a  month. 

A  Uniformed  Degree  Lodge  has  been  instituted, 
which  is  in  a  very  flourishing  condition. 

United  Workmen. — The  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen  is  well  represented  in  Sterling. 

Union  Lodge,  No.  3,  was  organized  Feb.  13,  1875, 
with  T4  charter  members.  It  met  first  in  Boynton 
Block,  from  where  it  moved  to  a  hall  over  Wolf's 
clothing  store,  on  Third  Street,  where  it  remained 
five  years.  In  December,  i88i,it  moved  to  its  pres- 
ent location,  in  Hull  &  Ingersoll's  block,  where  the 
lodge  is  pleasantly  situated.  It  has  had  a  prosper- 
ous career,  and  now  numbers  142  members.  Death 
has  removed  two  of  its  members.  John  Hall  died  in 
March,  1880,  and  J.  E.  Fryberger,  Jan.  6,  1883.  C. 
U.  Goeding,  M.W. ;  W.  A.  Hall,  Rec. 

Pearl  Lodge,  No.  148,  was  instituted  Aug  9,  1879, 
with  30  charter  members,  and  now  has  a  member- 
ship of  no,  showing  a  remarkable  growth  and  a 
healthy  state  of  existence.  For  some  time  the  lodge 
met  in  the  same  hall  with  No.  3,  but  subsequently 
moved  to  a  room  of  its  own,  in  Union  block,  which 
they  fitted  up  in  a  neat  and  tasty  manner.  The  reg- 
ular meetings  are  held  on  Monday  evening  of  each 
week.  The  officers  in  the  spring  of  1885  were  Theo. 
H.  Mack,  M.  W. ;  Wesley  Trumbleson,  F. ;  Wm. 
Manahan,  O.;  S.  C.  Grubb,  Fin.;  J.  H.  Woodburn, 
Rce.;  W.  W.  Pratt,  Rec'r. 

Banner  Legion,  No.  jo,  Select  Knights,  A.  O.  U. 
W.,  was  organized  in  1883,  with  60  charter  members. 
Henry  Crissman  was  instituting  officer,  assisted  by 
Alex.  McLean,  Grand  Commander.  The  Legion 
now  numbers  57  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  place. 
Meetings  are  held  semi-monthly  in  Hull  &  Inger- 
soll's block.  A.  R.  Hendricks  is  the  present  Select 
Commander;  Geo.  O.  Deyo,  Vice  Com.;  A.  Richt- 
meyer,  Lt.  Com.;  W.  A.  Hall,  Rec. 

Knights  of  Pythias.—  The  Knights  of  Pythias  are 
represented  by  one  lodge. 

Corinthian  Lodge,  No.  63,  was  organized  Nov.   23, 
if" ^^^ £A< 


1875,  witn  21  charter  members'.  The  lodge  has 
been  and  is  yet  in  a  flourishing  condition,  having  at 
present  45  members,  and  holding  its  regular  meet- 
ings on  Thursday  evening  of  each  week  in  the  hall 
of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  in  Hull  &  Ingersoll's  Block.  The 
officers  in  the  spring  of  1885  were  J.  W.  R.  Stam- 
baugh,  Com.;  H.  Treashor,  Vice  Com.;  Frank  But- 
ton, Prelate;  Frank  Spies,  M.  of  E.;  T.  H.  Atwood, 
M.  of  F.;  S.  M.  Seeley,  K.  of  R.;  John  Wickens,  M 
of  A. 

Legion  of  Honor. — The  American  Legion  of  Honor 
is  represented  by  Sterling  Legion,  No.  914,  which 
was  organized  in  April,  1881,  with  62  charter  mem- 
bers. The  Legion  meets  in  the  hall  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.,  on  the  first  and  third  Tuesday  in  each  month. 
The  present  membership  is  42.  J.  W.  R.  Stam- 
baugh,  Com.;  C.  R.  Wilson,  Col.;  S.  S.  Kehr,  Secre- 
tary and  Medical  Examiner. 

Modern  Woodmen. — The  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  is  comparatively  a  new  order,  its  object  be- 
ing somewhat  similar  to  the  United  Workmen.  The 
order  is  represented  here  by  one  camp,  which  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition. 

Sterling  Camp,  No.  12,  M.  W.  A.,  was  first  or- 
ganized in  the  spring  of  1883,  but  for  some  cause  it 
did  not  succeed  in  securing  the  confidence  of  the 
people,  and  soon  ceased  to  exist.  On  the  i9th  day 
of  December,  1884,  it  was  re-organized  with  19  of 
the  old  and  80  new  charter  members,  composed  of 
some  of  the  best  people  of  Sterling.  Meetings  are 
held  on  the  second  and  fourth  Wednesday  evenings 
in  each  month,  in  the  hall  of  Pearl  Lodge,  A.  O.  U. 
W.  It  is  now  growing  and  in  a  healthy  condition. 

Order  of  the  Red  Cross. — The  Order  of  the  Red 
Cross  is  represented  by  one  commandery. 

Sterling  Commandery,  No.  13,  O.  H.  C.,  was  or- 
ganized in  1879,  with  25  charter  members.  It  has 
little  more  than  held  its  own  and  now  numbers  29 
members.  J.  H.  Woodburn  is  the  present  Com- 
mander; R.  H.  Thomas,  Recorder;  W.  W.  Pratt. 
Treasurer. 

Knights  of  Honor. — The  Knights  of  Honor  have 
one  lodge,  which  is  comparatively  weak  in  point  of 
numbers. 

Sterling  Lodge,  No.  1,628,  K.  of  H.,  was  organized 
in  1879,  with  39  charter  members.  They  meet  in 
the  hall  in  Ingersoll's  block.  For  two  years  the 
lodge  has  barely  held  its  own,  and  now  numbers  23 


: 


A 


vv-;  H  H  xin  H  M  ••  -y  v^-> 
WHITE.SID&  COUNTY. 


913 


members.     A.  A.   Hershey  is  the  present  Dictator, 
and  W.  N.  Harrison,  Reporter. 

Mutual  Aid. — The  Independent  Order  of  Mutual 
Aid  is  represented  by  one  lodge. 

Keystone  Lodge,  No.  J/,  /.  O.  M.  A.,  was  instituted 
in  1 88 1,  with  22  charter  members.  Meetings  are 
held  over  Oliver's  drug-store.  For  some  cause  the 
order  has  not  flourished  as  have  some  others  and  now 
numbers  but  20  members.  Wm.  Manahan,  Jr.,  is 
President,  and  J.  H.  Woodburn,  Secretary. 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. — The  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  is  represented  by  Will  C.  Robinson 
Post,  No.  274.  A  post  had  previously  existed  here 
known  as  the  Lincoln  Post,  No.  16,  which  was  in- 
stituted June  15,  1874,  with  23  charter  members. 
Meetings  were  held  regularly  for  some  years,  but 
finally  it  ceased  to  exist. 

Will  C.  Robinson  Post,  A'o.  274,  was  mustered 
June  14,  1883,  by  F.  Clendennin  and  Post  Com. 
Burst,  with  28  charter  members.  The  Post  was 
named  in  honor  of  William  C.  Robinson,  who  en- 
listed in  Co.  A,  34th  Regt.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Sept.  7, 
1 86 1,  as  a  private,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel, by  brevet.  After  serving  faithfully  till 
the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  Sterling,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  business  for  several  years.  He 
died  shortly  before  the  organization  of  the  Post.  Few 
posts  have  had  a  more  prosperous  career,  it  now 
numbering  143  members,  with  J.  W.  Niles,  Com- 
mander, and  Alfred  Bayliss,  Adjutant. 

Miscellaneous. — There  are  several  societies  and  as- 
sociations that  it  is  deemed  proper  to  mention  under 
this  head. 

The  Ladies'  Home  and  Foreign  Mission  Society, 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  meets  once  each  month. 

The  Ladies'  Benevolent  Society,  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  meets  once  a  fortnight. 

The  Ladies'  Foreign  Mission  Circle,  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  holds  sessions  once  a  month. 
^The  Ladies'  Guild,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  have 
regular  weekly  meetings. 

Children's  Foreign  Mission,  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
holds  its  meetings  once  in  every  two  weeks. 

The  German  Maennerchor  have  regular  meetings 
the  first  Saturday  in  each  month. 

The  Sterling  Scientific  Club  has  for  its  object  the 
the  development  of  science,  literature  and  art. 


The  Sterling  Cemetery  Association  own  and  con- 
trol the  cemetery  at  the  east  end  of  Third  Street. 

The  Odd  Fellows  and  Reformed  Mennonites  have 
cemeteries  adjoining. 

STERLING  IN  THE  WAR. 

The  record  made  by  the  citizen  soldiers  of  Ster- 
ling is  an  honorable  one.  The  calls  of  the  President 
and  the  noble  war  Governor  of  the  State,  Richard 
Yates,  were  no  sooner  issued  than  men  from  this 
place  responded  and  marched  to  the  front.  Under 
every  call,  the  quota  of  the  city  and  township  was 
filled,  and  no  braver  men  ever  went  forth  in  defense 
of  their  country's  honor.  On  the  battle-field,  in  the 
dreary  hospital  and  in  horrible  Southern  prison  pens, 
life  went  out  from  those  willing  to  die  that  their 
country  might  be  saved.  All  honor  to  these  brave 
men!  Let  their  names  and  their  deeds  never  be 
forgotten.  Let  the  children  of  this  generation  tell 
them  to  their  children  and  to  their  children's  chil- 
dren, and  may  the  story  be  repeated  to  the  end  of 
time. 

FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

The  fire  department  of  Sterling  consists  of  two 
companies, — the  Columbia  Engine  and  Hose  Com- 
pany, and  the  West  End  Company,— each  having  a 
good  supply  of  hose.  Before  the  present  hose-car- 
riages and  engine  were  purchased,  a  hand  engine 
was  used.  The  department  is  efficiently  managed 
and  has  saved  property  that  would  have  paid  its 
cost  many  times  over. 

FERRIES  AND  BRIDGES. 

Hezekiah  Brink,  in  1839-40,  ran  a  free  rope  ferry 
across  the  river  at  this  place.  This  was  done  in 
order  to  secure  the  travel  from  the  south  and  east  to 
this  point.  The  boat  was  45  x  12  feet.  After  Mr. 
Brink  stopped  running  his  ferry,  no  means  were  af- 
forded for  crossing'Rock  River,  only  by  fording,  for 
several  years. 

The  first  bridge  across  the  river  at  this  point  was 
built  in  1856-7,  but  was  soon  after  washed  away  by 
a  freshet.  It  was  a  wooden  structure  and  spanned 
the  river  at  the  head  of  the  island. 

In  1863  the  Sterling  Bridge  Company  constructed 
another  bridge,  at  a  cost  of  $30,000.  It  was  a  toll 
bridge  and  used  quite  extensively  until  the  erection 
of  the  present  structure,  in  1878. 

In  August,  1876,  an  election  was  held  to  determine 


4 

• 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


• 


(if 


••K 


whether  a  free  bridge  should  be  constructed  by  the 
city  across  the  river.  The  project  was  carried  by  a 
large  majority,  and  the  present  fine  structure  was 
completed. 

When  the  first  bridge  was  washed  away,  B.  G. 
Wheeler  started  a  ferry  and  ran  it  for  a  time,  but  not 
being  profitable,  it  was  abandoned.  James  A.  Pat- 
terson then  ran  one  for  a  short  time,  but  with  no 
better  success.  In  1874  he  purchased  a  steam  tug 
and  fitted  it  up  for  a  ferry-boat  and  launched  it  upon 
the  river  above  ^he  dam.  The  little  steamer  did  a 
good  business,  making  about  150  trips  daily  during 
the  season.  When  the  free  bridge  was  built  there 
was  no  further  use  for  the  White  Swan,  as  it  was 
named,  only  for  pleasure  parties. 

IMPROVEMENT  OF  ROCK  RIVER. 

In  1839  an  appropriation  of  $40,000  was  made  by 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  under  the  In- 
ternal Improvement  Act,  for  the  improvement  of 
Rock  River  Rapids,  enabling  steamboats  to  go  farther 
up  the  river,  the  contract  to  be  let  to  the  lowest  bid- 
der. The  contract  was  awarded  to  E.  G.  Nichols, 
of  Prophetstown,  but  he  died  before  commencing  the 
work.  His  brother,  in  company  with  Smith  Gal- 
braith  and  Mr.  Sangermon,  had  the  benefit  of  the 
contract.  The  projected  improvement  resulted  in 
the  expenditure  of  the  sum  appropriated,  but  Rock 
River  did  not  become  a  navigable  stream. 

The  people  of  Sterling  and  other  places,  notwith- 
standing the  failure,  did  not  abandon  the  idea  of 
making  the  river  navigable,  ]and  accordingly  peti- 
tioned the  General  Assembly  to  pass  an  act  by 
which  the  counties  along  the  river  could  levy  a  tax 
for  its  improvement.  In  February,  1845,  an  act 
was  passed  for  the  purpose,  the  work  to  be  done  un- 
der the  superintendence  of  a  Board  of  Commission- 
ers. The  Board  was  appointed  and  let  contracts  for 
the  purpose  of  excavating  the  rapids,  which  seems 
to  have  been  done,  at  least  to  its  satisfaction. 

The  opinion  prevailed  for  some  years  that  Rock 
River  could  and  must  be  made  a  navigable  stream, 
and  it  was  not  until  the  whistle  of  the  locomotive 
was  heard  in  the  distance,  and  a  better  way  for  com- 
municating with  the  outer  world  was  opened  up,  that 
the  idea  was  abandoned,  and  the  great  power  of  the 
river  was  put  to  a  practical  use  in  driving  the  ma- 
chinery of  the  scores  of  factories  that  now  line  its 
banks  from  the  rapids  to  its  mouth. 


STERLING  HYDRAULIC  COMPANY. 

Under  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  approved 
Feb.  5,  1849,  "for  the  improvement  of  navigation 
and  the  production  of  water  power,"  an  association 
was  formed  at  Sterling  under  the  name  of  the  Sterling 
Hydraulic  Company,  for  the  purpose  of  improving 
the  power  at  this  place.  The  capital  stock  of  the 
company  was  fixed  at  $15,000,  divided  into  600 
shares,  at  $25  per  share.  Citizens  generally  were 
given  an  opportunity  to  subscribe,  and  36  availed 
themselves  of  the  opportunity,  Hugh  Wallace  and 
Charles  Dement  taking  the  greater  part  of  the  stock. 
The  certificate  of  incorporation  was  filed  July  7, 
1852. 

The  design  of  the  company  was  to  build  a  dam 
across  the  river  at  this  point  and  aid  in  securing 
and  establishing  manufactories.  The  proprietors  of 
Sterling  donated  a  number  of  lots  in  aid  of  the  work. 
At  one  of  the  first  meetings  of  the  directors,  a  small 
assessment  was  made  upon  the  stock  and  a  commit- 
tee was  authorized  to  employ  an  engineer  to  survey, 
make  drafts  and  estimate  the  cost  of  constructing 
the  dam.  On  the  i4th  of  December,  1852,  a  meet- 
ing of  the  directors  was  held,  and  it  was  resolved  to 
build  a  dam  not  less  than  four  feet  high. 

For  some  cause,  no  meeting  of  the  directors  was 
held  from  December,  1852,  till  February,  1854.  On 
the  1 8th  of  that  month  they  decided  to  "  build  a 
crib  with  timber,  filled  with  stone." 

Before  the  completion  of  the  dam  the  capital  stock 
was  increased  to  $30,000.  This  was  in  October, 
1855.  John  Van  Nortwick  was  then  president  of 
the  company.  The  dam  was  soon  afterwards  com- 
pleted, and  in  February,  1856,  an  advertisement  was 
ordered  inserted  in  one  Chicago,  New  York  and 
Boston  paper,  setting  forth  the  advantages  and  loca- 
tion of  the  water  power  then  for  sale  at  this  place. 
For  some  cause  but  little  was  done  in  using  the 
power  for  a  number  of  years. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  efforts  were  made 
by  a  few  to  revive  the  interest  in  manufacturing,  and 
in  1867  A.  P.  Smith  purchased  of  the  Hydraulic 
Company  one-half  the  power,  or  all  that  portion  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river.  At  this  time  only 
three  or  four  lots  had  been  sold  on  the  Sterling 
side  of  the  river,  and  only  two  or  three  manufactur- 
ing interests  were  using  the  power.  The  purchase 
by  Smith  gave  aid  to  the  cause  of  manufactories, 


- ; 

-* 


( 


.r^  A. 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


and  sales  were  rapidly  made  of  the  power,  until 
in  1883,  when  nearly  every  foot  of  it  had  been  sold. 

The  first  dividend  to  the  stockholders  of  the  com- 
pany was  in  1871,  when  25  per  cent,  was  declared. 
The  hopes  of  those  who  had  retained  the  stock  was 
now  high.  Other  dividends  were  declared,  from 
time  to  time — one  in  January,  1878,  of  150  per 
per  cent. 

May  22,  1883,  a  transfer  of  the  stock  of  the  stock- 
holders was  made  to  the  owners  of  the  power,  in 
proportion  to  the  number  of  inches  each  owned,  and 
the  affairs  of  the  old  company  were  virtually  wound 
up.  A  new  company  was  formed,  but  working  un- 
der the  old  charter,  and  new  officers  were  elected. 
As  at  present  managed,  it  is  more  satisfactory  to 
the  owners  of  the  power,  as  each  has  a  voice  in  its 
control.  The  present  officers  are  Wm.  A.  McCune, 
President ;  Jas.  F.  Platt,  Secretary :  Geo.  S.  Tracy, 
Treasurer. 

MANUFACTURING     INTERESTS. 

Flouring  Mills. — Upon  the  completion  of  the 
race  and  dam,  in  1856,  Joshua  V.  and  Wm.  Mc- 
Kinney  commenced  the  erection  of  a  stone  mill, 
and  soon  had  it  completed  and  in  running  order. 
This  was  the  first  use  of  the  water-power.  The  mill 
has  long  been  the  property  of  Church  &  Patterson, 
and  has  been  in  constant  operation  for  a  period  of 
nearly  30  years.  The  buhrs  have  given  place  to 
the  modern  rollers,  and  the  mill  now  has  a  capacity 
of  200  barrels  per  day.  Ten  men  are  employed  in 
the  mills,  and  during  1884  there  were  made  45,000 
barrels  of  flour.  Much  of  this  product  is  for  the  ex- 
port trade,  and  is  sent  chiefly  to  the  ports  of  Glas- 
gow and  Liverpool  in  sacks,  usually  of  it'o  pounds 
weight.  Among  the  improvements  in  1884  was  a 
new  elevator,  25  by  40  feet,  and  70  feet  in  height, 
and  a  warehouse  25  by  50.  The  elevator  contains 
14  bins  of  2,000  bushels  capacity  each,  and  conven- 
iently arranged.  The  warehouse  joins  the  elevator 
on  the  south,  and  is  in  turn  connected  with  the  mill 
by  a  covered  way  across  the  race.  The  cost  of  the 
elevator  and  warehouse  is  $5,000. 

Shortly  after  the  McKinneys  built  their  mill,  Luk- 
ens  &  Bye  built  one,  which  subsequently  became 
the  property  of  Geo.  T.  Elliot.  This  mill  is  known 
as  the  Commercial  Mills. 

1  he  Sterling  Pump  Works  originated  from  a  pri- 
vate enterprise  established  in  1863  by  M.  C.  Bowers, 

^€^ & 


who  commenced  the  manufacture  of  pumps  for  the 
retail  trade.  In  1871  a  stock  company  was  organ- 
ized under  the  name  of  the  Sterling  Pump  Works, 
with  a  capital  of  $50,000.  Aaron  J.  Hull  was  the 
Treasurer  and  M.  C.  Bowers,  Secretary.  The  trade 
rapidly  increased  for  several  years.  In  1878  Wm. 
McCune  &  Co.  became  sole  proprietors,  and  have 
since  had  charge  of  the  works.  The  pumps  manu- 
factured by  the  firm  give  excellent  satisfaction.  The 
company  of  the  firm  is  Wm.  A.  McCune,  who  for 
several  years  was  Secretary  of  the  Wood  Pump  Man 
ufacturers'  Association  of  America. 

The  Rock  Falls  Manufacturing  Co.  succeeded  the 
Sterling  Burial  Case  Company,  which  was  organized 
in  1873.  Commencing  in  Sterling,  the  Burial  Case 
Company  subsequently  moved  to  Rock  Falls,  but  has 
since  returned  to  Sterling.  Having  acquired  a  rep- 
utation under  the  name  of  the  Rock  Falls  Manufac- 
turing Company,  it  was  not  thought  advisable  to 
change  it.  L.  E.  Brookfield  is  now  the  President 
and  general  manager.  The  company  manufacture 
wood  and  cloth  burial  cases,  furnishing  employment 
for  35  hands  and  producing  annually  10,000 
coffins,  of  all  kinds.  Their  trade  amounts  to  the 
round  sum  of  $too,ooo  annually.  Their  productions 
are  shipped  to  26  different  States  and  Territories,  the 
northwest  trade  being  supplied  from  the  branch  at 
St.  Paul,  Minn.  They  make  over  50  styles  of  cases 
and  caskets,  from  the  cheaper  to  the  best  grades  upon 
the  market.  Have  also  lately  added  to  their  line  the 
manufacture  of  hearses,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Mr.  A.  Daveler. 

The  Williams  &  Orton  Manufacturing  Compauy 
was  organized  in  1871,  and  is  the  outgrowth  of  a 
business  established  by  Williams  &  Orton  some 
years  previous.  On  its  organization,  F.  B.  Williams 
was  elected  President;  B.  E.  Orton,  Secretary;  J. 
M.  Patterson,  Treasurer.  The  officers  for  a  number 
of  years  have  been  John  Charter,  President  and 
Treasurer,  and  George  M.  Robinson,  Secretary. 
Their  principal  manufactured  articles  are  wire  rope 
transmissions,  portable  mills,  pulleys,  shafting  hang- 
ers, etc.,  to  which  they  are  just  adding  the  Charter 
Patent  Gas  Engine,  ,he  invention  of  Mr.  Charter.  It 
possesses  great  advantages  The  engine  consists  of 
a  power  and  a  supply  cylinder  (the  latter  being 
placed  under  the  power  cylinder),  both  being  pro- 
vided wi(h  suitable  pistons,  which  are  operated  by  one 
' «5ia^ 


~3&i. 


•V 


916 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


crank,  making  the  construction  very  compact.  The 
engine  makes  an  explosion  at  every  revolution.  The 
charge  of  gas  and  air,  being  of  the  same  uniform  mix- 
ture under  all  conditions,  is  varied  in  quantity  ac- 
cording to  the  power  required,  as  in  the  case  of 
steam  engines.  This  insures  ignition  of  the  charges, 
steady  power,  and  causes  less  strain  on  the  working 
parts.  The  principle  employed  in  governing  other 
gas  engines  is  to  cut  off  the  entire  supply  of  gas  for 
a  time,  when  the  speed  becomes  excessive  or  less 
than  full  power  is  required,  and  the  engine  slackens 
in  speed  before  the  gas  is  again  admitted.  It  will  be 
plainly  seen  that  an  engine  such  as  this,  with  the 
charge  graduated  in  quantity  according  to  the 
amount  of  power  required  at  each  revolution,  must 
give  steadier  motion.  The  burnt  gases  are  expelled 
from  the  cylinder  by  two  pistons  approaching  each 
other  to  near  the  exhaust  port,  thus  preventing  any 
fire  remaining  in  the  cylinder,  which  might  cause 
premature  explosions.  The  ignition  valve  is  very 
simple,  being  cylindrical  in  form,  and  requires  no 
springs  or  screws  to  keep  it  in  position,  thereby 
avoiding  all  friction  ;  nor  does  it  require  any 
adjustment  before  or  after  starting  the  engine.  Only 
one  light  is  used,  and  that  requires  no  adjustment. 

Sterling  Iron  Works. — The  firm  of  Cavert  &  Mai- 
lory  have  been  in  existence  about  four  years,  and  are 
engaged  in  the  manufacture,  to  order,  of  barb-wire 
twisting-machines,  feed  mills,  wind-mills,  wire  brush 
machines,  and  any  specialties  in  iron  that  may  be 
ordered.  They  have  the  agency  for  Catchpole's 
Improved  Florida  Steam-heating  Boiler,  a  new  de- 
vice for  making  steam  radiation  adaptable  for  warm- 
ing residences  and  stores.  The  business  was  estab- 
lished in  1874,  by  Cavert,  Mason  &  Smith,  but  soon 
after  the  two  latter  withdrew,  and  the  firm  of  Cavert 
&  Estabrooks  was  formed.  In  1881  the  present  firm 
began  business.  They  give  employment  to  about 
eight  men. 

Planing  Mill. — At  his  planing-mill  on  Spruce 
Street,  Moses  Dillon,  the  lumber,  grain  and  coal 
dealer,  manufactures  in  the  course  of  a  year  quite  a 
number  of  patent  chaff  bee-hives.  He  also  makes 
door  and  window  frames  in  quantity  to  supply  the 
demand. 

The  Sterling  Wagon  Factory  is  owned  by  A.  B. 
Spies,  who  manufactures  wagons,  sleds  and  harrows, 
and  gives  employment  to  about  60  men.  The  busi- 


ness was  begun  by  Mr.  Spies  in  1863,  and  has  stead- 
ily grown  to  its  present  dimensions. 

Daveler  Bros,  have  been  in  the  wagon-making 
and  blacksmithing  business  a  number  of  years. 
They  furnish  employment  on  an  average  to  eight 
men,  and,  besides  general  repairing  of  every  sort  of 
wheeled  conveyances,  make  from  60  to  100  vehicles 
a  year,  principally  buggies  and  hearses.  Their  busi- 
ness is  increasing  from  year  to  year,  and  1884  has 
been  to  them  better  than  an  average  year.  They 
are  making  a  specialty  at  present  of  a  patent  buggy- 
top,  which  is  without  a  front  bow,  making  the  car- 
riage much  easier  to  get  in  and  out  of,  and  which 
when  folded  back  lies  perfectly  flat,  a.nd  is  kept  dust- 
proof  without  the  need  of  any  extra  curtain.  They 
sell  as  fast  as  they  can  make  them. 

Justus  Becker  employs  five  men  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  buggies  and  wagons. 

The  Rock  River  Packing  Company  is  one  that 
gives  employment  during  many  months  to  a  large 
number  of  persons.  The  foundation  of  this  concern 
was  established  in  a  small  way  a  few  years  since, 
and  has  grown  year  by  year,  until  at  the  present  time 
it  is  one  of  the  fixed  institutions.  The  labor  of  two 
persons  only  was  needed  when  the  packing  business 
in  his  city  was  started,  and  pork  was  the  only  article 
handled.  Now  a  large  force  of  men,  women  and  boys 
are  employed,  and  vegetables,  fruits  and  meats  of  all 
kinds  are  handled.  Some  idea  may  be  formed  of 
the  magnitude  of  the  concern  when  it  is  known  that 
the  company  in  the  spring  of  1885  contracted  for 
400,000  can  labels,  and  that  r,8oo  boxes  of  tin  have 
already  been  purchased  to  be  used  for  the  making 
of  cans.  The  cans  are  made  at  the  factory,  this 
part  of  the  work  giving  employment  to  a  number  of 
skilled  mechanics. 

The  Sterling  Paper  Company,  manufacturers  of 
straw,  rag,  manilla  and  express  cloth  paper;  John  A. 
Page,  President.  An  average  of  22  hands  were  em- 
ployed day  and  night  during  1884.  The  capacity 
of  the  mill  is  six  tons  per  day. 

W.  W.  Perkins  &*  Son  are  located  in  the  Colcord 
Block  on  Third  Street.  They  manufacture  corru- 
gated iron  shutters  and  iron  sheathing  and  roofing 
for  buildings.  Their  products  are  known  in  nearly 
every  large  town  in  Illinois  and  Iowa,  and  their 
trade  extends  into  Nebraska  and  even  as  far  west  as 
Utah.  They  employ  from  four  to  eight  men,  and 


.  . 


•>> 


© 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY, 


report  a  fair  year's  work.  They  manufactured  dur- 
ing the  year  1884  over  40  tons  of  their  shutters. 

E.  Dill  6°  Company  have  been  in  the  manufacture 
of  upholstered  goods  and  other  articles  of  furniture 
for  about  one  year,  furnishing  employment  to  12 
men.  They  are  heavy  dealers  in  fine  and  medium 
furniture,  and  occupy  a  portion  of  the  Mercantile 
Building. 

Economy  Mills  occupy  a  portion  of  the  building  of 
the  Sterling  Pump  Works,  and  have  a  capacity  of 
20  barrels  of  flour  daily.  They  make  buckwheat, 
rye  and  graham  flour,  and  corn-meal,  making  custom 
work  a  specialty.  Drew  &  Dennison;  proprietors. 

Cruse  &  Son,  are  manufacturers  of  furniture,  and 
the  Comfort  Glass  Case,  patented  by  Norman  Clark, 
which  sells  all  over  the  West. 


John  Harpham  is  a  manufacturer  of  harness,  col- 
lars and  fly  nets,  and  employs  on  an  average  ten 
men  in  this  business. 

Sterling  Brewing  Company  have  been  in  existence 
some  years.  They  annually  manufacture  about  2,000 
barrels  of  ale  and  porter. 

Sterling  Creamery  Company  do  a  large  business, 
and  scatter, a  great  deal  of  money  in  the  community, 
The  capacity  of  the  creamery  is  10,000  pounds  of 
butter  a  day. 

Strickler  Bros.  6°  Company  manufacture  about 
90  barrels  per  year  of  Perry's  concentrated  butter 
color,  which  is  distributed  throughout  the  States  of 
Illinois,  Missouri,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  Kansas  and 
Nebraska,  for  use  in  the  creameries. 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


HIS  beautiful  city,  the  county 
seat  of  Whiteside  County,  is 
situated  in  the  western  part 
of  Mt.  Pleasant  Township, 
and  is  surrounded  by  rolling 
fertile  country,  forming  a  pic- 
turesque landscape.  It  is  located 
on  sections  17,  18  and  19,  and 
was  platted  by  W.  S.  Wilkinson, 
Surveyor,  in  1855,  under  the  su- 
perintendency  of  Messrs.  John- 
son and  Vroom,  railroad  men,  who 
had  come  in  upon  the  advent  of  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad. 
The  location  of  the  road  through 
here  and  the  building  up  of  the 
town  is  somewhat  providential.  The 
line  was  being  laid  out  with  the  in- 
tention  of  running  through  Union- 
ville,  then  a  thriving  town  in  Union 
Grove  Township;  but  the  railroad 
men  met  with  so  cold  a  reception 
from  the  citizens,  and  the  property 
holders  were  so  exorbitant  in  the 
vJuing  of  their  lands,  that  they  finally  abandoned 
Unionville,  and,  turning  their  line  southward,  passed 
through  sections  17  and  18  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, and  made  a  station  there.  This  sealed  the 
fate  of  Unionville.  Trivial  things  sometimes  pro- 
duce important  changes  and  results.  It  is  reported 
that  when  the  line  was  being  run  it  passed  through 
the  house  of  one  of  the  good  matrons  of  this  hamlet. 


who  raised  such  a  storm  about  the  engineer's  head 
that  he  at  once  withdrew  from  the  field,  saying,  with 
an  oath,  "that  if  he  could  prevent  it,  they  should 
not  have  a  railroad  there  at  all."  The  place  selected 
for  a  depot  and  a  town  was  on  the  land  originally 
owned  by  John  W.  Stakes  and  the  Knoxes.  Other 
parties  later  on  had  secured  interests  here. 

This  land  was  purchased  by  the  incorporators  of 
Morrison,  who  were  Lyman  Johnson,  H.  S.  Vroom, 
Homer  Caswell,  John  W.  Stakes,  James  Snyder,  N. 
M.  Jackson,  John  J.  West,  L.  H.  Robinson  and  W. 
H.  Van  Epps.  These  gentlemen  were  the  founders 
of  the  town.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  a  friend  of 
Mr.  Van  Epps,  Mr.  Charles  Morrison,  of  New  York. 
Lyman  Johnson  has  the  credit  of  erecting  the  first 
house.  It  was  located  where  the  Firs.t  National 
Bank  now  is. 

The  plat,  as  originally  laid  out,  embraced  all  of 
section  18,  and  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quar- 
ter, and  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  17  ;  the  north  half  of  the  northwest  quarter, 
and  the  north  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 19,  township  21  north,  of  range  5  east  of  the 
fourth  principal  meridian.  Since  that  time  there 
have  been  several  additions,  and  among  these  are 
JCnox's  in  1856,  Johnson's  in  1858,  and  Gridley  & 
Nelson's  in  the  same  year. 

The  most  important  event  in  the  history  of  this 
place,  without  which  the  city  would  have  never 
been,  occurred  Oct.  ig,  1855,  when  the  first  train 
steamed  in.  This  settled  the  destiny  of  Morrison. 
From  this  time  on  the  underbrush  and  scrub  oaks 


<€^ 


®)^^ 


~ 57 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


I 


I 


disappeared,  and  houses  sprung  up  in  their  places, 
and  the  growth  and  development  of  Morrison  was 
assured.  John  E.  Bennett  and  Henry  Ustick  came 
in  and  opened  their  stores,  having  first  secured  their 
building,  which  were  the  first  business  houses 
opened.  Mr.  Bennett's  store  was  located  where  the 
Revere  House  now  stands.  The  first  dwelling 
erected  in  the  town  was  by  Henry  S.  Vroom,  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Base  streets,  though  Conductor 
Furlong  had  brought  his  cabin  in  on  a  car,  and  had 
set  it  up  before  this.  Blacksmiths,  brick  masons  and 
carpenters  came  in  from  all  parts  of  the  county,  and 
there  was  plenty  of  work  for  them  to  do.  Robert- 
son's saw-mill  was  kept  busy,  and  A.  S.  Tryon 
started  a  brick  kiln  to  meet  the  demands.  About 
this  time  Mrs.  B.  O.  Russell  died,  which  was  the 
first  death  in  the  new  town.  That  there  should  be 
no  diminution  to  the  population,  Mrs.  Henry  S. 
Vroom  gave  birth  to  a  daughter,  who  was  named 
Minnie. 

The  rich  and  settled  country  surrounding  Mor- 
rison aided  and  sustained  her  in  her  growth.  So 
much  developed  was  this  country  that  in  1856  an 
agricultural  fair  was  held,  which  was  attended  with 
satisfactory  results.  This  was  the  first  agricultural 
fair  held  in  the  county.  In  1857  substantial  brick 
blocks  began  to  make  their  appearance. 

The  growth  of  the  town  was  so  rapid  that  it  was 
deemed  necessary  to  incorporate,  and  accordingly 
the  people  were  given  notice  that  this  subject  would 
be  considered.  It  read  as  follows : 

"  NOTICE. — The  residents  of  lawful  age  of  the 
town  of  Morrison,  Illinois,  will  meet  at  Johnson's 
Hall,  on  Saturday,  April  18,  1857,  at  4  o'clock,  p.  m., 
to  consider  whether  the  said  town  shall  be  incorpor- 
ated under  the  statutes  in  such  cases  made  and  pro- 
vided. A  full  attendance  is  requested.1'  These 
notices  were  signed  by  William  L.  Coe,  and  posted 
in  conspicuous  places.  A  meeting  was  duly  held  in 
pursuance  to  this  call,  the  result  of  which  was  in 
favor  of  incorporation,  only  one  negative  vote  having 
been  received  against  it. 

In  accordance  with  this  decision  an  election  was 
held  April  25,  1857,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
a  village  government,  which  resulted  in  the  choice 
of  H.  S.  Vroom,  S.  H.  McCrea,  Lyman  Johnson, 
James  G.  Gridley  and  William  L.  Coe,  Trustees ; 
and  Hiram  Olmstead,  Police  Magistrate.  Win.  L. 


Coe  was  chosen  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
There  were  44  votes  cast  at  this  election.  During  the 
year  the  growth  of  the  village  of  Morrison  was  given 
another  impetus.  At  the  fall  election  a  vote  was 
taken  upon  the  question  of  the  removal  of  the  county 
seat  from  Sterling  to  Morrison,  and  the  choice  was 
given  to  the  latter  town.  The  spring  following,  May 
3,  1858,  the  records  were  removed  to  Morrison.  The 
building  now  occupied  by  John  S.  Green  as  a  drug 
store,  and  S.  W.  Robinson  &  Co.  as  a  hardware  store, 
on  Main  Street,  were  fitted  up  for  offices  and  court 
purposes,  and  were  used  until  the  new  county  build- 
ings were  completed. 

In  1867  a  bill  was  presented  to  the  Legislature 
and  passed  incorporating  the  "City  of  Morrison." 
By  an  error  in  the  bill,  the  "  City  of  Morrison"  was 
placed  over  in  Union  Grove  Township,  range  four 
having  been  used  in  defining  the  locality  instead  of 
range  five.  Notwithstanding  this,  an  election  was 
held  under  the  charter,  and  two  tickets  were  put  up, 
with  an  issue  for  or  against  the  charter.  The  anti- 
charter  party  carried  the  election,  and,  strange  as 
it  may  seem,  organized  their  government  under  it. 
The  question,  however,  soon  arose  as  to  whether 
Morrison  had  a  legal  city  government.  It  was 
finally  settled  by  bringing  the  question  before  the 
Circuit  Court  under  a  writ  of  quo  warranto  against 
the  city  officers.  The  Court  decided  that  there  was 
no  city  government,  and  this  placed  Morrison  again 
under  the  village  corporation. 

A  second  bill  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  and 
approved  Feb.  23,  1869,  providing  a  city  corporation. 
This  charter  was  accepted  by  the  people  in  a  vote 
taken  March  29,  1869. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1869,  an  election  was  held 
under  the  charter,  when  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  George  A.  Whitcomb,  Mayor;  John  S. 
Green,  W.  L.  Coe,  S.  W.  Robinson,  J.  A.  McKay,  W. 
J.  Savage  and  James  Colby,  Aldermen.  John  S. 
Green  was  chosen  Treasurer;  W.  E.  Savage,  Clerk; 
L.  G.  Johnson,  City  Attorney ;  and  Marshal  and 
Street  Commissioner,  George  M.  Cole.  The  ques- 
tion of  license  or  anti-license  was  an  issue  at  this 
election,  the  anti-license  party  securing  the  victory. 

In  1872  the  charter  was  amended,  and  the  city 
government  was  reorganized  under  the  general  or- 
ganization laws  of  the  State.  This  took  effect  May 
i,  1873.  Among  other  things  provided  under  the 
new  organization  was  a  two-years'  term  for  the 


(  > 


<•  * 


^4. 


1 


J 


5 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Mayor.  The  election  under  reorganization  was 
held  April  15,  1873.  At  this  time  the  city  was  $4,- 
194.74  in  debt.  Additional  loans  were  made  during 
this  year,  amounting  in  all  to  $10,600. 

In  December,  1855,  the  site  of  the  Union  Grove 
(Unionville)  postoffice  was  changed  to  Morrison, 
with  John  E.  Bennett  as  Postmaster,  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Union  Grove  office  in  December,  1855. 
The  name  was  changed  to  Morrison,  June  5,  1857. 
Mr.  Bennett  served  his  entire  time  as  Postmaster 
both  at  Union  Grove  and  at  Morrison,  on  the  site  of 
the  present  postoffice. 

In  1856  the  Baptist  Society  commenced  the  erec- 
tion of  a  church  building,  completing  it  the  same 
year.  This  was  the  first  church  edifice  erected  in 
Morrison,  and  the  brick  used  in  its  construction 
were  manufactured  in  the  town.  The  people  up  to 
this  time  depended  mostly  on  Unionville  for  re- 
ligious matters. 

Dr.  Norris  was  the  first  physician  to  locate  in 
Morrison.  He  was  soon  followed  by  others  from 
different  parts  of  the  country. 

The  principal  contests  between  the  citizens  of 
Morrison  from  its  first  foundation  has  been  on  the 
liquor  question.  These  contests,  which  have  been 
conducted  in  the  spirit  of  good  nature,  have  resulted 
generally  in  favor  of  licensing  the  liquor  traffic.  One 
of  the  peculiar  features  of  this  city,  and  one  which 
is  observed  by  a  stranger,  is  the  kind  and  neighborly 
feeling  the  inhabitants  have  toward  each  other.  No 
serious  quarrel  has  ever  occurred  between  one  citi- 
zen and  another. 

The  population  of  Morrison  is  estimated  now  at 
2,100. 

The  citizens  have  gone  on  in  their  improvements, 
putting  up  business  blocks,  church  edifices  and  pub- 
lic buildings,  erecting  grand  residences,  and  adorn- 
ing their  grounds  and  streets  with  fine  shade  trees, 
until  they  have  one  of  the  most  beautiful  towns  in 
the  country ;  and  all  this  has  been  done  within 
one  generation.  It's  growth  is  steady  and  sure. 
Many  of  the  first  settlers  who  saw  this  country  in  a 
wild,  uncultivated  condition,  are  still  living  here. 
They  have  beheld  in  one  generation  a  wilderness 
transformed  into  a  fair  city,  with  homes  of  wealth, 
culture  and  refinement,  and  surrounded  by  an  agri- 
cultural country  which  for  beauty  and  excellence  is 
unexcelled. 


And  while  they  contemplate  the  fair  picture  that 
lies  before  them,  they  have  the  additional  satisfac- 
tion of  knowing  that  they  are  the  artists  who  have 
carved  it  out. 

The  postoffice  was  first  opened  in  Morrison  in  De- 
cember, 1855,  with  John  E.  Bennett  as  Postmaster. 
He  was  succeeded  by  John  M.  Cobleigh  in  1859. 
In  1 86 1  A.  C.  Jackson  was  appointed,  who  held  the 
place  until  1866,  when  John  M.  Cobleigh  was  again 
appointed.  Frank  Clendennin  succeeded  Mr.  Cob- 
leigh in  January,  1867,  and  is  the  present  incum- 
bent. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  Morrison  Graded  School  is  supplied  by  an 
able  corps  of  teachers,  M.  F.  Miller  being  Superin- 
tendent; Mrs.  P.  F.  Burtch,  Principal;  Miss  L.  A. 
Wellington,  assistant;  and  in  the  grammar  depart- 
ment are  Miss  E.  Worthington  and  Miss  Anna  Cor- 
coran, while  the  intermediate  department  is  presided 
over  by  Miss  J.  Mahoney  and  Miss  Kate  L.  Martin. 
The  primary  department  is  in  charge  of  Miss  Cora 
Patterson,  Miss  M.  L.  Hewit  and  Miss  Ida  Strawder. 
The  musical  department  is  under  the  management 
of  Prof.  Mountz.  Vocal  music  is  taught  in  all  the 
departments.  The  course  of  study  of  the  High 
School  covers  four  years,  and  is  thorough  ir  at  the 
English  branches,  the  graduates  receiving  diplomas. 
The  graduates  of  this  school  have  formed  an 
alumni  association.  The  teachers  are  devoted  to 
their  profession,  and  are  painstaking  in  instructing 
their  pupils,  of  whom  there  are  about  500. 

The  school  has  a  library  of  250  volumes,  and  a 
cabinet  of  geology,  with  a  laboratory  for  chemistry. 
The  main  building  was  erected  in  1860,  since  which 
time  extensive  additions  have  been  made.  The 
main  portion  is  three-story,  with  two-story  wings  ex- 
tending each  side.  It  is  constructed  of  brick,  and 
is  heated  by  steam.  Ten  rooms  are  used  for  school 
instruction. 

WATER    WORKS. 

To  secure  good  water  and  plenty  of  it  was  one  of 
the  first  public  considerations  that  occupied  the 
minds  of  the  people  of  Morrison.  They  wanted  to 
secure  immunity,  as  far  as  possible,  from  fire,  and 
also  to  have  a  good  flow  of  pure  water  for  domestic 
purposes.  This  subject  was  put  into  definite  shape 
in  1868,  when  the  citizens  authorized  the  Board  of 
Trustees  to  put  down  an  artesian  well,  at  an  ex- 


^ 
& 


' 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


921 


pense  of  $3,000.  The  well,  which  was  located  north 
of  the  town,  upon  high  ground,  was  completed,  and 
the  water  was  brought  to  within  20  feet  of  the  sur- 
face. A  large  tank  was  constructed  with  a  capacity 
of  90,000  gallons,  which  was  to  be  kept  full  of  water 
for  fire  purposes.  A  large-sized  wind-mill  was 
erected  at  the  mill,  with  pipes  connecting  with  the 
tank. 

The  above  plan,  however,  was  not  a  very  success- 
ful one.  The  water-tank  burst  and  flooded  the  im- 
mediate neighborhood,  doing  considerable  damage. 
After  further  consideration  the  citizens  concluded  to 
adopt  the  Holly  system.  This  plan  they  put  into 
execution,  locating  the  water-works  in  the  southwest 
part  of  the  town,  near  the  creek.  Here  they  found 
some  fine  springs  with  very  pure  water,  and  over  the 
springs  they  constructed  a  large  reservoir,  with  a  ca- 
pacity of  4,000  barrels  of  water.  It  is  held  to  this 
capacity  by  the_  springs,  which  have  a  constant  flow, 
making  the  supply  practically  inexhaustible.  The 
Worthington  pumps  were  put  in,  with  two  engines 
and  two  boilers,  having  So-horse  power.  Pipes  ex- 
tend from  the  pumps  to  the  reservoir.  Over  the  en- 
gines and  pumps  is  erected  a  good  frame  building. 
An  eight-inch  main  runs  from  the  water-works  up 
town,  and  to  the  old  tank,  which  is  still  used,  or  held 
in  reserve.  Hydrants  are  placed  in  different  parts 
of  the  city,  and  are  connected  with  the  water  mains. 
Fire  alarms  are  placed  in  different  sections  of  the 
city,  which  connect  with  the  water-works.  The  en- 
gines can  pump  52  barrels  a  minute.  These  works 
were  completed  in  1882,  at  a  cost  of  $20,000.  Mr. 
H.  C.  Parrish,  a  verj  competent  engineer,  and  a 
trustworthy  man,  has  charge  of  the  works. 

In  connection  with  the  water-works,  and  for  fire 
purposes,  the  city  has  two  organized  hose  companies, 
the  Jackson  and  the  Juvenile  Company,  with  about 
1,500  feet  of  hose. 

BAND. 


Morrison  has  a  band  that  any  city  might  be  proud 
of.  It  was  organized  in  1882,  with  nine  members.  S. 
Homer  is  the  leader.  During  the  first  year  of  or- 
ganization they  filled  many  engagements,  and  pur- 
chased their  instruments.  In  1884  they  achieved  a 
great  success  at  the  State  Band  Tournament  held  at 
Geneseo,  111.,  Aug.  30,  by  winning  two  prizes.  They 
practice  regularly,  and  are  constantly  improving.  It 
is  called  the  Cornet  Band. 


THE    PRESS. 

No  enterprising  or  prosperous  community  will  re- 
main long  without  a  newspaper.  In  fact,  no  com- 
munity, however  enterprising,  will  be  prosperous 
long  without  a  press  to  represent  it ;  and  so  the  peo- 
ple of  Morrison  believed ;  for  the  stubs  were  not  yet 
removed  from  the  streets  before  they  began  to  con- 
sider this  important  question,  and  to  devise  means  to 
carry  it  out.  However  important  a  newspaper  may 
be  to  the  growth  and  development  of  a  town  or 
country,  it  is  not  every  man  that  is  qualified  to  pub- 
lish one,  any  more  than  that  every  man  can  run  a 
hotel,  except  into  the  ground.  It  would  be  a  large 
record  that  could  contain  the  births  and  deaths  of 
all  the  newspaper  enterprises  of  the  country. 

The  Whiteside  Sentinel. — The  citizens  of  Morrison 
were  not  long,  however,  in  finding  a  man  with  the 
nerve  to  take  hold  of  the  enterprise,  and  this  man 
was  Mr.  Alfred  McFadden,  formerly  connected  with 
the  Fulton  Investigator.  They  advanced  the  money, 
and  a  hand-press  (which  in  those  days  quite  fully 
met  the  wants  of  an  ordinarily  ambitious  newspaper 
man),  with  type  and  a  small  job  office,  was  pur- 
chased. A  building  was  secured  for  this  pioneer 
plant,  and  July  23,  1857,  the  first  issue  ofihzlVhite- 
side  Sentinel  went  forth  to  the  world,  fresh  and  newsy, 
the  editor  full  of  hope  for  the  success  of  his  little 
venture.  He  may  have  thought,  as  he  sent  his  ven- 
ture forth  into  an  untraveled  sea,  as  Bob  Southey 

did:— 

Go,  my  little  book,  from  this  my  solitude; 
I  cast  thee  on  the  waters ;  «$  thy  ways ; 
But  if,  as  I  suppose,  thy  vein  be  good. 
The  world  will  find  thee  after  many  days. 

Mr.  McFadden  edited  the  paper  until  1862,  when, 
his  health  failing  him,  it  was  leased  to  Elmer  Searle 
for  one  year.  At  the  expiration  pf  Mr.  Searle's  lease 
Mr.  McFadden  again  took  charge,  and  in  a  few  years 
enlarged  it  to  an  eight-column  paper. 

In  July,  1867,  the  Sentinel  was  'purchased  by 
Charles  Bent  and  Morris  Savage.  In  May,  1870, 
Mr.  Bent  purchased  Mr.  Savage's  interest,  and  be- 
came sole  proprietor.  Mr.  Bent  made  many  im- 
provements in  the  plant,  put  in  a  cylinder  power 
press,  a  new  job  office,  and  enlarged  the  paper  to  «£'•• 
nine  columns.  He  published  the  paper  until  1877, 
when  he  sold  out  to  Robert  W.Welch,  of  New  York. 
After  a  few  years,  Mr.  Bent  again  purchased  the 
Sentinel,  and  is  the  present  owner.  The  Whiteside  ^ 


STY 

WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Sentinel  is  a  nine-cpi$enJ»  .folio,  published  every 
Thursday,  with  a  circulation  of  about  t,8oo.  It  is  a 
good  paper,  and  well  ,'cojiducted.  From  its  founda- 
tion it  has  been  Republican  in, politics,  and  a  strong 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  this  party. 

The  Whiteside  He.r.ald, — This  is  an  eight-column 
weekly  paper,  published  every  Friday.  It  was 
founded  by  A.  D.  Hill,  in  1-878.  Its  first  issue  ap- 
peared April  4th  of ,  that  year.  In  the  fall  of  1878, 
Mr.  A.  D.  Adams  purchased  an  interest,  and  the 
Herald  was  conducted'  by  him  and  Mr.  Hill  until 
1882,  when  the  former  leased  the  paper.  In  1883, 
Mr.  Adams  purchased  Mr.  jHiU's  interest,  and  is  now 
the  owner.  A  good  job  office  is  connected  with  the 
Herald,  and  the  proprietor,  is  prepared  to  fill  all  or- 
ders in  this  line  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  customers. 
It  is  independent  in  politics,  and  has  a  circulation 
of  over  800.  The  Herald,,  which  is  a  zealous  advo- 
cate of  the  interests  of  the  city,  is  ably  edited,  and  is 
a  bright  and  newsy  sheet. 

Reform  Investigator. — There  were  several  other 
papers  started  in  Morrison  from  time  to  time,  but 
they  were  of  short  life.  In  1868,  Elmer  Searle  came 
out  with  a  sheet,  which  he  called  the  Reform  Investi- 
gator. Whether  or :  not  he  thought  the  people  of 
Morrison  needed  reformation  in  religion,  morals,  pol- 
itics or  manners,  history  does  not  inform  us.  It  was 
a  company  concern,  and,  like  most  of  company  enter- 
prises when  connected- avith  newspapers,  it  was  a 
failure.  In  1870  the  plant  was  moved  to  Chicago, 
and  converted  int6  ashes-in  the  great  fire  of  1871. 

Morrison  Independent. — The  year  1872  gave  birth 
to  the  Morrison  Independent.  It  was  started  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  Horace  Greeley  for  the  Presi- 
dency. It  was  established  by  a  stock  company  and 
conducted  by  L'.  S-'Watd  and  J.  W.  Huett,  the  lat- 
ter being  the  editor.'-^  The  immortal  Greeley  has 
said  that  nothing  'succeeds  like  success.  The  cam- 
paign not  being;sUccessfuV,"it  did  not  succeed;  and 
the  Independent  met  with 'the  same  fate.  It  barely 
outlived  this  campaign;  closing  in  1874.  The  office 
was  purchased-'  by'-G?  J'.'Booth  &  Son,  who,  in  July 
of  the  same  year,  e'stibfished  the  Morrison  Times. 
It  was  Democratic  irt  potrt'ics,-  and  a  fair  newspaper, 
but  was  not  stifficiefitff-'ffetronized  to  warrant  its  con- 
tinuation, and  in'  iS^6 'the 'plant  was  moved  to  Rock 
Falls,  and  from~ifc%aVfi?ssued  forth  in  a  short  time 
the  Whiteside  TirM!*  ''<-"-- 

cs,/*      • 


The  Morrison  Democrat. — The  ever  memorable 
year  of  1876  witnessed  the  establishment  of  another 
political  paper  in  Morrison,  which  had  for  its  ambi- 
tion the  election  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden  to  the  Presi- 
dency. It  was  started  by  Messrs.  Connelly  & 
Gove,  who  moved  their  office  from  Lyndon,  and  was 
called  the  Morrison  Democrat.  It  survived  the  in- 
auguration of  that  weakest  and  most  unreliable  and 
incompetent  of  all  Presidents,  R.  B.  Hayes,  but  a  few 
weeks,  and  then  the  plant  was  closed  out  at  a  mort- 
gage sale. 

CHURCHES. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — The  commencement 
of  the  organization  of  this  society  was  in  1836,  at 
James  J.  Thomas's  cabin.  There  were  present  on 
this  occasion  Mr.  Thomas  and  wife,  George  O. 
James  and  wife  and  Rev.  James  McKean,  who  be- 
longed to  the  Rock  River  Conference,  and  who  or- 
ganized the  class.  It  was  transferred  to  Unionville 
afterwards  and  became  a  part  of  the  Union  Grove 
circuit,  which  was  composed  of  Genesee  Grove, 
Round  Grove,  Albany,  Erie,  Union  Grove  and  Lyn- 
don. In  1842  the  society  was  permanently  organ- 
ized by  Rev.  B.  Weed,  Presiding  Elder  of  the  district, 
with  Rev.  Chester  Campbell  as  pastor,  who  re- 
mained until  1844,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
A.  M.  Early.  Mr.  Early  remained  until  1845,  when 
Rev.  Isaac  Searles  took  charge  of  the  Church.  He 
was  followed  in  1846  by  Rev.  James  McKean,  who 
presided  over  the  destinies  of  this  society  until  1848. 
Rev.  Charles  Babcock  was  the  next  to  assume 
charge.  He  remained  only  one  year,  when  Rev. 
William  Haney  was  assigned.  In  1850,  Mr.  Haney 
was  relieved  by  Rev.  Mathew  Homer,  who  staid 
with  this  flock  until  1852,  and  then  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  B.  Applebee.  Mr.  Applebee  gave  place  to 
Rev.'  B.  A.  Falkenbury  in  1853,  and  he  to  Rev.  S.  B. 
Baker  in  1854. 

Up  to  this  time  services  had  been  held  in  school- 
houses  and  residences.  During  this  year  a  building 
was  erected.  Mr.  Baker  remained  until  1855,  and 
then  Rev.  D.  W.  Linn  took  charge,  remaining  until 
1857,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Water- 
bury,  who  had  pastoral  charge  until  1858.  During 
this  year  the  Church  was  removed  to  Morrison.  He 
was  relieved  by  Rev.  Aaron  Cross,  who  presided  until 
1860,  and  then  gave  place  to  Rev.  Y.  S.  Kellogg, 
who  was  followed  in  1862  by  Rev.  Benjamin  Gloss. 


(51 


Mr.  Gloss  was  succeed  in  1863  by  Rev.  J.  VV.  David- 
son, who  had  charge  until  1866,  when  Rev.  John 
Frost  took  charge.  Mr.  Frost  died  in  1867,  and  his 
time  was,served  out  by  Rev.  Don  Kusley.  In  1867, 
Rev.  George  S.  Young  was  sent  in.  He  remained 
until  1868,  and  was  relieved  by  Rev.  L.  A.  Sanford. 
In  1870  Rev.  D.  W.  Linn  was  appointed,  who  had 
charge  until  1871,  and  then  Rev.  Jacob  Hartman 
was  assigned.  Rev.  Isaac  Limbarger  served  from 
1872  to  1874  ;  Rev.  J.  Borbidge,  from  1874  to  1876; 
Rev.  G.  W.  Carr,  from  1876  to  1879.  The  church 
edifice  was  completed  during  Mr.  Carr's  administra- 
tion, at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  It  is  a  plain,  substantial 
frame  building,  the  rear  portion  of  which  was  moved 
from  Unionville.  The  society  has  a  parsonage,  which 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  $2,000. 

In  1879,  Rev.  A.  Needham  assumed  charge,  serv- 
ing until  1880,  and  was  relieved  by  Rev.  A.  Camp- 
bell, who  remained  until  1882,  Rev.  W.  H.  Lock 
serving  out  his  term.  Rev.  V.  E.  Sweet,  the  present 
past  >r,  was  then  placed  in  charge.  Mr.  Sweet  is  an 
able  and  popular  minister.  They  have  131  mem- 
bers, and  the  society  is  in  a  prosperous  condition, 
with  a  large  and  interesting  Sunday-school  in  con- 
nection with  it. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  March  28, 
18153,  at  Unionville,  by  Rev.  W.  W.  Hasha  and  W. 
C.  Mason,  who  were  appointed  to  this  work  by  the 
Rock  River  Presbytery.  There  were  22  members 
forming  the  first  organization.  Among  these  was 
Mrs.  Phcebe  Vennum,  now  living  in  her  one  hun- 
dred and  second  year.  Rev.  Jacob  Coon  was  the 
first  pastor  to  serve  this  Church.  He  remained  over 
three  years.  This  society  moved,  with  the  inhabit- 
ants and  interests  of  Unionville,  to  Morrison.  Rev. 
H.  P.  Lackey  succeeded  Mr.  Coon  and  remained 
until  1860.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Daniel  Kelley, 
who  served  the  Church  two  years  and  six  months. 
Rev.  George  Powell,  the  African  missionary,  preached 
for  six  months,  and  then  Rev.  George  T.  Crissman 
was  called.  He  was  a  very  popular  clergyman  and 
did  much  to  build  up  the  society.  After  ably  serv- 
ing the  Church  for  14  years,  Mr.  Crissman  was  fol- 
lowed by  Rev.  S.  H.  Weller,  who  remained  ui.til 
1883.  It  was  during  his  administration  that  the 
erection  of  the  new  church  edifice  was  commenced. 
It  was  completed  in  1884,  and  dedicated  Nov.  7  of 
the  same  year,  Rey:  Paniel  S.  Gregory,  of  Lake 


Forest,  preaching  the  dedication  sermon.  It  is  an 
attractive  gothic  edifice,  the  walls , being  constructed 
of  brick,  and  is  finished  off",  on  tlie  inside  in  an  ele- 
gant manner.  Present  .uiembersnip  is  175.  The 
society  has  a  flourishing.,  S.undaj[-school.  Rev.  J. 
Worthington,  who  succeeded '.Mr.  Weller,  is  the 
present  pastor. 

Baptist  Church, — This  society  was  organized 
Sept.  8,  1854,  in  a  school-house  about  a  mile  east 
of  Morrison,  by  Rev.  E:- Ingham.  Mr.  Ingham 
was  chosen  Moderator  and  -B-.-  A.  Pollard,  Clerk. 
First  members  were,  T.  Deiniek,  S.  Williams,  W.  H. 
Pollard,  E.  A.  Pollard,  N.  Si-Barlow,  wilh  their  wives, 
and  Nancy  J.  Lewis  and  (DklQffiiia  Demick.  E.  Ing- 
ham  and  A.  S.  Maxwell  officiated  until  Rev.  L.  L. 
Lansing  was  secured,  in  Dec.,  i85'4.  A  brick  church 
was  put  up  in  1855.  This  was  the  first  church 
building  erected  in  Mor'nsori:  .  After  their  large 
new  church  was  erected  -it  teas  fitted  up  for  a  par- 
sonage. The  building  was"  sold  in  the  spring  of  1885. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Allison  took  clvtrge  in  the  year  1859,  re- 
maining until  1865,  when  'Rev.  K.  W.  Benton  ac- 
cepted a  call  from  the  Church'.  He  remained  until 
1867,  when  Rev.  A.  A.  Russell  was  called.  Mr. 
Russell  resigned  in  1873;  and  Rev.  J.  A.  Delano 
assumed  the  duties,  remaining  until  1874.  Rev.  A. 
C.  Keene  served  from  1874  to  1876,  when  he  re- 
signed. The  Church  was' supplied  until  1877,  when 
Rev.  N.  S.  Collins  accepted  a  call,  serving  until  Oct., 
1878,  being  succeeded; then,  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Russell, 
who  remained  until  December,  ig8o.  Rev.  W.  A. 
Broadhurst  then  accepted  a  call,  and  remained  until 
1884,  when  he  was  succeeded"  by  Rev.  F.  M.  Wil- 
liams, the  present  pastor.  The  new  edifice  was 
completed  in  t88t,  and  dedicated  by  Dr.  D.  H. 
Cooley,  May  4,'s»me  year.  ItisaSne  substantial 
edifice,  constructed  ftf  brick;  and  cost  about  $1,200. 
They  have  at  present  about-;  135  members,  with  a 
good  Sunday-school. 

Protestant  Methodist  -CKurc'h—Vfa&  organized  in 
1839,  in  the  cabin  of  W.  Hv'Pa'shcal,  on  section  17, 
by  Rev.  Daniel  Young,  bT 'th'e  mission  service.  The 
Pashcals,  with  their  v/wei  a'h'dT  a  few  others,  com- 
posed the  first  organizatfon:"'-'This  society  gradually 
increased  in  numbers,'  -holding  services  among 
the  cabins  of  the  earty:settlers-for  a  long  time, 
and  then  in  school-hoaSfcsj '_:Mn  1860,  Mr.  Meril 
Meade,  was  authorized ;to  purchase,  the  old  Congre- 


*  ? 

A  t 


924 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


gational  Church  building,  which  he  did,  contributing 
largely  himself  Qo  its  purchase.  This  gave  the 
society  a  place  Of  worship  for  several  years,  and 
until  their  increasing  numbers  warranted  them  in 
the  construction  .of  a  new  building.  This  was  ac- 
complished under  the  energetic  administration  of 
Rev.  Jacob  Fowler,  and  the  edifice  was  completed 
in  1868.  He  was  ably  supported  by  Meril  Mead, 
the  Pashcals,  W.  P.  Lewis,  Thomas  McClelland  and 
the  people.  The  erection  of  this  building,  together 
with  the  property,  cost  about  $9,000.  A  large  bell  was 
afterward  purchased,  costing  $555.  In  1867,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  separation  of  this  Church,  North  and 
South,  this  society  adopted  a  new  constitution  and  a 
new  name,  dropping  the  "  Protestant "  and  taking 
the  name  "  Mefhodist  Church  "  only.  This  was 
done  at  a  general  conference,  which  was  held 
at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Mr.  Meade,  who  was  oae  of  the 
delegates  to  this  conference,  representing  the  North- 
ern Illinois  Coriference,  and  a  leading  member  of 
the  Morrison  organization,  opposed  this  action.  At 
the  Baltimore  Conference  in  1877,  the  Church  of 
both  sections  of  the  country  became  united  again, 
and  the  old  name  of  "  Protestant  Methodist  "  was 
resumed.  In  1867,  a  difference  occurred  between 
Rev.  H.'A.  Heath,  the  pastor,  and  the  Conference, 
which  caused  a  resolution  to  be  adopted  by  the 
Church,  suspending  financial  relations  with  the  An- 
nual Conference  until  such  differences  could  be 
adjusted.  This  society  took  an  independent  posi- 
tion from  this  time  on.  In  1878,  it  sent  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Annual  Conference  for  the  purpose  of 
adjusting  the  old  difference,  and  harmony  was 
again  restored  without  prejudice  either  to  the  Con- 
ference or  to  this  society.  This  Church  has  been  • 
served  by  several  pastors  since  it's  first  organiza- 
tion, and  has  had  its  prosperity  and  adversity.  At 
one  time  it  had  1 15  members.  Its  present  condition 
is  not  a  prosperous  one.  Rev.  Isaac  Wood  took 
charge  in  1882,  and  is  the  present  pastor. 

Congregational  Church. — This  society,  like  most  of 
the  religious  organizations  of  Morrison,  had  its  birth 
in  Unionville.  It  was  organized  March  2,  1844, 
with  T2  members,  by  Rev.  Nathaniel  Smith.  Services 
were  held  in  the  school-house  until  1854,  when  a 
church  building  was  erected.  Mr.  Smith  was  the 
pastor  until  1850,  when  Kev.  William  T.  Wheeler 
was  called  to  take  charge.  He  died  the  latter  part 


of  this  year.  Early  in  185  i,  Rev.  G.  Walker  was  es- 
tablished as  pastor.  In  1858,  the  new  town  of  Morri- 
son, having  outstripped  Unionville  in  growth,  and 
most  of  the  congregation  having  transferred  their 
residences  there,  it  was  decided  after  a  conference  to 
dissolve  this  organization,  and  re-organize  at  Morri- 
son under  the  name  of  the  "  First  Congregational 
Church  of  Morrison."  The  first  service  held  under 
the  new  organization  was  June  29,  1858,  at  Concert 
Hall,  by  Rev.  Daniel  Chapman.  Rev.  John  White 
was  called  to  take  charge  of  the  new  organization. 
He  was  a  man  of  talent,  and  very  successful  in  his 
ministration,  raising  the  membership  up  to  74.  Meet- 
ings were  held  in  halls  and  other  churches  until 
1865,  when  the  society  completed  its  church  edifice, 
a  substantial  brick  structure.  Mr.  White  desiring 
to  withdraw  from  this  field  of  labor,  Rev.  Clay  Mc- 
Cauley  was  received  in  his  place,  temporarily.  The 
services  of  Rev.  S.  F.  Millikan  were  finally  secured. 
He  served  until  January,  1873,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  E.  H.  Smith,  who  remained  with  the  con- 
gregation several  years,  when  he  tendered  his  resig- 
nation, which  was  accepted.  The  society  have  had 
no  pastor  since,  but  in  the  meantime  worship  with 
the  Presbyterians. 

The  Universalists. — From  the  early  settlement  of 
Morrison  there  were  people  who  believed  in  the  doc- 
trines taught  by  this  Church,  and  at  different  times 
services  were  held  in  the  town  presided  over  by  min- 
isters of  this  faith  from  abroad.  Obedient  to  a  call, 
the  believers  in  this  Church  assembled  together  Dec. 
18,  1866,  and  formed  an  organization,  adopted  a  con- 
stitution, and  elected  their  officers.  J.  R.  Bailey, 
Jesse  McKee,  Win.  F.  Twining,  George  S.  Fullmer 
and  William  Tapping  were  chosen  Trustees;  J.  M. 
Burtch,  Secretary  ;  and  J.  Mayo,  Treasurer.  Forty- 
seven  members  subscribed  to  the  constitution.  They 
held  their  services  in  Concert  Hall,  and  until  the 
completion  of  their  building.  It  was  finished  and 
dedicated  in  1870,  Dr.  Ryder  delivering  the  dedication 
sermon.  It  is  a  handsome  edifice,  the  walls  of 
which  are  of  brick,  with  a  stone  foundation,  costing 
in  all  $11, ooo.  The  auditorium  is  large  and  taste- 
fully finished. 

Rev.  John  J.  Austin  was  the  first  regular  minister 
to  assume  charge,  which  was  in  March,  1870.  He 
served  three  years. 

In  1876  the  society  received  the  services  of  Rev. 


<- 
1 

T 


WfTITESfDE  COUNTY. 


925 


^ 

f 

.• 


L.  J.  Dinsmore,  who  remained  one  year.  Rev.  C.  A. 
Lander  came  in  1881,  and  remained  with  the  Church 
until  1883.  Since  1884  they  have  had  the  services 
of  Miss  Mary  Garard,  who  preaches  every  other 
Sunday.  This  society  was  known  for  a  long  time  as 
the  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  but  by  almost 
unanimous  consent  they  resumed  the  old  name  of 
Universalists,  which  they  still  bear. 

Episcopal  Church. — Services  were  held  in  Morri- 
son by  the  members  of  this  Church  several  years  be- 
fore an  organization  was  formed.  An  organization 
was  finally  completed  in  1883,  by  the  zeal  of  a  few 
members.  By  perseverance  of  the  members,  especi- 
ally the  ladies,  a  lot  was  purchased,  at  a  cost  of  $400, 
and  a  neat  little  chapel  was  erected  thereon,  cost- 
ing, with  furniture,  $1,550.  It  was  dedicated  on 
Thanksgiving  day,  1884,  the  Rev.  J.  Joss,  of  Sterling, 
delivering  the  dedicatory  sermon.  They  have  at 
present  20  communicants,  with  services  every  three 
weeks,  Rev.  J.  Joss,  officiating. 

St.  Patricks  (Catholic)  Church. — Religious  services 
were  held  in  Morrison  by  the  Catholic  clergymen  at 
the  residences  of  members  for  some  years  before  a 
church  edifice  was  erected.  In  1862  their  building 
was  completed,  and  dedicated.  It  is  a  good,  sub- 
stantial brick  structure.  Rev.  T.  Kennedy  was  the 
first  clergyman  in  charge.  It  has  been  served  since 
by  Revs.  Michael  Ford,  William  Herbert,  John  Daly, 
James  Govern,  P.  J.  Gormley,  John  Kilkenney  and 
Maurice  Sack.  Father  Sack  is  located  at  Fulton, 
and  holds  services  in  Morrison  every  third  Sunday. 
It  has  a  membership  of  some  70  families.  This 
Church  belongs  to  the  Diocese  of  Chicago. 

SOCIETIES. 

Dunlap  Lodge,  No.  321,  A.  F.  6"  A.  M—  This 
lodge  was  instituted  May  30,  1859,  under  a  dispen- 
sation, and  received  its  charter  Oct.  5,  1859.  It  or- 
ganized with  ten  members,  with  William  Lane  as 
W.  M.  The  lodge  now  has  seventy  members,  with 
George  H.  Kentfield  as  W.  M.  They  have  a  large, 
commodious  hall,  which  is  well  furnished  and 
equipped.  The  walls  of  the  hall  are  adorned  with 
the  photographs  of  the  members.  They  also  have 
an  organ  for  their  musical  entertainment.  The 
lodge  is  in  good  working  order  and  prosperous. 

G.  A.  R.,  Alpheus  Clark  Post,  No.  118— Was  or- 
ganized Dec.  8,  1 88 1,  with  22  charter  members. 


Frank  Clendennin  was  chosen  Commander.  They 
have  a  hall  with  A.  O.  U.  W.  Order,  which  is  fitted 
up  in  good  style.  The  camp  is  increasing  in  num- 
bers and  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

/.  O.  O.  P.,  Grove  Lodge,  No.  257. — This  lodge 
was  instituted  May  12,  1858.  Charter  received  Oct. 
15  of  the  same  year.  There  were  six  charter  mem- 
bers. Upon  the  organization,  W.  W.  Winter  was 
chosen  N.  G.  The  lodge  has  a  good  hall,  neatly 
furnished,  and  is  in  good  working  order.  Stephen 
Stafford  is  the  present  Noble  Grand. 

Bethel  Encampment,  No.  55,  I.  O.  O.  F.—Wzs 
organized  July  4,  1860,  and  chartered  the  same  day, 
with  six  charter  members.  W.  W.  Winters  was 
elected  Chief.  This  encampment  has  at  present  44 
members,  and  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  Their 
hall  is  27  by  60  feet,  and  nicely  furnished.  They 
have  an  organ  and  a  library. 

Eudine  Rebekah  Lodge,  No.  8, 1.  O.  O.  F— This 
order  was  instituted  March  17,  1870,  and  received 
ils  charter  Oct.  1 1  following.  They  organized  with 
10  members,  G.  W.  Chapman,  N.  G.  Mrs.  D.  G. 
Ackerman  is  the  present  N.  G.,  with  a  membership 
of  64.  This  order  meets  regularly,  and  is  in  a  good 
working  condition. 

Knights  of  Pythias,  No.  120. — This  society  has 
an  interesting  organization,  with  a  membership  of 
40.  They  have  a  good,  large  hall,  which  is  well 
furnished  and  equipped. 

A.  O.   U.  W.,  No.  52 — Was   organized    April   6, 

1877,  with  28  charter  members.      The  lodge  has  in- 
creased in  numbers  steadily  since  its  organization, 
and  has  at  present  51  members.     They  have  a  good 
hall  and  are  a  prosperous  society. 

The  Morrison  Library  and  Scientific  Association 
— Was  founded  by  J.  D.  Odell.  and  opened  in  August, 

1878.  The  rooms  are  on  the  third  floor  of  the  bank 
building.     This    association    has    a    well    selected 
library  of  some   2,400  volumes,  and  an   interesting 
collection  of  minerals,  fossils,  and  geological  speci- 
mens.    An  annual  assessment  of  $i  is  made  among 
the  members  of  the  association    to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  keeping  the  hall  open    and  for  supplying 
the  library  with  new  books.      This  is  a  worthy  insti- 
tution, and   is    very  creditable    to  its  founder  and 
others  who  assisted  in  its  establishment. 

The  Whiteside  County  Agricultural  Society. — This 
society  was  organized  at  Morrison,  May  28,  1872 


\ 

I 
/ 


" 


-  ;•  § 


926 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


The  objects  of  this  organization  were  to  aid  all  kinds 
of  industries,  especially  the  agricultural,  horticul- 
tural and  mechanical  branches,  by  stimulating  com- 
petition, in  gathering  together  the  various  products 
of  the  county  and  awarding  premiums  to  the  most 
deserving.  A  constitution  was  adopted  and  by- 
laws governing  the  society.  The  first  officers  chosen 
were  James  M.  Pratt,  President;  H.  M.  Teller,  Vice- 
President;  Frank  Clendennin,  Secretary,  and  E.  G. 
Tapping,  Treasurer.  The  Executive  Committee 
were  Levi  Fuller,  James  Willson,  H.  F.  Kellum, 
George  W.  Mackenzie,  John  F.  Demmon,  D.  J. 
Parker,  M.  M.  Potter,  J.  H.  Marshall  and  L.  H. 
Pratt.  The  first  Fair  was  held  at  Morrison,  Sept. 
24,  25,  26  and  27,  1872,  and  was  regarded  as  a 
successful  one.  The  Fair  Grounds  are  located  in 
the  southwest  part  of  the  town,  on  the  banksof  Rock 
Creek,  and  inclose  about  15  acres.  Exhibition 
buildings  have  been  erected  and  apartments  for  stock 
provided  for.  A  half-mile  track  has  been  made 
also  for  speeding  horses.  Some  good  time  has  been 
made  here,  and  as  fine  stock  exhibited  as  could  be 
seen  anywhere  in  the  State. 

C.  D.  Parker  is  the  present  Acting  President ,  J. 
N.  Baird,  Secretary,  and  George  N.  Brown,  Treas- 
urer. The  society  hold  regular  annual  fairs,  is  out 
of  debt,  and  active  in  the  objects  for  which  it  was  in- 
stituted. 

GROVE    HILL  CEMETERY 

is  located  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northeast 
quarterof  section  18.  It  was  laid  out  June  28,  1873, 
and  contains  12^  acres.  The  site,  though  too  near 
the  town,  is  a  beautiful  one,  situated  on  an  emin- 
ence above  the  city.  The  lots  are  regularly  laid  out, 
with  avenues  and  isles  between.  Pretty  shade  trees 
and  tastefully  chiseled  monuments  adorn  the 
grounds,  which  are  well  kept.  The  care  and  atten- 
tion given  to  this  cemetery  is  a  good  index  to  the 
character  of  the  people  of  this  town.  No  better  is 
needed.  The  quality  of  a  community  can  be  meas- 
ured by  the  home  it  constructs  for  its  departed.  Re- 
posing here  after  life's  battles  are  over,  are  some  of 
the  soldiers  who  gave  their  lives  for  the  preservation 
and  perpetuation  of  their  country  during  the  late  civil 
war.  Below  is  given  a  list,  with  the  regiments  served 
in:  Robert  S.  Anthony,  Co.  G,  131!!  111.  Vols.;  W. 
M.  Alexander,  Co.  I,  8th  Kan.  Vols. ;  Edwin  P. 
Bojer,  Co.  G,  156111  111.  Vols. ;  Henry  E.  Allen,  Co. 

: 


F,  93d  111.  Vols.;  D.  D.  Blodgett,  Co.  E,  46th  III. 
Vols.;  J.  J.  Brown, Co.  E,  ist  Li^it  Artillery  ;  Henry 
Brown,  Co.  C,  8th  111.  Cav. ;  Jasper  Booth,  ad  Regt. 
W.  Va.  Vols. ;  Alpheus  Clark,  Major,  8th  111.  Cav. ; 
Columbus  Dodge,  Co.  E,  46th  111.  Vols. ;  John  G. 
Gillett,  Co.  C,  75th  111.  Vols. ;  Lyman  A.  Hulett,  Co. 
B,  i47th  111.  Vols.;  E.  Ingerson,  Co.  B,  i86th  N.  Y. 
Vols.;  John  M.  Isenheart,  Co.  D,  2ist  111.  Vols.; 
Aaron  B.  Jackson,  Co.  G,  i3th  111.  Vols. ;  D.  D. 
Lincoln,  Captain,  Co.  C,  8th  111.  Cav. ;  H.  Levitt, 
Co.  G,  8th  111.  Cav.;  Samuel  Lenhart,  Co.  G,  156111 
111.  Vols.;  John  Lucas,  U.  S.  Navy;  George  W. 
Mackenzie,  Sergeant,  Co.  C,  8th  111.  Cav. ;  AlmanM. 
Mosher,  Co.  B,  ist  Iowa  Cav. ;  George  S.  Milnes, 
Co.  H,  75111  111.  Vols. ;  Milton  Morse,  Co.  B,  i4oth 
111.  Vols.;  Thomas  Powers,  Co.  G,  741)1  111.  Vols.; 
W.  H.  Pollington,  Co.  B,  131)1  111.  Vols.;  George  A. 
Quackenbush,  Musician,  34th  111.  Vols.  Rugg 
Gardner,  Co.  B,  38th  III.  Vols. ;  Rollin  C.  Sholes, 
Co.  C,  8th  111.  Cav. 

Soldiers  of  the  War  of  1812  who  are  buried  here, 
are  William  Austin,  Gordon  Borrows,  John  Hall, 
Michael  Harrison  and  Robert  White. 

One  who  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  is  W.  H. 
Pashcal. 

BUSINESS   INTERESTS. 

Hellerstedt  &  Bros.,  manufacturers  of  carriages, 
buggies,  and  all  kinds  of  spring  wagons,  are  one  of 
the  leading  firms.  They  also  manufacture  harness 
and  deal  in  general  saddlery.  This  is  one  of  the 
establishments  that  help  build  up  a  city.  They 
employ  on  an  average  15  men.  They  have  in  their 
sales-room  buggies  that  for  excellence  in  workman- 
ship cannot  be  excelled  in  the  State.  The  Novelty 
Carriage  Works,  established  by  P.  J.  Gottsman,  and 
superintended  by  J.  O.  Farrell,  make  a  specialty  of 
the  Farrell  Patent  Surprise  Spring,  and  also  the 
Combination  Spring. 

G.  B.  Beecher  is  a  wagon-maker,  and  does  ma- 
chine repairing  and  blacksmithing.  H.  F.  Ander- 
son is  a  worker  in  wood.  C.  Nilson  is  also  a  wagon- 
maker,  and  L.  C.  Brown  deals  in  carriages,  wagons, 
sleighs,  etc. 

Woods  &  Clendennin,  successors  to  Carter  &  Fer- 
guson, conduct  a.  general  hardware  store,  and  deal 
in  agricultural  implements  and  windmills.  They 
have  the  exclusive  sale  in  the  county  of  the  Gerard 


& 


-.,.,.  sr 


. 
. 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


• 


• 


and  Eclipse  windmills  and  pumps.     They    handle 
about  $40,000  worth  of  goods  annually. 

W.  S.  Robinson  &  Co.  are  also  general  dealers  in 
hardware,  stoves,  builder's  material,  and  all  kinds  of 
agricultural  implements. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Morrison  was  estab- 
lished in  1865,  by  Leander  Smith,  who  was  the  first 
and  is  the  present  president.  (See  page  303.)  Its 
capital  is  $100,000.  It  has  a  good  banking  office 
and  an  excellent  vault. 

Smith  &  McKay  are  private  bankers  of  this  city. 
This  concern  was  established  by  Leander  Smith 
(see  page  303)  and  Duncan  McKay  (see  page  7  25) 
in  1878.  Mr.  Smith  formerly  carried  on  the  bank- 
ing business  in  Fulton. 

D.  P.  Spears  &  Son  deal  in  dry  goods,  carpets, 
etc.  This  firm  carries  a  large  stock. 

J.  Sablatzky  deals  in  staple  and  fancy  goods,  boots 
and  shoes.  C.  E.  Page  &  Co.  handle  dry  goods, 
notions  and  underwear.  Snyder  &  Co.  also  carry  a 
line  of  dry  goods,  fancy  goods,  besides  boots  and 
shoes.  Allen  &  Bros,  deal  in  hardware,  agricul- 
tural implements  and  plumbing. 

J.  A.  Shaw  has  a  large  and  well-made  stock  of 
furniture,  and  is  undertaker.  His  business  was  es- 
tablished in  1873.  J.  McKee  &  Son  are  also  gen- 
eral furniture  dealers  and  undertakers.  J.  S.  Green 
&  Co.  (successors  to  A.  C.  McAlister  &  Co.)  are 
general  dealers  in  grain,  lumber,  brick,  and  all  kinds 
of  building  material. 

A.  H.  Martin  and  John  S.  Green  keep  a  general 
line  of  drugs,  also  books  and  stationery.  Thomas 
Harrison  &  Co.  are  dealers  in  groceries,  crockery, 
willow-ware,  notions,  etc.  D.  S.  Spafford  has  a 
general  grocery  store  and  handles  seeds,  etc.  (See 
Page  593.) 

F.  Dunbridge  does  the  coopering  for  the  town.  B. 
J.  Barker,  Curtis  Johnson  and  John  Calderwood  are 
manufacturers  of  harness,  and  dealers  in  saddlery. 
Samuel  M.  Ladd  carries  a  very  fine  and  well  select- 
ed stock  of  jewelry,  clocks,  watches,  etc. 

Hollinshead  &  West  deal  in  a  general  line  of  cloth- 
ing. Mrs.  F.  C.  Woodruff  supplies  the  fair  ladies  of 
Morrison  from  a  well  selected  stock  of  millinery.  E. 
Homer  &  Son  furnishes  the  people  with  music  and 
musical  instruments. 

J.  A.  Anguish  has  groceris  and  provisions.  In 
bakery  and  confectionery  and  restaurants,  the  town 


is  supplied  by   Jacob   Feldman  and    Henry   Simms. 

E.  Hoal  and  Charles  Borman  do  the  tailoring.  Beck- 
ert  &  Peterson  are  dealers  in  boots  and  shoes.     F.  J. 
Beuzeville   is  a    manufacturer   of  boots   and  shoes. 
Blacksmithing  is  done  by   Alex.   McClennan,  J.  S. 
Reed  &  Co.  and  G.  W.   Moore.     Isaac  Crasley  a; 
H.  A.  Boyd  supply  the  people  with  markets. 

Livery  and  feed  stables  are  carried  on  by  John  C. 
Clark,  C.  W.  Holcomb  and  M.  Preston.  Edward 
Sampson  and  W.  L.  Park  have  photograph  galleries, 
and  execute  good  work.  Abstract  and  commission 
office  by  Henry  R.  Sampson.  Meril  Meade  is  an  ex- 
tensive dealer  in  real  estate,  and  is  also  Justice  of 
the  Peace  (see  page  223).  Frank  Clendennin  does 
an  insurance  and  real-estate  business. 

The  medical  profession  is  represented  by   Drs.   H. 

C.  Davidson,  C.  N.    Hazelton,  R.  B.  Johnson,  Tay- 
lor &  Seger,  J.  A.  Nowlen  and  C.  J.  Pearson ;  and  the 
dental  profession  by  A.  E.  Kennedy  and  A.  S.  Nel- 
son. 

Morrison  has  an  able  Bar.    It  is  represented  by  O. 

F.  Woodruff  (the  Nestor  of  the  Bar),  who  was  ad- 
mitted   to  practice  in   1861    (see  page   325),   Frank 

D.  Ramsay  (see  page  283) ;  James  D.  Andrews,  W. 
J.  McCoy,  William  Lang,  George  H.  Fay  and  L.  T. 
Stocking  (see  page  5  99). 

There  are  several  hotels  in  the  town.  The  Revere 
House,  of  which  J.  Ferguson  is  proprietor  and  A.  C. 
McAllister  manager,  is  the  leading  hotel.  The  Mor- 
rison House  is  kept  by  J.  E.  Duffin,  Farmers'  Ex- 
change, by  Frank  Clark,  and  the  Franklin  House  is 
also  a  place  of  entertainment. 

There  are  several  saloons  in  the  town,  two  barber 
shops,  and  a  roller-skating  rink. 

MAYORS. 

Below  are  the  names  of  the  Mayors  who  have 
served  the  city  since  its  incorporation,  with  the  date 
of  their  election  : 

George  A.  Whitcomb 1869 

N.  M.  Jackson  (special  charter) 1870 

Charles  Spears  (re-elected) 187 1-2 

E.  B'.  Warner 1873-4 

A.  J.  Jackson 1 875-6 

George  A.  Whitcomb 1877-8 

O.  F.  Woodruff  (re-elected) 1879-82 

Robert  Wallace 1883-4 

H.  R.   Sampson 1885-6 


.." ; 


City  of  Fulton 


JHE  city  of  Fulton  is  located 
at  what  has  been  called  the 
"  Narrows  of  the  Mississippi 
River."  The  site  is  a  beau- 
tiful one,  with  all  the  neces- 
sary advantages  for  a  large 
town.  Nature,  it  would 
seem,  has  done  here  all  that  it 
could  do  to  aid  man  in  the  build- 
ing of  a  large  and  populous  com- 
munity. Along  the  river  and  to 
the  south  a  level  plain  extends  for 
several  miles,  while  back  from  the 
river  to  the  northward  the  land 
gradually  rises  to  an  eminence  that 
affords  a  commanding  view  of  the 
surrounding  country,  and  forms 
charming  sites  for  residences.  From 
these  heights  can  be  seen  for  several  miles  the  noble 
Mississippi  as  it  flows  toward  the  Gulf,  the  rugged 
bluffs  on  the  Iowa  side  and  the  prairies  of  Illinois 
stretching  far  away  into  space.  Along  the  banks  of 
the  river  there  are  great  beds  of  rock  which  are  suf- 
ficiently high  to  be  free  from  inundation,  and  yet  low 
enough  for  the  conveniences  of  steamboat  landing, 
and  the  erection  of  wharfs  and  warehouses.  Another 
advantage  which  this  landing  seems  to  have  is  that 
it  undergoes  so  little  change.  This  effect  is  un- 
doubtedly produced  by  the  "narrows  "  above,  which, 


to  a  certain  extent,  controls  the  great  flow  of  water 
southward. 

This  city  is  134  miles  from  Chicago,  and  377  miles 
by  water  from  St.  Ix>uis;  and  is  in  lattitude  41  de 
grees,52  minutes  and  3  seconds  north,  and  longitude 
90  degrees,  1 1  minutes  and  3  seconds  west  of  Green- 
wich. 

The  first  settler  here  was  John  Baker,  who,  it  may 
be  truthfully  said,  was  the  founder  of  the  town  ; 
for,  when  this  pioneer  made  his  claims  and  located 
here,  he  evidently  did  not  do  so  for  the  purpose  of 
putting  them  into  a  farm.  This  was  in  the  spring  of 
1835.  He  erected  his  first  cabin  near  the  Cat-tail, 
where  he  lived  for  some  time.  The  second  cabin  he 
put  up  was  on  the  banks  of  the  river  near  where 
Spinker's  pottery  works  are,  in  1837.  In  1836,  Mr. 
Baker  had  an  acquisition  to  his  settlement,  the  new 
arrivals  being  his  nephew,  John  W.,  with  his  wife 
and  three  sisters.  In  the  fall  Joseph  Crawford  came 
in.  During  this  year  James  McCoy  paid  him  a 
visit,  but  did  not  tarry  long.  He  came  up  from  Vir- 
ginia on  horseback,  looking  out  for  a  good  country 
to  locate  in,  and  went  on  north.  Finding  nothing 
that  suited  him  so  well  as  Fulton,  he  returned  in  the 
spring  of  1837.  About  this  time  there  was  quite  an 
influx  to  the  population  of  this  Mississippi  village, 
and  Baker  began  to  think  he  had  planned  wisely. 
Among  those  that  came  in  alxnit  this  time,  were 
George  W.  Kellogg,  John  B.  Jenkins  Henry  C.  Fel 


- 


.. 

• 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


929 


lows,  Dr.  Daniel  Reed,  Jeremiah  and  Alvin  Hum- 
phrey, Robert  Booth,  John  Redfern,  R.  J.  Jenks, 
John  Grinnold,  Edward  Rolph,  Allen  Graves,  Ed- 
ward Caudry,  Lyman  Blake,  Jesse  Johnson,  Jonathan 
Briggs,  David  Ross  and  A.  Briggs. 

Mr.  Baker  had  a  partial  survey  made  in  the  latter 
part  of  1836  by  Joseph  Crawford,  laying  off  some 
lots  in  what  is  now  known  as  section  28.  In  1837 
some  of  the  new-comers  purchased  an  interest  in 
Mr.  Baker's  claim,  and  it  was  decided  to  abandon 
the  old  survey  and  have  a  new  one  made.  James 
McCoy,  who  was  a  surveyor  as  well  as  a  law  student, 
was  secured  to  do  this  work.  He  was  assisted  by 
Henry  G.  Fellows,  George  W.  Kellogg  and  John  B. 
Jenkins.  Mr.  McCoy  received  ten  cents  a  lot  for 
his  services.  He  laid  off  2,600  lots.  During  the 
survey  he  bought  one-sixteenth  interests  in  these 
lots.  The  owners  at  this  time  of  the  city  to  be, 
were  Alvin  Humphrey,  John  Baker,  Henry  C.  Fel- 
lows, John  B.  Jenkins,  James  McCoy,  George  W. 
Kellogg,  John  W.  Baker,  Lyman  Blake,  Jeremiah 
Humphrey  and  R.  J.  Jenks.  Several  cabins  went 
up  this  season,  which  gave  an  air  of  stability  to  the 
settlement. 

A  community  of  this  kind  could  not  be  long 
together  without  a  matrimonial  affair.  The  fair  sex 
were  exceedingly  scarce  at  this  time,  yet  this  only 
made  them  more  precious,  and  the  single  men  more 
ardent.  Edward  Rolph  and  Frances  Baker  (sister  of 
John  Baker)  had  met,  and  loved.  The  result  of 
this  was  that  in  the  fall  a  wedding  was  announced, 
and  everybody  invited  to  attend  ;  and,  as  this  was 
the  first  affair  of  the  kind  in  the  country,  no  one  re- 
fused. The  wedding  was  at  the  residence  of  John 
Baker.  Mrs.  Daniel  Reed,  who  had  established  an 
enviable  reputation  for  cooking  the  most  palatable 
and  savory  dishes,  and  that  too,  from  the  scantiest 
larder,  superintended  the  culinary  department.  She 
made  a  wedding  cake  for  the  bride,  which  gave  her 
great  delight,  and  it  is  said  she  paid  almost  as  much 
attention  to  it  as  she  did  to  the  bridegroom.  A 
young  lady  who  was  living  with  Mrs.  Reed  took 
charge  of  the  bride.  The  bridegroom  was  loth  to 
put  on  gloves,  stating  that  it  was  not  cold  enough  to 
wear  them  !  They  were  married  by  Justice  Barlow. 
It  was  a  merry  time  all  around,  and  every  one  was 
happy.  The  Justice  was  particularly  so,  having 
drank  the  bride's  health  a  good  many  times !  He 


got  on  the  table  and  sat  down,  taking  his  coffee 
through  the  medium  of  ginger-bread.  Mrs.  Reed 
celebrated  her  84th  birthday  on  the  i3th  of  last 
May  (1885.) 

The  first  birth  in  the  town  was  a  son  to  the  wife  of 
Robert  Booth.  This  important  event  occurred  in  the 
early  part  of  1838.  The  first  person  who  died  in 
Fulton  was  Eunicia  Aldrich,  a  daughter  of  John 
Baker's  second  wife,  by  her  first  husband.  She  died 
in  1838,  and  was  buried  near  the  Cat-tail  Creek. 
Joseph  Fowler  died  soon  after,  and  was  buried  in 
the  grounds  now  inclosed  by  the  cemetery.  He  was 
interred  just  north  of  the  lots  first  set  aside  for  the 
cemetery. 

The  first  religious  service  held  in  the  town  was  in 
1838,  by  'Rev.  Mr.  Emmerson,  a  Congregational 
minister.  Dr.  Daniel  Reed  was  the  first  physician 
to  settle  in  Fulton.  He  died  in  1882.  (See  page 
240.)  Robert  Booth  opened  the  first  regular  hotel 
in  the  town.  It  was  a  frame  building  and  was  lo- 
cated just  east  of  what  was  known  as  the  square. 
The  building  was  subsequently  moved  out  onto  a 
farm.  R.  J.  Jenks  constructed  the  first  ferry  for 
crossing  the  Mississippi.  This  was  in  1837.  Chenery 
&  Phelps  opened  the  first  store,  which  was  early  in 
the  spring  of  1839.  They  started  with  their  goods 
the  fall  before,  but  their  goods  were  frozen  in  at  Al- 
ton, where  they  remained  through  the  winter.  They 
brought  in  a  large  stock  for  those  days.  Before  this 
store  was  opened,  the  people  did  their  trading  mostly 
at  Galena  and  Fort  Armstrong,  now  Rock  Island. 
Sometimes  they  traded  at  Albany. 

The  land  of  this  section  was  put  into  the  market 
in  October,  1839,  when  it  was  sectionized.  This  was 
done  along  the  river  and  extending  back  to  the 
bluffs.  It  was  all  surveyed  and  sectionized  about 
the  year  1844,  when  it  was  all  in  the  market.  In 
1839  the  plat  of  Fulton  was  enlarged,  and  included 
then  about  500  acres.  The  Land  Office  at  this  time 
was  at  Galena.  Hollis  Chenery  was  appointed 
agent  by  the  claimants  of  Fulton,  to  go  to  the  Land 
Office  and  purchase  the  land,  which  was  then  held 
at  $1.25  per  acre.  This  he  did,  and  when  he  re- 
turned, deeded  it  back  to  the  claimants. 

The  first  postoffice  was  established  in  Fulton  in 
1838,  with  John  Baker  as  Postmaster.  Hollis 
Chenery  succeed  Mr.  Baker  in  1841.  In  1849  an- 
other change  was  made  and  A.  Phelps  was  ap- 


• 


93° 


WH1TES1DE  COUNTY. 


i 


pointed,  who  held  the  place  until  he  died.  John 
Phelps  then  look  charge  and  held  the  office  until 
1853,  when  he  was  succeed  by  W.  S.  Wright.  Suc- 
ceeding Mr.  Wright  were  George  S.  Phelps,  J.  J. 
Jones,  O.  Leighton  and  E.  P.  Wills.  When  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  became  President  he  appointed  Dr. 
W.  C.  Snyder,  who  held  the  office  until  1883,  when, 
having  been  elected  to  the  Legislature,  he  resigned, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  J.  C.  Snyder,  who  at 
present  holds  the  office. 

In  1848,  the  town  was  impeded  in  its  growth  on 
account  of  the  cholera. 

The  first  school  opened  in  the  town  was  by  James 
*  McCoy,  in  the  winter  of  1840. 

When  the  settlers  first  came  in,  there  were  quite 
a  number  of  the  Winnebago,  Pottawatomie  and 
Fox  Indians  loitering  about,  who  had  not  yet  gone 
to  their  reservations  beyond  the  Mississippi.  They 
made  themselves  at  home  among  the  settlers,  pitch- 
f  ing  their  tepees  wherever  they  pleased.  They  were 
friendly,  however,  and  made  no  disturbance.  A 
A?  favorite  amusement  with  the  settlers  was  to  hire  the 
Indians  to  dance  for  them. 

The  Aborigines  must  have  had  a  large  town  here 
at  one  time,  the  location  being  selected  on  account 
of  its  favorable  river  crossing.  There  were  deep 
paths  worn  into  the  ground  leading  from  the  east  to 
the  river.  There  were  also  primitive  smelting  fur- 
naces found  here,  and  upon  their  being  dug  out, 
quantities  of  lead  and  lead  ore  were  discovered,  to- 
gether with  Indian  relics  and  tools.  What  uses 
they  put  the  lead  to  is  not  known.  The  ore  was 
taken  from  the  bluffs  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
town.  From  the  tumulated  appearance  of  the  ground, 
they  must  have  also  planted  and  raised  corn  here  to 
a  considerable  extent. 

The  first  saw-mill  put  in  operation  in  the  town 
was  by  Price  &  Todd,  in  1853.  It  was  called  Todd 
&  Dement's  Mill.  There  was  a  small  water-power 
mill  started  up  on  the  Cat-tail  some  years  before  this, 
but  it  did  not  pay  and  was  abandoned.  The  De- 
ment Mill  afterwards  passed  into  the  hands  of  Cul- 
bertson,  Smith  &  Co.  The  lumber  business  continued 
to  increase  until  it  became  an  important  factor  in 
the  growth  of  Fulton. 

In  1851  quite  an  impetus  was  given  to  the  growth 
@)  of  Fulton  by  the  railroad  project  which  had  for  its 
\s,  object  the  connection  of  Fulton  with  the  lakes  by 

f^tS. • 


*;  '* 


rail.  This  project  was  conceived  by  Judge  James 
McCoy,  one  of  Fulton's  oldest  and  most  prominent 
citizens.  After  passing  through  many  complications, 
the  particular  history  of  which  will  be  found  in  the 
chapter  on  railroads,  this  road  was  completed  to 
Fulton. 

Pending  the  construction  of  this  road,  Charles 
Dement  conceived  the  project  of  erecting  in  Fulton 
the  largest  hotel  west  of  Chicago.  This  hotel,  called 
the  Dement  House,  was  completed  in  1855,  at  a 
cost  of  $roo,ooo,  and  furnished  with  goods  from 
New  York  at  a  cost  of  $40,000.  The  building  is 
100  xi  10  feet,  and  five  stories  high.  The  walls 
were  built  of  stone  taken  from  the  Fulton  quarries. 
It  was  finished  with  all  the  improvements  known  at 
that  time,  elegantly  furnished  and  thoroughly  ap- 
pointed throughout.  For  a  time  it  was  crowded 
with  guests,  and  it  seemed  that  another  hotel  was 
necessary  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  city.  But  the 
action  of  the  railroad  companies  changed  all  this, 
and  in  1857  this  grand  hotel  closed,  and  with  it 
many  other  enterprises  connected  with  the  city. 

In  1855,  business  matters  were  so  prosperous  that 
it  was  thought  best  to  have  the  town  incorporated. 
A  meeting  was  held  for  the  election  of  officers  in 
April.  Wm.  C.  Green,  Charles  Dement,  Onser  Cas- 
well,  Wilson  S.  Wright  and  James  Briggs  were  elected 
Trustees.  Wm.  C.  Green  was  elected  President  of 
the  Board ;  Benj.  S.  Gerrish,  Clerk ;  and  Charles  N. 
Wheeler,  Treasurer. 

The  village  was  platted  in  1856.  Among  the  pro- 
visions were,  that  all  streets  and  alleys  north  and 
south  should  run  parallel  with  Base  Street,  and 
streets  east  and  west  parallel  with  Ferry  Street. 
This  plat  embraced  all  of  section  28,  except  that 
part  extending  into  the  river,  and  about  60  acres  in 
the  southwest  corner. 

The  growth  of  the  town  induced  the  people  to  take 
on  a  higher  organization,  and  in  1859  Fulton  became 
a  city.  It  was  organized  under  a  special  act  of  the 
Legislature,  passed  Feb.  14,  1859,  and  it  is  governed 
under  the  provisions  of  the  charter  granted  by  this 
act,  and  the  amendments  thereto,  approved  March 
9,  1869. 

The  city  perfected  its  organizations  under  the  pro- 
visions of  its  charter  by  an  election  held  the  first 
Tuesday  in  April,  1859.  James  McCoy  was  chosen 
Mayor ;  Leander  Smith,  Daniel  E.  Dodge,  Lyman 


I 
I 

r;;. 


j 


f& 


->  ,,  KT 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Blake  and  Charles  A.  Chase,  Aldermen ;  and  Jerome 
T.  Westwell,  Clerk. 

The  lumber  interests  became  quite  an  important 
auxiliary  to  the  development  of  Fulton,  and  one  of 
its  principal  industries.  In  1862  C.  E.  Langford 
put  his  mill  in  operation,  from  which  grew  his 
present  extensive  lumber  manufactory.  He  first  re- 
paired the  old  Dement  Mill,  and  operated  that 
awhile.  In  1868,  he  took  Warren  P.  Hall  in  as  a 
partner.  In  1878,  it  was  incorporated,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $75,000.  From  time  to  time  the  manufac- 
turing capacity  of  this  lumber  mill  has  been  in- 
creased until  it  has  reached  its  present  dimensions. 

In  the  latter  part  of  December,  1864,  the  right  of 
way  into  the  city  by  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
St.  Paul  Railroad  was  obtained,  and  condemnation 
of  property  had.  In  the  early  part  of  1865  the  track 
was  completed  and  the  road  came  into  Fulton,  but 
known  then  as  the  Warsaw,  Rock  Island  &  Galena 
Railroad.  In  the  month  of  January,  1883,  the  Ful- 
ton, or  Clinton,  &  Mendota  Branch  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  completed  its  track 
and  run  its  first  train  into  the  city.  In  addition  to 
the  above  mentioned  railway  lines,  the  City  of  Fulv 
ton  has  the  transportatiun  facilities  afforded  by  the 
Mississippi.  There  are  numerous  boats  plying  the 
river  and  landing  at  Fulton,  but  the  principal  busi- 
ness done  is  by  the  Diamond  Jo  Line,  as  it  is 
called,  which  was  established  in  1866  by  Joseph 
Reynolds.  It  was  started  at  first  to  operate  in  con- 
nection with  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad. 
This  line  brings  down  in  boats  and  barges  much 
of  the  products  of  the  Great  Northwest.  Their  car- 
goes are  transferred  into  the  warehouses  and  eleva- 
tors, and  taken  from  there  by  rail  to  Chicago,  the 
emporium  of  the  world.  The  Fulton  and  Lyons 
Ferry  furnishes  ready  transportation  across  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  Lyons.  It  makes  trips  every  hour. 

Fulton  enjoys  a  permanent  and  steady  growth. 
Its  buildings,  dwellings,  as  well  as  business  blocks, 
have  been  of  late  years  constructed  mostly  of  brick. 
The  census  of  1880  gave  it  a  population  of  1,733 
souls.  The  population  is  at  present  estimated  at 
about  2,100. 

The  change  of  the  plans  of  the  Northwestern  Rail- 
road by  crossing  the  Mifsissippi  River  at  Clinton, 
instead  of  at  the  "  Narrows,"  materially  affected  the 
destinies  of  Fulton.  Beyond  a  doubt  this  is  the  best 


place  for  constructing  a  bridge  across  the  Missis- 
sippi of  all  along  the  Illinois  shore.  But  this  city 
has  sustaining  resources  within  herself  and  will 
progress  forward,  not  backward.  It  is  supported  by 
a  rich  agricultural  and  stock-raising  country,  which 
is  not  fickle,  and  will  not  change,  though  railways 
may.  It  has  many  substantial  and  enriching  indus- 
tries that  cannot  but  be  perpetuated.  Its  many  beau- 
tiful residences  indicate  the  taste  of  its  citizens  ;  its 
fine  schools,  their  intelligence.  As  a  place  of  resi- 
dence, its  site  is  healthful  and  pleasing.  From  its 
heights  most  superb  views  can  be  had  from  every 
point  of  the  compass. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  place,  though 
they  have  passed  through  the  struggles  and  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  life ;  though  their  shadows  fall  to- 
ward the  east,  and  the  frosts  of  many  winters  rest 
upon  their  heads,  are  still  in  possession  of  health  to 
enjoy  the  blessings  of  the  civilization  and  the  culture 
they  have  labored  so  hard  to  establish.  They  have 
built  upon  the  lands  once  occupied  by  a  race  that 
has  left  nothing  behind  them  but  their  mounds,  and 
by  another  that  is  fast  passing  away.  But  the  new 
race  will  remain  as  long  as  the  "  Father  of  the 
Waters  "  shall  wash  the  shores  of  their  city. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  present  officers 
of  the  city  government .  Mayor,  Wm.  C.  Green  ;  Al- 
dermen— John  Stewart,  Oliver  E.  Finch,  First  Ward  ; 
Jackson  F.  Martin,  George  S.  Sardam,  Second  Ward; 
Lyman  Blake,  Joel  W.  Farley,  Third  Ward  ;  Clerk, 
Thomas  H.  Smith  :  Treasurer,  Charles  B.  Mer- 
cereau  ;  Attorney,  James  McCoy  ;  Marshal,  Fred  K. 
Bastian. 

BUSINESS  INTERESTS. 

One  of  the  important  industries  of  Fulton  is  the 
Langford  &  Hall  Lumber  Company.  This  business 
was  started  in  1862,  by  C.  E.  Langford.  The  ca- 
pacity per  day — ten  hours — is  75,000  feet  of  lumber, 
36,000  shingles,  and  12,000  lath.  They  also  manu- 
facture moldings,  and  employ  130  men.  The  three 
lines  of  railroads  have  tracts  through  their  yards. 
The  mill  is  located  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and 
their  logs  came  from  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota  and 
are  rafted  down  the  Mississippi. 

T.  A.  Harden  &  Co.  are  the  bankers  of  the  city. 
The  members  of  the  firm  are  Quinton  C.  Ward  and 
John  H.  Hungate.  This  is  one  of  the  substantial 
banking  houses  of  the  country.  The  building  is  a. 


S!> 

5 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


~^tse 


two-story  brick  structure  and  the  vault  is  built  upon 
the  solid  bed  rock  of  the  Mississippi.  The  walls  are 
double,  with  air  chambers  and  ventilators,  and  has  a 


'"  combination  lock  on  the  vault-doors.     Inside  is  one 
.    of  Hall's  combination  time-lock,  double  burglar-proof 
vp  safes.     The  office  is  large,  airy  and  well  appointed, 
with    private  rooms  attached.     This  bank  was  es- 
tablished in  1876. 

Leslie  Williams  carries  a  large  assortment  of  drugs, 
medicines,  stationery,  books,  wall-paper  and  fancy 
goods.  A  D.  Mitchell  has  a  general  line  of  groceries, 
glass  and  crockery-ware. 

W.  C.  &  J.  C.  Snyder,  dealers  in  grain,  farm  pro- 
duce and  agricultural  implements.  General  Steam- 
boat Agency  is  one  of  the  leading  firms  of  the  county. 
This  business  was  started  in  1855. 
'  John  Stewart  is  a  manufacturer  of  carriages  and 
light  buggies ;  also  does  blacksmithing  and  repairing. 

Egnatz  Spinkee  is  proprietor  of  the  Fulton  Pottery, 
-'  where  garden-vases,  jugs,  jars,  pots,  pans,  firkins, 
etc.,  are  manufactured.  He  gets  his  clay  from 
Whitehall,  111.  The  Pipe  Factory  is  conducted  by 
Gerten  &  Bros.,  who  manufacture  smoking-pipes 
and  do  quite  an  extensive  business,  shipping  their 
goods  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  They  get  their 
clay  from  Ustick  Township.  Oliver  Finch  is  the 
brick  manufacturer. 

The  Fulton  Flouring  Mills  are  owned  by  W.  M. 
Herald  and  leased  by  T.  L.  Taggart.  They  have 
two  run  of  stone,  and  are  making  a  good  article  of 
flour. 

De  Bey  &  Van  Dallen  are  dealers  in  hardware  and 
and  agricultural  implements.  George  de  Bey  has  a 
f  general  line  of  groceries  and  dry  goods.  Richard 
Green  has  dry  goods,  groceries,  boots  and  shoes.  J. 
(^  N.  Ward  keeps  a  line  of  drugs,  medicines,  wall- 
paper, etc.  W.  D.  Madden  &  Co.  are  wholesale 
liquor  dealers.  Tohn  Downs  has  a  general  line'  of 
hardware.  P.  Kitchen  is  a  manufacturer  of  harness 
and  dealer  in  saddlery.  S.  Collins  conducts  marble 
and  granite  works.  Frank  Dana  has  a  news  depot, 
stationery,  fruit  and  cigars. 

D.  &  C.  Summers  carry  a  general  stock  of  gro- 
ceries, while  another  hardware  store  is  conducted  by 
C.  N.  Wheeler.  A.  Morse  is  the  dealer  in  leather 
and  findings.  L.  B.  Peters  has  a  furniture  store,  and 
manufactures  mattresses.  He  is  also  an  undertaker. 
J.  M.  Fay  is  also  an  undertaker.  Mrs.  S,  C,  Ins- 


keep  accommodates  the  ladies  with  millinery.  H. 
P.  Pulver  and  D.  N.  Allison  each  have  a  bakery  and 
confectionery  store. 

J.  W.  Broadhead  deals  in  dry  goods,  notions  and 
clothing,  while  G.  Naniga  &  Co.  are  dealers   in   dry 
goods,  groceries,  boots  and  shoes,  feed  and  produce. 
1  S.  O.  Newell  has  an  elegant  assortment  of  jewelry. 

Hill  &  Peterson  and  G.  Utz  have  meat  markets. 
A.  F.  W.  Volkman  and  H.  De  Wind  have  tailor- 
shops.  J.  W.  Nye  does  blacksmithing,  wagon  and 
machine  repairing.  H.  L.  Abbott  keeps  a  livery  and 
feed  stable.  John  Frit*  is  the  builder  and  contrac- 
tor. A.  E.  Dade  and  Fred  Fell  are  boot  and  shoe- 
makers. Thos.  A.  Davenport  does  house  and  sign 
painting,  and  Milo  Jones  keeps  a  restaurant.  There 
are  several  saloons  and  billard  halls  in  town  and  a 
skating  rink. 

Fulton  has  three  hotels.  The  Robinson  House, 
James  Holleran,  proprietor.  This  hotel  is  one  of  the 
old  resorts  for  travelers.  It  has  been  partially  re- 
built and  refitted,  and  offers  now  good  entertainment 
to  its  guests.  The  Central  House,  of  which  T.  W. 
Schroederis  proprietor,  andTransient  House,  of  which 
E.  W.  Oakley  is  proprietor.  This  hotel  is  at  the 
the  Junction. 

The  people  of  Fulton  are  well  provided  with  able 
and  skillful  physicians.  The  gentlemen  who  repre- 
sent this  profession  are  Drs.  C.  A.  Griswold,  G.  W. 
Clendennin,  H.  M.  Kennedy,  H.  J.  Heusinkald, 
and  H.  Leach. 

James  McCoy  represents  the  legal  profession  at 
Fulton,  and  has  done  so  for  nearly  half  a  century. 
He  was  the  first  lawyer  to  locate  in  Fulton.  George 
Terwilliger  is  the  city's  Magistrate. 

FULTON   BAND. 

The  city  is  quite  fortunate  in  having  so  good  a 
band.  It  keeps  up  in  its  practice  with  the  musical 
world,  and  is  one  of  the  best  bands  in  the  county.  It 
is  lead  by  C.  W.  Warren. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Fulton  Graded  School. — -The  youth  of  Fulton  are 
exceedingly  fortunate  in  having  such  an  excellent 
school  in  which  to  prepare  themselves  for  the  duties 
of  life.  George  C.  Lomis  is  Principal,  assisted  by 
Miss  F.  H.  Benson.  Miss  Hattie  Green  has  charge 
of  the  Grammar  department ;  Miss  Josie  E.  Knight 
and  Miss  Alice  E.  Knight  have  charge  of  the  Inter- 
mediate ;  Miss  Clara  A,  Adams,  Mrs.  N.  Hutchins 


A 


r:  '' 


•2*^ *t*@§j£(® 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


and  Miss  A.  Chandler,  the  Primary.  The  average 
attendance  in  each  of  the  departments  is  about  50- 

^  total  enrollment,  350.  Connected  with  the  school  is  a 
library  of  75  volumes.  The  school  has  a  graduating 

/§!  class,  who  receive  diplomas  upon  the  completion  of 
their  course  of  studies.  Prof.  S.  W.  Mountz  gives 
instruction  in  music  twice  a  week  during  the  terms. 
Mr.  Lomis  has  a  commendable  system  of  instruc- 
tion— a  system  which  is  well  adapted  for  the  rapid 
advancement  of  his  pupils.  The  school  building  is 
a  substantial  three-story  brick  structure,  with  large, 
airy  and  well  ventilated  rooms.  It  is  located  on  an 
eminence  which  commands  a  wide  extent  of  beau- 
tiful country,  and  its  grounds  are  attractive. 

Northern  Illinois  College. — This  is  one  of  the 
great  features  of  Fulton.  It  was  first  established 
by  Col.  De  Estynge  Cavert,  in  1861,  as  a  military 
school,  and  was  called  the  Western  Union  College 
and  Military  Academy.  Col.  Cavert  proposed  to 
open  his  institution  if  the  citizens  would  take  hold 
and  help  him,  which  they  did,  forming  a  company 
and  issuing  bonds.  He  secured  the  Dement  House, 
which  had  been  vacant  for  some  years,  refitted  the 
building,  and  extended  the  grounds  so  as  to  have 
ample  room  for  drill.  The  war  had  commenced, 
and  military  enthusiasm  ran  high.  He  received 
from  the  United  States  Government  arms  and  ac- 
coutrements for  the  use  of  the  cadet  corps.  It  was 
carried  on  in  this  way  for  about  four  years,  receiving 
large  numbers  of  students,  and  sending  out  many 
well  drilled  cadets  to  the  field.  Col.  Cavert  desired 
then  to  retire  from  the  college,  and  have  the  com- 
pany take  it  off  his  hands  and  rent  it  as  a  college. 
They  took  it  from  him,  and  organized  a  college 
under  the  general  laws  of  the  State,  securing  a 
special  charter.  Donations  were  asked  for  and  re- 
ceived from  all  parts  of  the  State,  and  quite  a  large 
fund  was  raised.  One  of  the  objects  was  to  take 
the  disabled  soldiers  from  Illinois  regiments  and 
educate  them  to  fill  civil  stations.  The  same  ad- 
vantages were  extended  to  the  children  of  soldiers. 
The  trustees  managed  the  institution,  with  a  fac- 
ulty, of  whom  Leander  H.  Potter  was  President. 
The  expenses  were  defrayed  from  the  donation  fund. 
The  institution  received  from  the  State  during  this 
period  about  $20,000.  Mr.  Potter's  administration 
was  not  satisfactory  to  the  trustees,  and  they  indi- 
cated to  him  that  his  resignation  would  be  accepted, 


and  he  resigned.  About  this  period  they  ceased 
soliciting  aid  from  tbe  State.  The  question  of 
changing  the  name  of  the  college  was  discussed,  and 
it  was  finally  agreed  by  the  stockholders  and  trus- 
tees to  adopt' a  new  name",  calling  the  institution 
the  Northern  Illinois  College.  The  trustees  then 
secured  Mr.  W.  D.  F.  Lummis,  who,  with  other  pro- 
fessors,  took  charge  of  the  institution.  They  gave 
him  the  interest  on  the  fund  (which  was  then 
$30,000),  charging  him  nothing  for  the  use  of  the 
building. 

Mr.  Lummis  did  well  financially,  but  did  not 
build  the  college  up,  and  they  disposed  of  him. 
They  then  leased  the  college  to  a  minister,  J.  W. 
Hubbard,  whose  administration  was  about  as  unsat- 
isfactory as  the  preceding  ones.  Subsequently,  A. 
A.  Griffith  took  charge  of  the  institution.  He  was  a 
very  good  man,  but  did  not  advance  the  college  as 
the  trustees  desired  it  to  be  done.  It  was  during 
Mr.  Griffith's  management  that  Professors  A.  M. 
Hansen  and  W.  F.  Hansen  came  in.  They  were 
very  popular  and  pleased  the  Board.  They  finally 
disposed  of  Mr.  Griffith,  and  placed  the  college  in 
charge  of  Prof.  A.  M.  Hansen,  who  reorganized  the 
institution,  making  a  good  many  changes  and  im- 
provements. President  Hansen  had  erected  on  the. 
grounds  north  of  the  college  a  large  brick  three-story 
building,  for  the  accommodation  of  his  family,  the 
female  students,  and  for  a  dining  hall. 

The  trustees  keep  up  the  expenses  of  the  institu- 
tion, such  as  repairs,  insurance,  etc.,  and  give  the 
use  of  the  building.  This  is  done  from  the  interest 
on  the  donation  fund.  President  Hansen  has  be- 
come quite  popular,  and  he  has  largely  increased  the 
patronage.  A  business  education  can  be  had  at 
this  institution  that  cannot  be  secured  at  a  graded 
school  or  any  other  college.  The  student  can  get 
his  business  education  and  go  out,  or  can  go  through 
with  a  regular  classical  course.  This  is  one  of  the 
best  educational  institutions  in  the  State,  and  piob- 
ably  nowhere  in  the  State  can  a  thorough  education 
be  procured  at  so  little  expense.  For  health  and 
beauty  of  location  it  is  unexcelled.  The  Faculty 
take  every  pains  with  their  pupils,  and  the  President 
looks  after  them  with  the  care  of  a  parent.  The  pa- 
rents who  send  their  children  here  can  rest  assured 
that  they  will  be  under  the  best  of  influences.  The 
college  buildings  are  heated  by  steam,  and  the 




f 


WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


rooms    are   large   and  well-ventilated.     The   apart- 


ments appropriated  to  the  young  ladies  are  really 
3»  ejegant.  The  college  has  all  the  instruments,  chem- 
icals, and  chemical  apparatus,  geological  cabinets 
and.,  charts  necessary  for  the  use  of' the  student. 
One  pf  the  attractive  features  of  this  institution  is 
that  it  is  free  from  sectarian  influences,  though  its 
government  is  upon  a  true  Christian  basis.  Board 
of  Trustees — Edmund  R.  Allen,  President :  Leander 
Smith,  Treasurer;  James  McCoy,  Secretary;  C.  E. 
t  Langford,  Payson  Trask,  John  Dickson,  Bradstreet 
Robinson,  Charles  R.  Rood,  Daniel  P.  Spears,  Wm. 
P.  Culbertson,  Charles  Spears  and  A.  M.  Hansen; 
Executive  Committee — Bradstreet  Robinson,  James 
McCoy,  Leander  Smith,  Payson  Trask  and  Wm.  P. 
Culbertson. 

The  Faculty  is  as  follows:  A.  M.  Hansen,  A. 
M.,  Ph.  D.,  metaphysics  and  ancient  languages ; 
W.  F.  Hansen,  mathematics  and  literature;  Miss 
Mary  A.  Parker,  A.  B.,  natural  sciences  and  Ger- 
man ;  J.  E.  Bittinger,  B.  S.,  commercial  course  and 
assistant  in  natural  sciences;  Miss  Minnie  L.  Wil- 
bur, B.  S.,  instrumental  and  vocal  music;  N.  C. 
Pratt,  B.  S.,  common  branches;  Miss  E.  M.  Vath, 
B.  S.,  elocution  and  reading;  Mrs.  Lottie  Post,  oil 
painting  and  drawing. 


THE  PRESS. 

The  Fulton  Journal. — Feeling  that  it  was  essen- 
tial to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  Fulton  to  have 
an  organ  to  represent  its  interests,  Judge  James 
McCoy  and  John  Phelps  got  together  and  deter- 
mined favorably  for  the  project.  Accordingly,  in  the 
fall  of  1853,  they  sent  to  St.  Louis  and  purchased  a 
press  and  a  newspaper  outfit.  The  press  was  ship- 
ped by  a  steamboat,  but  it  was  so  late  in  the  season 
when  the  boat  started  that  her  passage  up  the  river 
was  obstructed  by  ice,  and  she  was  obliged  to  put 
in  at  Rock  Island,  where  the  material  for  Fulton's 
future  exponent  was  stored  for  the  winter.  When 
navigation  opened  in  the  spring,  the  press  was 
brought  up. 

Not  being  printers,  the  projectors  of  this  enterprise 
secured  the  services  of  a  practical  printer  in  the  per- 
son of  A.  McFadden,  of  Freeport,  who  came  and 
took  charge,  organized  the  office  and  issued  the  first 
number  in  May,  1854.  It  was  issued  as  the  White- 
side  Investigator,  and  was  the  first  paper  published 
in  the  county.  It  was  a  very  respectable  sheet  for 

/~>  <v 


that  period.  Messrs.  McCoy  &  Phelps  had  erected 
a  two-story  brick  building  for  the  use  of  the  press, 
on  the  corner  of  Short  and  Union  Streets.  McFad- 
den bought  the  paper  from  McCoy  &  Phelps,  and 
subsequently  took  in  G.  A.  Laighton  as  a  partner. 
Later  on,  Laighton  became  sole  owner,  and  changed 
the  name  to  Fulton  City  Advertiser.  He  improved 
the  paper,  and  was  assisted  in  the  editorial  depart- 
ment by  Dr.  C.  A.  Griswold  and  Messrs.  Goot  & 
Lewis.  In  1856,  the  Advertiser  advocated  the  elec- 
tion of  James  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency,  which 
changed  its  editorial  staff.  Subsequently  Laighton 
became  involved  in  debt  and  quit  the  country,  leav- 
ing the  paper  in  the  hands  of  subordinates,  and  after 
a  few  issues  it  suspended. 

In  1859  the  press  was  leased  to  G.  J.  Booth  and 
B.  C.  Galliday,  and  a  paper  was  issued  by  them  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Weekly  Courier,  which  was 
Republican  in  politics.  In  a  few  months  Galliday 
withdrew  and  Booth  had  entire  charge.  In  the 
spring  of  1863  Mr.  Booth  purchased  the  plant  from 
Laighton,  and  changed  the  name  to  the  Fulton 
Journal,  which  name  has  been  continued  to  the 
present  time.  In  1866,  Mr.  Booth  took  his  son  into 
the  office,  and  the  paper  was  carried  on  under  the 
name  of  G.  J.  Booth  &  Son. 

In  1872,  Mr.  George  Terwilliger  purchased  the 
establishment  and  became  editor  and  proprietor.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  sold  a  half  interest  to 
Dr.  W.  C.  Snyder,  who  relieved  Mr.  Terwilliger  of 
the  business  department. 

In  March,  1876,  Mr.  Snyder  purchased  the  entire 
interest,  retaining  Mr.  Terwilliger  as  editor.  Mr. 
Terwilliger  withdrew  in  November,  1876,  and  after- 
wards Thos.  J.  Pickett,  Jr.,  leased  the  paper  from 
Dr.  Snyder.  Subsequently,  Mr.  Pickett  and  J.  C. 
Snyder  purchased  it.  In  1878,  W.  R.  Cobb  bought 
out  Pickett's  interest.  In  1880  it  was  purchased  by 
the  Sterling  Gazette  Company  and  J.  C.  Snyder  re- 
tained as  editor.  In  i88t,  Fred  K.  Bastian,  who 
was  local  editor  of  the  Gazette,  purchased  the  entire 
interest.  In  August  of  the  same  year,  his  brother 
A.  W.  came  in  as  a  partner,  and  the  Journal  has 
since  been  conducted  jointly  by  them.  During  this 
year  the  Journal  was  changed  to  a  seven-column 
folio  semi-weekly  paper.  It  was  first  published  as  a 
Democratic  paper.  In  1859  it  was  changed  to  a 
Republican  paper  and  remained  so  until  1881,  when 


I 

*T* 

4,       • 


i^yvvs^S 


-        '       - 


(SN 


it  became  an  independent  Democratic  journal.  It 
has  a  splendid  job  office  and  one  of  the  best  compo- 
sition rooms  in  the  country. 

The  Journal  is  now  in  its  3 1  st  volume,  with  a 
large  and  increasing  circulation.  It  is  a  bright 
newspaper,  containing  all  the  important  news  of  the 
day,  devoted  to  the  interests  of  Fulton  and  the 
country,  ably  edited  and  one  of  the  leading  papers 
of  the  county. 

Fulton  Star. — This  paper  was  established  by  Rev. 
George  W.  Perry,  the  first  issue  coming  out  Jan.  4, 
1883.  It  is  a  neat,  newsy,  five-column  quarto 
weekly  journal,  well  conducted,  with  a  circulation  of 
about  500.  It  was  established  as  a  Republican 
paper.  In  March,  1885,  it  became  a  Prohibition 
sheet,  accepting  a  proposition  extended  by  this  party 
to  be  their  official  organ  for  Whiteside  County.  It 
is  the  prospective  organ  of  this  party  of  this  Sena- 
torial District.  Mr.  Perry  is  a  retired  member  of 
the  Rock  River  Methodist  Episcopal  Conference. 
He  has  been  a  zealous  advocate  of  prohibition  for 
many  years.  On  account  of  ill  health,  Mr.  Perry 
recently  retired  from  the  paper,  and  it  is  now  owned 
and  conducted  by  his  sons,  George  T.  and  W.  F. 
Perry. 

SOCIETIES. 

Fulton  City  Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  and  A.  M., 
was  instituted  Dec.  25,  1855, — Christmas  eve.  It 
was  organized  under  a  dispensation,  the  Masons  of 
the  city  having  petitioned  for  the  privilege.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1856,  a  charter  was  granted  them.  David 
W.  Thomson  was  the  first  W.  M.  In  1868,  they 
commenced  the  building  of  a  hall,  which  was  finished 
in  the  spring  of  1869,  and  dedicated  June  30. 
James  I.uckey,  Acting  Grand  Master,  opened  the 
ceremonies  with  an  appropriate  speech.  On  this 
occasion  David  W.  Thomson  presented  the  lodge 
with  a  gavel  made  in  Jerusalem  from  olive  wood, 
and  an  ashlar  made  of  stone  from  the  quarry  under 
the  city  of  Jerusalem.  The  dedication  ceremonies 
were  closed  by  a  grand  banquet  which  was  held  in 
their  banqueting  hall,  and  which  was  gotten  up  by 
the  ladies  of  Fulton.  They  have  a  fine  hall,  which 
is  very  neatly  and  appropriately  furnished.  Ad- 
joining the  hall  is  their  banquet  room,  and  in  the 
rear  of  this  is  their  kitchen,  which  is  furnished  with 
all  the  utensils  necessary  for  a  culinary  department. 
The  lodge  has  70  members,  is  in  good  working 


The  present  W.  M.  is  J.  C. 


d 


order,  and  prospering. 
Martindale. 

Fulton  Chapter,  No.  108,  R.  A.  M.,  was  organized 
Feb.  13,  1867.  It  worked  under  a  dispensation. 
Oct.  4,  when  their  charter  was  granted,  Abraham 
Salle  was  the  first  H.  P.,  D.  W.  Thomson,  King, 
and  Cyrus  Pratt,  Scribe.  They  have  at  present  62 
members.  The  present  officers  are,  W.  C.  Snyder, 
H.  P.,  R.  H.  Andrews,  King,  and  Thomas  A. 
Hardin,  Scribe. 

Abou  Ben  Adhem  Lodge,  No.  148,  1.  O.  O.  F. 
—This  lodge  was  chartered  in  1871,  and  the  meet-  , 
ing  for  the  organization  was  held  July  29,  same 
year.  It  was  formed  from  the  old  Portland  Lodge, 
whose  charter  was  granted  Oct.  12,  1853,  and  which 
was  disbanded  in  i86r.  ].  \V.  Woodward  was  the 
first  N.  G.  This  lodge  has  a  large  and  well- 
equipped  hall,  with  a  membership  of  148.  The 
present  N.  G.  is  Henry  McCurray. 

Modern    Woodmen  of  America. — This    camp  was 
chartered  Feb.  to,  1883.     They  have  a  membership  • 
of  62,  and  meet  in    the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall.     The  j 
object  of  this  order   is   to  promote  good  fellowship  * 
and  neighborly  regard.     It  bestows  substantial  ben-  ] 
efits  upon  the    widows,  children,  and    relatives  of  > 
deceased  members.      They   also  care   for  the  sick 
and  indigent  members.     It  is  a  life  insurance  order,  " 
paying  such  amounts   upon   the  death  of  a  member  I 
as  he  may  select  when  joining.     During  life,  each 
member  is   subject  to  assessments  on  the  sum  se- 
lected by   him,  whenever    necessary  to  meet  death 
claims.     These    assessments     are    very    moderate. 

The  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  have 
an  interesting  organization  in  Fulton.  Their  object,  \ 
as  is  well  known,  is  to  promote  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance. This  society  was  organized  in  September, 
1875.  They  hold  regular  meetings,  and  give  a  good 
deal  of  time  to  the  objects  of  their  organization. 
Mrs.  George  Whitcomb  is  President ;  Mrs.  C.  A. 
Wood,  Corresponding  Secretary,  and  Miss  Julia 
Teller,  Treasurer. 

The  Leata  Lodge,  No.  428,  1.  O.  G.  T.—  This  so-/; 
ciety  was  organized   Aug.   6,  1880.     Officers,  A.   A. 
Wheeler,  W.  C. ;  J.  C.  Snyder,  Secretary,  and   Mrs.^, 
W.  F.  Hansen,  Treasurer.     They  meet  in  the  base-  p  •;' 
ment  of  the  P.aptist  Church. 

CHURCHES. 

The  Presbyterian  Church. — This  Church  was  or- 


• 


• 


WH1TESIDE  COUNTY. 


m 


ganized  March  30,  1868,  by  a  union  of  the  Old  and 
New  School  Presbyterians.  The  Old  School  Church 
was  organized  in  May,  1856.  Its  pastors  were  Revs. 
W.  C.  Mason,  J.  B.  McClure  and  A.  N.  Keigwin. 
The  New  School  Church  (growing  out  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  which  was  organized  in  1845) 
was  organized  in  1862.  Rev.  Josiah  Leonard  was 
its  only  minister  from  its  organization  until  the 
union  in  1868.  Rev.  Henry  Keigwin  became  the 
pastor  after  the  reorganization,  and  remained  with 
the  Church  until  June,  1872.  Rev.  Delos  E.  Wells 
succeeded  him,  serving  the  society  until  March,  1882, 
when  Rev.  Benj.  Mills  was  called,  who  remained  un- 
til May,  1883.  Rev.  W.  D.  Smith  succeeded  Mr. 
Mills,  and  served  the  Church  until  Nov.  1884.  Rev. 
R.  L.  Adams,  the  present  minister,  assumed  the 
pastoral  duties  January,  1885.  They  have  a  fine, 
large  brick  edifice.  The  society  has  at  present 
about  100  members  and  is  growin'g.  It  also  has  a 
large  and  interesting  Sunday-school. 

Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception. — The  mem- 
bers of  this  Church  were  attended  by  clergymen 
from  parishes  in  Illinois  and  Iowa  for  many  years 
before  a  society  was  constituted  here.  In  1862  they 
erected  a  very  neat  church  edifice,  which  they  still 
use.  The  have  also  a  good  parsonage,  and  a  ceme- 
tery, inclosing  about  five  acres.  The  Church  is  out 
of  debt  and  in  a  most  prosperous  condition.  Dr.  J. 
J.  Govern  was  the  first  resident  pastor.  The  Church 
has  a  membership  at  present  of  about  130  families. 
Rev.  Maurice  Sack  is  in  charge  of  the  Church.  He 
also  serves  the  Morrison  Church,  and  holds  mission 
service  at  Coflfey's  Corners,  in  Albany  Township, 
about  12  miles  below  Fulton,  every  third  Sunday. 
They  have  a  new  frame  church  building  at  this 
place,  with  a  membership  of  35  families.  These 
Churches  belong  to  the  Diocese  of  Chicago. 

The  Baptist  Church. — About  twenty  years  after  the 
first  settlement  of  Fulton,  and  long  after  the  Meth- 
odists and  Presbyterians  had  established  their  so- 
cieties, the  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  feeling 
the  need  of  a  place  of  worship,  assembled  together, 
and  after  consultation  decided  to  organize.  Acting 
upon  this  decision,  Alfred  McFadden,  John  Peter- 
son, Mrs.  A.  B.  Starkweather,  Miss  Matilda  Meeker, 
all  of  whom  had  letters  from  the  Churches  where 
they  had  formerly  lived,  with  Rev.  A.  H.  Stark- 
weather, met  at  the  old  stone  school-house,  July  28, 
1855,  and  completed  their  organization. 


As  soon  as  this  nucleus  was  formed  the  Church 
increased  in  numbers  rapidly.  Mr.  Starkweather 
assumed  pastoral  charge,  and  remained  until  the 
early  part  of  the  summer  of  1858.  During  this  time 
the  Church  commenced  the  construction  of  an  edi- 
fice. It  was  so  far  completed  that  they  were  en- 
abled to  use  the  basement,  and  in  the  fall  of  1856  it 
was  dedicated.  During  this  year  the  society  was 
reorganized  by  the  council  and  attached  to  the  Dixon 
Association.  About  this  period  some  dissatisfaction 
arose  among  the  members  which  drew  off  some  of 
them,  and  it  was  deemed  best  to  reorganize,  which 
they  did.  The  new  organization  was  called  the 
First  Baptist  Church  and  Society  of  the  City  of  Ful- 
ton. 

Owing  to  this  dissension,  and  the  erection  of  their 
building,  the  society  became  involved  in  debt.  Rev. 
A.  A.  Swain  succeeded  Mr.  Starkweather,  and 
through  his  able  efforts  the  building  was  completed 
and  the  debt  paid  off.  In  1860,  March  30,  the 
Church  was  dedicated,  Dr.  Evarts,  of  Chicago,  as- 
sisting in  the  services. 

The  foundation  of  the  building  is  of  stone,  the 
superstructure  being  of  brick,  and  cost  $6,000.  It 
is  a  large,  plain  edifice,  36  x  70  feet.  Several  pastors 
served  the  Church  after  Mr.  Swain,  who  resigned  in 
the  latter  part  of  1860,  the  last  being  Rev.  W.  H. 
Barnes.  Rev.  H.  F.  Gilbert  is  at  present  acting 
as  pastor. 

The  Episcopal  Church. — In  the  spring  of  1869, 
13  members  of  this  Church  met  in  the  old  Methodist 
building  and  organized  a  society  which  they  called 
Christ's  Episcopal  Church.  The  society  was  served 
by  ministers  from  Lyons  and  Clinton  until  the  latter 
part  of  the  year,  when  the  services  of  the  Rev. 
George  Gibson  were  engaged,  who  was  the  first  regu- 
lar pastor.  In  July,  1871,  they  purchased  a  build- 
ing from  Mr.  Wetzell,  and  fitted  it  up  for  the  holding 
of  their  meetings.  This  Church  has  not  been  very 
prosperous.  Mr.  Gibson  was  their  first  and  last  rec- 
tor. Rev.  Mr.  Trimble,  of  Clinton,  Iowa,  held  ser- 
vices occasionally  until  1877.  In  1878  their  build- 
ing was  sold  to  the  Northern  Illinois  College  and 
moved  up  and  located  on  Base  Street  opposite. 

The  Holland  Church,  of  Fulton  City,  was  organ- 
ized Oct.  28,  1866,  by  Rev.  H.  G.  Klyn  and  Elder 
G.  Vostenhoud.  The  Elders  chosen  at  this  time 
were  F.  Stemberg  and  G.  Manninga ;  Deacon,  J. 


**. . 


Tellema.  Their  church  building  was  completed,  and 
dedicated  Dec.  15,  1867.  In  August,  1869,  Rev.  H. 
Waltman  was  established  as  pastor.  His  health  not 
being  good,  he  was  given  a  leave  of  absence.  He 
went  West,  and  then  to  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  where 
he  died,  April  30,  1870.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  John  Van  der  Meurlen,  and  he  by  Rev.  Wm. 
Hazenberg.  He  remained  a  while,  when  Rev.  H. 
Van  der  Ploeg,  the  present  pastor,  took  charge.  The 
church  is  situated  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  near 
the  Northwestern  depot.  The  members  of  this 
Church  are  made  up  chiefly  of  Hollanders  living 
in  and  about  Fulton  and  in  East  Clinton.  Their 
membership  is  composed  of  about  170  families,  and 
they  have  about  the  same  number  in  baptism.  They 
have  commenced  the  erection  of  a  new  church  edi- 
fice, which  is  to  be  a  large  and  commodious  struc- 
ture, 50  x  go  feet,  and  will  cost  when  completed  about 
$5,500.  It  will  be  a  frame  building.'with  a  solid 
stone  foundation.  This  society  is  in  a  prosperous 
condition,  and  has  a  larger  membership  than  any 
other  in  the  city.  Their  new  church  building  is 
near  the  center  of  the  town,  on  Genesee  Street.  Near 


it  is.  the  parsonage,  and,  with   the    exception  of  one 
lot,  the  society  owns  the  entire  block. 


• 


CEMETERY. 

"  Fulton  City  Cemetery. — While  in  the  active  walks 
of  this  life  the  citizens  of  Fulton  have  not  forgotten 
that  it  is  only  a  temporary  one  at  best,  and  that  the 
time  will  come  when  all  that  this  world  claims  of 
them  will  be  laid  down  to  rest  forever. 

When  the  founders  laid  out  the  town  they  set  off 
three  lots  in  the  northern  portion  for  a  cemetery. 
These  grounds  were  afterwards  enlarged  and  now 
contain  about  twelve  acres.  The  cemetery,  which 
is  under  the  control  of  a  stock  association,  is  located 
upon  the  high  bluffs  which  lie  north  of  the  city,  and 
which  afford  a  magnificent  view  of  the  Mississippi 
and  the  country  below.  The  grounds  were  naturally 
beautiful,  and  the  cultivated  taste  of  the  inhabitants 
has  enhanced  their  attractiveness.  They  are  liber- 
ally shaded  with  trees,  some  of  which  have  been 
planted,  and  some  have  come  up  from  Nature |s  or- 
iginal growth.  There  are  many  rich  and  costly  mon- 
uments, which  are  varied  in  design  and  are  artistic. 


•• 

•  - 


Abbey,  John .'- . .    .775 

Abbott,  A.  M 464 

Abbott,  H.L 228 

Adair,  George 784 

Adam  ,  C.  F 567 

Adam  ,  George  B 239 

Adam  ,  John 23 

Adam  ,  John    Quincy 39 

Adam  ,  Robert 779 

Aitken,Wm 748 

Albcrtson,  Samuel 645 

Aid-rich,  Rufus -.742 

Alexander,  E.  V.  H.,  M.  D..SSO 

Alldritt,  Richard 373 

Alldritt,  William 277 

Allen,  A,  B 470 

Allen,  F.M 447 

Allen,  G.  F 791 

Allen,  George  W 461 

Allen,  O.  W 796 

Allen  W.   H 486 

Andreas,  Peter 400 

Annan  William 238 

Arey,  Richard 513 

Arnett,  L.  C 557 

Arrell,  David  B 193 

Arthur,  Chester  A 99 

Austin.  Dennis .194 

Austin,  D.  L 542 

Austin,   Hiram 198 

Averill,  M.  R 690 

Avery,  John 462 

Aylsworth,  John  P 759 

B 

Bachellor,  Cornelius 330 

Badgley,  J.  P 657 

Baer,  J.  H 384 

Baer,  Martin, 509 

Bailey,  Jacob 258 

Baird,  James  H 687 

Baldwin,  L.  D 558 

Baldwin,  S.G 568 

Baldwin,  O.  G 567 

Barber,  Robert  G 413 

Barnum,  H.  M 521 

Barnes,  Alfred 533 

Barrett.T.S 266 


liassett,  Dr.  William 299 

liastian,  A .  W, 306 

I'.astian,  Fred  K 306 

Batchcllcr,  H.   F 400 

Bayliss,  Alfred 289 

Beach,  Rev.    Oliver 247 

Beach,  T.  S 666 

Bechtel,  E.    M 236 

Becker,  John  H 216 

Bcckwith,  E.  R 749 

Bell,  James  R 717 

Belt,  Benjamin 195 

Benner,  Joseph 561 

Bentley,  E.  S 786 

Beswick,   Richard 204 

Beswick,  Thomas  L 207 

lieswick,  William  A 380 

Bcuzeville,  F.  J 205 

Beveridge,  John  L 171 

Bey,  George  de:  see  De  Bey. 

Birdsall,  E.  N 315 

Birdsall,  H.  L 253 

Bissell,  William  H ist 

Blaisdell,  M.  W 190 

Blake,  Lyman 391 

Bley,John   H 268 

Blue,  Richard 487 

Body,  Isaac 438 

Bond,  N.  L 432 

Bond,  Shadrach m 

Bond,  Warren 332 

Bonebrake,  Benj 237 

Booth,  A.  J 328 

Booth,  James  H 741 

Booth,  Wm.  A 525 

Booth  Wm.  C 633 

Bowman,  Edmund 254 

Boyd,  H.  A 782 

Bracken,  A .  J 582 

Brauer,  Anson  H 564 

Bresslcr,  Isaac  S 404 

Brcssler,  Levi 58r 

Brewer,  A.  S 606 

Brewer,  George  W 555 

Brewer,  H .  L 213 

Brewer,  Nathan 522 

Brink,  Hezekiah 264 

Brightman,  W .  R 795 

Broaclhead,  J.  W 379 

Brookfield,  L.  E 574 


Brooks,  P.  A 648 

Brown,  Rev.  A.J 284 

Brown,  Mrs.  A.  T.     381 

Brown,  E.  C 612 

Brown,  E.   P 793 

Brown,  Herbert  E 511 

Brown,  Wm.  B 225 

Brown,  Willis  L 616 

Brown,  Wm.  W 694 

Bryant,  James 717 

Bryant,  Wm 792 

Bryning,  S.G.,M.D 402 

Buchanan,  James 75 

Buell,  C.  C 397 

Bull.B.  B 76' 

Bull,  John  P 732 

Bull,  J.  W 412 

Bull,  W.  B 565 

Bullock, R.M 669 

Bump,  Joseph  W 275 

Burch,  H.  D 561 

Burch,  T.  J 79° 

Burchell,  R.  L 572 

Burgess,  Benj.,  Jr 259 

Burke,   Thomas 773 

Burkholdcr,  Christian 308 

Burkholder,  E 769 

Burr,  James  M 345 

Burr,  H.    E 298 

Burridgc,  F.  E 696 

Burroughs,  D.  L 349 

Bush,  Henry 429 

Bush,  M.  L 394 

Bushman,   Colonel 545 

Bushman, H.  S 514 

Butler,  David  R 522 

Butman,  Wm 369 

liutzer,  John 778 


Cadwell,  Wm.  H 371 

Cady,  George    R 777 

Carlin,  Thomas 135 

Carman,  F.  W.,  M  .  D 543 

Carney,  Michael 574 

Carolus,  J.  K 308 

Carpenter,  Capt.  A.  M 235 

Carpenter,  Capt.  C.  C 349 

Carr,  R.  M 198 

Cavert,  William 605 


*.  •• 


Champion,  Roswell 316 

Chapin,  H.    H 393 

Chapin,  Milo 568 

Charter,  John 7'9 

Chester,  J.  K 352 

Church,  A.  A 481 

Church,  B.  C.,Sr 263 

Church,  B.  C.,  Jr 264 

Clark,  F.    B 618 

Clark,  John 79s" 

Clark,  Norman 552 

Clcaveland,  Edward 563   ,\>. 

Cleaveland,  J 419  Jj 

Clendenen,  Dr.  G.  W 322    * 

Cleveland,  Nelon 575  §* 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover 103  ^ 

Cobb,  W.  R 273 

Cochran,  Frank 724 

Coe,  D.O 4"'  < 

Coe,M.S 410 

Coe,S.  M 419 

Colbert,  A.  A 546 

Colcord,  R.  B 576 

Colcord,  W.  H 519 

Coles,  Edward 115 

Collins,  James 683 

Collins,  S 219 

Conboy,  Thomas 402 

Courtright,  John .   489  < 

Courtright,   Levi 360 

Courtright,  W.   H 494  ] 

Cowan,  David 4C<» 

Cramer,   Henry 388  , 

Crandall,   I..  F 496 

Crook, R,C 556 

Crouch,  A.  C 5'8 

Crouch,  Scott 702 

Crum,  William 628 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 175 

Culbertson,  Wm.  P 541 

Culver,   Truman 34°. 

Cunningham,  Cornelius 564 

Cunningham,  J  -  M 775 

Currie,  Samuel 214 

Currier,  James   767 

Curry,  Samuel     750 

D 


Hade,  Rufus  E 309 

Daggett,  P 634 


• 


Daly,  Rev  .  John 702 

Daniel,  Alfred  B 454 

Daniels,  B.  V 267 

Davcler,  Amos 713 

1  >.iveler,    Emanuel 481 

Davis,   Frank 566 

Davis,  Reuben 293 

De  Bey,  George 646 

Demming,   Asaph ....510 

1 1 1  i  union,  J  .  F 469 

Denison,  D.  R 286 

Denison,   R.  B 632 

Dent,  Zachariah 219 

Derbyshire,  W.  F 732 

Devore,  John 342 

Deyo,  James  R 498 

Dickinson,  John 440 

Dickinson,  J .  F 404 

Dickson,  John    226 

Diehl,  George 452 

Diehl,    Henry   370 

Dieterle,  J.  G 781 

Dill,    Elsworth 326 

Dillon,  G.  B   477 

Dillon.  Moses 373 

Dillon,  W.  M 789 

Dimmick,  G  .   H 505 

Donaldson,  Henry  C.,M  .  D..268 

Downs,  John 364 

Drew,  James 309 

1  >rury,  Richard 627 

Duncan,  George 131 

Dun  more,   Benj 798 

Durstine,  John  E 224 

Dyer,  John 316 


& 


Early,  Alfred  M.,  D.  D 444 

Early,  C.  W 446 

Early,  W.  A 351 

Eastman,  W.  F 310 

Eaton,  J.  M 623 

Ebersole,  A.  D 783 

Echelbarfier,  B.    P 790 

Echelbarger,  Samuel 553 

Eddy,  L.    D 479 

Eddy,  Noble  F 735 

Edwards,  Ninian 119 

Ellithorp,  E.  S 551 

Ely,  David   G 372 

Ely,  K.   S.  W 285 

Emmons,  E.  A 615 

Kntwhistle,  J.  W 418 

Epla,  S.  S 772 

Eshleman,  S 256 

Ewing,  W.  L.  D 127 


Fadden,  George  H 789 

Ka nning,  O.  E 266 

Karnum,  John 548 

Farwell,  Solomon 227 

Fellows,  H.  C 409 

Fenton,  Alfred  W 798 

Fenton,  John  D 678 

Ferguson,  John 595 

Ferris,  Albert 394 

Ferris,  B 681 


Field,  Albert 562 

Fieldsend,  John 268 

i    Fife,  Kev.  N.  H.  G 287 

',    Fill  more,   Mi  Hard 67 

;   Finkle,  Gilbert 384 

•    Fitch,  Dudley    R 548 

i   Fitch,  G.  W 513 

Fletcher,  Isaac 436 

i   Flock,  Henry 345 

Fluck,  Aaron 367 

,    Ford,  Tli o mas .  139 

Foster,  Charles 331 

Foster,  D.  N 503 

Foy,  George 534 

Francis,  Isaac 665 

Frank,  James 493 

Frary,  J.  E 594 

Frary,  Myron 776 

Eraser,  I .  W 437 

Freek,  Nicholas 497 

French,  Augustus  C 143 

Frey,  Henry  B 413 

Fuller,  C.  C 744 

FulIer,J.  P 535 

Fuller,  S.  M .....701 


Gait,  T.  A 374 

G  arfield ,  J  ames  A 95 

Garwick,  Jacob 390 

George,  Capt.  A.   M .627 

Gerdes,G.  M 711 

Gibbs,  E.  P 759 

Giddings,  S.   P 731 

Gifford,  Charles  F 363 

Gladhill,  Wm.   J 684 

Glass,  A.  L 694 

Glassburn,  A.  J 572 

Glassburn,  A.  T 788 

Glassburn,  J.  W 757 

Goff,  F.   B 474 

Colder,  Alonzo 485 

G  older,  Judge  Joseph 603 

Golder,  Joseph  M 478 

Goodenough,  G.  E 226 

Goodenough,  W.   A 321 

Gould,  Darius. 310 

Gould,  T.  C , 511 

Graham,  W.  C 781 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 87 

Grater,  Abraham  L 278 

Graves,  W 471 

Green,  John  S 278 

Green,  Moses  A .551 

Green,  Win .  C.  (ist) 411 ' 

Greenawalt,  S.  H 300 

Greene,  Giles 743 

Gridley,  J  .   G 335 

Griffin,  L.  L 617 

Grinnold,  Henry  M 269 

Griswold,  Dr.  C.  A 453 

Grove,  David  B 393 

Grubb,  E.  R 234 

Grubb,  Nehemiah 240 

Grubb,  Samuel 523 

Gsell,  David  B 389 

Gsell,  John 278 

Gsell, Wm.    B 463 


H 

Hadaway,  Frank 771 

Hawaii,  Peter 634 

Bageman,  Fredeiick 666 

Hai^ry,  George 431 

Hall,  Warren  P • 216 

Hamilton,  F  .  F 794 

Hamilton,  John  M 719 

Hamilton,  John  M 179 

Hamilton,  G  .  R 617 

Hammeltnan,  Christian 498 

Hand,  H.  R 521 

Hannah,  Joseph 417 

Han  n  is,  Jefferson 604 

Hannis,  John 489 

Hansen,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D 435 

Hanson,  Charles 547 

H  a  rd  i  n ,  T  .  A 254 

Hardy,  Wm 432 

Harpham,  John 295 

Harrison,  D.   G 338 

Harrison,  F.  M 246 

Harrison,  James  H .652 

Harrison,  Joseph   E.... 768 

Harrison,  Wm.  H 51 

Harrison,  Wm.  H 193 

Hayes,  Allen 556 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 91 

Hayes,  William  D 233 

Hazard,  Albert  S 521 

Hazard,  David 518 

Hazard,  J.  W 520 

Heath,  Ira 318 

Hein,  Jacob 369 

Hellerstedt,  P.  F 554 

Helm,  John  H 787 

Helms,  Henry  E 796 

Hempstead,  E.  J 306 

Hen  wood,  D  .    B 421 

Hewitt,  C.   M 766 

Hey,  J.  P 460 

Hiddlcson,  R.  K 451 

Higley,  George 502 

Hill,  A.    D 375 

Hill,  J.  W... 766 

Hill,  William 747 

Hiner,   Leonard 215 

Hodges,  Francis  W 556 

Holcomb,  G.  W 225 

Hollcran,  James 230 

Hollinshead,  Daniel 571 

Hollinshead,  J.  W 455 

Hollinshead,  Joshua 615 

Hollinshead,  R.P 326 

Holt,  A.  P 763 

Hoover,  F.  K 783 

Hoover,  George  S 619 

Hoover,  I .  S 712 

Hopkins,  J.  P   361 

Hopkins,    Jason 369 

Horlacher,  Adam 400 

Horlachcr,  Godfried 502 

Homer,   Edward 361 

Horning,  H.  E 235 

Hotchkiss,  A.  L 631 

Houghton,  C.  B 472 

Houghton,  H.  L 463 

HonghtODi  Lev! 247 

Houseman,  James 294 


K 

Kit  lit  I  man,  Jacob 296 

Kauffman,   L.  S 299 

Kcarns,  Wm 737 

Kcefer,  G.  G 720 

Keefer,  J.  F..M.D 257 

Kcefer,  Samuel  S 321 

Kellum,  H.  F 573 

Kempster,  Ephraim  H 589 

Kempster,  J.  H 566 

Kempster,  Wm.  W 578 

Kennedy, Dr.  H.  M 330 

Kennedy,  Wm.   A 227 

Kent,  John 242 

Kidder,  Marcellus 461 

Kilgour.Gen.  W.  M 338 

Kimball,  John  S 628 

King,T.   R 443 

Kingcry,S.  H 490 

Kingsbury,  S.  H , 525 

Kitchen,  Peter 320 


Ho  we,  George  W 524 

Hubbard,  Alexis 504 

Hubbard,  Charles  L 362 

Hubbard,  Frederick  B 330 

Hubbard,  Ferdinand  B 553 

Hubbard,  Dr.   N.  W 255 

Hubbard,  Solomon   346 

Hubbard,  Solomon  . 600 

Hubbart,  James  C 712 

Huffman,  Wm 798 

Hugamin,  James 772 

Hughes,J.  B  440 

Hughe*,  John  M 471 

Hughes,  R.  T 427 

Hulett,  A.  A 258 

Hnll,H.  C 538 

Humaston,  Charles 754 

Hunt,  L.  M 707 

Hunt,  Russell jg2 

Hun tington,  John 378 

Hurlbert,  Nathan  N 687 

Hurless,  Rev.  Cephas  505 

Hutten,  Christian 436 

I 

Ives,  W.  Y ...24I 


Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jackson,  John  Y ..  .317 

Jackson,  Sullivan 346 

J  acobs,  A .  E 743 

Jacobs,  Joseph 609 

James,  Robert  T 797 

James,   Thomas 700 

Jamison,  Wm.  A 784 

Jefferson,  Thomas 27 

Jemison,  J 786 

Jennings,  George  H 768          C 

John,  Chalkley 543 

John,  Elida 639 

Johnson,  Andrew 83 

Johnson,    Henry.. 783 

Johnson,  Jesse 203 

Johnson,  Robert  R . . . . , 319 

Jones,  F.  H 751 


I 

**• 


940 

Kitk-,  George  B 737 

Knapp,  Capt.  Cornelius 626 

Knox.Wm.  H 234 

Kreider,  John  H.... 774 

Kreider,  JohnH.,Jr 782 


INDEX. 


<&/ 


Ladd.S.  M 202 

Lancaster,  Charles 625 

Lancaster,   Kdward 675 

Landis,  Kmanuel  S 419 

Landis,  Henry  S 372 

Landis,  Samuel    422 

Langdon,  S.  A 583 

Langdon,  Silas 576 

Lansford,  C.   E 4°3 

Langford ,  (.!  uilford 761 

Lathe,  Jabez 194 

l.awton,  John 473 

Le  Fevre,  Elias  D 577 

Leonard,  J.  F 664 

Litzrodt,  Henry 683 

Lincoln,  Abraham 79 

Lipe,  Daniel 588 

Litzrodt,  Henry 683 

Lockhart,  Andrew 653 

Lockheart,  Elisha 670 

Logan,  J.  S 544 

Logan.Hon.  R.  E 358 

Long,  Daniel 280 

Loomis,  J.  B 54<J 

Loomis.C.  W 3«o 

Loomis,  Washington 3°7 

Loux,  NoahS : 647 

Love,  W.  J 611 

I.ovett,  Wm 248 

I.undy,  Dr.  D.  W 612 

Lusk,C.  F 654 

Lusk,  Chester   652 

Lutyens,  Nicholas 7°5 

Lynch,  James 255 

Lyon,  Marcus 787 

M 

Mackay,  Duncan 725 

Madison,  James 31 

Mallory,  A.  N 45° 

Mannion,  Michael 394 

Marcy,  Henry 708 

Markee,  D.  J 647 

Martin,  A.  H 605 

Martin,  J.  M 335 

Martin,  John 784 

Martin,  Timothy 472 

Marzi,  Nicholas 744 

Mason,  John 351 

Mathew,   Andrew 340 

Mathew,  David 319 

Mathew,  Thomas 270 

Mathew,  Wm 510 

Mathews,  Alpheus 659 

Mattcson,   Joel  A 147 

Maxficld.W.  H 294 

Maxson.  Nelson 564 

Maxwell,  A.  1 737 

Maxwell, S.   A 473 

May,  Henry 307 

McCaulcy,  J.  S 338 

McClelland   Thomas 347 


McCoy,  Hon .   James 195 

McCoy,  Hon.  Wm.  J 703 

McCray,  H  .  C .  .217 

McCue,  James 285 

'McCime,  Wm... 


547 

Me  Dear  man,  Wm 730 

McFadden,  Andrew 688 

McGrath,  James... 751 

NcGrath,  Nicholas..    731 

I  McGregor,  Samuel...    780 

McKee,  Jotham 418 

MaeKenzie,  Capt.  John 338 

McKcnzie,  John 339 

McKenzie,  D     L 619 

McKenzie,  N.  L 646 

McKcnzie,  Wm.  R 566 

McLane,  Arthur 71* 

McMillen,  David 770 

McNaughton,  J.  F 748 

McNeill,  Wm 545 

McWhorter,  Hon.  Tyler 526 

Meadc,  Meril ...  .223 

Meins,   H.  T 336 

Millikan,  F.  W 753 

Mellinger,  Henry  K. 445 

Melvin,  A .  S 257 

Mensch,  William 274 

Miller,  Becker 762 

Miller,  Henry 774 

Miller,  Joseph  T 488 

MillerM.  C 773 

Milnes,  Thomas 224 

Mitchell,  A.  D   257 

Monroe,  James 35 

Morrill,  Dr.  John  L 357 

Morse,  Austin 225 

Mosher,  J.  H.,  M.  D 632 

Moss,  Henry  G 758 

Moyers,  John  H 422 

Munz,  Godfrey 399 

Murray,  Ezekiel. ...    576 

Murray,  George 688 

Murray,  John  L 795 

Murphy,  R.  R 763 

Myers,  Jacob  L 764 

N 

Naniga,  G.,  &  Co 308 

Nash,  Eli  O 787 

Nevitt,  Hon.  E.  H 779 

Nevitt,  W.  G -.659 

Nevitt,  Wm 654 

Newcomer,  James  W... 290 

Nice,  Philip 421 

Nicenwanger,  Daniel 764 

Niles,Capt.  John  W 417 

Norrish,  R.  S 322 

Nowlen,  James  A  . ,  M  .  D. . .  .730 

O 

Oakley,  Oliver  S 296 

Odlin ,  George  O 470 

Oglesby,  Richard  J 163 

Old,  Edwin 203 

Olds,    Ezekiel 495 

Olds,  Ezekiel 714 

Olds,  Warren 506 

Olmstead,  L  J 780 

Oltmanns,  Louis 285 


Osborne,   A.  J ..    .414 

Osliunif,  H  .    L 672 

Overholser,  C 446 

Overholser,  D.  C 523 

Overholser,  James  P. . . 618 

Overholser,  J  .  M 486 

Overholser  John  M 764 


Paddock,  N.   W    554 

P.uMock.   Rev.  Z.  D 676 

Page,Wm.  C 280 

Palmer,  J  ohn  M    167 

Palmer,  Wm.  P 267 

Parish,  J.  D '..558 

Parker,  Abel 616 

Parker,  C.  D 381 

Parker,  David 377 

Parker,  Delos 606 

Parker,  Edwin 753 

Parker,  Hiram  ...    791 

Parker,  Jacob    L 754 

Parker,  Truman 752 

Parker,  Wm 230 

Parkhurst,  C.  L 760 

Parmenter  Brothers 777 

Parnham,  J.  C 456 

Patrick,  Wm.  M 694 

Patterson,  W.  J 598 

Pearson,  Wm 191 

Pease,  Capt.    Havilah 243 

Pease,  Henry 641 

Peckham,  Wm 747 

Pcrault,  Aimer 274 

Perry,  Rev.  G.  W 244 

Peters,  L.  B 218 

Petersen,  Charles  F. 563 

Pettigrew.  James 214 

Peugh.C.  B 584 

Peugh.  James  L 447 

Phelps,  John 300 

Phinney,  John 320 

Pierce, C.  T    750 

Pierce,  Franklin 71 

Pinney,  R.    G 448 

Pittman,  George 294 

Polk,  James  K S9 

Pope,  Aaron ... .' 595 

Pond,  Henry  D 253 

Pond.  Stephen 536 

Pott,  Henry 336 

Potter,  George  A 682 

Potter,  George  W 642 

Powell, C.   R 411 

Powell,  Henry  S 371 

Powell,  Jacob 444 

Powers,  Horace 675 

Pratt, Hon.  J.  M 651 

Pratt,  William 329 

Preston,  M  .  G 511 

Proctor,  D.  G 245 


Quackenbush,  P.  A 296 

R 

Ramsay,  F.    D 283 

Ramsay,  Wm 390 

Randolph,  Mrs    Emma 513 


RccUine  Urothtrs 752 

Reecher,  Samuel 482 

Reecher,  William joxj 

Reed,  Dr.  Daniel .240 

Reed,  Mrs.  Dr.  C.  T 246 

Reed,W.  H 297 

Reeves,  Joseph  C 356 

Kernage,  G.  W.,  M.  D ..220 

Runner,  John  R 357 

Rew,  Justus 663 

Reynolds,  C .  G 79- 

Reynolds,  C.  W 205 

Reynolds,  D.  B 646 

Reynolds,  D.  W 548 

Reynolds,  John 122 

Reynolds,  L.   C 657 

Richmond,  Daniel 512 

Richmond,  D.  B   575 

Richmond,  George  P 763 

Riley,  John 537 

Ripley,  John  E 379 

Ritchie,  A.  W 452 

Robertson,    Joseph  K    435 

Robinson,  F.  H 260 

Robinson,  G.  M 731 

Robinson, R.  E..M.  D 785 

Robinson,  S .  W 379 

Robinson,  Wesley 288 

Roe,  Thomas 506 

Rogers,  Gilbert . .  .597 

Rosenkrans,  S 793 

Ross,  James  W 660 

Round,  A.  S 764 

Rood,  C.  R 671 

Royer,C.  F   ., 270 

Russell,  C.  N 298 

Rutt,  Samuel  W 445 

Ryerson,  Martin 269 


Sampson,  H  .  R 201 

Sands,  J.  E 431 

Sands,  John  P   474 

Sanford,   Vernon 459 

Sardain,   George  S 641 

Schryver,  Daniel 412 

Schutt,  Henry  E 531 

Scotchbrook,  Edward 297 

Scott,  Edwin 517 

Scott,  John  E 684 

Scott,  J.W 778 

Scott,  W.  H 537 

Seely,  A.   J 383 

Seely,  Col.  Ebenezer 189 

Seely,  M.  V 192 

Segcr,D.  B.,  M.  D 342 

Seger,  E.  S 720 

Seger,  M.    H 690 

Seidel,  Chaales  G 370 

Seyller,  George 749 

Shannon,  Hugh 620 

Sheldon,  R.  H 360 

Sherwood,  Stephen 688 

Shirk,  Charles 584 

Shirk,  M.  P. 277 

Shirley,  R.  F 350 

Shuler,  George  F 418 

Sholes,    Orin 472 

Sides,  Mrs.    Isabella 347 


\ 


«-  I 

C\  f 


-~  . .  ~r 


•  v 


•34 


INDEX. 


Slaymaker,  W.  D 752 

Slick.   D.  A 413 

Sloe umb,  C.  H 610 

Sly,C.  S 676  \ 

Smaltz,  Jacob 463  \ 

Smith,  Dr.   A.C 690 

Smith,  Alfred  . . . : 6y6 

Smith,  C.  C 788 

Smith, C,  H    359 

Smith,  Hiram  P , 275 

Smith,  John 447 

Smith,   Leander 303 

Smith,  Philip  H 589 

Suavely,  Levi 
Snyder,  J.  C 

Snyder  J  .  Clifton 236 

Snyder,  John  H .  .206 

Snyder,  Joseph    647 

Snyder,  Hun.  W.  C 501 

Somers,    Edward 384 

Sox,  Hcrmon 785 

Spafford,  Hon.  D.   S 593 

Spang,    Mathias 457 

Spear,  Joseph 616 

Spears,  D.  P 208 

gpangler,  S.  W 758 

Spinka,   Ignatz 793 

Sprague,  Orlando .393 

Springer,  C 45-4 

Stapleton,  James 207 

Stapleton,  Simon 205 

Stauffer  J  E. 448 

Staiifler,  Ripley 479 

Sterling,   Herman     573 

Stern,  August 356 

Stevens,  Solon 621 

Stewart,  James . .  583 

Stilson,  G.  A 672 

Stocking,  L.  T 599 

Storer,  Richard 194 

Stowe,  Byron  ....    214 

Stowell    Alanson 587 

S  to  well,  A.  J 793 

Street,  H.  S 342 

Strock,  J.  F...? 329 

Strock,  Samuel 389 

Stuart,  John ,.238 

Sturtevant,  Isaac 430 


Adams,  John 22 

Adams,  John  Quincy 38 

Albertson,  Samuel 644 

Arthur,    Chester  A 98 

Baer,  Martin 508 

Baird,  James  H 686 

Bevendge,  John  L 170 

Birdsall,   Edmund  N    312 

Birdsall.  Mrs.  Sarah  J 313 


Sturtevant,  J.  C 
Sturtz,  H 
Summers,  Cloys 
Summers,  David 
Summers,  Ephraim 
Summers,  James  E 
Summers,  Oscar 
Sweet,  J.  A 
Sykes,  John 


631 
609 
259 
736 
239 
430 
248 
658 
45$ 


T 

Taber,  Wm.    P 729 

Talbott,  James 520 

Talbott,  Oliver   693 

Talcott,  E..J.,  M.  I) 38o 

Taylor,  James  C 229 

Taylor,  S..  M.    D 348 

Taylor,  William 228 

Taylor,  Zachary 63 

Terpenning,   Osro  W 276 

Terwilliger,  George 337 

Thomas,  Frank  B 581 

Thompson,  J .  R 534 

Thompson,  M-  H 603 

Thompson,  Nathan 604 

Thompson,  Richard 524 

Thompson,  R.  M.. .-. , 699 

Thompson,  R.  J 723 

Thompson,  S.  A 723 

Thompson,  Wm.   H 701 

Thomson,  Wm 439 

Timmerman,W.  V 67? 

Topping,  Wm 265 

Tracy,G4orge  S 383 

Trowbrldfee,  Cornelius. . . .., .  .191 

Tuller,  Jj  A 555 

Twining, fWm.  F 229 

Twitchelli  L.  C 284 

Twombly^T.  J .438 

Tyler,  Jofcn 55 

Tyne,  Edward 577 

Tyson,  William 263 

U 

I 

Ulmer,  HI  C 509 

Upton,   Kfi . . .  .f 213 

Utley,  H.,  M/D       773 


Van  Antwerp,  U.  T 552 

Van  Buren,  Martin 47 

Van  Demark,  J.  H 393 

Van  Demark,  J.  M 554 

Van  Nest,  Peter 621 

Van   Osdol,  Wm.  A 233 

Vennum,  Edward 387 

w 

Wa-bo-kies-sMek 791 

Wahl,    Fred 348 

Wahl,  William...  ...241 


Wakeman,    L 358 

Wallace,    Adam 565 

Wallace,  Hugh 382 

Wallace,  Robert 462 

Ward, Charles 735 

Ward,   Edward 670 

Waid,  J.   N 368 

Ware,  C.  L 5ia 

Washington,  George 19 

Weaver,  A.   S 430 

Weaver,  John    391 

Weaver,  John  S 496 

Weaver,  Joseph 719 

Wells,  Horatio 633 

Wessel,  J.  A } 273 

West,  Benj ; 531 

West.J.  A • 201 

Westphal,  Emil 208 

Wetherbee,C.  A 439 

Wetzell,  Daniel , 481 

Wetzel, D.  R , 263 

Wetzel,  Jacob 695 

Wetzell,  John  H , 455 

Wetzel,  Lewis 244 

Wetzell,  Samuel : 742 

WheeIock,A.  J < 714 

Wheelock,  S.  L 382 

White,  Rev.  Edward 625 

Whitcomb,  Geo .  A....' 337 

Whitcomb,  S.   M 751 


Birdsall,  Henry  1 250 

Birdsall,  Mrs.   Joanna 251 

Bissell,  VVfm.   H... 150 

Bond ,  Shafd rach no 

Bressler,  Levi 580 

Bryant,  James   ..716 

Buchanan,  James 74 

Buell,  Clinton  C 396 

Bullock,  Rufus  M 668 


Burch,  Harrison  I> . . .  s 560 

Carlin,  Thomas ., 134 

Cleveland,  S.  G  rover., 102 

Coles,  Edward 114 

Cul hcrtson ,Wm.  P . .., 540 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 174 

1  >a\  is  Reuben,  M  .  D  , 292 

Duncan,  George ^.130 

Eddy,  Noble  F 734 


White,  J.  W 

Whitmore,Wm.  T 786 

Wilkinson,  Andrew 477 

Wilkinson,  W.    S 590 

Williams,  H.  P g76 

Williams,  Leslie 318 

Williams,  Hon.  Nathan 793 

Wilson,  G.  W 696 

Wilt,  Peter  H 7O8 

Wink,  Sansom 741 

Winters,  James  M 355 

Winner,  R.  B 77O 

Wolf,  C.    G «05 

Wolferspergcr,  A.  A 321 

Wolfersperger,  John 315 

Wood,  James 451 

Wood,  John ijs 

Woodruff,  O.   F 325 

Woodruff,  W.  W 287 

Woods,  Edgar 743 

Woods,  H .  b 664 

Woods,  Oscar .  .480 

Woodward,  Milton   B 594 

Woodworth,  L.    H 533 

Worrell,  E.  A 7,8 

Worthington,  C.  W 770 

Worthington,  E.    B 562 

Worthington,  H 437 

Worthington,  Mrs    Phebe.  ..332 

Wynn,  Lewis  D     689 

Wylie.T:  M 665 


Yager.John 305 

Yates,  Richard 159 

Young,  A 460, 

Young,  Adam  B 598 

Young,  Daniel 374" 


Zemlt,  H.   M   352 

Zook,  Abraham 288 

Zook.  A.  G 736 


Edwards,  Ninian 118 

Ewing,  Wm.  L.  D 126 

Fellows,  Henry  C 407 

Fellows,  Mrs.  Lydia 406 

Ferris,   B 680 

Fillmore,  Millard 66 

Fluck,  Aaron 365 

Kluck,  Mrs.  Lydia  A 364 

Ford,  Thomas 138 


942 


INDEX. 


Frank,  James 4Qz 

French,  Augustus  C . .  142 

Garfield,  James  A 94 

Glassburn,  J.  W ;s6 

Colder,  Alonzo 484 

Grant,  Ulysses  S     86 

G  reen ,  M  oses  A 550 

Gridley,  James  G 334 

Hamilton,  John  M .178 

Hansen,  A.  M 434 

Harrison,  Wm.  H 50 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B oo 

Hiddleson,  Kufus   K 45° 

Hill,  William 7*6 

Hollinshead,  Daniel 570 

Hollinshead,  Joshua 614 

Hughes,  Mrs.  Mary  Jane 425 

Hughes,  Richard  T 424 

Jackson,  Andrew.   r,  42 

Jefferson,  Thomas, 26 

John,  Elida 636 


John,  Mrs.  Sarah  H 637 

Johnson,   Andrew 82 

Kilgour,  Gen.  William  M 338 

King,  Thomas  R 442 

Lancaster,  Charles 624 

Lancaster,  Edward 674 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

Lutycns,  Nicholas 704 

Madison,  James 30 

Matteson,  Joel  A 146 

Mathew,  Thomas 271 

Mead,   Meril 223 

McNeill,  William 545 

McNeill,Mrs.  Pearlie 545 

McLane,  Arthur 710 

Monroe,  James 34 

Nevitt,  Edward  H    779 

Nilcs,  Capt.  John  W 416 

Oglesby,  Richard  J 162 

Palmer,  John  M 166 

Parker,  David 376 


Pierce,  Franklin 

Polk,  James  K 

Pratt,  Hon.  James  M.... 

Ramsay,  Frank  D 

Rew,  Justin 

Reynolds,  John 

Reynolds,  Linus  C 

Richmond,  George  P. . .   . 

Sampson,  Henry  R 

Sanford,  Vernon 

Scott,  Edwin   

Seely,Col.  Ebenezer   .... 

Smith,  Leander 

StoweU,  Alanson 

Snyder,  Hon.  William  C. 
Spafford,  Hon.  Dwight  S. 

Sturtevant,  Josiah  C 

Sturtz,  Herman , 

Tabor  William  P 

Talbott,  James 

Taylor,  Zachary 


..  70 

--   58 
650 

..282 
..662 

.  122 
.656 
.763 
.200 
•458 
-516 


.586 
-500 

•SQ2 

.630 
.608 
.728 
.692 
.  62 


Thompson,  Reuben  M 
Thompson,  Samuel  A 

Tyler,  John 54 

Upton,   Eli 211 

Upton,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A 210 

Van  Buren,  Martin 46 

Van  Osdol,  Win.  A 132 

Van  Osdol,  Mrs.  Rebecca  T..?3i 

Vennum,  Mrs.  Pheba 386 

Wa-bo-kies-shick  . .., 791 

Washington,  George 18 

West,  Benjamin.    528 

West,  Mrs.  Mary 529 

Wet/el,  David  R 262 

Wilkinson,  Andrew 476 

Wink,  Sansora 740 

Winter,  James  M 354 

Wood,  John 154 

Woodruff,  OrrF 324 

Yates,  Richard 158 

Young,  Aaron 467 

Young,  Mrs.  Rhoda  E 466 


....6,8    xT> 


HISTORIC 


INTRODUCTORY 

Value  of  Local  History 

How  Our  Fathers  Lived 
ARCHAEOLOGY 
TOPOGRAPHICAL 
INDIAN  HISTORY 

Indian  Mode  of  Living 

Black  Hawk  War 
EARLY  SETTLERS 
CIVIL  GOVERNMENT 

Acts  of  Co.  Commis'ners 

County  Court 

Board  of  Supervisors 

County-Seat  Contests 

Court-House 

Record  Building 

County  Jail 

Poor  Farm 

Building  for  the  Insane 
LEGAL  HISTORY 

Probate  Court 

County  Court 

Bar  of  the  County 

Present  Bar 

WAR  FOR  THE  UNION 
RAILROADS 
MISCELLANEOUS 

Whiteside  Co.  Agl.  Soc. 

County  Officers 


797 

Patrons  of  Husbandry 

833 

798 

Matrimonial 

833 

799 

Old  Settlers'  Association 

834 

80  1 

TOWNSHIPS 

837 

802 

Albany 

837 

803 

Clyde 

842 

So  it 

Coloma 

844 

<j\j*i 
8oc 

Erie 

850 

°<jj 

Fenton 

8cc 

806 

Fulton 

J  J 

857 

807 

Garden  Plain 

858 

809 

Genesee 

86  1 

813 

Hahnaman 

864 

814 

Hopkins 

866 

815 

Hume 

869 

8i7 

Jordan 

870 

818 

Lyndon 

873 

818 

Montmorency 

878 

818 

Mount  Pleasant 

880 

819 

Newton 

882 

820 

Portland 

884 

823 

823 
823 

Prophetstown 
Sterling 
Tampico 
Union  Gtove 

887 
891 

893 
898 

8*5 

Q-/; 

Ustick 

899 

o2O 

CITIES  AND  VILLAGES  : 

829 

Albany 

838 

832 

Coleta 

862 

832 

Como 

868 

833               Empire 

869 

Erie  852 

Fulton  928 

Business  Interests  931 

Educational  932 

The  Press  934 

Churches  935 

Gait  869 

Lyndon  875 

Malvern  844 

Morrison  918 

Educational  920 

Water  Works  920 

The  Press  921 

Churches  922 

Societies  925 

Business  Interests  926 

Prophetstown  889 

Rock  Falls  845 

Spring  Hill  886 

Sterling  903 

Incorporation  904 

Religious  9°5>  9°8 

Educational  907      ,, 

Public  Library  908    <§) 

The  Press  909 

Societies  910 

Fire  Department  913 

Ferries  and  Bridges       913 

Improv.  of  RockRiver  914 

Tampico  894 

Unionville  899 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBftNA 


